The true value of hypnosis as a therapeutic tool lies in the power it gives therapists to access a client’s unconscious thoughts and hidden memories. Often subconscious content can be elicited simply by asking the client to verbally tell you what she is experiencing or to answer the questions you have asked. While it is quite convenient for the therapist to work in this way, there are at least two disadvantages:
- verbal responses tend to lighten the trance
- Verbal responses can be faked, whether intentionally or not.
It’s pretty easy for a subject to give you the answer they think you want to hear. This is often done innocently enough out of a natural desire to please, but it tends to get in the way of the truth. Ideally, the therapist needs an alternate way of eliciting responses from a subject that cannot be falsified or altered by interference from the conscious mind. This is what makes ideomotor responses such a valuable addition to the hypnotherapist’s toolbox.
What is ideomotor signaling?
The term ‘ideomotor’ links mind (ideo) and movement (motor). Quite simply, it is the use of spontaneous physical movements (most often with the fingers) to indicate mental positions such as yes, no, and maybe. It is a very basic form of communication, but because it occurs below the level of speech, it does not cause a lifting of the trance state and requires no conscious effort, so there is less chance of a false response.
How to establish ideomotor signaling
When the subject is in a trance, tell him that you are going to establish a form of communication that will allow him to remain deeply relaxed and allow his mind to be so comfortable and sluggish.
Then tell them to imagine the word ‘yes’ and keep imagining it until a finger on one of their hands starts to lift. She continues to coax him until one of the fingers makes an involuntary movement. It is very important that the movement is involuntary. A conscious movement will tend to be a strong and direct movement, while an involuntary movement will be floating and the finger will tend to jerky. You will get the distinct impression that the finger is moving ‘strangely’, and this will be your proof of the validity of the answer.
Once you have a yes finger, ask the subject to focus on the word ‘no’ and repeat it until another finger on the same hand begins to move. It’s a good idea to keep it in the same hand because if you allow it to appear in the opposite hand it can be quite difficult to see.
Once you have a yes and a no finger, tell the subject to focus on the thought ‘I don’t know/can’t say’. Note which finger is raised.
Use of ideomotor responses
You can now use the finger signals to reach hidden truths that the subject is unaware of. Inform the subject that he is not to tell you the answers to his questions, but that he is to let them out to those fingers, and assure him that this will happen naturally and easily and that he has nothing to do.
Now it’s your turn to ask questions to begin to identify the problem. Some typical questions include the following:
- Is it okay for us to know the cause of this emotional problem? (This is a good question to start a regression.)
- Did the problem start before the age of 3? (If yes, ask if it started before 2 years, 1 year, etc., until reaching the exact age).
- Is there some disturbing event that caused this problem?
- Is it safe for you to let go of this perception?
You can continue to ask yes/no/don’t know questions like these to dig deeper into the truth and guide the subject to a point where they can release their concerns. Remember to watch your finger movements and make sure they are involuntary. You’ll notice it immediately by the wavy, unruly way the fingers move. If the finger is fired too directly, your subject is most likely in control of the response and is not ready for the truth yet.
