Stage Hypnosis Is Always About the Audience

A huge mistake beginners make is focusing entirely on the hypnotized subjects and forgetting the real reason they’re on stage—to entertain the audience.

It doesn’t matter if your subjects feel deeply hypnotized. What matters is whether the audience is laughing, gasping, and enjoying the show. If the audience isn’t engaged, the performance falls flat.

Here’s why audience reactions are so powerful:

When one subject reacts to a suggestion (like scratching at imaginary mosquito bites), the audience laughs. That laughter and excitement create social proof, reinforcing the experience, and the other subjects will follow suit. They feed off the audience’s response, which makes the effects of hypnosis even stronger.

Without that group energy, the hypnotized individuals don’t get the same external reinforcement, and they may start to overthink things, causing the whole experience to fall flat. This is why having a good-sized audience makes hypnosis stronger.

The Power of Heteroaction

Heteroaction is one of the most important principles in hypnosis, and yet many hypnotists don’t know it or don’t use it to its full potential.

Heteroaction means that whenever someone responds to a suggestion, it increases their likelihood of responding to the next one.

This is why seasoned stage hypnotists always start with simple, guaranteed responses. Instead of jumping straight to name amnesia or full-body catalepsy, they begin with something that has a near-100% success rate—like making someone feel an imaginary itch.

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. You suggest that their skin feels itchy.
2. They start scratching.
3. The audience laughs, reinforcing the effect.
4. Their unconscious mind registers that hypnosis is working.
5. They’re now more likely to accept the next suggestion.

If you start with a suggestion that doesn’t land, the subject’s unconscious mind will tend to reject future suggestions. But if you build up gradually, each response strengthens the next. Suggestibility tests are a great way to build that momentum that leads to amazing results. To learn our foolproof method for hypnotic suggestibility tests, click here.

Quick Tip: How to Use Number Blocking in Stage Hypnosis

When using number blocking, always block the number five. Why?

Because the longer it takes your subject to reach the blocked number, the more time their unconscious mind has to accept the suggestion. If you block “two,” they get there almost instantly, leaving little room for the suggestion to take hold. But if you block “five,” they have to count up—one, two, three, four…—giving their unconscious mind those extra few moments to fully absorb the suggestion before they respond.

And here’s another key tip: Don’t rush into advanced suggestions like name amnesia too soon. Make sure your subject is responding well at each step before moving forward. Build gradually, ensuring success at every stage.

Master Instant Hypnotic Inductions

Instant inductions rely on a psychological mechanism called the PGO spike—a moment of surprise or confusion that creates an opening for trance.

The biggest mistake? Telegraphing the induction.

If you say, "Okay, in a moment, I’m going to press on your shoulder and you’ll go into hypnosis," you’ve just destroyed the surprise. It’s like watching a horror movie where the villain announces, "I’m about to jump out now!"—it completely ruins the effect.

A proper instant induction happens when the subject doesn’t expect it. Instead of warning them, use a simple misdirect like:

"Just take a deep breath in and… sleep!"

By catching them off guard, the PGO spike kicks in, and they drop instantly.

Keep It Ethical and Ecological

Good stage hypnosis isn’t just about getting laughs—it’s about making sure everyone has a great experience. That means respecting your subjects and keeping things ethical.

Avoid excessive physical contact unless absolutely necessary, and always explain any adjustments in advance. If you need to reposition someone in their chair, tell them: "I’m just going to straighten you up a little." This keeps everything transparent and comfortable.

Also, when wrapping up a performance, don’t overcomplicate suggestion removal. Long-winded safety reassurances can create uncertainty. Instead, keep it simple: "All suggestions are now removed, and you’ll feel fantastic." That’s all you need.

And obviously, never embarrass your subjects in front of the audience. Stage hypnosis is about fun and amazement—not humiliation.

Stage hypnosis is an art that combines good communication, entertainment, and hypnosis skills. The key to success is keeping things engaging, building momentum, and ensuring that both the subjects and audience stay fully involved.

If you follow these principles, your stage hypnosis performances will be more dynamic, more effective, and way more fun for everyone involved.

The Mandel Triangle: Your Secret Weapon

At the heart of building rapport with an audience is the Mandel Triangle—a framework made up of Confidence, Congruence, and Conviction, with Calibration at its center. These elements work together to make your communication magnetic and impactful.

• Confidence: Confidence conveys certainty. Stand tall, speak clearly, and if you’re not feeling confident, act as if you were. Confidence draws people to you.
• Congruence: Congruence aligns your words, tone, and body language. If they are consistent, your message is clear and believable. Inconsistency, however, creates confusion and mistrust.
• Conviction: Conviction is about focused intention. Know what you want to achieve and channel your energy toward that outcome, making your message naturally compelling.
• Calibration: Calibration is the glue. Always observe your audience’s reactions and adjust. If you notice they’re disengaged, shift your approach to regain their attention.

The beauty of the Mandel Triangle is that working on any one area improves the others. Start by identifying where you need the most improvement and practice calibrating in real time. With this framework, you’ll create meaningful connections and leave a lasting impression every time you communicate.

Click here to learn more about the Mandel Triangle and how to apply it.

Engaging the Entire Room

Once you’ve established your foundation, it’s time to make sure everyone feels included. The best way to do this is by being larger than life. No, you don’t need to shout or act over-the-top, but you do need to amplify your energy, gestures, and presence.

Use your voice dynamically—vary your tone, pitch, and pace to hold their attention. Be expressive with your body language. Your gestures should be intentional and big enough to be seen by everyone, even those in the back.

Body language is one of the keys to delivering fascinating presentations. Click here to learn more about Mike’s presentation methods, and here for additional body language tips.

Add Humor (When Appropriate)

Humor is a fantastic way to break the ice and create a connection even in formal settings. When used well, it makes you more relatable and keeps your audience engaged. That said, know your context. What’s funny in a comedy act might not land during a technical presentation.

