Mike said: I'm hoping that your book will not give advice that you
just got from your reading of other books!

Its not a book on hypnosis. What I intend to do in one section is
link hypnosis with other valuable life-changing methodologies but I
need to become more knowledgeable first before I can speak for it.
Years ago I tried regression therapy with a rookie and it was a real
learning experience as he was so incompetent. After years of
maturity, meditation and self study I have found that regression
therapy and hypnosis is much easier. In other words the hypnosis
approach has definitely worked but figuring out why and how is
proving to be difficult. I can see that the difference between then
and now is that I can more easily reach a deep, relaxed state with my
mind and my body. (deeper trance?) My focus and suggestibility has
definitely increased along with time and practice.

But from what I am hearing and reading I can assume that trance depth
is not a factor as much as I thought. One guy just told me that he
was giving a seminar to a group of experienced hypnotherapists and
asked about depth and the response he got was something like
this. "After shrugging of shoulders, "any old trance will do. " His
response was "then why hypnotize them at all? Just read them a
script."

In the past few years there have seen some bestsellers on self-
hypnosis that seem to proselytize the wonderful healing powers that
it provides, essentially degrading the hypnotherapist as an
unnecessary expense. But am I wrong in feeling that this trend is a
shallow approach to therapy? So I see one differentiation between
self-hypnosis and traditional hypnosis as an issue of trance depth.

From my layman perspective I can assume that what distinguishes
hypnosis from "Psyche counseling" or talking to a friend about one's
problems is TRANCE. What else could be the distinguishing
characteristic of hypnotic therapy from the long list of other
therapeutic methodologies? Attribute it to my naiveté' if you will
but it seems that there is a void here. Not trying to put anyone on
the spot either guys. Just trying to clarify hypnosis for myself.

And thanks for your responses, Mike, Mike, Bryan and others in
private. This seems to be a wonderful, professional group of
grownups. :)

Kind regards,
Marty Sorenson