Recently I’ve had alot of people asking me about ’stuff’ that’s in their head and also expressing their frustration to  what some would call ‘useless’ responses from friends.   Well here’s a little article that I wrote a while back that might shed some light on this subject.   This is not necessarily a complete solution but most people find that following the steps can have a very positive effect on their situation.

It should also be mentioned that NLP is a meta practice and encompasses far more then what was contained in this article. Without further delay here’s the article.  Enjoy!;

 Imagine. You’ve gone to a friend with a concern and they look at you and then tell you ‘It’s all in your mind’ and then they seemingly dismiss your concerns.

Well, they’re right, at least partially. The truth is nearly all our personal concerns are inside our head. While these people’s words have a ‘ring of truth’ to them, dismissing your concerns is rarely helpful. What you really need is a solution, isn’t it?

  So, what is the solution? I’d like to suggest an option called Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). NLP is one of the more recent ‘mind technologies’ and since its origin in 1972 has been making some major changes to the way we look at our lives. Below are steps in the basic outline of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) ‘model of change’. These steps can help with ‘matters of the mind’;  

1)      Imagine with all senses and in GREAT detail what it will be like when the problem is solved.

2)      List the possible solutions to the problem, then take off the critic’s hat and brainstorm more solutions, as many as possible. 

3)      Examine each of these solutions and keep the one(s) that get the same results as described in the first step.

4)      Do a ‘my world check’ - How does each selected solution affect family, work, friends, etc? Which solution(s) work best for EVERYONE?

5)      Finally, imagine living the best solution or solutions out successfully.  Repeat this step several times.  Thinking, Feeling, as though the situation is resolved NOW.

Yes, a lot of problems are ‘all in your head’ and are very real to you, however, problems are only problems when a person can’t see options. Once new options are thought up, the problem becomes an opportunity. Solution focused tools like NLP can certainly make a big difference in getting problems ‘out of mind’ and more importantly, get you focused in a healthier new direction.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from people is ‘how do I choose the right hypnotist for me?’

There are a few factors you should look at when you are selecting a hypnotist.  Below I’ve stated the most pertinent ones;

The hypnotist/ hypnotherapist is current -  Alway make sure that the hypnotist has a valid and upto date certificate (Ask to see it).  With most reputible hypnosis guilds or organization there is a requirement to have a certain amount of hours of continuos learning ensuring that your hypnotist is keeping current with the latest and upto date information in the world of hypnosis.

The hypnotist / hypnotherapist is practicing - It’s usually more effective to find a hypnotist that is doing his/her business on a regular  basis rather then someone who is doing it on a part time basis.  It only stands to reason that someone who is using the skills will be more proficient then someone who has learned it but only practices it occasionally.  A good rule to follow but is not hard and fast rule is: Find a hypnotist that does hypnosis full time rather then part time.

Research his or her Guild or organization -  There are a TON of different organizations out there, some only consisting of one or two people that want to give the appearance of a professional guild.  Learn to discipher which ones are valid and which ones aren’t.  A little bit of research can save you alot of grief afterwards. The largest and most recognized hypnosis organization in the world is National Guild of Hypnotist, more often then not they can direct you to a legitimate organization, even if it’s not their own.

Communicate with your potential hypnotist -  It’s okay to start the communication via email, but it would be a wise idea to speak with him/her over the phone as well.  This does two important things;

1) Let’s you get to know the hypnotist well enough to know that you will at the very least get along with the hypnotist.  Rapport is extremely important when using hypnosis.

 2) It gives you a better opportunity to ask questions about your specific case and their procedure for dealing with it.

Other Skills? - Does your hypnotist utilize any other skill sets to enhance the hypnosis?  There are quite a few other skills that can improve your hypnosis experience.  Skills such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to name a few.  Find out if your hypnotist uses other skills and make sure they are current in them too.

Word of Mouth - Ask around, there are lots of people that have gone or know people that have gone to see a hypnotist and these people will often be willing to share their knowledge or experience about the hypnotist with you.

Things to watch out for;

A hypnotist who is being more then he/she actually is - a hypnotist / hypnotherapist is not necessarily a social worker or psychiatrist or psychologist and they if they’re reputible, they’ll be up front about that.  If they are giving you the impression that they are more than they are and perhaps throwing ‘labels’ around like they are a psychaitrist be weary, be VERY weary. Ask them about their training, qualifications.

Watch out for degrees - There are lots of people with degrees out there, some are valid and some aren’t.  On a side note, just because a person holds a legitamite degree does not necessarily make them a better hypnotist either. Again the most proficient hypnotists tends to be the hypnotist that uses his skills full time to earn a living.

The price - Yes, it’s great to find a bargain but you need to ask yourself what quality of work are they going to be doing inside your mind and what is your mind worth to you?  There are lots of hypnotist out there that are there to grab a quick buck, oh they’ll hypnotize you and you might even be luck enough to get something useful out of it but becareful.  A skilled hypnotist will usually charge around $100 to $200 per session and their sessions will usually be about 1 hour to 3 hours. 

The follow up - Any hypnotist that is worth his wage will have some sort of follow up policy.  My own policy is periodic follow ups for one year after the last session and the client has a choice as to whether they would like or require these follow up calls.  I usually make the calls  2 weeks after the last session,  one month, and every three months after that upto a year.

A hypnotist that guarentees results -  There are no true guarentees for hypnosis.  It is simply another tool that can and often does yield positive results.  Again be weary of the hypnotist that promises you guarenteed results in a one hour  $50 session.  It can happen but more often then not it doesn’t.

Finally!

The most important requirement next to having a valid certification is making sure that you are comfortable with your hypnotist and that you feel that he/she does have your best interest at heart.  Following the above guidelines, can greatly enhance your experience and increase the amount of success you will have!

Welcome to YR Mind InSite new blog.  It is my intent to help provide people with accurate information about Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnosis.   I am a Licensed Trainer of NLP through the Society of NLP and an Instructor of Hypnosis through the National Guild of Hypnosis (NGH).  I plan to post a new topic once every week or two and would like to invite your questions or comments.  The official beginning of this Blog will be on Sunday  March 15th and my topic will be from one of the most asked questions I get ‘How do I choose the right hypnotist for me?’

I look forward to hearing from you