Here’s a quick example: Mike once did a humor-based routine where he pretended to be an expert in an unfamiliar field. At one point, he pulled out a fake gun and banged it on the podium as a joke. It startled the audience, but because it fit the comedic context, it worked brilliantly. The key? Know your audience and the setting. Use humor to enhance your message, not distract from it.

What Not to Do

We’ve all sat through presentations that were, let’s face it, painful. Think about those early PowerPoint days when presenters would read every word off the slides in a monotonous voice. It’s a surefire way to lose an audience.

Instead, focus on being engaging and interactive. Use slides sparingly—they should enhance your talk, not dominate it. If you rely on slides, you risk becoming background noise.

Quick Tips to Improve Immediately

Here are a few practical tips you can use right away:

• Start strong: Grab your audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds. Whether it’s a story, a question, or a bold statement, make them sit up and take notice.
• Tell stories: People love stories. They’re memorable and create emotional connections. Share anecdotes that illustrate your key points. If you’re familiar with hypnosis, using metaphors adds an extra layer of engagement.
• Stay energized: Your energy is contagious. If you’re passionate and dynamic, your audience will feel it and respond in kind.

Building rapport with an audience is about more than just speaking. It’s about creating a connection, earning trust, and leaving a lasting impression. By understanding your audience, applying the Mandel Triangle, and engaging with authenticity, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a presenter people love to listen to.

Remember, every time you step on stage, you have the opportunity to make an impact. Use these tools and watch your presentations transform.

Take Your Mental Performance to the Next Level

If staying focused, learning faster, and mastering your mind sounds appealing, the Brain Software Syndicate is the perfect next step. It’s packed with powerful tools and strategies for state management, personal transformation, and much more.

Whether the goal is to sharpen focus, eliminate mental roadblocks, or simply become more effective in daily life, Brain Software Syndicate provides the techniques to make it happen. Plus, it’s an interactive community of like-minded people who are all committed to growth and peak performance.

Join Brain Software Syndicate today and start using these tools to unlock your full potential.

Small Steps, Big Changes

One of the most valuable insights from our conversation with Cally was the importance of taking small, manageable steps. We live in a world that often glorifies quick fixes and overnight transformations, but the reality is that true, lasting change happens gradually. And that’s okay!

You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and suddenly have the body of your dreams. And that’s not a reason to get discouraged. Instead, invest in making small, incremental progress—taking one step at a time. Maybe that means starting with a 10-minute walk instead of trying to run a marathon. Or focusing on adding one healthy meal to your week instead of overhauling your entire diet overnight. These small steps add up, and before you know it, you’re making big, lasting changes.

This approach is not only more manageable, but it’s also more compassionate. It’s about being kind to yourself and recognizing that change is a process. There’s no rush. By taking things one step at a time, you set yourself up for success and avoid the burnout that often comes with trying to do too much too soon.

The Role of Coaching

Having a coach like Cally can make a world of difference in your wellness journey. A good coach doesn’t just tell you what to do—they guide you, motivate you, and help you stay on track. They’re there to support you, cheer you on, and help you navigate the challenges that inevitably come up.

But just as important as having a coach is learning to be your own cheerleader. Positive self-talk and self-compassion are crucial parts of the mental game. Cally shared how important it is to appreciate where you are now and recognize how far you’ve come.

And if you’ve ever struggled with staying positive or motivated, know that you’re not alone. We all have our rough patches, but with the right support and mindset, you can achieve things you never thought possible.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

If you’re feeling inspired to take control of your wellness journey, we highly recommend checking out Cally Rampis’ website at callyrempis.com. Cally’s approach is all about helping you make those small, meaningful changes that lead to big results. Her coaching could be just the thing you need to kickstart your journey and help you stay on track.

And of course, if you’re interested in diving even deeper into the power of mindset and hypnosis, we invite you to explore the resources at the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy. Whether you’re looking to improve your own life or help others as a coach, we’ve got you covered. There’s a whole world of potential waiting for you, and we’d love to help you unlock it.

So why wait? Take that first step today—your future self will thank you!

Watch the Episode:

Hypnosis and Physical Health: What's the Real Deal?

Ever heard of hypnosis helping someone get through surgery without feeling any pain? Yes, it's a thing! 

Hypnosis isn't just a party trick. It’s been a recognized therapeutic modality since the 1950’s, helping folks deal with pain, stress, and even influencing things like how the blood flows in our body. 

Science shows us that in hypnosis, our brains can actually tweak physical processes. For example, it can turn the volume down on pain signals or tell your blood vessels to chill out and improve flow. 

So, if we can use hypnosis to play director with some of our body's functions, could it be used to help you get back that lush mane? Let’s see.

Digging Into the Possibilities

Hypnosis for hair growth—might sound a bit like sci-fi, but let's explore this innovative avenue.

The premise is fascinating: if hypnosis can influence blood flow or manage stress effectively, then perhaps it holds the key to encouraging hair retention or even stimulating regrowth. Here's a thought: through hypnosis, we could potentially steer more blood flow directly to the areas that matter most—our hair follicles. Imagine it: more blood flow equals more nutrients, setting the stage for a thriving hair growth party.

However, we find ourselves navigating the realms of speculation. As of now, there's no solid scientific evidence to firmly establish hypnosis as a lifeline for thinning hair. Yet, its potential is undeniable. Consider stress, a well-known nemesis of healthy hair. By reducing stress via hypnosis, there's a chance to offer your hair a respite from shedding.

But how can we practically apply hypnosis to this end? Let's consider some approaches. 

A simple yet powerful method involves entering a trance state through self- hypnosis and vividly visualizing blood and essential nutrients flowing effortlessly to your hair follicles. You can learn how to use self hypnosis by clicking here.

Picture every detail: the blood vessels dilating, the nutrients nourishing the roots, and your body maintaining optimal hormone levels for hair growth. This mental imagery, grounded in the principles of hypnosis, can potentially foster a conducive environment for hair health.

