Question:
How do you usually approach the topic of hypnosis with people? I’m interested in recreational hypnosis because it’s fun and I find it interesting how differently people can react to the same suggestions.
One of my friends seems like she might be quite suggestible (vivid dreams, good eye contact, things like that), but I have no idea how to even bring it up without it coming across as weird or awkward. There’s also so much misinformation around hypnosis that I’m worried about how it’ll be perceived.
I know the obvious answer is to explain expectations and what hypnosis is vs what it isn’t, but before even getting to that point, do you have any practical advice on how to introduce the idea in a way that feels natural and non-intimidating for both people?
Answer:
It’s what I do for a living, so introducing hypnosis to people comes up that way quite frequently. I also have a few different hypnosis-themed lapel pins and cufflinks, and they often initiate a conversation on the topic. Clothing can be a surprisingly effective conversation starter. I rarely wear T-shirts nowadays, but when I did, if I wore a shirt with something hypnosis-related on it, people would often ask about it.
I also perform magic and mentalism on stage, and talking to people after the show, I’m quite often asked if I can hypnotise people. I almost never perform hypnosis (real or pseudo) in my act, but as mentalism deals with the mind and ‘mental powers’ people often make the connection themselves.
The main way I bring the topic up though is by just saying so. For example if someone mentions they have arachnophobia (or whatever), I’ll ask, “Have you considered hypnotherapy for that?” I’d strongly advise against trying to force every conversation you are in onto your pet subject of hypnosis, but if the situation fits and it could seed a genuinely interesting conversation, go for it.
I’m also known to be a hypnotherapist, so quite often if it comes up in other people’s conversation, I’ll get called across to explain/debunk/whatever as well.
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