Why hypnotising groups can be easier than working with individuals
We are a social species , and from the very moment we are born , we are tremendously sensitive to the subtle social cues going on all around us . When a group of people assembles together for a collective purpose , and then the room goes quiet and everyone begins breathing deeply and focusing inwardly , it can significantly heighten and intensify the experience .
So if you ’ ve ever felt nervous about doing group hypnosis , remember , the fact that everyone is in a group actually makes your job easier , because the group-mind acts as a powerful amplifier for your words .
2 . Use universal , inclusive , catch-all language patterns
For the hypnotist , group hypnosis offers a great opportunity to practise ‘ catch-all language patterns ‘. This means speaking in a way that each member of the group can respond to , while also allowing for each person ’ s experience of hypnosis to be unique .
For example , imagine you told the group : a ) “ You are now very relaxed .”
This could jar with some people ’ s experience if they weren ’ t feeling very relaxed yet . Instead it ’ s much more effective to say :
b ) “ Maybe you ’ re drifting deeply inside already … or perhaps your conscious mind is focusing on the sound of these words … as your unconscious mind is responding to them without you even realising it yet .”
Similarly , imagine you told them :
a ) “ You are in a beautiful garden … full of flowers … with the gentle hum of bees in the background .”
This might not go down too well with someone who had intense hay fever or a phobia of bees ! Instead , it ’ s much better to be permissive and