Drawing parallels to other conditions that hypnosis has ameliorated, such as irritable bowel syndrome or eczema, underscores the significant impact the mind can exert on the body. These examples highlight how psychological states can influence physiological processes—providing a glimmer of hope for those exploring hypnosis as a remedy for hair challenges.

Incorporating these practical hypnosis strategies not only expands our toolkit for addressing hair thinning but also deepens our understanding of the mind-body connection. As we continue to explore and validate these methods, the journey toward leveraging hypnosis for hair health becomes an increasingly promising frontier.

Considerations Before You Dive In

Before you start visualizing your way to a fuller head of hair, you should first talk to your doctor. Hypnosis is cool, but it's not a standalone miracle cure for everything. It could be a complementary buddy to traditional treatments, offering a holistic approach to tackling hair loss. Just make sure you're covering all your bases and keeping those follicles happy from all angles.

Boosting Self-Esteem Through Hypnosis: A Silver Lining in Hair Loss

Losing hair can be a bit of a downer on the self-esteem front. It’s not just about the strands leaving your scalp; it’s about how that makes you feel. And while we're on the quest for solutions and remedies, it’s crucial to talk about the elephant in the room: the impact of hair loss on our self-image and confidence.

But what if we told you that hypnosis could be a knight in shining armor for your self-esteem? Yes, alongside its potential to physically aid in the battle against hair loss, hypnosis shines brightly as a tool for mental and emotional wellness.

Remember that using hypnosis is like accessing a hidden admin panel in your mind? Since hypnosis enables you to access your unconscious mind, you can use it to reframe negative thoughts and perceptions about your self-image. By fostering a more positive outlook on oneself, you can begin viewing your hair situation in a new light.

And remember, confidence is everything. When you carry yourself with confidence, it becomes your defining trait, ensuring that your hair status is merely a detail, not what defines you. Hypnosis helps you achieve that mindset where you’re not just coping with hair loss; you’re thriving in spite of it.

So, while we explore hypnosis as a potential ally in keeping those follicles in check, let’s not underestimate its power to lift us up emotionally and mentally. After all, a confident smile is the best accessory anyone can wear, and hypnosis can help you wear it proudly. 

An easy and straightforward method to boost your confidence is to follow the principles of the Mandel Triangle, which aligns confidence, congruence, and conviction. By increasing one, you automatically increase the others, fostering a stronger sense of self. Hypnosis taps into this by reinforcing positive changes directly in your unconscious mind, setting the stage for a more confident you, no matter the hair situation. 

Click here to learn how to use the Mandel Triangle.

Wrapping It Up: Hypnosis and the Quest for Fuller Hair

The idea that our minds could influence our hair's health is fascinating, albeit still in the realm of theory without solid scientific backing in this specific area.

However, the potential for hypnosis to reduce stress and possibly improve blood flow – two factors that can impact hair health – suggests it might be worth considering alongside traditional treatments. Remember, it's crucial to talk to healthcare professionals before trying new therapies.

How to Improve Your Confidence

There are many ways to improve your confidence and performance in any domain. Here are some of the most effective ones:

Be realistic about your resources

Sometimes, you may be limiting yourself due to your lack of confidence. You may think that you are not good enough, smart enough, or skilled enough to achieve your goals. However, this may not be true. 

If you lack confidence in your skills, you will not use them to their full potential, or you will avoid situations that require them altogether. On the other hand, if you have confidence in your skills, you will be more likely to apply them effectively, seek out opportunities to improve them, and achieve better outcomes. Therefore, confidence is not only a result of your skills, but also a cause of them.

However, being realistic also means that you should acknowledge the areas where you need to improve. 

Resources can be anything that helps you achieve your goals, such as skills, knowledge, tools, time, money, etc. You should assess your current resources and identify the gaps that need to be filled. Then you should take action to obtain the resources you need or find alternatives that work for you.

For example, if you want to improve your confidence and performance in public speaking, you should first evaluate your current level of skill and experience. Then you should identify the areas where you need to improve, such as vocal delivery, body language, content structure, etc. Then you should seek out opportunities to practice and learn from others, such as joining a Toastmasters club, taking an online course, or hiring a coach.

By being realistic about your resources, you can increase your confidence and performance in any domain. You can also avoid overconfidence, which can lead to complacency and poor results.

Don’t be afraid of failing

Another way to improve your confidence is to not be afraid of failure and realize that failing in a particular task probably won’t have such a disastrous outcome. Failure is not the end of the world; it is an opportunity to learn and grow. You should embrace failure as a feedback mechanism that tells you what works and what doesn’t. You should also view failure as a temporary setback that can be overcome with persistence and improvement.

For example, if you fail an exam or a job interview, you should not let that define your worth or ability. You should instead analyze what went wrong and what you can do better next time. You should also remind yourself of your past successes and achievements that prove your competence and potential.

By not fearing failure, you can improve your confidence and performance in any domain. You can also avoid perfectionism, which can lead to procrastination and anxiety.

Celebrate your achievements

Another way to improve your confidence is by celebrating your achievements and making sure your internal dialogue is lifting you up and not dragging you down. You should acknowledge and appreciate your successes, no matter how big or small they are. You should also have a positive internal dialogue that reinforces your strengths and abilities instead of negative self-talk that undermines your confidence and performance.

For example, if you complete a project or a task successfully, you should reward yourself with something that makes you happy or proud. You should also tell yourself positive affirmations that boost your self-esteem and motivation. You should avoid criticizing yourself harshly or focusing on the flaws or mistakes in your work.

By celebrating your achievements, you can improve your confidence and performance in any domain. You can also avoid comparison, which can lead to envy and dissatisfaction.

Use self improvement techniques

Another way to improve your confidence is by using self improvement techniques. These techniques help you identify and change the limiting beliefs and patterns that hold you back from reaching your full potential. One of the most powerful self improvement techniques for improving confidence is hypnosis. 

