Some people have a real affinity for numbers and won't let go of them
no matter what you suggest. This would include people like accountants
and bookkeepers. Their livelihood depends on numbers. Other people
just aren't willing to "forget" things. A couple of things you might
try and see if they enhance your success. First, when explaining to
them what I want them to do, I always tell my clients, "It's okay to
let the numbers go because they will be there for you later when you
need them. That won't be a problem at all, so it's okay to let them
disappear only for the purpose of relaxing your mind". Another thing
you might try is switching from numbers to the alphabet. Some people
find it easier to let go of letters of the alphabet than numbers.

There are other, more subtle ways, to get the amnesia. The beautiful
thing about the Elman is that it includes a built in test so that you
know you have it. The other methods require you to test for it
separately.

Another suggestion is that you might check out some of the modified
Elman inductions. For example, I always have my client count up from
one instead of down from 100. When they count down, they can have a
goal in mind (count all the way to one). However, by counting up they
could theoretically count to infinity, so there is no potential goal
for the "over-achievers" you may be working with. I also never tell
them at what number they will disappear. This again issues a challenge
and if it doesn't happen then gives the appearance of failure. I
simply say, "After just a very few numbers, you'll find that they rest
of the numbers begin to float and drift and fade away into nothing,
nothing, nothing."

One last thought. Since this is a close friend, if she knows that you
are new to hypnotism and inexperienced it is going to be much more
difficult for her to see you as an expert. Therefore, she may be much
more hesitant to follow your suggestions no matter what they are.
Exude confidence! Remember, compared to her You Are the expert!

Hope this helps, or a least gives you something to think about!

Johnie Fredman
www.heartlandhypnosisservices.com

On Jan 9, 2009, at 1:55 PM, aura200870 wrote:

> My wife and I are new to Hypnosis. We are presently doing the Omni
> home course. We had our first client, a dear friend of ours that has
> a problem with pain in her legs. We believe that we will be primarily
> doing the regression to cause once we finish our course and are
> pretty excited about our future in hypnotherapy.
> Before we started the session I gave her a pre talk and then
> proceeded to use the Elman induction. Everything seemed to be going
> good until I got to willing the numbers away. The first time I told
> her that after the number 98 she would forget but she went right on
> counting 98,97,96,95 in her regular voice. I then did the arm drop
> method and told her when her arm drops she would go twice as deep
> into relaxation and then some refractioning and then went back to the
> numbers and she still could not will them away. At this point I
> emerged her and decided to do a quick induction followered by a 10 to
> 1 deepening count with eye testing and arm drop which seemed to work
> fine. I went back to the numbers and she just kept on counting after
> the number that I set for her. I emerged her again and we talked
> about what had happen. I then proceeded with another rapid induction
> but she was anticipating everything I was going to say. We ended the
> session and I told her I would see her next week in the mean time do
> some research as to what I could have done better. Not telling her
> that she did anything wrong. Actually we figured for our education it
> would be better to have a tough case first.
> What I think happen is that she just would not or could not listen or
> follow what I was saying. Especially when I gave her the last rapid
> induction having her push down on my hand while I pushed up and also
> having her stare at the point between my eyes, well she was going
> into trance before I said sleep and not pushing up on my hand even
> though I was constantly telling her to push down she was defiantly
> anticipating my moves. Any feed back would be great, thanking you all
> in advance.
>
>
>



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