My Hypnosis Year In Review, Part 1

I've got a bit of spare time today, so in the spirit of sharing, reflection, gratitude, and the promise of a new year, I want to jot down the milestones of my year (or, for this post, this first half of the year) in hypnosis and related areas (or at least as many of these as I can consciously recall). For any who care to read this, some items might be a bit cryptic to you, so feel free ask any questions you might have.

January

I did a group smoking cessation session in tandem with acupuncurist Diana Rose Bridges. Diana is also a yoga instructor and she ran the participants through some simple pranic breathing exercises following the initial trance which helped reinforce things nicely. I continue to learn and incorporate many of these ideas. Diana has since relocated back to her homeland of Canada, where I'm sure she is doing wonderful things with clients and friends.

For the Austin hypnosis meet-up I also presented the first of a three-part discussion and demo of some of the elements of hypnosis I use with clients to create behavioral change. The framework was "Smoking Cessation and Habit Change" and I think I benefitted as much as any of the other coaches, hypnotists, and hypno-curious there, simply by having to map out things that I usually do intuitively.

January also marked my official certification as an NLP Practitioner. Tom Best, with assistance from his wife Bobbi and many skilled NLP veterans from Texas made this a wonderful experience, allowing me to integrate many years of study of these skills and techniques into my life in and out of practice.

Finally, I began a 12-week study course led by Keith Fail in which we applied the techniques and method detailed in Norcross, Prochaska, and DiClemente's (fairly dry) book. Keith fleshed this out with NLP processes and other coaching techniques he has acquired over the last 20 years, making for another great opportunity for self-learning as well as providing practical tools for use with clients.

February

In addition to working with private clients, I did part 2 of "Smoking Cessation and Habit Change." I also attended what was to be (for now) my final meeting of an NLP persuasion SIG. All of the participants of this group are masterful at persuasion and helping others become more persuasive, and we continue to stay in touch.

While I made the choice to focus on endeavors other than music this year, I did see a brief flurry of musical activity with my partner in song Jonathan Howard as our duo The Pandemics played a few shows in February.

Finally, Dave Dobson passed away. While I have owned the Beach Tape for quite a while, I had just begun to learn about this fascinating man's work and Funshops when the news arrived. Rumor has it that the NLP six-step reframe is largely borrowed from Dobson's work, but rumor aside, it's clear that John and Richard both modeled Dobson as well as employed his services to teach aspiring practitioners hypnosis.

March

The third and final installation of "Smoking Cessation and Habit Change" was presented with much panache and rejoicing. At this point, I had been passed the baton of the hypnosis meet-up and began making plans to move to a new South Austin venue for the group.

On the University front (I am wrapping up my Bachelor's in Psychology on the 23-year plan) I began researching my final paper for my History and Systems of Psychology class. The topic? The history of mind-body research and practice in psychology. Yes, hypnosis was covered very much in-depth as was assorted aspects of landmarks in ideomotor research.

April

My first presentation at Austin NLP. I covered the Swish pattern, starting with the classic "color-distance" swish, and concluding with Robert McDonald's kinesthetic swish. I really like McDonald's break state in his pattern, which uses the metaphor of a warm, gentle summer rain washing away the existing state.

I'm pretty sure I also did a private party and demo this month...records are unclear but I know I kept busy.



May

My birthday month (Hook 'em Horns!).

At the hypnosis meet-up we christen our new venue by introducing the attendees to joys of taking a trip to the Beach with the late Dave Dobson. Lots of blissed-out faces and appreciation for his masterful use of language.

At Austin NLP I take up the mantle of president for the group. The previous leaders, Keith Fail and Katie Raver, are good friends, peers, and colleagues, whose advice and company I enjoy greatly. Austin NLP would not be what it is without their energy and and effort, and it was time for them to apply that power elsewhere. They continue to offer great support for the group by attending and giving feedback.

I won't claim continued success for this group as my own, but rather it is due to the support of the entire Austin NLP leadership team and the grunt work of a handful of steadfast volunteers including my sweetie Kathleen, and good friends Jason Dixon and Miranda Sterling. Still, I'm grateful for the opportunity and the learning and new friends it has afforded me.

I turn in my History and Systems paper and get full marks for the effort. My professor is quite impressed and fascinated with the empirical evidence for somatic change via hypnosis.

May also led to a Memorial Day Weekend trip which, entirely by chance, led me to reconnect with a couple of hypnosis acquaintances from the Northwest.

June

I present a group class on enhancing intimacy and sexual pleasure using hypnosis. This isn't my first rodeo regarding this subject (it's one I have experienced great success with in individual and group sessions). While most of the couples leave quite satisfied (if you know what I mean!), I get my first-ever request for a refund from one couple following this class. Ironically, it's the couple with whom I spent the most individual time. Big learnings here:

1) Trust your intuition in a group setting. If there's someone who is clearly not receptive, go ahead and refund at the start the session to get the energy right for the group.

2) CYA with a statement along the lines of "While I have great success in these group classes, this type of hypnosis activity may not be for everyone. So, it's completely okay if you're not up for enjoying this experience today." I've since done some proactive statements along those lines in a group setting and I find it actually enhances the group rapport and buy-in.

I also start a monthly hypnosis and support group for weight management and physical fitness. It's a great value for the attendees and helps build my client base and referrals. As a value-add, I include a free review CD as part of the monthly package. This builds my library of products and engages reciprocity when they get it in the mail. I also discover how much fun it is to make these recordings using Audacity!

At the June hypnosis meet-up I start a new three-parter entitled "Communicating Hypnosis." These classes are designed to introduce the interested into using basic hypnosis concepts in an experiential setting.