I have just finished up my very first week as an intern hypnotist at the Banyan Hypnosis Center and it has been filled with information! All my life (ok, since I was 11), people have asked me what my parents do, I have been able to say with a smile, "Oh, nothing too interesting. They run their own business." Which was always followed with, "Really? What kind of business?" This of course was my favorite part, "Hypnosis." The response was always something like, "OMG? Really? That is so cool! Have you ever been hypnotized? Is it real? Does it work? Can you hypnotize me??" Of course, at this point I'm thinking to myself, "Wow! Your dad is an accountant? That's so convenient! Does he do your taxes? Do you really have to give that money to the government? Can you do my taxes? Since one's employment is clearly based on genetic coding that we are born with, this is an obvious question." Thankfully, after this past week, I can now smile and say, "Sure... Press on my hand, close your eyes...SLEEP!" Well, something like that, I'm still working on my instant inductions ;)

    Seriously, though, I learned a lot this week about some of the often overlooked parts of a hypnosis session: the pre-hypnosis interview and note taking.  The pre-hypnosis interview is very important because it is the hypnotist's opportunity to learn more about the problem than what is filled out in the intake forms. It is the time to ask about any past hypnosis experiences to know if the client is going to be a "blow-down" or if he is going to be a bit of a challenge (ie.10+ session stop smoker). It is also the time to speak with the client about what changes he wants to make exactly - aim for 3-4 changes, anything else is likely to be overkill and too much to cover, and to determine the benefits (7ish) so that they can be incorporated into the Direct Suggestion. The pre-hypnosis interview is also important for the client because he may have something that he feels that he needs to share with you. At this point, it is important to listen actively and paraphrase key points throughout the conversation, but remember to take it with a grain of salt and not to pay too much attention to what the client thinks is the ISE or SPE, because you'll get to the root in Age Regression. 

    In regards to notes taken before, during, and after the session, it is important to use notation that can be understood by someone else if examined for any reason. Don't just use chicken scratch and assume that in a week, when you look at the file next, you'll be able to understand all of that notation. Make not of any successes (and failures, if any) that occurred during the session like Time Distortion, Eye Lock, Arm Catalypsy, Lost Numbers, etc. Also make not of important milestones in the session: ages regressed, who was forgiven, any agreements etc. This information is useful for yourself in the next session, and if the file is ever called to the courts. 

    After watching a couple of videos of pre-talks and direct suggestion, on Thursday, it was finally time for me to apply what I had learned to a real-life client. After spending hours practicing the scripts aloud to myself and taking notes on exactly what to cover, I was ready (or as ready as I was going to be). My first client came in for weight loss, so she first  filled out paperwork and watched the pre-talk videos on hypnosis and the secret language of feelings, then I welcomed her into my office for her pre-hypnosis interview. During the interview we went over her weight chart (she's only 24, so it wasn't all that long), the benefits for weight loss, which behaviors she'd want to change and I gave her a copy of The Secret Language of Feelings to help tie in the emotional work with weight loss.  (I forgot to ask her about specific dietary changes she wanted to make - Oops!) Then it was time for the hypnosis!

    I took her into hypnosis using the Banyan-Elman Induction, then used the convincers of Eye lock and time distortion and went on to the scripts. I feel like it overall went pretty well for my first session. Of course I forgot a few things like asking permission to touch her and really personalizing the scripts to her exact benefits (Man!  There is so much to know!), but now I have one experience under my belt and I can go on to impove from here.

    I will be sure to update again next week to go over tomorrow's AR session (I'm kinda nervous!) and what I learn from supervision on Wednesday. Have a great week!