[CantExplain]

Don't get excited: it didn't work!

I was apprehensive at first but then it became clear that Mr T was going to use relaxation and guided imagery with eyes closed. The relaxation and breathing were OK, but the rest was a disappointment. I never lost consciousness or control of my body, nor did I go into a dreamlike state, nor did I have vivid memories or sensual experiences. Total bust. I didn't even connect with my subconscious.

Mr T kept asking me questions that required verbal answers, which I supplied from my conscious mind. He also asked about memories, and these again were conscious memories. No new memories emerged from the subconscious, there were no flashbacks and no immersion.

So I was disappointed and so, I think, was Mr T. He says it usually works with other people.

I suggested to him that memory is a very bad way to reach my subconscious. Imaginative exercises like The Rose (qv) and the Small Figures (qv) are much more productive. I can let my mind wander.

PS: Mr T was pleased with my insight that my Small Figures tableau was all about acceptance and rejection.

[looking4polaris]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Will you try it again?
I had a handful of hypnosis sessions with a former T and my experience seems similar to yours. The relaxation part was kind of nice, but responding to the questions was very concrete and analytical. There were no insights & no new material was uncovered. The T was surprised it didn't work.
When I later tried analysis, I was interested to find that it provided a much more productive state of reverie, a refreshing detour around my conscious experience and an endless source of new material.
I am curious to try hypnosis again with another T, though, to see if I get different results.

[growlycat]

I'm wondering too if hypnosis needs "practice"--maybe one time isn't enough.

Does Mr T ever ask about your dreams?

[CantExplain]

I don't think there's much point in trying again that way. But there are many roads to hypnosis.

I'd like to hear from someone who did go into a proper trance.

No, we haven't talked about dreams.

[feralkittymom]

I guess I would question the purpose of an "unconscious" trance. While material produced in such a state can be interesting, and maybe useful when viewed metaphorically, it can't be relied upon as any sort of objective "truth." Especially memories recovered in this way are notoriously non-reflective of objective reality.

I was under the impression you were hoping for maybe some sort of post-hypnotic suggestion that might lessen your obsessive thoughts, rather than an explanation for them?

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by feralkittymom

I was under the impression you were hoping for maybe some sort of post-hypnotic suggestion that might lessen your obsessive thoughts, rather than an explanation for them?

I had some vague ideas in that direction, but Mr T never said anything about it.

He did ask me, "What would you say to that little boy?" and we tried that, but I was perfectly aware the whole time.

[growlycat]

I mentioned dreams because maybe the hypnosis will have a delayed effect. My T would have said "pay attention to your dreams in the next few days".