Terms and definitions

Humanist Hypnosis is a new form of Hypnosis based on the use of specific hypnotic techniques called "in opening" that overcome the natural gap between the conscious and the unconscious mind. This "heightened consciousness" constitutes its main axis of change and implies a holistic vision of existence.

This is how Humanist Hypnosis is endowed with a fairly complete cosmology that describes the functioning of Consciousness, from a psychological as well as a philosophical and symbolic point of view.

Unless the person explicitly requests it, this basis of understanding only concerns the Humanist Hypnotherapist to facilitate their understanding of the person and to ensure that they receive proper help.

The therapist does not give hypnotic suggestions in Humanist Hypnosis. Their role is neutral. It is that of a teacher and a guide. They assist the person in the process of “becoming conscious” of what is blocking them inwardly, such as what to do technically (although they have understood what is blocking them, the person is not a therapist and does not know the techniques that could help them).

Thus, instead of applying a psychological treatment “on” the person, the therapist will explain the process of doing what the person wants to do and will assist the person in healing on their own. This ensures that the person is always perfectly autonomous, learns and understands (which avoids any risk of relapse) and if something does not please them or if they want to do it differently, they will always be free to do as they wish and what they “set” in them.

~oOo~

Should you be interested, here is a very quick overview of the basics of understanding used by Humanist hypnotherapists…

Let’s start with the philosophical aspect:

– Humanism is a European cultural movement that originated in Italy and developed at the time of the Renaissance. It holds a “philosophical standpoint”, centered around the human being in its broadest understanding (Humanity). Its purpose is for each of us to work individually to gradually improve the entire human condition through a ripple effect.

“Whoever Saves a Life Saves the World”
Quoted in the Torah, the Bible, the Koran

The main representatives of the Renaissance “Humanism” were:

  • Ficin: a priest at the origin of a spiritual momentum that spread throughout Europe.
  • Lefèvre d’Etaples: theologian and Bible translator.
  • Erasmus: an independent and satirical spirit who sought to reconcile Catholics and Reformists through his work on the New Testament.
  • Pic della Mirandola: “a great scholar, the father of the Christian Kabbalah, characterized by an esotericism that is both Christian and universal, where the secret traditions of humanity converge; Pic de la Mirandole details the essential criteria of all authentic esotericism: the divine origin of tradition, the metaphysical doctrine, symbolism, its universality and its compatibility with the traditions of other cultures, its inseparability from exotericism and its transmission from teacher to student; his “Discourse on the Dignity of Man” (1486), a genuine humanist charter, proclaims loud and clear the advent of a new world in which man constitutes by his freedom the center and the jewel” – Eric Vinson.

This is how Pico de la Mirandole sums up the historical Humanism that Humanist Hypnosis claims and updates through its underlying philosophy.

Humanism advocates the popularization of all knowledge, and this includes spiritual and religious knowledge: science as well as “the Divine word” must be made accessible to all people, regardless of their origins or social level.

Such an educated individual remains free and fully responsible for their acts in the faith of their choice. The notions of freedom or free will, tolerance, independence, openness, and curiosity are, therefore, inseparable from the classical Humanism.

Since Montaigne, Humanism thus conceived has been one of the most constant elements of the French mindset. Based on respect and justice, this humanism is therefore about respecting and acting for the fundamental rights of the human being.

HUMANIST HYPNOSIS…

• Offers a cosmology of the psyche (consciousness) and, by extension, of life.

• Works by means of the capital Consciousness upon the wounds of the Unconscious. The person – and no longer the therapist – is in control of the process of change.

• Complements and follows on from existing hypnotic approaches that can be easily replaced – with the highest level of intervention:

• Aims to “de-hypnotize” the person, to bring them a greater sense of life. Rather than inducing the person to sleep, the hypnotic Humanist induction helps them to “become conscious” of themselves, others and everything in their life. This state of “heightened consciousness” allows the person to heal themselves, with the help of the Humanist hypnotherapist.

• Takes into account the whole person at all levels: physical and instinctive (body), emotional and relational (heart), intellectual and mental (head) and possibly spiritual (soul and consciousness).

• Falls within the scope of transpersonal approaches in that it deals with the person and also with what is beyond them, their place in their family, their work or even with the human society and the role they can play in it.

• Has a definite pedagogical component [read the novels “Creators of Reality“].

• Works with both the tangible reality and the subtle world: psyche, symbolism, archetypes, dreams, Information, morphogenetic fields, matrix, etc.

• Accepts and uses all forms of belief or understanding of life. “Everything that can be imagined is real,” said Picasso. This has resulted in instant change techniques such as “Symbolic Therapy”(ST).

• Uses up-to-date Jungian knowledge of symbols and archetypes, particularly in “Advanced Symbolic Therapy” (AST).

• Allows the person to heal and grow without having to rely on anyone, the therapist never intervenes directly (change “in consciousness”), which is particularly well adapted to today’s needs, coaching or work in the corporate world, for example.

• It is an open approach (not restricted to any professional, medical or other categories) in a rapid expansion which everyone can access, for themselves, their family or to help their fellow human beings. The concept of “passing the baton“, which goes beyond the simple therapeutic framework, is the principle of human assistance on a daily basis. In this respect, Humanist Hypnosis is not a “couch potato” practice and finds its usefulness in everyday life worldwide.

• Addresses the place of the human being on this planet in order to preserve life (ecology) for us and our children (systemic and transpersonal aspects).

~oOo~

In summary, Humanist Hypnosis can be seen as the modern and improved version of the oldest forms of work in an Altered State of Consciousness which have been around since the origin of Humanity (the work in Consciousness has been around since pre-Socratic philosophers almost 2700 years ago, and perhaps even earlier although the idea of an Unconscious did not appear in Leibniz until 1686… and in therapy almost 200 years later).

There is no mind dissociation in Humanist Hypnosis (so there is no connection with the usual “expansions of consciousness”, let alone with shamanism, or even with hypnosis as we know it). The Humanist technique, on the contrary, seeks to repair this ancestral cleavage.

The therapist thus only plays the role of a guide and instructor, or even a support person. There is no technique of influence in Humanist Hypnosis (subliminal or other).

The person grows more self-conscious with the therapy – producing secondary benefits that exceed the therapeutic objective.

Humanist Hypnosis also takes into account human, spiritual, systemic, humanitarian and ecological data, and has its own technical and philosophical model [see also the Glossary of Humanist Hypnosis Words].

For a healthy body, and the realization of our dreams
on a planet where everyone will enjoy life.

Going further…

Also read: Differences and similarities of  Humanist Hypnosis and our web site’s “Frequently Asked Questions“, which is packed with interesting answers.