To match your induction to your client, you will need to think about them as a whole person and their particular issue, as well as what it is you and they want to achieve.

The most common means of deciding which induction to use is to match it to your client’s personality or place in the world.

The main problem with this approach is that it relies heavily on assumptions. For example, some people would suggest that you cannot be authoritative with someone in authority. However, it is equally true that many people in authority have a hard time respecting someone who is not. Similarly, if someone takes a generally passive role in life and their personality is quite placid, then it may seem obvious that they will respond well to an induction where the hypnotist is essentially telling them what to do. However, equally, they may react with disappointment at encountering yet another person who presumes they have the right to push them around.

The key with this kind of approach is to be flexible and respectful. Even in cases where you are taking control and performing what Charles Tebbets refers to as a ‘paternal’ induction, you can do so with respect. (In fact, it is especially necessary in such circumstances.)

The following suggestions relate to the style of the hypnotist, as much as the category of induction. However, do not get tied to such lists. Remain flexible and if it turns out that you’ve chosen the wrong induction or approach for the person in front of you, learn from it and move on. After all, that’s exactly what you would want your client to do.

Passive, Relaxed or Easy-Going People

Obviously, a progressive muscle relaxation will be well-received by such people. However, be aware that they may be expecting more, particularly if they feel like all you’ve done to them is what their Yoga instructor does every Thursday evening! Yet, on the whole, almost any induction will work here. Gerald Kein is certainly correct when he suggests sticking to a ‘maternal’ or permissive style and to keep things flowing. That is key. Anything else may appear too abrupt.

Powerful or Successful People

There are two mutually exclusive approaches to take with people who are used to being in charge. They are simply: i) take charge or ii) give permission. If you are taking charge then you need to make it very clear that they must recognise your authority. Not all hypnotists will be comfortable with this, but if you are then use rapid authoritarian inductions.

If you do not feel that such an “I’m the boss now!” approach will work for you, then take the opposite approach and use permissive or indirect language. You can still do this fairly quickly, by tweaking something like the Thain wrist-lift or using a confusion induction.

Analytical Types

Contrary to popular opinion, people who tend towards analytical thinking are no more difficult to hypnotise, but they may require a more creative approach. There is no need to be put off by their ever active minds. Instead, take comfort from the fact that they are regularly absorbed in their own analysis.
As above, either use an authoritarian induction – to give them less time to overly critique – or, if you have to use a slower induction, use permissive language or confusion. A useful approach is to teach them the skill of going into hypnosis, perhaps utilizing fractionation. The two most important points to make are a) it is wrong to presume ‘resistance’ from such people and b) they often need convincers.

‘Subordinates,’ e.g. Police

People who are comfortable taking orders are usually straightforward to lead into hypnosis. Common wisdom recommends using rapid authoritarian inductions with them, but my earlier caveat applies. My suggestion, especially in a therapeutic setting, would be to go for an induction that crosses a number of the categories and is quick, but not abruptly so. The Elman induction, Bandler Handshake, PHRIT or Rehearsal Induction are prime examples.

This is another group who may respond well to experiencing the induction as a learning opportunity.

Metaphysical / Spiritual

People in this category will often have excellent imaginations. A good pre-talk is useful for such types as they may hold certain fears or misconceptions regarding hypnosis. Be aware, that they often also seem to suffer from the need to try to help the hypnotist.

I tend to employ themes like “the power of your subconscious” and so on. Any kind of physical phenomenon is useful, from arm drops, to relaxation, to ideomotor responses. Once again, Elman works well, as it includes so much, though I have also found that a good My Friend John tale tends to draw them in effectively.

Alternatively…

Whilst this sort of approach to matching your induction to your client is popular, it is not the only option. In contrast to the person-centred approach, a solution-focused means to selecting an induction is possible.

This approach to selecting an induction is different to the person-centred one above and relies on a thorough commitment to the idea that inductions can be therapeutic experiences, not merely a means of getting someone into hypnosis. Essentially, you want to ask yourself the following 3 questions:

1. What skills or resources does the client have that they need to access in order to reach their goal?

2. What frame of mind does the client need to be in to utilise those resources?

3. What kind of experience is needed to bring about 1-2?

See Therapeutic Inductions for more.