Learn to use hypnosis – and bring out your magic

Charles E. Henderson, Ph.D.

With hypnosis you'll tap the amazing powers of your mind and body.

Common Questions (click on the question to go to the answer)

• What's hypnosis good for?
• What is hypnosis, anyway?
• What's the difference between hypnosis and self-hypnosis?
• How do I know it'll work for me?
• How do I get started?
• Who's in control with hypnosis?
• How does it work?
• Do I need willpower to make it work?
• How much does it cost?
• All you'll ever need – in an OUTRAGEOUS OFFER!

What's hypnosis good for?

Most people never use more than about five percent of their mental capacity. We know that. And it is unfortunate. Because the human brain – yours and mine included – is capable of strange and wondrous things.

• There are people who can actually reduce their breathing and heart rates to levels that are undetectable without special equipment.

• There are people who can, after hearing it just once, play long and complicated musical scores without error. Many of these people never had a music lesson in their lives. They just took up the instrument, in some cases at an incredibly young age, and began playing it.

• There are people who can memorize a 400-page book in less than an hour. Some can even do this backward! It has been recorded that some of these savants can give word counts (both total and for specific words) and accurately report on which page a particular word or phrase occurs.

• There are many medically documented cases in which physicians were baffled by people who cured themselves of what were diagnosed as deadly and incurable illnesses (including cancer) without medical treatment.

• There are people who can immediately give the day of the week for any date in history.

• And just one further example (many more could be given): mathematical savants can look at a page crowded with large numbers and almost immediately give the sum of all those numbers. One savant I know of can identify prime numbers, seemingly without limit. We can't match this feat even with a super computer!

So how do these gifted people do such things? No one knows, including themselves. Clearly they use more than five percent of their brains, or at least certain parts of them. And it is well known that hypnosis can move almost anyone in the same direction. Although no one has to my knowledge ever been able to purposefully “learn” to do the more extreme performances such as the above examples, the results of properly used hypnosis can nonetheless be dramatic.

Hypnosis, and especially self-hypnosis for those who are willing to learn it, makes once-impossible achievements possible. People have become slender and healthy after years of failure with every other method and attempt. Lackluster salespeople have become sales giants. Smokers have quit tobacco with ease. To see a brief list of just the more common applications of hypnosis, take a look at the list on the left side of this page.

Several Academy Award winning actors use self-hypnosis to prepare themselves for a role. Many use it to control stage fright. A leading heart surgeon in the Midwest uses it before every surgery. Entire Olympic teams have used it, and more professional athletes than you could guess depend on self-hypnosis.

Everyone can learn to use self-hypnosis. You don't have to be “special” to do it. Anything you want to do or be, you can do or be better and easier with self-hypnosis.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is at once both familiar and mysterious. It's familiar because everyone has had at least some experience with it. (But they might not have known that that's what it was.)

One example of this kind of spontaneous, light hypnosis is the experience of driving in a trance. Almost everyone who drives has had the experience. It usually involves a frequently travelled route, like the way to and from work, for example. When you arrive you have the strange feeling of not being able to remember any part of the trip. You know you did it, but you don't remember having done it.

Even more common is the TV trance. You spend a whole evening watching TV, but the next day you can't remember what you watched. You're pretty sure you didn't fall asleep, but you can't remember any of the details of what you saw.

Then there is the “focused” or “concentrative” kind of trance. With this one you are so into what you are doing that you are aware of very little else. you can probably recall a time when you were in a similar kind of trance state in which you were so focused on what you were doing, you were not aware of other things going on around you.

Can you generate this kind of mental state, when you want to? Yes. It isn't difficult at all. But you do need to know the procedure. And that's why I've written books on SELF-hypnosis – the kind you do yourself. My latest (and, I think, best) is Self Hypnosis for the Life You Want. You can learn more about it by clicking on the book or on “Books, Hypnosis Training” over in the left column.

