Hypnosis with Skin Conductance Biofeedback

by Buryl Payne Ph.D.

(used with permission)

Skin Conductance (GSR) biofeedback instruments are the first step in bringing hypnosis from the nether regions of the occult into the domain of science. The use of these instruments provides an empirical basis for hypnosis, transforming it from a personal art to an objective science.

In the past hypnosis has been a much misunderstood and frequently suspect technique of therapeutic treatment. Stage hypnotists, using highly responsive subjects and a vaudeville showmanship approach have given the field an undeserved aura of mystery and chicanery. Meanehile legitimate practitioners have sometimes achieved miracle cures which have defied scientific explanation. Since the hypnotic process has never been substantiated through scientific invertigation, the technique has remained controversial. Some professionals and laymen are enthusiastic, if not fanatical, about its value while others have flatly rejected it.

With the use of Skin Conductance biofeedback instrumentation some aspects of the hypnotic process can be made scientifically objective thereby increasing the general credibility of the process.

Primary values of Skin Conductance biofeedback instruments are:

1. Helping clients to reach deeper levels of relaxation

2. Providing hypnotists with objective indications of relaxation depth

3. Demonstrating the efficacy of a characteristic induction process with a particular client

4. Indicating whether or not suggestions given are acceptable to the client.

Secondary values are;

1. Sharing responsibility with the client for entering a state of hypnosis

2. Increasing the confidence of the client in the hypnotist and the hypnotic process.

3. Establishing a professional image of the hypnotist

4. Improving the training and expertise of hypnotists.

Traditional hypnosis consists of three phases; the induction, the reprogramming suggestions, and the return. The purpose of the induction is to quiet the body, mind and emotions of the subject so that in the second phase full attention is brought to focus on the issue of concern. When the person is quiescent, suggestions are apt to have the greatest impact. Given a successful induction, the suggestions or affirmations work best when: 1. the critical faculty of the client is absent

2. the client focuses on one belief, attitude, or idea

3. the client can clearly visualize a new situation, habit pattern, skill or whatever is relevant.

While these conditions are neither necessary nor sufficient for successfully reprogramming the mind, most hypnotists work towards establisking them during the hypnotic process. Moreover, these are general conditions useful for nearly any learning activity, and hypnosis usually involves some learning on the part of the subject.

In the initial phase hypnosis has some similarity to mediation techniques. Hypnotists sek to quiet the body and mind before implanting suggestion. Mediators also begin by quieting the body and mind. In a sense, hypnosis could be called " applied meditation". One difference between meditation and hypnosis is that hypnosis often deals with the notion of a subconscious mind while meditation aims to contact a superconscious mind.

With instrumentation and feedback, both client and hypnotist are aware of what is happening and both can work together to lower the client's stress level. It is not a question of the "will" of the hypnotist against the "will" of the client, both cooperate. The client takes responsibility for their own condition; they do not surrender their will to the hypnotist. This helps to bypass the issue of trust and the whole process goes smoother and more efficiently.

By taking inexpensive biofeedback instruments home, clients can practicemore effectively, with greater interest, and with objective indications of their success. The client can learn to relax more rapidly and more deeply. The hynotist can learn which induction method works best for that person and can tell when they are deeply relaxed. There is no need to test for depth by challenges- the hypnotist can simply look at the meter or note the pitch of the sound. This leaves him free to concentrate on preparing and administering hypnotic prescription or otherwise working with the client while they are in a deeply relaxed state. Sometimes the hypnotist may not wish to have the tone of the instrument audible. It may disturb the client or interfere with tape recording.

A Skin Conductance instrument which has a meter has a control to turn off the sound. When the subjecthas successfully dropped the pitch or lowered the meter needle, the operator can reset the controls to a higher level again and request the subject to go even deeper into relaxation. This deepening process can be repeated several times during the course of a typical induction. When the client is sufficiently relaxed the next phase of the process can begin.

During the induction my associates and I suggest that the person let their body go to sleep, while their conscious mind remain aware and alert. This seems to be a more accurate way of stating what happens. Of course the subject does not go into any kind of trance state. Typically they experience a sensation of floating within the body. We use the term "nexus" to talk with them about that condition. In nexus, which denotes a tie or link, the subject can either connect to his subconscious body-mind or his superconscious mind. Nexus is not an all or none state, rather it is more like a progressive condition. From the point of power which we call nexus, a person can direct their subconscious or ask for guidance from their superconscious. Complete programs work with all three minds and in this sense hypnosis ought to be considered as a state of greater wakefulness rather than sleep.

When a person is in the nexus condition the skin conductance will continue to reflect changes. Sometimes the slightest thought, worry, or distraction will produce a skin conductance reaction. If the hypnotist gives a suggestion which is not acceptable to the subject the skin conductance will often indicate this by a pitch increase. Any comment by the hypnotist which has any emotional charge will be indicated as a skin conductance change and the hypnotist can either explore the matter immediately or note it and ask the subject about it after the session.

In reprogramming the subconscious mind via the conscious mind, we ask the subject to visualize what he or she wants to happen. Visualization has been found to help imprint the new program. With biofeedback, both subject and hypnotist have an indication of the clarity of the visualization, and a means of training for improvement. A suitable Skin conductance instrument is the SC2