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention that allows you to access your unconscious mind and make positive changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You can use hypnosis to boost your confidence and performance in any domain.

Hypnosis can help you overcome fears, doubts, and insecurities that may be affecting your confidence. It can also help you enhance your skills, abilities, and talents that may be underutilized or unrecognized. Hypnosis can also help you create positive affirmations, visualizations, and suggestions that can reinforce your confidence and motivation.

There are many ways to use hypnosis for self improvement, such as listening to audio recordings, watching videos, reading books, or working with a professional hypnotist. You can also learn how to hypnotize yourself and use self-hypnosis techniques anytime and anywhere.

We want you to discover the amazing benefits of hypnosis for yourself. That’s why we have created a special gift for you: a free hypnosis audio track called Journey to the Castle. This is not just a sample or a teaser, but a full hypnosis session that will help you unleash your confidence and potential. Click here and get your free hypnosis audio track right away.

How to Use Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Confidence and Performance

There are some powerful tools and techniques that can help you boost your confidence and performance in any domain. These tools and techniques can help you change your perspective, improve your skills, and enhance your influence. Here are some of the most effective ones:

Perceptual Positions 

This is a technique from neurolinguistic programming (NLP) that helps you see the world from different angles. By switching between your own point of view, the other person’s point of view, and the neutral observer’s point of view, you can gain more self-awareness, empathy, objectivity, and insight into any situation or relationship. This can help you improve your communication skills, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence, which are all essential for confidence and performance. If you want to learn more about perceptual positions and how to use them, read this blog post.

The Mandel Triangle

This is a set of three interlocking principles that will help you improve your hypnotic skills and your human interaction. The three principles are confidence, congruence, and conviction. Confidence is the belief in your ability to perform a specific task or action. Congruence is the alignment of your verbal and non-verbal language. Conviction is the certainty and passion that you express in your words and actions.

The Mandel Triangle can help you become a better hypnotist, therapist, speaker, or leader by improving your confidence, rapport, credibility, authority, persuasion, influence, and charisma. The best part is that by increasing one side of the triangle, you also increase the others. For example, by being more confident, you will also be more congruent and convicted. By being more congruent, you will also be more confident and convicted. By being more convicted, you will also be more confident and congruent.

If you want to learn more about the Mandel Triangle and how to use it, click here.

By using these powerful tools and techniques, you can boost your confidence and performance in any domain. You can also learn more about yourself and others, develop new skills and abilities, and achieve your goals faster and easier.

What’s Next?

Do you want to learn new skills, achieve your goals, and live your best life? If you do, then you need to check out our Personal Growth Membership.

This is the ultimate collection of courses that will teach you everything you need to know about personal development, from mindset to productivity, from communication to creativity, and more. You will get access to hundreds of hours of high-quality video lessons and exercises. You will also get support from our instructors and mentors, who will guide you along the way. 

The Personal Growth Membership is the best investment you can make in yourself. You can join today for a very low price and get instant access to all the courses and products. Plus, you can cancel anytime if you are not satisfied. There is no risk, only reward.

Click here to join the Personal Growth Membership

Developing Language Skills for Natural Conversational Hypnosis

The next foundational skill that you need to master as a hypnotist is language skills.

Language skills are the ability to use words and phrases that can influence your subject’s unconscious mind and elicit their desired responses. Language skills are essential for hypnosis, because they allow you to create and maintain a natural conversational flow that can lead your subject into trance without them noticing.

To develop your language skills as a hypnotist, you need to learn and practice some of the techniques that are commonly used in natural conversational hypnosis. These techniques include:

• Pacing and Leading: Matching your subject’s current experience and then leading them to where you want them to go, such as “You’re sitting here with me, listening to my voice, and feeling more and more relaxed.” Click here to read a full article about pacing and leading.
• The Run On Sentence: Using a continuous flow of specific words, such as nominalizations, unspecified verbs, and linkages, to create long sentences that occupy the conscious mind and naturally pull the subject into trance, such as “As you relax more and more, you may wonder what it would be like to experience a deep trance, and as you do, you can feel free to follow my voice.”
• Embedded Commands & Analog Marking: Commands that are hidden within a sentence and emphasized with voice tone, tempo, volume, pitch, or gestures, such as “You can feel free to relax now.” Click here to read a full article about embedded commands.
• Utilization and Incorporation: Using anything that may occur during your session as a way to deepen trance or build up the experience, such as “You may notice the sound of the clock ticking, and as you do, you can become more aware of your heartbeat, and how it slows down as you relax more and more.”
• The Universal Amplifier: The phrase that can be used to amplify virtually any trance experience: “That’s right…”

By learning and practicing these language skills, you will be able to communicate more effectively and persuasively with your subject, and guide them into trance with ease and confidence.

For more hypnotic language skills, read: Master Ericksonian Hypnotic Language Patterns the Easy Way

The 7-Step Model of Change

As a hypnotist, it’s essential to master the 7-step model of change.

The 7-step model of change is a simple and effective framework that guides you through the entire process of hypnosis, from the initial contact with your subject to the final outcome. The 7-step model of change consists of:

Step 1: Demystify hypnosis. This is where you explain to your subject what hypnosis is and what it isn’t, and clear any misconceptions or fears they may have. This is the most important step, because it sets the tone and expectations for the rest of the session.

Step 2: Suggestibility tests. This is where you perform some fun and easy exercises with your subject to demonstrate their ability to respond to your suggestions and enter trance. This is a great way to build rapport and confidence with your subject, and prepare them for the induction. Read: The Ultimate Guide to Hypnotic Suggestibility Tests

Step 3: Induction. This is where you use a specific technique or method to guide your subject into trance. There are many types of inductions, such as progressive relaxation, eye fixation, confusion, shock, etc. The induction is not the only way to create trance, but it is a common and reliable one. Read: How To Choose The Best Hypnotic Induction for Every Situation

Step 4: Deepen trance. This is where you use various suggestions and methods to deepen the level of trance that your subject is in. The deeper the trance, the more responsive and receptive your subject will be to your suggestions. The ideal state of trance for changework is somnambulism, which is characterized by a high degree of dissociation and amnesia.

