Introduction
James Hazlerig developed this induction after spending some time thinking about bi-lateral stimulation. In many ways it can be thought of as a directed self-hypnosis experience.
The Cat’s Paw includes elements of bi-lateral stimulation, eye-fixation, fractionation and progressive muscle relaxation. The induction has similarities to the Old Finger Lift and the Dr. Flowers Induction.
Transcript
Just hold your hands up, like this, with your palms out.
[Demonstrate by placing your own hands just below eye-level, palms facing out.]And now pick a spot above your head, at about a 45 degree angle and look at that spot.
Now you can go ahead and tense your right hand…
[Demonstrate by making a fist with your hand]…focus all of your attention on your right hand, keeping your eyes up there on that spot. And let the rest of the body relax, whilst your right hand becomes tense.
Then relax that hand and release the tension.
[Demonstrate by unclenching your fist]Now go ahead and repeat that with your left hand.
[Demonstrate by making a fist with your hand]Tense that hand and focus all of your attention on it, keeping your eyes up there on that spot. And let the rest of the body relax, as that hand becomes tense.
Now relax and unclench that hand.
Okay, now just let your eyes close down, and you can still picture that spot up there.
And tense up that right hand again. And with each number that I count, we are going to alternate which hand is tense.
So, we start with the right – 10. Then let it relax.
9 – as you clench the left hand…
8 – letting the left relax, as you tense the right…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
0…
Good. Take a deep breath. Let your eyes gently open up and kinda try to find that spot up there.
Now, we are going to do this again. So, go ahead and close your eyes down. And let’s repeat that process, starting on the right…
10…
9…
8…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
0…
You’re doing great. Now let your eyes just gently open up, just a little bit, doesn’t have to be very much.
You might find them wanting to stay closed. In a moment, if you wanted to, you could just go ahead and keep them closed. But for now, let’s do this again.
Close your eyes and, starting with the right…
[Count from 10-0, with the client clenching alternate hands with each number.]And if you want to, you could struggle and strain to open up the eyes, or you could just let them stay completely shut…
as we do this again…
[Count from 10-0, with the client clenching alternate hands with each number.]and if your ready to, you could just let those eyes just remain closed, as we do this just one more time and go even deeper…
[Count from 10-0, with the client clenching alternate hands with each number.]And just let yourself relax down deeply, take a nice deep breath and let it out…
Credit
James Hazlerig, shared with kind permission.