THE RALPH SLATER METHOD
In my work over many years I have naturally experimented with many methods. Personally, I have come more and more to discard the mechanical methods, not because they did not work, but because it seemed sensible to use the quickest and easiest technique, when
results are shown to be just as effective, and even more so than with the more studied and laboured methods. While I still use a variety of techniques, I have found the following to be most effective for use on the ordinary private patient.
I begin by having the Subject stand with his back to me, and his feet together. I stand directly behind him, and with my hand I tilt his head back as far as possible, and tell him to close his eyes. I then tell him to relax his body completely. I put my hands on his shoulders, one hand on each shoulder, and say that in a moment I am going to withdraw my hands, that I want him to think he is falling backwards, and as I withdraw my hands from his shoulders, I say, "You are falling back— Do not be afraid—I am going to catch you." As the subject falls back, I catch him and turn him round with his feet together, and his eyes looking into mine. I put the tips of my fingers on his temples, and instruct him to gaze into my eyes, and tell him that when I remove my fingers, he will fall forward. I remove my fingers slowly from the temples, and then I repeat several times, "You are falling forward—You are falling forward", and, as he does, I catch him.
Once I have reached this stage of the falling backward and forward tests, I stand in front of the subject and instruct him to clasp his hands and interlock his fingers, and to keep his eyes fixed on mine. I then instruct him to think to himself that his fingers are locked together tightly, that he cannot take them apart. I tell him to place them together, tighter, tighter, and when I see them pressed together tightly, with my eyes fixed on his eyes, I say, "You cannot take your hands apart— You cannot take your hands apart." Never allow your gaze to wander away from the eyes of the subject during this time. As he tries unsuccessfully to take his hands apart, I snap my fingers and say briskly, "Now you can take your hands apart", and he does so.
After these preliminaries, in most cases the subject is completely ready for hypnosis. I instruct him to sit on a chair, close his eyes, and then I begin with the sleep suggestions. "You are getting sleepy—Your arms and legs are numb, etc." After the above preliminaries, it is usually only a matter of seconds before the subject is in a hypnotic state. As soon as the subject is hypnotised, I lift up his right arm and tell him it is rigid, he cannot bend it, and when he unsuccessfully tries to do so, I snap my fingers and tell him he can bend his arm, and that he will fall into a deeper sleep.
I then place my hands on the subject's shoulder, and tell him he is stuck to the chair, that he cannot get up. When he tries unsuccessfully to do so, I say, "Never mind—Stop trying—Sleep." By this time, the subject is in a state of hypnosis, and ready to carry out the orders of the hypnotist. The operator then gives the instruction, according to the purpose of the hypnosis. If, for example, the purpose is entertainment, any suggestions similar to those we are about to mention can be given. If the purpose is therapeutic, it is necessary to give post-hypnotic suggestions, which are explained in a later chapter.
If, at any time during the tests mentioned at the beginning of this method, falling backward and forward, etc., the subject should fail to respond, relax him and try again; do not be discouraged. The beginner may well find it easier to use one of the other methods I mentioned earlier, in his first attempts at hypnosis; there is no reason why he shouldn't, if he feels more confident that way. Remember, hypnotism is an art like playing a violin, and only with practice and perseverance can one become an expert.You may however be quite sure that there is no mumbo-jumbo about hypnotism. If anyone tells you it is necessary to darken the room completely, or to play soothing music, or to beat drums softly, to assist the business of hypnotism, you may be sure he doesn't know what he is talking about. It is like saying that in order to drive a car you must wear a yellow tie or put your hat at a certain angle.
In my work over many years I have naturally experimented with many methods. Personally, I have come more and more to discard the mechanical methods, not because they did not work, but because it seemed sensible to use the quickest and easiest technique, when
results are shown to be just as effective, and even more so than with the more studied and laboured methods. While I still use a variety of techniques, I have found the following to be most effective for use on the ordinary private patient.
I begin by having the Subject stand with his back to me, and his feet together. I stand directly behind him, and with my hand I tilt his head back as far as possible, and tell him to close his eyes. I then tell him to relax his body completely. I put my hands on his shoulders, one hand on each shoulder, and say that in a moment I am going to withdraw my hands, that I want him to think he is falling backwards, and as I withdraw my hands from his shoulders, I say, "You are falling back— Do not be afraid—I am going to catch you." As the subject falls back, I catch him and turn him round with his feet together, and his eyes looking into mine. I put the tips of my fingers on his temples, and instruct him to gaze into my eyes, and tell him that when I remove my fingers, he will fall forward. I remove my fingers slowly from the temples, and then I repeat several times, "You are falling forward—You are falling forward", and, as he does, I catch him.
Once I have reached this stage of the falling backward and forward tests, I stand in front of the subject and instruct him to clasp his hands and interlock his fingers, and to keep his eyes fixed on mine. I then instruct him to think to himself that his fingers are locked together tightly, that he cannot take them apart. I tell him to place them together, tighter, tighter, and when I see them pressed together tightly, with my eyes fixed on his eyes, I say, "You cannot take your hands apart— You cannot take your hands apart." Never allow your gaze to wander away from the eyes of the subject during this time. As he tries unsuccessfully to take his hands apart, I snap my fingers and say briskly, "Now you can take your hands apart", and he does so.
After these preliminaries, in most cases the subject is completely ready for hypnosis. I instruct him to sit on a chair, close his eyes, and then I begin with the sleep suggestions. "You are getting sleepy—Your arms and legs are numb, etc." After the above preliminaries, it is usually only a matter of seconds before the subject is in a hypnotic state. As soon as the subject is hypnotised, I lift up his right arm and tell him it is rigid, he cannot bend it, and when he unsuccessfully tries to do so, I snap my fingers and tell him he can bend his arm, and that he will fall into a deeper sleep.
I then place my hands on the subject's shoulder, and tell him he is stuck to the chair, that he cannot get up. When he tries unsuccessfully to do so, I say, "Never mind—Stop trying—Sleep." By this time, the subject is in a state of hypnosis, and ready to carry out the orders of the hypnotist. The operator then gives the instruction, according to the purpose of the hypnosis. If, for example, the purpose is entertainment, any suggestions similar to those we are about to mention can be given. If the purpose is therapeutic, it is necessary to give post-hypnotic suggestions, which are explained in a later chapter.
If, at any time during the tests mentioned at the beginning of this method, falling backward and forward, etc., the subject should fail to respond, relax him and try again; do not be discouraged. The beginner may well find it easier to use one of the other methods I mentioned earlier, in his first attempts at hypnosis; there is no reason why he shouldn't, if he feels more confident that way. Remember, hypnotism is an art like playing a violin, and only with practice and perseverance can one become an expert.You may however be quite sure that there is no mumbo-jumbo about hypnotism. If anyone tells you it is necessary to darken the room completely, or to play soothing music, or to beat drums softly, to assist the business of hypnotism, you may be sure he doesn't know what he is talking about. It is like saying that in order to drive a car you must wear a yellow tie or put your hat at a certain angle.
