To communicate successfully you need to go through the following stages. They are:

1. Absorption of information from an external source by listening or reading, etc,

2. Interpretation or understanding the meaning of the information, and

3. Reaction to the stimuli through behavior, to express your emotions.

The first step is made possible with the help of the sense organs such as the eyes, ears, etc, to detect the information and the external data provided to us from a particular source. The absorption of information from an external source can be called as an objective process.

The second stage is passed by the use of the brain and the network of nerves to effectively analyze and understand the external data in the form of sounds, colors, pictures, etc, and interpret it as accurately and as precisely as possible in the shortest span of time. Interpretation of data is also called as a subjective process.

The third step is to effectively communicate the interpretation of the analyzed data through physical actions, language, gestures, etc. The reaction to a particular situation may vary from person to person as it is composed of an objective and as well as a subjective process.

Certain situations have a positive outcome while some other situations may not necessarily have a positive result. Behaviorists explain communication as a pattern wherein you understand a particular situation or a stimuli and react to it subjectively.

Freudian psychoanalysis explains that we respond to the external data or situations presented to us on the basis of our past experiences. Psychoanalysis considers the interpretation of the external stimuli as the most important aspect of communication whereas behaviorists completely define communication as a series of mechanical stimulus-response pattern and they do not believe in the interpretation aspect of communication.

Hence, according to behavioral psychologists we react to situations and to data similar to a computer program. The importance of the mind and consciousness in communication has only been recently acknowledged in scientific psychology which is a strange piece of fact to believe.

Humans communicate effectively through various forms of communication. Some of the forms of communication through which humans communicate are through letters, messages, phone calls, personal face to face conversation, glances, paper publications and physical contact, through sex, scale through seminars, technical conferences, local and national newspapers, press releases, books, etc,.

The use of technology like the internet has helped in the advancement of communication and has made communication easy, fast and reliable. Emails, forums, blogs and networking have improved communication to a great extent in today’s world.

Communication has grown to be an indispensable aspect of our modern lives. Though communication has grown to a great extent in today’s world, yet there is a difference between the ideas communicated and the ideas perceived.

This is called as the communication gap. It can be avoided if all input parameters such as all verbal, non verbal, indirect and direct elements of communication are properly understood and perceived. In the personal as well as in the business front, communication does not necessarily rely on verbal ideas and suggestions but also on the body expressions and the way you present yourself before others to achieve a particular outcome or result.

The communication gap can prove to be very dangerous to communication. The use of technology such as the internet and telephone has made reaction to the stimuli a different experience. However, interpretation of the stimuli is a very important aspect of communication and it helps us to understand better the external data such as sound, picture, etc, based on our past experiences.

Conversational hypnosis is basically the process of hypnotizing a person without actually putting the person into hypnotism. It can be a great tool to get people’s attention. It gives you the ability to establish trust or rapport with the person, enabling you to communicate your feelings clearly.

Rapport is defined as the process of being synchronized with another person subconsciously. Establishing rapport is critical for proper communication because it will take you a long way in gaining the trust of the person you are communicating with.

This is not like normal hypnosis, it doesn’t involve hypnotizing the subject, everything happens subconsciously within the conversation. Conversational hypnosis involves Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). One important aspect of NLP and conversational hypnosis are three representational systems. They are visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Visual

This system basically defines the kind of person who gravitates towards their visual field. Some people may be more in tune with their visual field. When something is explained to them, they are very good at imagining those things in their heads and later when recalling that conversation, a mental image will pop up in their minds. Artists and musicians fall into this category.

Auditory

Auditory deals with the people who depend upon their auditory sense. They are more used to sounds. They would try and associate things with sounds and words. People who are in tune with sounds often say “sounds good” or “I hear what you are saying”.

Kinesthetic

This system is associated with people who rely on their sense of touch. When talking to a person of this category, he might say “hold on” when they are asking you to wait. Sculptors represent this group. The sense of touch is able to appeal to anybody’s representational system thereby enabling you to establish a decent level of trust. It gives the subject a feeling that you are there for him and you understand his feelings.

Once that kind of trust is established, he is more likely to listen to you. There are two ways to hypnotize a person subconsciously. It is discussed in the following section.

Utilizing The Mirroring Method

This method works like a mirror, imagine that you are in front of a mirror, then slowly raise your left hand, the image will raise its right hand. In mirroring method you are actually mirroring another person to establish rapport with that person.

