How to write a hypnosis script

How to write a hypnosis script

The previous section described how I started the plan for a hypnosis script for a client. On the telephone he told me we wanted to deal with a Nail Biting problem. He also hinted at other issues but these were unspecified.

Before he arrived I blocked out a script outline for the nail biting script, this defines the sections to be covered, each aimed at one particular aspect of the problem. (These are shown below in boxes).

Steps in Script Writing

• Step 1: Lay out the overall therapy session
• Step 2: Identify the target behaviour(s)
• Step 3: Block out the sections needed
• Step 4: Identify the client's unique resources
• Step 5: Write the finished script

Hypnosis Script Block Outline

• INDUCTION
  • Use a standard induction
  • AIM: achieve trance state

• PACING
  • Validate the problem
  • Empathise with the client
  • AIM: Communicate Rapport and Respect

• RECALL PAST SUCCESSES
  • Call up past successes
  • Experience the feeling of success
  •   Party Visualisation
  •   Blessings of important people
  • Anchor that feeling
  • AIM: IDENTITY - Self Esteem
  • AIM: CAPABILITY - "you can change"

• RECALL CONTROL Experiences
  • Call up past control instances
  • Connect to the feeling of control
  • Emphasize personal control
  • AIM: IDENTITY - " you are in control"

• VISUALISATIONS
  • Various ENVIRONMENTS
  • In a Group
  • Respect of friends
  • Pointing and Gesticulating
  • Manipulating Things
  • Picking up coins, thread, sticky tape
  • Holding a glass
  • Focus on Hands
  • Buying a watch, rings
  • Playing cards
  • Using nailfile, cleaning
  • AIM: BEHAVIOUR - situation specific
  • AIM: IDENTITY - "you deserve good nails"
  • AIM: FUTURE - you enjoy using hands
  • AIM: MEMORY - positive associations

• MOUNTAIN METAPHOR
  • Strength, Power
  • Inevitability
  • AIM: CAPABILITY - Inevitable Outcome
  • AIM: PHS - Reminder of Strength

• PLEASURE AND PRIDE
• • Direct Suggestion
  • Indirect Suggestion
  • AIM: IDENTITY - Self Esteem
  • AIM: CAPABILITY - "You can succeed"
  • AIM: EVALUATION - Positive outcomes
  • AIM: RESPONSE - Feel good about self

• POST HYPNOTIC SUGGESTIONS
  • Moving Hand looks huge
  • Like bunch of bananas
  • Like boxing glove
  • Taste aversion
  • Finger tastes revolting
  • Hands are unhygienic
  • Muscular distortion
  • Irresistible Force forces hand down
  • Finger feels huge in the mouth
  • Alternate Behaviour
  • Deep Breathing
  • Release tension
  • Automatic Reward
  • Rush of good feelings
  • Reminder of pride
  • AIM: SENSORY DISTORTION: alter
  •     Vision, taste, touch, muscular, emotion
  • AIM: STIMULUS - Awareness of hand
  • AIM: RESPONSE - Positive Feelings
  • AIM: REPERTOIRE - Replacement Behaviour

• SUMMARY AND RESTATEMENT
• • Direct Suggestions
  • Suggestion Repetitions
  • AIM: IDENTITY - Valuable Person
  • AIM: CAPABILITY - "You can succeed"
  • AIM: REPERTOIRE - New replacement actions
  • AIM: MEMORY - Reconnect to successes

• SELF CONVINCER
• • Get client to commit to the change
  • AIM: IDENTITY - New Person
  • AIM: CAPABILITY - "Convinced I can do it"

• REORIENTATION

The outline above is a general purpose solution to a generic problem. Once I actually met the client I explored how he experienced his problem and I made a note of any resources he had and any beliefs he expressed about his problem. I then used the script outline as the basis for the therapy, talking to the client without reading anything, but following the outline structure and adding specific wordings to match the client's particular experience and resources.

Read the transcript of the session

The session was recorded and transcribed for teaching purposes. The whole script is listed in step 5, with comments explaining what each section and each sentence is doing.