Step 5: Convincers. This is where you use some tests or proofs to convince your subject that they are in trance and that hypnosis works. Convincers are also a way to calibrate your subject’s trance level and responsiveness, and adjust your suggestions accordingly. Some examples of convincers are arm catalepsy, eye catalepsy, name amnesia, etc.

Step 6: Changework / Therapy. This is where you help your subject achieve their desired outcome or goal, by using various techniques and strategies that are appropriate for their issue or problem. Some examples of changework techniques are direct suggestion, metaphors, stories, reframing, parts therapy, etc.

Step 7: Awaken. This is where you bring your subject out of trance safely and comfortably, by counting up from 1 to 5 and suggesting that they will wake up feeling awesome. This is also where you reinforce the positive changes that have occurred during the session, and give them some post-hypnotic suggestions for future success.

By following this 7-step model of change, you will be able to conduct a smooth and effective hypnosis session with your subject, and help them achieve their desired outcome with confidence

Boosting Confidence With The Mandel Triangle

The Mandel Triangle is a simple but powerful model that describes three aspects of communication: congruence, confidence and conviction. By mastering these three elements, you can become a more effective communicator and confident hypnotist.

Confidence is the first side of the triangle. As you already know, being confident means that you express yourself with assurance and authority, without being arrogant or aggressive. When you are confident, you communicate with respect and competence. You also inspire trust and credibility.Congruence is the second side of the Mandel Triangle. It means that your words, body language, emotions, thoughts and beliefs are all aligned and sending the same message. When you are congruent, you communicate with authenticity and integrity. You also avoid mixed signals and confusion.

For example, if you say that you are confident, but your voice is shaky and your posture is slouched, you are definitely not congruent. Your words and your body language are contradicting each other. This can make you seem dishonest or insecure. To be more congruent, you need to be aware of your inner state and how it affects your communication. You also need to align your communication with your values and goals.

Conviction is the third side of the Mandel Triangle. It means that you have a strong belief in what you are saying and doing. When you have conviction, you communicate with passion and purpose. You also use your intention to motivate and persuade others.

Using the Mandel Triangle creates a positive feedback loop. As you improve one side of the triangle, you also improve the other two. 

As you become more congruent, you also become more confident and more convincing. 

As you become more confident, you also become more congruent and more convincing. 

And as you become more convincing, you also become more congruent and more confident. 

By working on any one of the three aspects, you can boost your communication skills and confidence as a hypnotist. The Mandel Triangle is a simple but powerful way to communicate with impact and influence.

How to Effortlessly Shift Between Conversational and Direct Hypnosis

As a hypnotist, you may need to use different types of hypnosis techniques depending on the situation and the subject. Conversational hypnosis is a more indirect and subtle way of inducing trance and influencing the unconscious mind, while direct hypnosis is a more overt and explicit way of doing the same.

Being able to shift between conversational and direct hypnosis effortlessly and appropriately can boost your confidence as a hypnotist. 

Some benefits include:

• You can adapt to different subjects and their preferences, personalities, and levels of resistance.

• You can create more rapport and trust with your subject by matching their communication style and expectations.

• You can avoid boredom and monotony by varying your hypnotic approach and keeping your subject engaged and interested.

• You can enhance your hypnotic effectiveness by using the best technique for each stage of the hypnosis process.

To acquire a versatile and flexible approach that can shift seamlessly between direct and indirect hypnosis, you can learn some of the principles and techniques that are essential for any type of hypnosis, such as fixating attention, the Grinder model, SUDs, and ADAC. Let’s discuss them.

Fixating Attention

Fixating attention is the principle that applies to words, conversation, and also the subject’s eyes. By directing the subject where you want them to put their attention, you’ll keep them in trance and help them go deeper.

Words

Specific words will help a subject to focus their attention when using direct suggestion. Examples include: Notice, discover, & imagine. These words are sometimes called process words, because they invite the subject to process information in a certain way. For example, if you say “Notice how your breathing becomes more relaxed”, you are directing the subject’s attention to their breathing and suggesting that it is becoming more relaxed. This will help them enter and deepen trance.

Conversation

Conversation also helps a subject to fixate their attention. This is done through run-on sentences, metaphor, and guided imagery. 

Metaphors are stories or analogies that convey a message or a lesson to the unconscious mind. For example, “Imagine that you are a bird flying high in the sky, feeling free and happy. You can go anywhere you want, and nothing can stop you.” 

Guided imagery is the use of vivid and sensory descriptions that create a mental picture or a scene in the subject’s mind. For example, “Imagine that you are walking on a beautiful beach, feeling the warm sand under your feet, hearing the waves crashing on the shore, smelling the salty air, seeing the sun setting on the horizon.”

Eye Fixation

Eye fixation is a method of inducing trance employed by many hypnotic inductions, including the James Braid induction and the Dave Elman induction. 

Eye fixation involves staring at an object or a point of focus until the eyes become tired and close naturally. This creates a physical relaxation that leads to mental relaxation and trance. 

For example, “Look at this spot on the ceiling and keep your eyes fixed on it. As you do, you will notice that your eyes are becoming more and more tired and heavy. Soon they will close by themselves, and when they do, you will enter a deep trance.”

Deepen

As soon as you notice your subject entering trance, it’s time to deepen it through direct suggestion. As always, ecology is your number one priority. Ecology means ensuring that your suggestions are in line with your subject’s values, beliefs, and goals, and that they do not cause any harm or discomfort to them or others. 

To deepen trance, you can use various suggestions and methods, such as counting down from 10 to 1, suggesting that each number takes them deeper into trance; using metaphors or guided imagery that involve going down stairs, elevators, or tunnels; using commands or suggestions that involve physical sensations or movements that indicate depth of trance, such as heaviness, lightness, warmth, coolness, tingling, numbness, etc.

