Reading the Client First
Before I ever begin the formal induction, I draw on everything I observed during the pre-talk — the speed of their breath, how quickly they followed the pink-elephant exercise, the tightness in their shoulders. That information tells me whether to quicken or slow my words. I begin the induction itself by explaining that the mind has four parts. I'll walk you through each part the way I walk my clients through it, and you're free to use my script or adapt it to your own voice.
Teach Them What Hypnosis Is
Many practitioners skip this teaching piece and dive straight into "close your eyes and relax." Once you go through this course, I think you'll see why I always explain it first. I start by saying, "Hypnosis works in the mind. I want you to picture your mind in four parts. Can you do that?" I watch them closely as I say this — how quickly they nod, whether their eyes track me, how easily they follow along.
Their response in those first moments tells me everything about pacing. If they struggle here, I know to go slower during the hypnosis itself. I also explain the mind as a metaphor, because the mind loves metaphors. In the sections that follow, I'll show you how I describe the mind and how it works — this is the foundation of how I help clients understand what hypnosis is, why it works, and what it will feel like.
Why Explanation Deepens the Trance
I truly believe that taking the time to explain hypnosis to my clients is the reason almost all of them go deep on the first session.
The Office, the File Room, and the Pink Elephant
My pre-talk script frames the conscious mind as an office and the subconscious mind as a file room holding every memory, thought, action, and limiting belief. From there I move into the pink elephant exercise: I ask them to picture an elephant, change its color to pink with white polka dots, then close their eyes and describe it back to me. This little exercise tells me how easy they will be to work with.
That little elephant is going to teach you something important about how the mind works — and why imagination is the most powerful tool you have as a healer. You will learn the significance of the pink elephant in the very next lesson.
The more vividly they describe the elephant, the easier the session will be. Next I have them imagine they can communicate with the elephant mentally — they'll need that exact skill later, when they speak with loved ones and Spirit. Another piece of the pre-talk script shows the client how their own issues are creating their anxiety.
Giving Them a Taste of Trance
The pre-talk also gives them a felt sense of what it's like to be in a trance state and still able to talk and answer questions. I use the script to gauge how well the client will perform once they're under. By the time they know what to expect, they relax — and that relaxation gives them confidence they'll succeed in the session.
A Shared Language for Later
Another reason I love a thorough pre-talk: it gives me a shared language I can refer back to once we're in trance. The full pre-talk script is in the script section of this book. I use a beach for my induction because we live in Florida and almost everyone can relate to a beach, but the setting really doesn't matter as long as it stays grounded — a garden, a forest, or any peaceful place here on earth will do.
Practice
Rehearse the handoff from pre-talk to trance. 1. Write the exact words you use to close the pre-talk and open the induction — the bridge sentence. 2. Say the last two minutes of your pre-talk and the first two minutes of your induction back to back, out loud. 3. Do it three times, slowing your pace slightly each time. 4. Note where you stopped needing your notes. That is where your induction has become yours.