Most books on hypnosis are either too technical (they leave the ordinary reader stranded in the middle of big words, poor writing, and things that don't apply to the reader). Or they are too bland, say little, and don't give the reader the kind of one-two-three instructions that are required to make self-hypnosis work.

My book shoots for the middle between those two extremes. It is written in the kind of language anyone but the dullest among us can understand. And it is richly layered to take you as deep into the subject as you want to go.

But please don't misunderstand me. This is not a “Hypnosis for Idiots” book. If you truly are an idiot (which I doubt), you won't like my work.

What's the difference between hypnosis and self-hypnosis?

I conducted a number of research projects “back in the day” designed to identify the difference between hypnosis* and self-hypnosis**.

*Hypnosis – more specifically, hetero-hypnosis–was defined as an altered state of awareness brought about through the performance of an induction talk delivered to a subject by an operator.
**Self-hypnosis was defined as an altered state of awareness brought about by a subject who conducted his or her own induction talk (either verbally or silently by thinking through the induction talk) without the presence of anyone else such as an operator.

I looked at everything. Brain wave potentials. Galvanic skin response. Pupillary dilation and response to stimuli. EEG measures. Subcortical stimuli responses. And so on. With none of these measures did any significant difference between hypnosis and self-hypnosis show up.

There were two conclusions from this. First, and most obvious: There is no difference between the two! Less obvious, but just as strong: All hypnosis is self-hypnosis!

Another thing was quite obvious, and that was that subjects learned self-hypnosis much faster and more efficiently when there was an operator helping them in the beginning. Later, subjects could go just as deeply into hypnosis alone, doing their own induction, as they could with the help of an operator doing the induction. But it takes a while to get to that point.

That's why I make my induction talk available on CD and tape. With either one you simply listen to my voice as I lead you through an induction procedure. You learn how to develop hypnosis with my guidance. Later – the amount of time varies from one person to the next – you will be able to develop your hypnotic state by merely “thinking” your way through the induction.

If you would like more information about the Induction CD or tape, please visit the Biocentrix catalog. The inductions on this CD give you a number of options. You can listen with or without subliminals, with or without the Psychosonic Rhythm or, later, when you've learned to do it on your own, you can listen to just the Psychosonic Rhythm by itself while you practice your hypnotic induction.

How do I know it will work for me?

The truth is, hypnosis works for everyone. It is just faster for some than it is for others. And some people are more aware of being hypnotized than others. But everyone can make use of it to achieve their goals and aspirations. It's sort of like planting a garden. You till the soil, add fertilizer or other amendments, plant the seeds, and water regularly. You will never actually see any of the plants growing, but there they are, so they must be growing otherwise you wouldn't see them.

The same is true for hypnosis. You prepare the soil (your mind) with the skill of hypnosis. You plant the seeds (suggestions) and water them (repetition). Gradually the seeds take root and grow – in other words, you begin to see the results of your suggestions.

Whatever you want to achieve, hypnosis can help you get it. In my book I tell you how to do all of these things. Specifically, you learn how to develop and use the hypnotic state. You learn how to formulate and apply suggestions – you can think of suggestions as instructions you give your subconscious mind.

I also have an older book that lots of people have enjoyed. You can learn more about it here. and also here.

How do I get started?

There are a couple of ways you could start. One would be to find a hypnotherapist who will train you, one on one. Going rates around the US these days range from a low of around $75 an hour to a high of $125 an hour or more. The better trainers will also want you to have a book to study (they often recommend mine). You can figure on a minimum of eight sessions, probably more like 12.

So you have a time investment of at least several weeks, probably months, before you begin to see progress. And your financial investment will range from $600 to several times that plus the cost of books and whatever else the therapist wants you to buy.

And keep in mind that, while there are a few good ones, chances are pretty good you will get a bad one. You see, there is no oversight, no license required, so anyone who wants to can set up shop as a “hypnotherapist.” That's why I recommend sticking with licensed psychologists who include hypnosis in their practice. There are not a lot of them. And, you guessed it...there go the rates!