Read: The Best Method for Deepening Hypnotic Trance

The Grinder Model

The Grinder model from neurolinguistic programming (NLP)  explains how your performance is directly affected by your state, physiology, and breathing. In order to perform your best, you need to align these three aspects and make sure they are working in tandem.

State: Your state is your emotional and mental condition at any given moment. Your state influences how you think, feel, and act. When you are in a positive state, you perform better than when you are in a negative state. You can naturally change your state by changing your physiology and breathing.

Physiology: Your physiology is your body posture and movement. Your physiology influences how you feel and express yourself. When you position your body in a confident and relaxed way, you feel more confident and relaxed. When you position your body in a sad and tense way, you feel more sad and tense. You can naturally change your physiology by changing your posture and shifting your breathing.

Breathing: Your breathing is your rate and depth of respiration. Your breathing influences how you relax and calm down. When you breathe deeply and slowly, you activate the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system, which are responsible for relaxation and calmness. When you breathe shallowly and quickly, you activate the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for stress and arousal. You can naturally change your breathing by changing your rate and depth of respiration.

By applying the Grinder model, you can improve your performance and understanding of change, both as a hypnotist and as a subject.

SUDs

SUDs stands for Subjective Units of Distress and in its simplest form it’s a way for you to gauge your subject’s discomfort between the numbers 1 - 10. A score of 1 is they are quite comfortable and 10 is they are really anxious/scared/fearful/in pain. It is best to ask your subject prior to any changework where their SUDs level is at so you have a clear indicator of your success. We encourage you to always aim for perfection however most people who come to you at an 8 or 9 will often be thrilled if you can lower their discomfort to a 1 or 2.

SUDs is a useful tool for measuring the intensity of a negative emotion or sensation that your subject wants to change or eliminate. By asking your subject to rate their SUDs level before and after the changework, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your hypnotic intervention and adjust it accordingly. You can also use SUDs as a feedback mechanism to guide your subject through the change work process, by asking them to notice any changes in their SUDs level as they follow your suggestions.

ADAC

ADAC is also called the Meta pattern in NLP and is a simple formula that can immediately provide relief for your subjects. Almost all hypnotic protocols for changework use this pattern in one way or another.

ADAC stands for Associate - Dissociate - Associate - Collapse

It goes like this:

Step 1: You Associate your subject into the negative feeling by having them feel it in their body. Associate means looking through out of their eyes or as though they are in their skin. The subject must be able to feel the emotion in their body as a clear indicator of association.

Step 2: You then have them Dissociate from the negative feeling by having the person imagine they float out of their body, step out of their body, or whatever other creative means you want. 

Step 3: You then suggest to your subject to begin feeling really good feelings and powerful resource states, like happiness, success, courage, and bravery. This Associates those positive feelings into their body. 

Step 4: You then Collapse the powerful states onto the negative feelings by suggesting the client meld with the dissociated self from Step 2.

ADAC is a powerful technique that helps your subject change their emotional state from negative to positive by using dissociation and association. Dissociation helps your subject detach from the negative feeling and create some distance from it. Association helps your subject connect with the positive feeling and create some intensity from it. Collapse helps your subject integrate the positive feeling with the negative feeling and create some resolution from it.

By using ADAC, you can help your subject transform their emotional state quickly and easily.

The Power of Hypnotic Metaphors

If you can tell a story, you can hypnotize anyone.

Hypnotic metaphors are stories or analogies that convey a message or a lesson to the unconscious mind of your subject. Hypnotic metaphors can be used to create trance or change without formal hypnosis, by occupying the conscious mind with content and activating the pattern matching system of the brain.

Hypnotic metaphors are one of the most powerful and effective tools for hypnosis and changework, as they have many advantages over direct suggestions or commands. Some of these advantages are:

• Hypnotic metaphors are difficult to resist because the subject doesn’t feel targeted or threatened by them. They are more likely to accept and follow the message or lesson of the metaphor, as they don’t perceive it as an imposition or a criticism.

• Hypnotic metaphors are an easy way to engage the unconscious mind and find resources. They bypass the critical factor and the resistance of the conscious mind, and appeal to the imagination and creativity of the unconscious mind. They also help the subject access their own inner wisdom and solutions, by allowing them to interpret and apply the metaphor in their own way.

• Hypnotic metaphors are natural rapport builders as the brain loves symbols and stories. They create a sense of connection and trust between you and your subject, as you share a common language and experience. They also stimulate the emotions and senses of your subject, making them more receptive and responsive to your hypnotic communication.

Hypnotic metaphors have been used since ancient times, by storytellers, healers, teachers, and leaders. One of the most famous and influential users of hypnotic metaphors was Milton H. Erickson, the father of modern hypnotherapy. His permissive and conversational style of hypnosis was based on his ability to tell stories that would cause life-changing results in his subjects.

If you want to learn how to use hypnotic metaphors in your hypnosis sessions, you need to master some of the skills and techniques that are essential for creating and delivering effective metaphors. Some of these skills and techniques are:

• How to structure your metaphor according to the 7-step model of change that we discussed in the previous section.

• How to use embedded commands and analog marking to emphasize and mark your suggestions within your metaphor.

• How to use pacing and leading, run on sentences, universal amplifier, etc., to create a smooth and natural flow of your metaphor.

• How to use sensory language, vivid descriptions, emotional words, etc., to create a rich and engaging metaphor that appeals to your subject’s senses and emotions.

By mastering these skills and techniques, you will be able to tell stories that can hypnotize anyone and create positive changes in their lives.

To learn more about metaphors, read: Hypnotic Metaphors and How To Use Them

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed this blog post and learned some valuable skills and concepts that will boost your confidence as a hypnotist. If you want to take your hypnosis skills to the next level and become a master of conversational and direct hypnosis, we have a special offer for you.

