In the last few blogs, we have seen that different personality traits can affect how well the hypnotherapeutic process works. This is an important insight, but it can turn into a trap which narrows our vision of what hypnotherapy can do. People are very complex, and it can be difficult to identify their particular personality traits. Many of us are, after all, a mixture of different traits.
With this in mind, it is important to remember that most people can benefit from a hypnotherapeutic intervention. It is true that different people experience hypnosis in different ways. Part of the skill set of a good hypnotherapist is to identify which traits in a client are likely to work well with the process, and which may not. From the client’s point of view, it can help to be as open as possible about how you see yourself, and describe your personality traits as clearly as you can.
This work begins in the early information-gathering stage of a course of hypnotherapy. The information exchanged and collected at this starting point can be very valuable. For example, the kind of job a client does can indicate their personality type. An artist and a structural engineer will likely benefit from different approaches, different language, and suggestions made in different ways. In addition to information, there are other clues which make personality traits clearer. Body language, general attitude, and the way the client responds to questioning can all provide important insights.
Some of the main personality traits and what works best with each:
Curiosity and flexibility
A client who is open to the hypnotherapeutic process and interested in what is happening in the session is both engaging and rewarding to work with. They will usually be receptive to many of the tools in the hypnotherapist’s toolbox. Using intense imagery and stories which guide the client’s imagination can lead to a successful intervention. Such clients often find it easy to leave behind the everyday world and enter a vivid imaginative experience, which the therapist can then use to build positive suggestion and visualisation.
Absorption and imagination
This is often close to curiosity and flexibility, and such a client has a greater ability to develop strong imaginative scenarios and fantasies. These clients may find it easier to enter a deep trance and then construct scenarios in which they imagine themselves solving the problem that brought them to the hypnotherapist’s consulting room.
Trust and compliance with rules
Clients who obey rules easily and trust authority figures will often benefit from a more direct approach. Using authoritative language and giving simple, clear suggestions for behavioural change can be very successful here. Many hypnotherapists working with members of the armed forces, for example in treating PTSD, find that these techniques are particularly effective with this group.
Expressiveness and sharing
Clients who are expressive and outgoing, sharing their thoughts, emotions and feelings easily, often benefit from techniques that encourage them to imagine themselves engaging positively with others. They are often receptive to positive affirmations and structured suggestions for taking constructive action.
State and trait
Whether you are a client or a therapist, it is important to remember that this process is complex and fluid. Some researchers speak of state hypnotisability and trait hypnotisability. The former refers to how the client feels on a particular day – in short, their mood. Some research suggests this may be just as important as trait hypnotisability (what we have been talking about above) in determining how well a client responds to hypnosis. Trait hypnotisability is more stable, but we should not assume that everyone fits neatly into one category or the other.
Developing all the traits
Some hypnotherapists even suggest that part of the therapeutic process is to develop traits that may not previously have been prominent in a particular client. Perhaps we can say that a well-developed personality is a mix of these traits, each being useful in different circumstances and at different times.
To get this mix right demands skill and sensitivity from the therapist. Developing all aspects of a client’s personality is of great therapeutic benefit. At the same time, success depends on working in a way that fits with the client’s main personality traits. Failing to do so can leave the client feeling stressed and emotionally isolated – not a good foundation for a successful intervention.
The client can help
Many clients who seek help from a hypnotherapist already have a good idea of their main personality traits. After all, we are all interested in ourselves! It can therefore be useful to begin a session by discussing how the client sees themselves. This can help build good rapport and also provide even more insight.
Contact me
I hope this overview has clarified the subject, and hopefully it has whetted your appetite for more. Please contact me if there is anything you would like me to cover, or anything you would like more information about.
Coming Next
We are starting a new series – Social Psychology and the Therapeutic Relationship.
In the first part, we will look at: Building rapport and trust.