Comments on: Why Hypnosis & NLP Don’t Work

By: Senin

Senin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:18:56 +0000

And that is why, Keith, I said that you hit the nail on the head.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:20:25 +0000

Yes, it’s called anecdotal evidence. It’s not the strongest form of proof to be sure. But I doubt that there have been double-blind studies looking into what role belief plays in the effectiveness of NLP & hypnosis. If anyone knows any different, I’d love to hear about it.

The client’s motivations are likely driven by a belief. Whether or not that makes it more difficult to help them change has more to do with whether that belief affects their willingness to change or not. As an example; I’ve had clients who don’t fully participate when I’ve asked them to do something simple.

That means you may have to work outside of consciousness–which can be a challenge.

For me, I have rarely had a session go the way I expect it. I’ll sometimes have an idea of what pattern I might use on a presenting problem before the client comes in but that almost always gets thrown out of the window as I gather more information. I’ve written lots of articles here about working with process as opposed to content. It helps avoid the trap of looking in the book for patterns that are supposed to help a particular problem.

I just did a presentation on beliefs the other day. And I’ve recently changed a lot of my own beliefs I felt were getting in my way. Beliefs are fluid. They change. So to me, whether or not a particular belief prevents an NLP or hypnosis process from working is not a critical issue. If it does–change it.

Keith

By: Senin

Senin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:26:12 +0000

Evidence?! LOL. “I’ve seen……” Ancedotal.

I actually agree with you. I think a client’s unconscious motivations (which is almost the whole game) is a form of a belief. And, of course, a practitioner’s skill is almost everything. Unfortunately, most are very unskillful. Here is the pattern I have seen: oh, you have this problem, let me look it up in my book, here is my strategy, and here is your therapy. Lame.

Perhaps there are times that folks who thought their problems were too big, got their problems solved by NLP or hypnosis. But I would wager that they are the exceptions, rather than the rules.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:33:34 +0000

Senin,
What’s your evidence? I’ve certainly seen people who thought their problems were too big for NLP or hypnosis who got their problems solved by NLP or hypnosis. I’ve also seen folks that expressed the greatest belief in NLP & hypnosis but didn’t get results in that moment.
I do believe belief is a factor but it’s not the whole game, by any means. I think the client’s unconscious motivations and the practitioner’s skill in taking those in to account are much more important.
Keith

By: Senin

Senin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:58:37 +0000

“I guess my mind is too strong for this.” It’s what you equate with the experience.

If someone believes they are stronger than hypnosis or NLP and it won’t work, then it won’t. If someone believes that hypnosis or NLP is the greatest thing in the world than it will work. Or, if someone believes the problem they have is too big for hypno or NLP to fix, then it will be.

A lot of beliefs are involved.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:30:31 +0000

No, it’s not about belief. How specifically, did I hit the nail on the head?

By: Senin

Senin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:58:06 +0000

Very interesting. I think you have hit the nail on the head. I have experienced this. No of the NLP crap works for me. Why? I don’t believe it will. What does that mean?

Ahhh, is it about belief?

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:24:08 +0000

Pete,
Certainly an interesting interpretation of what I wrote.
Keith

By: Pete Butcher

Pete Butcher — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:00:37 +0000

So if the guy closes his eyes and falls back it means he’s in a trance?? No it means he’s closed his eyes and fallen back. Ah, so he resists, his body does it but his mind does not, there’s something deep seated etc etc etc. Been there and done it all m8. Gone through with it all, earnestly wanted it to work, to be, let my mind go, relax etc etc etc. There is NO trance. If I want I can open my eyes, I can get up, be ‘normal’. I may choose to stay lying down but the actual ‘hyponosis’ and talking to the subconscious etc has absolutely no effect whatsoever.
Do I think my mind is too ‘strong’? No! Do I not want to be hyponotised? No! It just plain does not work for me and I think the therapist who follows the line that it is the fault of the patient that s/he cannot be hypnotised is on very dodgy ground indeed.

By: Doctor Regal

Doctor Regal — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:42:12 +0000

Utilize what emerges and voilà.