Derren Brown's hypnosis shock hypnotic inductions have been used by stage hypnotists for many years.
However, as clinic hypnotherapists it's not a technique we use,
because it's unlikely to help the client feel comfortable!
When we use hypnosis, it is typically a gentle hypnotic relaxation, to help the client find a relaxed state of
focus where they are in control at all times and will remember everything that is said.
However, the powerful results can still be achieved to help people change how they think and to feel better.
The shock hypnotic inductions, or rapid hypnotic inductions, are less likely to work on everyone, so Derren Brown
will have selected his person carefully.
People are more likely to be affected by the rapid inductions that Derren Brown uses if they are somnambulistic.
That means they are more likely to be someone who sleepwalks or talks in their sleep. Their conscious and
subconscious minds are closely linked.
Derren Brown also uses hypnotic states to have people quickly forget their name, fall down
(which has a clear risk of physical damage), forget a number or to think something that isn't true.
Often, his work only uses a very light hypnotic trance state, which demonstrates how easily a suggestive state
can be achieved.
For example, Derren Brown's mind control film on a London underground train:
Or controlling lots of people in a shopping mall in Croydon, London:
These are all very popular hypnosis techniques used by stage show hypnotists for hundreds of years.
Paul McKenna hypnosis
These techniques were also used a lot by Paul McKenna doing stage hypnosis and street hypnosis
in the 1990's, and there's still lots of videos
showing this on YouTube, like the one below. However, it's great to see that Paul McKenna has put these skills
to better use, helping people to change for the better, also using NLP, TFT and Havening. All techniques that
therapists at FreeYourMind.UK and trained and qualified in.
He's a video from 1999, showing Paul McKenna doing stage hypnosis on the streets of London.
What other techniques does Derren Brown use?
Derren Brown uses various of techniques, in addition to hypnosis.
Part of his shows are based on magic, which is simply fooling the eye and mind.
A lot of what he says about other techniques is likely to be a distraction from what he's really doing.
For example, he will often speak about anchors, where he is implanting specific thoughts in people's minds.
Anchors are a very powerful from the NLP toolset, however we expect he is largely using this idea as a
distraction for us, rather than to change the person's thinking.
Who is Derren Brown?
Derren Brown was born in 1971 in Croydon, London, England.
He is a mentalist and illusionist, who says he uses "magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection, and showmanship".
His first television show was Derren Brown: Mind Control in 2000.
Hypnotherapy can help you
Would you like to know more about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and how it can help to create positive change?
Contact us today:
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