The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy is the world’s best online hypnosis training program, where you can learn from the legendary hypnotist Mike Mandel and his partner Chris Thompson. The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy will teach you everything you need to know about hypnosis, from theory to practice, from basics to advanced, from induction to changework.

The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy will give you access to over 500 videos, audios, and PDFs, covering topics such as:

• How to hypnotize anyone, anytime, anywhere
• How to use different types of hypnosis inductions and techniques, such as conversational, direct, covert, rapid, instant, etc.
• How to use language patterns, stories, and metaphors to create trance and change
• How to use the 7-step model of change to help your subjects achieve their goals
• How to use the Grinder model, SUDs, ADAC, and other essential principles and techniques for hypnosis
• How to deal with different types of subjects and situations
• How to use hypnosis for various applications and issues, such as self-improvement, health, relationships, sports, business, etc.
• And much more!

The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy will also give you access to a supportive and active community of fellow hypnotists, where you can ask questions, share experiences, and get feedback. You will also get access to live webinars with Mike and Chris every month, where you can learn new skills and tips, and get your questions answered.

The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy is the ultimate online hypnosis training program that will transform you into a confident and competent hypnotist. And the best part is that you can get started for free.

That’s right, you get a free Test Drive at Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy. No risk, no obligation, no credit card required. Just click on the link below and sign up for your free trial today.

Click here to start your free trial of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy

Confidence is something we all want and need. When we feel confident, we know our abilities and resources and believe we can apply them. We radiate optimism.

Congruence occurs when all our systems send one consistent message. Our body language, vocal tone, gestures, internal dialog, and actual words all say the same thing. Humans don’t like incongruence in others. It feels fake.

Conviction is difficult for many people to get their heads around. Think of conviction as intention. It’s about activating your focused willpower. When you have conviction, your confidence, and congruence will also improve.

We model this as a triangle because if you increase the length of any line, the other lines must also increase. And that’s what we’ve noticed happens in real life. If you get better at congruence, you automatically improve confidence and conviction. The triangle gets bigger.

Congruence comes through practice, but you need to calibrate yourself to ensure you aren’t sending mixed messages. If you tell someone you’re happy to see them, but your vocal tone is flat and bored, you’re being incongruent!

Check in with yourself to ensure your verbal and nonverbal communication is always coherent and the messages you send through your words and body language are congruent and support each other.

The Kinesthetic Ambiguity Rapid Induction

There are three basic modalities we used to understand the world. To represent them, we use the acronym VAK. Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.

The kinesthetic modality relates to physical sensations and emotions. But for this induction, we’re only going to use the sense of physical touch.

The Kinesthetic Ambiguity induction consists of touching the subject’s hand in an ambiguous way such that they can’t figure out exactly what you intend to have happen. This results in spontaneous catalepsy.

It’s spontaneous because we don’t pre-frame that the arm will become cataleptic. We only draw attention to it after we’ve already achieved the phenomenon.

After getting agreement via a yes set, and dissociation by asking to borrow “that hand” as Mike demonstrates, you gently position it in front of the subject’s eyes and intently ask him to close his eyes.

With the subject’s eyes closed and his hand hovering in front of him, you do a few light touches on different parts of his hand and wrist. At this point, the brain has received a series of unconscious messages that culminate in a spontaneous cataleptic hand and arm.

As a bonus, we can use the catalepsy to practice Ericksonian pacing and leading, as we explain in this blog post and Mike demonstrates in the video. These pacing suggestions draw attention to the cataleptic limb and use it to segué into a hypnotic trance.

To finish the induction, just say “that’s right…”

The Walter B. Gibson Induction

This induction employs the classical method of inducing trance through eye fixation. Walter Gibson (or whoever he learned this induction from) figured out you can use this method with built-in fractionation as well, which is what his induction consists of.

Mike found this induction in an old book: “The Key To Hypnotism”, by Walter B. Gibson. That’s why we named the induction after him. This was also the first induction Mike ever learned at the age of 12. It’s the reason Mike got hooked on hypnosis!

As with any induction of this kind, you ask the subject to stare at something slightly above eye level. This will cause his eyes to eventually feel heavy and fatigued. In the context of a hypnotic induction, the psychological response caused by eye fatigue rapidly results in a hypnotic trance.

Instead of having the subject simply stare at something, this induction will require him to repeatedly open and close his eyes. This will not only increase eye fatigue, but create a more powerful trance through the principle of fractionation.

Fractionation is well known because of the work of one of the hypnosis greats, Dave Elman. Fractionation is designed right into the famous Dave Elman Induction, too. It is a powerful technique to deepen trance, but it’s also built into the Walter B. Gibson induction.

To understand what fractionation is and how it’s used in hypnosis, click here.

Avoid using language that’s too direct and paternal. Instead, pace the subject’s experience and adopt a more maternal approach by telling him to “permit” or “allow” his eyes to close. To learn the difference between the paternal and maternal approaches in hypnosis, click here.

The induction ends by suggesting that, at some point, the subject’s eyes will be so tired they just won’t open again. When you notice it’s becoming really difficult for him to open his eyes, just say “eyes closed now…”

Breathing With the Hand Induction

Mike learned this from his own mentor, the late great Darek Balmer.

It starts in the same way as the Kinesthetic Ambiguity induction: by asking to “borrow that hand” from the subject and saying “eyes closed now”. 

The difference with this induction is you won’t position the hand in front of the subject’s eyes. You’ll hold it up by the wrist instead, letting it rest on your finger as in the image below.

The next step is to instruct the subject to take a deep breath, and slightly lift his hand as he does, accompanying the movement of his breath. Then you tell him to exhale, and let his hand drop slightly as well.

Suggest to the subject that he’ll fall deeper into trance with every motion. Eventually, you may remove your finger from under his hand, drawing his attention to it as the movement becomes automated, and suggesting the hand is getting heavier and sinking down as he sinks deeper into trance.