You can hypnotize someone subconsciously by mirroring him. Try to imitate the way he behaves. For example: If he is sitting with his right leg crossed, then you must sit with your left leg crossed, this sends a message that you are like him and this happens subconsciously.

Another way of mirroring someone is to mirror their breathing pattern. Imitate their breathing rhythm. There is a technique called cross-over mirroring. In cross-over mirroring you will be able to mirror someone’s breathing without altering your breathing pattern.

In this, if you want to mirror breathing, you can tap your finger or pen using the same rhythm as their breathing. You must do this very carefully otherwise you might get spooked. This technique requires tremendous amount of practice. Doing it too fast can get you spooked or doing it too late will not let you establish rapport.

Exercise your skills and try it on your friends. If you have patience, you can certainly master this skill.

Hypnosis is a ‘cooperative interaction’ between the hypnotist and the participant. It is normally induced by a method called ‘hypnotic induction’. This process involves the participant’s response to a series of suggestions or instructions from the hypnotist.

While the use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is known as ‘hypnotherapy’, its use as a popular type of entertainment is called ‘stage hypnosis’. Hypnotherapy has been in use for long as ‘folk medicine’ as well as conventional medicine. It has been established clinically that this technique can be effective in reducing pain and anxiety.

Hypnosis is not a single technique; but consists of many different methods. Research studies have shown that hypnosis has to be dovetailed to suit individual requirements. Most of these techniques bring the subject to a trance state away from the normal conditions.

In one typical form of hypnosis, the hypnotist brings the subject to a trance state and makes him feel relaxed. When the participant is in such a relaxed and sub conscious condition, the hypnotist will be able to elicit a lot of information from him through a series of commands and suggestions.

This process will enable the therapist to assess the mental state of the individual and form an opinion, based on the physical and mental condition of the individual, on how the subject should respond to several specific problems in his life. The guidelines the therapist provides the subject are always positive.

The objective is to make the subject feel relaxed when he comes back to his normal state and should be free from his predicaments. As this is the oldest type of hypnosis, most of the therapists adopt this method. Although some people try this technique for evil purposes, hypnosis is very useful and effective if it is carried out by an expert.

In order to achieve a trance state, the subject has to pass through four stages, such as ‘pre-hypnosis stage’, ‘visual images stage’, the third stage consisting of suggestions of hypnotist or therapist and finally, ‘awareness level’. When the awareness stage is reached, the patient will be at ease and free from all his problems.

The other types of hypnosis originated only from the conventional hypnotism. One interesting approach would be to adopt the ‘Ericksonian hypnotherapy’. Milton Erickson developed this form of hypnosis between 1960s and ‘70s and hence this innovative technique is named after him.

According to therapists, this is the best method to bring the patient to the subconscious state and regulate his mind in that condition. The doctors assert that this technique ensures more positive results than any other type of hypnosis. With the help of similes or symbols, doctors produce varied reports for the benefit of the patient.

The therapists adopting the Ericksonian technique will be able to reach easily the subconscious state of the individual. The metaphors passed on to the participant are intended to suggest him to follow a particular course of action to overcome his problems.

The metaphors cross the boundaries that existed when the patient was in conscious state and penetrate into the subconscious mind. In the final stage he will be in a position to interpret the metaphors and follow their suggestions. The Ericksonian hypnotherapy is also known as ‘the secret hypnotherapy’ or’ the conversational hypnotherapy’.

The interesting aspect of this technique is that the participant will not be even aware that he is being subjected to hypnosis. Out of several types of trances, the neuro-linguistic programming or the NLP hypnotherapy is regarded as the most innovative technique. As the name implies, the technique involves’ programming’, ‘linguistic’ and ‘neuro science’.

Moreover, this technique demonstrates the entire process of trance. The programming means the extent to which the individuals derive what is required. Linguistic represents non-verbal communication and signs. Neuro specifies the nerve process.

The NLP trance works well primarily because of the relationship between actions, words and insights and overall what happens. This technique enables the individuals to understand their inclinations under particular situations and how they may cope up with them.

Learning Milton Erickson’s Hypnosis Techniques

Do you want to learn the hypnosis method developed by Milton Erickson to improve your communication skill? If you do, check out the Conversational Hypnosis program home study course developed by Igor Ledochowski.

Ledochowski has spent years studying the Ericksonian hypnosis techniques and has now become a renowned hypnosis trainer. In his program, he will show you the step by step process of influencing people by using nonverbal communication. Click on the link below to visit the Conversational Hypnosis web site right now.

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