The Banyan Glossary of Hypnosis Terms

5-PATH®: System of doing hypnosis consisting of five different phases: (1) Phase I, Preparation, Testing and Convincing Techniques, (2) Phase II, Age Regression and Age Progression Techniques, (3) Phase III, Parts Work for Forgiveness of Others, (4) Phase IV, Parts Work used for Forgiveness of Self, and (5) Phase V, Parts Mediation Work for Secondary Gain issues. A process developed by Calvin D. Banyan using these powerful techniques and influenced by the work of Dave Elman, Gerald F. Kein, Charles Tebbetts, and others.
7th Path Self-Hypnosis™: A holistic approach to self-hypnosis that combines influences from both hypnosis and meditation. Practitioners are taught to go into hypnosis after they have been hypnotized by a 7th Path Teacher, who will instruct them on the process, which is intended to remove limiting beliefs and unwanted habits, while at the same time making positive suggestions to themselves called Recognitions. This system was developed by Calvin D. Banyan who was inspired to develop this system based on his understanding of hypnosis, self-hypnosis, meditation, psychology, spirituality and emotions.
Believe or Belief: To believe, or to have a belief is: 1) To not know, and 2) To think and behave as if you did. All beliefs have a varying degree of uncertainty. If we were certain, we would not “believe,” we would know.
Compounding Suggestion: This technique is used to increase the reliability of a suggestion, especially a post-hypnotic suggestion. The technique consists of providing the client with the suggestion so that she can experience the phenomena or suggested behavior during or after the session. Most commonly the suggestion is given during the session and the client responds to it immediately, and then the suggestion is given again, and the client responds to it immediately once again. The process of having the client respond to the suggest repeatedly, usually a minimum of three times, reinforces the suggestion given, and makes it more reliable.
Convincers: Usually a covert test used to demonstrate to a client that she is hypnotized. Convincers are tests that the hypnotist expects the client to pass because she has already been tested covertly for a deeper state of hypnosis, or has exhibited hypnotic phenomena associated with a deeper level of hypnosis.
Covert Testing: Any technique used to determine the level of hypnosis (suggestibility) attained in an individual in which she would not be aware that she is being tested, and as such not be aware of the results of the test. Covert tests are used so that failure of the test does not reduce the confidence level in the client because reducing the level of confidence reduces suggestibility.
Deepening Technique: Any technique used to increase suggestibility in a hypnotized individual.
Esdaile State: See Hypnotic Coma State.
Hetero Hypnosis: Any time when one person aids another person in entering into the state of hypnosis. Generally one person is in the role of hypnotist and the other is in the role of subject, client or patient.
HypnoBirthing™: A system of using hypnosis and self-hypnosis developed by Marie Mongan to provide a birthing mother with a natural and comfortable birthing experience without the use of drugs.
Hypnosis: A heightened state of suggestibility. Generally there are several types of hypnosis, (1) naturally occurring hypnosis, (2) hetero hypnosis, (3) self-hypnosis, and (4) waking suggestion.
Hypnotic Coma State: A hypnotic state first used by Dr. Esdaile to induce anesthesia in his patients before the use of chemical anesthesia. Other than automatic anesthesia and catatonia, this state of consciousness servers no other purpose, except that it is a relaxed and comfortable state to be in. However, the name is a misnomer, because this is not a true state of hypnosis, because the essential feature of any level of hypnosis is that it would be a heightened state of suggestibility. Once one is in this state they are no longer responsive, nor are they suggestible, hence this is not a true state of hypnosis, although it is widely regarded to be so. This is also called the Esdaile State.
Hypnotic Suggestion: Any statement, action or stimuli given by oneself, or someone else intended to either induce hypnosis or take advantage of the heightened state of suggestibility that is hypnosis, such as telling a hypnotized individual that she will have more confidence, lose weight or stop smoking.
Initial Sensitizing Event (ISE): The event in the client's life that started or caused the problem, being usually a perception that lead to an emotional response of some kind.
Naturally Occurring Hypnosis: Any time a heightened state of suggestibility occurs by way of natural circumstances such as daydreaming.
Overt Testing: Any technique used to determine the level of hypnosis (suggestibility) attained in an individual in which she would be aware that she is being tested. Care needs to be taken when using overt testing because if the client knows that she is being tested then it may affect the state being tested, usually negatively, and also failure of the test will reduce the client's confidence and level of suggestibility.
Pre-Talk: Information provided to increase an individual's ability to become hypnotized, generally consisting of information aimed at overcoming fears and misconceptions about hypnosis.
Pre-Hypnosis Interview: The discussion that transpires between a hypnosis client and the hypnotist in which the hypnotist learns about the history of the client's problem: (1) the nature of the problem, (2) when the client believes the problem began, (3) what the client has done to address the issue in the past, and (3) any important information about current circumstances, (4) any future events related to the issue.
Post-Hypnotic Interview: This is a period directly after the hypnosis process has been completed when the client talks about or asks questions about the session. The hypnotist may also discuss certain parts of the session pointing out and reviewing certain points of interest for the client. She may also provide her client recommendations about how to proceed.
Previvification: A term used by 5-PATH® hypnotists describing having a client move into a probable future in order to experience the changes made during a hypnotic age regression work session. This previvification is a hallucination and is more real that imagination, or visualization to the client. It is an excellent way to reinforce changes made during the age regression process, build confidence and even practice new skills or behavior patterns.
Revivification: In a true hypnotic age regression session the client is able to hallucinate re-experiencing a past event. This is not pretending or memory at work but rather a reliving of the event. It can seem very real to the client.
Self-Hypnosis: Any time an individual uses techniques or tools to induce hypnosis in herself, for example entering hypnosis by way of post-hypnotic suggestion, or listening to a audio recording made for the purpose of inducing hypnosis.
Subsequent Sensitizing Event (SSE): Events that occurs after the Initial Sensitizing Event that reinforces the cognitions, emotions or symptoms associated with the Initial Sensitizing Event. There is usually more than one SSE.
Suggestibility: How a person is able to accept suggestion, which varies according to the critical factor of the mind. The greater the suggestibility that an individual is experiencing, the greater the effect that suggestions offered will affect that person's perceptions of reality. In high levels of suggestibility, suggestions can profoundly affect perceptions including causing amnesia, anesthesia and both positive and negative hallucinations.
Symptom Producing Event (SPE): This is either an Initial Sensitizing Event or Subsequent Sensitizing Event that occurs at the same time the problem, issue or symptom occurs in the life of the client, it is usually the event that either causes the problem or reinforces the cause such that it becomes an active issue in the client's life.
UltraDepth® Procedure: An altered state of consciousness attained by way of a hypnotic procedure, requiring first somnambulism, and then the Esdaile State (also known as the Hypnotic Coma State).
Waking Suggestion: Suggestions given to someone in a normal state of consciousness, where no attempt to induce a recognizable state of hypnosis has transpired. These suggestions can be given to an individual who is a normal state of suggestibility, or a state of suggestibility that has been increased by other means, such as when the person who is giving the suggestions has established a state of rapport with the other person, or has established herself as a trusted expert in the eyes of the other person.