The backward spin was developed (as far as the author is aware) by Richard Bandler, one of the founders of Neuro Linguistic Programming. It is part of his new set of techniques called Neuro-Hypnotic Repatterning or NHR (Trade Marked Bandler).

I use it extensively in my hypnosis practice at the Center for Integrative Hypnosis, in New York, NY, particularly with clients who are in a quite intense negative state when they enter my office, or clients who demonstrate the appropriate kinesthetic sub-modalities (as described below).It is one of my favorite ways of trance forming fears of all kinds.

Jane Experiences the Pattern

So let's get on to the pattern. Jane is my hypnosis client. She entered my office one day in a negative state. She had come to see me as a hypnotist, so was expecting trance work, however for her own benefit I wanted to have her at least moderately relaxed before we began any formal trance! I asked what was the matter and she began to relate the terrible day she had had, and how bad she felt, while unconsciously circling her hand in front of her.

The exchange then went something like this:

?Jane: I've had this terrible day, and I really feel bad [speaking fast

?and circling her hand in front of her, her face looking strained]

?Me: So you've had a terrible day, and you feel bad [matching her voice

?and hand movement]

?Jane: Yes that's right! [continuing her hand circle]

?Me: So now what I want you to do, is to move that feeling outside

?yourself [I move my hand further from my body, demonstrating to her

?what I wanted her to do]

?Jane: Huh [looking a little unsure, but moving her hand further away

?from herself]

?Me: Now, reverse the spin [I begin to move my hand, circling

?in the opposite direction]

?Jane: What!? [matching my lead by reversing the direction of the circle]

?Me: That's right,in the opposite way, now move it back inside and notice how it's different

?now [moving my hand, still circling, close to my body]

?Jane: Oh, what just happened?[the strain leaving her face completely]

?Me: Now that we messed with the way your mind and body had recorded that feeling you had, let's go even further, so you can feel even better, now, as you're spinning that feeling in the opposite direction, I want you to think of a time you laughed out loud, something you found irresistible funny [Jane starts to smile]

?Me: That's right, feel that laughter and imagine putting that into the spin [Jane starts laughing, head nodding]

?Jane: wow! that's funny

?Me; that's right, and as you feel that good feeling, notice how different you feel when you try to think about that negative state you had..[Jane continues to smile, shaking her head in disbelief]

?Jane: I can't seem to get it back, it's like it doesn't matter anymore..wow..

By giving Jane control over the feeling, dissociating her, and turning the feeling into the ?opposite?, her state changed completely, and she learned a new way to change unwanted feelings. We were then able to complete a useful hypnosis session.

The Pattern

Here is the pattern:

?Pick an issue you want to work through

?Notice how it feels when you step into that feeling

?Notice which way the feeling spins. Note that all kinesthetic feelings

?move, and ultimately return to their starting point, otherwise we would

?not be able to feel them. Some move clockwise, some anticlockwise, some

?horizontal, some vertical, don't worry exactly how the spin is. If you

?cannot initially locate the movement, exaggerate the feeling until you

?notice some movement, not increase the size of the spin until you can

?feel it clearly. There may be some temporary discomfort (after all this

?is a negative feeling) but we will soon bring it under control! If you

?wish you can move your hand in a circle to fix the spin in your mind.

?Now imagine the spin is moving outside your body, still spinning the

?same way but now outside you.

?Now reverse the spin (and the movement of your hand if you chose to

?move your hand in a circle), still outside yourself.

?Now move the spin back inside your body, now rotating in this opposite

?direction. Notice how it is different. Now, think of something funny and you literally start to change the chemicals and hormones coursing through your body (laughter does that)

?If you wish imagine adding color, or sparkles, or other elements to the

?new spin to make it feel even better.

We teach this and other techniques during our neurolinguistic programming and hypnosis trainings in New York. We also offer certified hypnosis trainings for National Guild of Hypnotists NGH.