| The whole idea of eye fixation has some merit. | | | | represented as well, it's not always a watch or |
| It's true that concentration and focus are key | | | | pendulum, but all have the same basic premise, |
| ingredients in achieving hypnosis. And eye fixation | | | | which is that eye fixation is the route to achieving |
| was in fact used commonly, decades ago, in | | | | that hypnotic state. In the movies it's always |
| inducing hypnosis. The desired state of a hypnotic | | | | done in such a way that it suggests an element |
| subject is to have them completely relaxed, eyes | | | | of strangeness, or mystery, almost fear. |
| closed, so that their focus is internal, rather than | | | | I personally believe that there is a strong |
| external. To really shut out the external channels, | | | | connection between the eyes and the brain. But I |
| you need to eliminate your visual sense | | | | don't think eye fixation is necessary to induce |
| temporarily, your external visual sense that is. | | | | hypnosis. In fact I know that it is not. I've |
| Eliminate what you see on the outside, so that | | | | induced hundreds of clients to various levels of |
| you can focus on what you see inside your own | | | | hypnotic depth without the use of any visual |
| psyche. So that means having your eyes closed. | | | | concentration off the top. None of our |
| Eye fixation achieves this. It helps someone's | | | | recordings dictate any kind of eye fixation, either. |
| eyes to become tired, and eventually close. A | | | | It's a method that hasn't been used in years. In |
| hypnotist might ask a client to focus on any | | | | fact, rather than advancing the hypnotic state, it |
| specific object or point in the room. Obviously | | | | actually takes longer to achieve it when you use |
| something above eye level will tire the eyes more | | | | eye fixation because you are starting with the |
| quickly, and that's the whole point of using eye | | | | eyes open. Most current methods of induction |
| fixation. | | | | simply require that the client start by closing their |
| Some clients expect that I will ask them to look | | | | eyes. This essentially bypasses that whole stage, |
| straight into my eyes during an induction, or that I | | | | the whole process of getting the eyes to shut. |
| will produce some sort of visual tool like a | | | | We skip right over that and go straight to vocal |
| swinging watch to induce hypnosis and begin their | | | | induction with eyes already closed, thereby |
| therapy session. I personally do not usually employ | | | | achieving hypnosis much more quickly and deeply. |
| this method of induction. The theory that there | | | | There are many different methods of induction. |
| needs to be complete visual focus in order to | | | | Verbal induction can sometimes include what I call |
| achieve hypnosis is essentially false. It doesn't get | | | | the internal external experience, to help with |
| you there any faster nor does it induce a deeper | | | | hypnosis. This is where I might suggest to my |
| state of trance. In the event a client expects to | | | | client during induction that he should concentrate |
| be subjected to that visual focus, or believes it | | | | on how the palm of his hand feels, for example, |
| will help in some way, I do carry around | | | | as he listens to my voice. No matter the |
| something in my briefcase, which I have in fact | | | | approach, the common practice in inducing |
| used once or twice. | | | | hypnosis is progressive relaxation. The more |
| The image of the swinging watch is a visual | | | | relaxed your subject becomes, the deeper the |
| reference that most people readily associate with | | | | hypnotic state they will achieve. And progressive |
| hypnotic induction. It's a pop culture classic, really. | | | | relaxation can be achieved in different ways, |
| That's because it's been frequently used in | | | | including with the use of eye fixation. |
| television and movies, and for many people | | | | When someone asks me about eye fixation or |
| who've never experienced hypnosis or | | | | the swinging pendulum, I just tell them what I |
| self-hypnosis, they know only what they've seen | | | | truly believe: that it's an old fashioned approach, |
| or been exposed to. Watching an induction on | | | | and that it takes time, and has no benefit in |
| television would be rather boring if it didn't have | | | | terms of improving the outcome. It may have |
| some sort of visual element for the audience to | | | | been thought to be necessary at one time, but it |
| witness and capture. Watching someone lying | | | | isn't so in modern times, and can be bypassed in |
| silently on a sofa with their eyes closed is not | | | | favor of a simpler and more rapid execution. |
| nearly as engaging as the image of the swinging | | | | There is absolutely no benefit to the results in |
| watch. A viewer almost feels like he is part of the | | | | using eye fixation, nor is there any compromise in |
| experience too. There have been many variations | | | | not using it. |