Most of us have an idea of what we think hypnosis is, and that idea usually comes from the world of entertainment. To help give you a better understanding of what hypnosis is -and more importantly, is not – I am going to examine the role hypnosis plays in two movies: Office Space and Get Out.
In the move Office Space, we are introduced to Peter, an unmotivated man with an uninspiring job. His therapist dies in the middle of a hypnosis session, leaving Peter in a permanent state of relaxed bliss. This frees him up to replace negative thought patterns and behaviors with more positive ones. Without these barriers, he becomes more creative in his thinking and more conscious of what is and is not important in life. He is more truthful to himself and to others and he is open to more meaningful relationships. Peter is finally able to relax, really relax, and find purpose in life. Ideal right? Almost true, too. Office Space gives an exaggerated version of the greatest benefits of hypnosis. Deep relaxation Is a part of every session (some people come to me simply for this reason!), and true positive change is the result. Hypnosis is absolutely capable of freeing you in many meaningful ways: breaking bad habits, instilling belief in your abilities, getting to know your deepest inner self… All these things are possible through hypnosis. Now imagine what you could be capable of when your barriers are removed.
On the “what hypnosis is not” side, we have Jordan Peele’s terrifying 2017 film Get Out. This movie plainly lays out all of the fears we hold surrounding hypnosis. Protagonist Chris is hypnotized by his girlfriend’s mother, and against his will falls under some sort of magic control spell. He is powerless in this state, and is forced to watch in horror as a scheme to separate his mind from his body unfolds in front of him. This is NOT hypnosis, though It does make for an amazingly terrifying plot. Oh, if only I held this much power! In reality, a person must be willing to enter a state of trance and must be requesting a desired result. Rule #1 in the field is “hypnosis only works if you want it to.” Hypnosis is not mind control; you don’t tell all of your deepest secrets (unless you want to), and no one has control in any session aside from you. If you would like me to hypnotize you to do all my laundry I’d be happy to, but first you would have to truly want to do all of my laundry. Make sense?
