Milton Model NLP Conversational Hypnosis

CONVERSATIONAL HYPNOSIS SUGGESTIONS

The following examples of indirect hypnotic words and phrasing used in conversational hypnosis illustrate how the Milton Model of hypnotic suggestion is carried out. Each heading describes how conversational hypnosis works, and gives examples of that form of hypnotic wording as used in conversational hypnosis scripts.

Cause and Effect implied

The therapist makes a statement that implies that one thing causes another, or states that one thing is true, therefore the next thing must be true. The statement may be untrue, or there may be no direct link between the one thing and the other.

You can identify an implied cause and effect statement by asking 'Does A really lead to B?'.

Complex Equivalence

This is where a Milton Model suggestion is given that one thing is the same as or equivalent to some other thing. It isn't that one thing causes another, but the implication that because one thing is true the other thing must be true.

You can identify a complex equivalence by substituting 'is the same as' for the linking verb, whereas the word 'causes' does not fit.

Conversational Postulate

A conversational postulate is a question which, on the face of it, requires a Yes or No answer, but which is really demanding a specific behavior. 'Could you pass me the cream?' is a request for action, not an enquiry about ability. 'Do you really have to stand there?' is a request for someone to move. Similarly, questions can be posed in hypnosis that are really instructions.

Conversational questions can be tested by trying a 'yes/no' answer to see if it fits.

Embedded Commands

Direct commands can be embedded within ordinary conversation. This is the essence of a conversational induction, or covert hypnosis induction. For example the therapist could begin a conversation with

'I can see that you are comfortable lying there, relaxing in that chair, quietly confident, looking so comfortable as if you are ready to just let things go and relax while I talk about this and that and you know, you don't have to think, you don't have to listen to me or do anything really except relax and allow you mind to drift away like a small child snuggling comfortably down in a warm quiet place, slowing down, more at ease and more relaxed...' and so on.

Embedded commands are usually indicated by some form of analogical marking, for example by speaking louder or looking directly at the client while using a particular tone of voice.

Extended Quotation

If you attribute a suggestion to someone else this can avoid a lot of resistance from the client. By using one or more levels of quotation you can say almost anything to the client, and will probably confuse the unconscious mind in the process, making the suggestion more likely to be accepted.

Lost Performative

A suggestion is presented to the subconscious stating that some opinion is true, but does not say how it known to be true, or who is saying it. The therapist intends that the subconscious will accept the statement as being self evident and not ask for proof. Examples include

You can always test for a lost performative statement by asking 'Says Who?'.

Mind Reading

The Milton Model designs the suggestion as if knowing what the client is thinking or feeling, when the reality is that the therapist has no way of knowing what the client is thinking. Examples include

You can identify a mind reading statement by asking 'How can you know that?'.

Modal Operator

These are phrases that use words that imply things could happen or must happen. Typical Milton Model operators include words such as 'can, should, must, might, could, would, will'. Modal operators might be the most commonly used hypnotic form.

A modal operator can usually be recognized if it makes sense to add ...'or maybe not' to the end of the statement.

Negative Suggestions

Negative suggestions are similar to conversational postulates in that they ask for one thing but really expect a different behaviour. The Milton Model works because the unconscious mind does not deal with negatives well, and tends to ignore the words 'don't and not' and instead focuses on the object of the sentence. The sentence 'Don't think of a kangaroo' must bring out a memory of a kangaroo before it can be not thought of, so negative questions can be used to give positive commands.

Nominalizations

The Milton Model is all about using words in an 'artfully vague' way. A nominalisation is a word formed from a process. For example, the verb 'to restrict' can be nominalised into the noun 'restriction'. The word restriction is then treated as if it is a 'thing' and the fact that it refers to a ongoing process is forgotten. By using the nominalisation the thing is treated as if it is over and done with, when in fact the process may still be going on. Nouns ending in '-ship', '-ment', '-ion' or '-ings' are often nominalisations, for example 'relationship', 'annulment', 'learnings', 'decision'. By treating the word as a noun, the fact that you are asking the person to go through a process is hidden.

You can test for a nominalisation by asking of a noun, 'could it be put in a bag?' Nominalisations are abstractions and have no physical form so cannot be bagged.

Non Sequitur

A Milton Model non sequitur is a statement presented in the form of 'cause leads to effect', A > B, but where there is in fact no logical connection between A and B. The structure of the statement fools the listener by starting with a statement of something that is true and then specifying an outcome that does not logically follow.
Getting the client to focus on their breathing has nothing to do with relaxation, but by stating something that is true, that they are focusing on their breathing, the mind is distracted into accepting the second part, that they can relax, without examining the causal link between them.

These can be identified by testing 'Oh, really? And how does that work?'

Presuppositions

A Milton Model presupposition talks about the consequences of something and deliberately avoids mentioning the underlying concept. The suggestion starts from an assumption that thing is true and then discusses the consequences of that thing being true. By focusing on the consequences whether the thing is true or not is ignored and never tested.

A supposition may be present if the statement makes more sense when you add "I suppose" at the end of it.

Inanimations

These are Milton Model statements that assign feelings or actions to things that cannot have any. Technically these are called Selectional Restriction Violations. A sofa cannot think, a plant cannot talk, but sentences can be constructed that sound that way and because our minds are specially tuned to metaphor, this type of suggestion will be accepted by the unconscious.

Selectional restrictions are always a form of metaphor .

Tag Question

These are Milton Model questions that encourage the client to confirm the truth of the words immediately preceding, aren't they? If you read that question again, its almost impossible not to say 'Yes', isn't it? It's always good to get the client into a positive frame of mind, I'm sure you would agree? If the tag question is delivered with a descending tone of voice, it reinforces the statement and discourages dissension.

Tag questions are self evident, don't you think?

Truism sets

A Truism is a statement of the obvious. In the Milton Model truisms are used in sets to produce a spurious cause and effect. The client listens to the first truism statement, and agrees with it. The client listens to the next truism, and agrees with that too. The next suggestion is then made while the agreement with the truism is still in mind, so it too will be accepted as true, even if it has nothing to do with the first statements. An example of a truism set might be

You can identify a truism set by asking 'Yes, A is true, and B is true, but how does that make C true?'.

Universal Quantifier

The Milton Model uses statements with words such as 'all, every, always, never, any, everybody, nobody, no one' that act to generalize a particular statement. Universal quantifiers always have an element of exaggeration.

You can identify a universal quantifier by querying the quantifier, e.g. 'Every word, absolutely every word?'.

Unspecific Comparison

A typical Milton Model statement will use words to imply something, and relies on the mind being too busy listening to the next words to really question the truth or logic of the what was just heard. In a classic Milton Model statement, a comparison is made, but does not specify what is being compared with.

An unspecified comparison can be identified by asking '----er than what?'.

Unspecific Object

These are words that sound good but are actually quite vague. Milton Model words such as 'learnings, outcomes, resources, findings, consideration' etc., can be used to ground almost anything, which makes the suggestion bullet proof. By using inclusive words the client finds closure from their own resources. If you agreed with the previous sentence you might want to re-read it, and consider whether it means anything at all.

Listen carefully to any politician avoiding a sticky issue for a lesson in how to say nothing using unspecified verbs, nominalisations and unspecified objects.

Unspecific Verb

Like the Milton Model unspecific objects, Milton Model verbs sound good but are hard to pin down. The unconscious mind accepts the word in context and supplies its own meaning. Words such as 'wonder, change, understand, think, feel' etc., are non-specific and can apply to anything.