“That’s right…”

3 Easy Hypnotic Deepeners You Can Use Right Now

Except for the Dave Elman induction, which already has an embedded deepener, it’s good practice to always use a deepener after a successful induction.

At least until you’re good enough at calibration to know exactly how deep into trance your subjects are, do one of the following deepeners after each and every induction.

The Shoulder Press Deepener

This is the only deepener on this list which requires you to be physically present. The rest can be easily done while in a video call.

With the subject sitting down after an induction, pre-frame that, in a moment, you’ll put your hands on his shoulders and ask him to take a deep breath, and that as he exhales, you’ll press his shoulders, sending him into a deeper trance.

Press the subject’s shoulders down gently, and watch as the trance deepens and stabilizes. 

Deepen Using Fractionation

We talked about fractionation earlier in this blog post. By bringing the person to the surface of their trance and immediately putting them back in, the trance will deepen. That’s fractionation in a nutshell.

Just do it exactly how you’d do it in the Dave Elman induction. Ask the subject to open his eyes and look at your hand as it passes in front of him, then close them again. Suggest him going twice as deep each time. You can do this five or six times for maximum effect.

That’s it. It’s that simple

Deepen by Utilizing Catalepsy

We’re using catalepsy as a deepener this time. Actually, we’re pointing out how important it is to use it to deepen trance after an induction like Kinesthetic Ambiguity, which you just learned.

To complement the already powerful use of catalepsy to deepen trance as the hand sinks, observe Mike’s maternal use of language as he paces Chris’ experience and leads it towards a deeper hypnotic trance.

Bonus Deepener: “And your unconscious mind knows…”

This bonus deepener might just be the best one ever. It’s so good we wrote a separate blog post about it.

Read: The Best Method for Deepening Hypnotic Trance.

Watch the Episode:

Introduction for Episode 224

I am resourceful! And you are too! So keep watching...

Whatever happened to those old fun and games we used to enjoy before the Germans invaded France?

The bottom line is: WE ARE NOT WITCHES!!!

Our live training in Toronto, The Architecture of Hypnosis is coming up and is filling-up for May 2023. Come to the Hypnotic World Epicenter and train and hang-out with us!

This is Clem Fandango. Can you hear me?

Check out mikemandelhypnosis.com and look at the events page to sign up!

Think Tank Words for This Episode

1. COLLEAGUE
2. DECIMATION
3. SUFFICE

Show Notes for Episode 224

•  Anything in your own personal history or things you have access to...
• A resource: An experience, thing, or mind-set that is useful in some context or other...
• Resourcefulness is a very powerful skill, usually broad-based
• Sometimes a rain poncho is a source of water! It's a good model for problem solving...
• We can fail to notice our own resources, depending on whether we're zooming in or out
• If you zoom in too much on your life, you'll get distortions...
• Having many available resources puts the Law of Requisite Variety on your side!
• Wm Wood gave us great information on noticing naturally occurring trances...
• Physical resources: Survival stuff, weapons, shelter, medical supplies, vitamins food, books, wine, etc.
• Physical conditioning counts for much! Make sure you can rescue yourself and someone your own size in an emergency...
• Hand-to-hand skills and outdoor skills can be very useful. Orientation skills too...
• Why did they change Jarts and make them pointless?
• Resources can be people! Friends, family, colleagues...
• "One day I'll do this..." Good now, is better than perfect never! (Ken Sweatman alert)
• Cultivate real friends...they'll be people who have your back covered!
• Resources can be employees and employers...
• Too many plates spinning will make it easy to forget important things!
• Working within your strengths is resourceful! 
• Family members who aren't insane, unless insanity becomes a resource...
• Find experts! Bank managers, librarians, fitness coaches, chefs, hypnotists...
• We need leaders and mentors! Connect with those who've gone further than you...
• "My fee never changes, unless I dispense with it entirely" - Sherlock Holmes
• Mandel Triangle - Confidence, Congruence, Intention...
• A logical mind helps you counter junk science...
• The Royal Commission of Louis 16th to investigate Mesmer was the first use of a double-blind study!
• Stable emotions are a resource!
• A powerful imagination! Good for creativity. Dark humour is a staple of the British Military...
• Spider sense and situational awareness...
• Free time is a resource so you can use the time to sleep, if you want...
• The ability to switch-off and go into downtime...
• State control through NLP or breathing shifts...
• The thumb is the anxiety reducer in Jin Shin Jyutsu...
• Curiosity is an excellent resource!
• Let go of the past! It's over now.
• The great pickle spear story! Let it go!!!
•  Rapport skills to build bridges to other people!
• Fire the dix from your life!
• Literacy and intelligence are great resources!
• It fell from the table or off the table. It didn't fall off of the table!
• Toxic people like energy drainers are exhausting!
• Beware the whiners and complainers! They're anti-resources!
• People who live at effect instead of at cause are anti-resourceful...
• Chronic losers! They never learn, and don't even care about not learning.
• Beware the people who always forget their wallet when you go out for dinner
• Mooches are anti-resource people! They take, take, and take...
• Karl Smith is the most direct and awesome person to go to a restaurant with!
• Beware of running out of time! Use your decision making resource...
• Chris has the Arnold S. resource and it's a 10/10!
• Apathy is even worse than procrastination...
• Use your potential for the benefit of other people! 
• Addictions can dick you up! Maybe they're just habits...
• Unforgiveness is one of the worst anti-resources! It can make you sick...
•  Watch out for regret. It can be paralyzing and demotivating..                                 

Empowering Questions: What resources have I just become aware of because of this podcast...and what anti-resources are a liability...and what am I going to do about it...now..?

Metafive: The merry-go-round and the little girl

Ending: Reverse Engineering

Get the free NUVI course here!

Important Links and Reminders:

1. Come to the Architecture of Hypnosis in Toronto! Check it out here.
2. The agree and repeat process video training is here, and it's free.
3. This is our free video course on conversational hypnosis.