(By the way, stay completely away from package deals, especially those who want you to sign a contract or pay all the money up front. Sometimes these deals run into the thousands of dollars. Stay away from them. Sign nothing. You've been warned!)

On the other hand, you could buy my book and the Induction CD. That is a lot cheaper than having your own therapist. And in many cases, a lot more accurate and comprehensive. If you learn everything in my book, you'll know more than most self-styled “hypnotherapists.” And what you learn from my book will be accurate (I can't stress strongly enough how important that is!).

My latest book and the Induction CD are all you need to get started. And there is a pretty good chance you won't need anything else. Some people who are plagued with stress and tension like to get the Deep Relaxation CD too. But you certainly don't have to get everything. In fact, I prefer that you don't. When you look at the catalog you will see several CDs and tapes available, but most people only need the book and the Induction CD.

Who's in control with hypnosis?

Since there is very little difference between hypnosis (hetero-hypnosis) and self-hypnosis, and since all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, then the answer to this question is you. You are in control when you are using hypnosis. It makes no difference whether someone else does the induction or you do it yourself. You are in control and you can take command anytime you want to (not that there will ever be a time in hypnosis when you are not in command).

How does it work?

A complete, scientific explanation of what we know about how hypnosis works would require a book in itself. And it would still be incomplete. Like so many things human, we don't have all the answers yet.

But that it does work has been known since the time of the early Greeks. That's more than 2,000 years, in case you've lost track of the time.

In a broader, more practical sense, here's how it typically works.

In the beginning you feel a little clumsy when you are trying to induce a hypnotic state. That's natural because it is new to you. Even if someone else is leading the induction, which is certainly easier in the beginning, you will often get in the way of hypnosis by wondering what you should be doing (the correct answer is nothing). And as you begin to notice some sensation associated with the hypnotic state, like, say, a floating feeling, you get distracted. Your attention is drawn to what you are feeling, and your efforts are frustrated. It's sort of like something that moves whenever you try to look at it.

But eventually you begin to settle down and “let” yourself do it.

Even in the beginning you can go through the induction steps (you'll think nothing is happening) and apply suggestions for whatever is it you want. Things like weight control, stress management, personal control in certain kinds of circumstance, quitting smoking, and so on.

You won't think anything is happening, perhaps, but for some reason the suggestions begin to take effect. And the more and longer you do it, the more effective your suggestions become.

Surprisingly, this is the point at which some people quit practicing their self-hypnosis. It's because they don't think the hypnosis is doing anything, that the changes they are experiencing are happening simply because they are such wonderful people and it was just time things started going right for them.

Big mistake! I can't tell you how many times I've heard this story from people. Things started working for them so they quite messing with the hypnosis and the progress they had started making stopped. Probably went back to worse than before.

But I tell you about all this and what to do about it in my book. Read it and you will save yourself a lot of grief and wasted effort.

Do I need willpower to make it work?

Willpower? What's that? Think about it a minute. Just exactly what is this thing called “willpower”? The common conception of willpower is that it is some sort of conscious control over contrary wishes of the mind or body. The illogic of this concept is too long to get into here (I deal with it at some length in my book). Over the years we have pretty much demolished the concept, having found it to be impossible to identify at the research level, and useless as a concept people can really come to grips with.

In other words, there is no such thing as “willpower”.

We all have conflicts, to be sure. Temptations, urges, desires for things we know we should not do, eat, or otherwise yield to. If we resist a temptation, we claim it as a victory of willpower. If we yield we feel guilty because our willpower is weak.

But this is not what is really going on. Once you understand what is going on, and what to do about it, you will be able to completely dispense with the concept of willpower and all of its fallacies. You will be in control – that is, the you that you want to be in control. (See especially the section in my book starting on page 118.)

With self-hypnosis you can forget about willpower. You will be able to make the “good” side of your wants and desires victorious and overcome those darker impulses that take you where you don't want to go.

How much does it cost?

