There are many noteworthy hypnotic methodologies that are used to reach the subconscious mind to cause change. Each method has its strengths and its weaknesses. No two people are the same, so it only stands to reason that the best results will result from using techniques that each person will have the most success with.

Most hypnosis tape venders offer tapes that consist of standard traditional hypnosis methods. A few vendors offer much more modern and effective Ericksonian hypnosis methods. And fewer still offer Neuro-Linguistic Programming methods.

The newest and possibly most effective methodology available is video hypnosis. Video hypnosis relies on the latest NLP thought patterns to trigger instant changes in a person. Video hypnosis modalities are not subliminal in nature.

With "Traditional Hypnosis," we simply make direct commands to the subconscious mind mind. In case you are wondering, as far as I'm concerned, the term unconscious and subconscious are indistinguishable - as they refer to the same part of the mind. This type of hypnotism works well for a subject who generally accepts what he/she is told.

Most hypnosis programs sold today are based on "Traditional Hypnosis" methods. This is because it does not take much training or experience to author a script and just command a person to do something. Unfortunately Traditional Hypnotherapy is not very effective for people who are analytical in their thinking processes.

By contrast, Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP methods work more effectively for most members of today's generation! This is because today individuals are taught to question everything they see and hear, rather than just follow the flock. So these methods do work well for people who are critical in their thinking processes.

Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP are far more effective at reaching and influencing the subconscious mind. However, it can take years of of experience to learn how to apply these methods effectively. This is a task that is accepted only by truly dedicated hypno-therapists.

With "Ericksonian Hypnosis," we use little stories, called metaphors, to present post-hypnotic suggestions to the subconscious mind. This is an effective course, because it usually eliminates the resistance to post-hypnotic suggestions that is often caused by the conscious mind. There are two types of metaphors, "Isomorphic," and those of the imbedded command or "interspersal" nature.

Isomorphic metaphors offer direction to the subconscious mind by telling a story that offers a moral. The subconscious mind draws a one to one relationship between the elements of the story and the elements of a negative behavior.

For example, if a child is telling lies, the parent might tell the child the story about the "Boy who cried wolf." The subconscious mind would draw a parallel between the boy in the story and the child, and realize that telling lies could lead to disaster, so the child would probably stop lying.

With the Embedded Command technique, the hypno-therapist tells an amusing story that engages and distracts the conscious mind. The tale contains covert direct post-hypnotic suggestions that are generally accepted by the subconscious mind. For example: While the client is in the hypnotic state, he will hear the hypnotherapist say something like: I'm going to tell you a story about ...[a beach that has feelings. Isn't that] ...strange to... [you]? It's a warm summer's day, and... the beach [feels great].

The hypnotist pauses, shifts his voice tonality, and verbally stresses the bracketed text. The subconscious mind recognizes a "Selectional restriction violation." Beaches can't have feelings. So it's like the subconscious mind says to itself: "Wait a minute, a beach can't feel anything, so that must mean that I'm supposed to feel great."

Since the suggestions are hidden in a topic that is misdirecting the conscious mind, its very unlikely that the conscious will realize that it has just received a suggestion, so it will not block it or resist it.

Process Instructions direct the subconscious mind to recall an experience of an appropriate learning experience from the past where something useful to the present situation was learned, and then apply that experience to eliminate bad behaviors in the present.

With "Neuro-Linguistic Programming" (NLP), rather than using hypnotic commands, we use the same methods of thinking that are creating a problem, like feelings of stress, to do away with the problem. NLP in the hands of an experienced hypnotherapist can be very effective.

NLP Anchoring: Have you ever heard some old music and had it remind you of feelings from the past? When you originally heard the music, you were feeling those feelings, and they subconsciously became associated with the sound of the melody. So the music became an Anchor for the feelings. Now when you hear the song, it triggers the same feelings again.

Anchoring can be a very useful method. Suppose that you have a memory of being commended for having done something well in the past. If you revivify that memory, you'll be able to recreate the feelings of self-esteem that you had at that time. If you touch two fingers together while you re-experience those feelings of self-esteem, that touch will become an anchor for the feelings of self-esteem.

Now suppose that you want to create motivation to stick to a diet and lose weight. If you make a mental image of yourself with a thin, sexy body, and simultaneously trigger the anchor - (press the two fingers together again), your subconscious mind will connect together the feelings of self-esteem to your image of you with the thin body and your level of motivation to lose weight will increase substantially.

NLP Flash: This is a very effective NLP technique that can be used to flip things around in the subconscious mind, so that thoughts and experiences that used to trigger feelings of stress actually trigger relaxation instead.

The NLP Flash technique is also extremely effective for extinguishing conditioned responses. For example: If a smoker has a cigarette while drinking coffee, his/her subconscious mind will connect the two behaviors together so that he/she automatically gets an urge for a cigarette anytime he/she has a cup of coffee. The Flash will cause the smoker's mind to disassociate the image of a cigarette from the cup of coffee so that he/she does NOT get an urge to smoke just because he/she is drinking coffee.

With "Subliminal" programs, the recording has two different tracks. One track contains a cover sound that is heard by the conscious mind. The cover sound could be anything from music to nature sounds. The number two track contains direct suggestions that are heard by the subconscious mind mind. These suggestions are repeated many, many times during a session.

Subliminal programs can be listened to as they play in the background while you are working, or talking or partisipating in any other activity. You don't have to stop what you are doing and relax like you do with self-hypnosis CD's. Subliminals can be an addition to hypnotic programs. But Subliminals will never replace Hypnosis or NLP because they are not as effective! They don't even come close!! Some studies have claimed that it can take up to 80 hours of listening to a subliminal CD before it will have any effect on many people.

The last hypnotic technique that we're going to talk about is Video Hypnosis. Video hypnosis is the most practical form of hypnosis!

The techniques used in video hypnosis are based on the NLP technology, which works based on the utilization of a person's existing thought processes instead of direct commands.

Over 70% of the planet learns more quickly based on what they see rather than what they hear.

Think about it. If you feel an urge to eat or smoke when watching television, it's because your unconscious recorded the video image of either food in your hand, or a cigarette in your hand, and then tied that image to an image of the television. You never spoke to yourself and told yourself in words to associate them together, true?

And that's why the Video Hypnosis technology is so compelling. It's not hypnotic in the traditional sense, relying on the spoken word; rather, it relies on transmitting images to the subconscious mind. And if you've ever shed a tear when watching a sad movie, then you know how powerful video hypnosis can be at reaching the subconscious mind. With this technology, results usually start with the very first viewing of the video!

The Video Hypnosis / NLP modality reprograms the subconscious mind through a high-tech simulation process called computerized digital optics. This frees a person of their urges and allows someone who smokes to stop without effort or gaining weight, and a dieter to lose their compulsions and appetite. Results generally start after the very first viewing of the video!