Here's a really great thing about self-hypnosis: You don't have to pay anyone to do it. You do it yourself, and that's always better. For a relatively tiny investment in a book or two and maybe a few CDs or tapes you can save yourself literally thousands of dollars. Take control of your life in ways that have eluded you in the past. Achieve the kinds of things of which you know you're capable. In short, realize your potential! And be the person you know you could be. (You are probably already most of the way there, otherwise you would not be reading this.)

Truly, the cost in dollars and cents for what it will take for you to become good at self-hypnosis is nothing compared to the cost in frustration, failure, and missed opportunity if you do not do it. How can you put a price on good health? On being slender and looking the way you want to? On being able to achieve and perform at ever higher levels?

Of course these things can't be quantified in dollars and cents. But the key to their achievement can be. And I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised.

Because I'm going to make you an offer you quite literally would have to be nuts to pass up.

I know, I know . . . we hear that kind of glib blather all the time. Everyone has something to hawk and they will say just about anything to get you to part with your money. But here's where I'm coming from, and if you'll bear with me I think you'll agree that this is not your typical nostrum hyper-hawked in all of our over-commercialized media: I am in my 60s as I write this, I have for all intents and purposes retired from the psychology field, and – having been outrageously lucky in life – I really don't need your money.

I am telling you this because I'm about to make a statement that we've all heard over and over, and that anyone with a lick of sense has learned to take with a grain of salt. But here it is, and I really mean it: I want you to try this! And I'm going to make you an offer that you would be silly to pass up.

First, here's what you need (and it is all you need) to learn and use self-hypnosis. My latest book, of course (yes, you will have to do some reading). The Hypnotic Induction CD, on which I conduct a hypnotic induction talk (all you have to do is listen). Later, you'll be able to do it on your own without listening to me. And the Deep Relaxation CD, which talks you through a relaxation procedure so effective you'll relax like never before. (Why this is important will become clear to you when you start reading the book.)

Add this up at the regular price and it comes to $69.85.

So here's the outrageous offer . . .

Here's my offer to you (for a “limited time” as they say in the big shot advertising world): I will take 30% off for this package so your price becomes just $49 and change for the softbound book and two CDs (I'm not sure just how the shopping cart rounds off, but the total price will be within a penny or two of $48.90).

Here's what you do to get your 30% off:

STEP 1: Go to the catalog (I'll give you the link below), find the book Self-Hypnosis: For the Life You Want (it's the first item) and click on "Add to Shopping Cart." You'll be taken to the shopping cart where you will see the book listed. Go to the bottom of the shopping cart and click on “Continue Shopping.“

STEP 2: You'll be back at the catalog. Scroll down to the CD titled, Hypnotic Induction. Click on “Add to Shopping Cart” and at the shopping cart click again on “Continue Shopping.“ Alternatively, you could pick the “Hypnotic Induction Talk” tape instead of the CD. Either will work for the discount.

STEP 3: Do the same thing with the Deep Relaxation CD or tape. But don't click the continue shopping button this time. Instead, enter the coupon phrase in the coupon box on the shopping cart. The phrase to enter is just below in a yellow box.

Once you have entered the phrase in the Coupon Code box, click on “Recalculate” and you should see “Coupon Applied” under Quantity and the amount subtracted under Total.

Be sure you've entered your zip or postal code, chosen a delivery method, then click on Checkout to proceed with your purchase.

BY THE WAY, there are no gimmicks involved here. Your information will not be put on a list or anything like that and everything is just as it appears.

As promised, here is the link to the catalog.

Oh, and one other thing. If you are a person who likes to game the system and want to see if the 30% discount will apply to anything else, I'll save you the trouble. It will. We don't have one of those sophisticated do-anything shopping carts so the way we have to do it is to apply the discount as a coupon to any three items. So you can actually pick any three items in the catalog, or three of any one item and still get the discount. But I'm hoping you will take my word for it that the three items I recommend – BOOK, INDUCTION and DEEP RELAXATION – are your best bets.

That's it. Keep on keepin' on, and best of luck.