Q 3: Critically differentiate between the use permissive and authoritarian approaches in

Clinical Hypnosis

William Wood from Northern Utah Hypnosis Center (2010) has said “that different people need
different approaches to trance, but for most people most of the time; a permissive approach is
superior to an authoritarian approach. Stated another way, hypnosis is not something that is
done to someone, rather is done with someone. The client is allowed to access trance in the way
that best suits the client, in a way that puts the client in control of the process?

Below is an example of a direct authoritarian suggestion and a permissive suggestion:

1. Authoritarian suggestion: Breathe deep and relax.

2. Permissive suggestion: Go ahead and see if you can notice your breathing. It doesn’t matter if
you prefer to breathe deeply as you go into trance or if you prefer to slow your breathing down
instead.

In Clinical Hypnosis Textbook by Ursula James (2005), permissive suggestions are requests and
invitations. They involve repetition and presentation of ideas in gentler terms. This type of
approach is favoured for those patients who are anxious, for younger patients and for those who
are experiencing for the first time, as it allows them more apparent control over the process. The
advantage of this approach is that it gives the practitioner more time to calibrate the patient’s
response. The possible disadvantage is that the patient may become so relaxed that they sleep
before therapeutic suggestions can be made. When permissive suggestions are used, it will take
longer for the change to take effect. As repetition and invitation involve allowing the patient to
analyse the suggestions before taking them on board so there will be a longer period of time
between suggestions and response.
Authoritarian suggestions are made in a directive, commanding manner. The advantage of this
type of approach lies in its rapidity. The disadvantage is that, if the patient fails to comply with the
suggestion, the rapport that was established in the pre-induction section of the session will be
eroded. This method is favoured for patients who have mindset of accepting suggestions, taking
orders and those who are used to issuing orders and having others comply with them. In extreme
cases, authoritarian suggestions are better approach such as emergency cases e.g accident. In
the instance of hypnosis induced at this moment, a rapid dissociation away from the experience of
the immediate surroundings occurs.
INTRO
In Clinical Hypnosis authoritarian approach and permissive approach been used. There are difference in
between these 2 approaches.
CONTENT

Authoritarian approach Permissive approach

Way of suggestion given Way of suggestion given

- Directive and commanding manner - requests and invitations
- repetition and presentation of ideas in
Breathe deep and relax gentler terms.

Go ahead and see if you can notice your

breathing. It doesn’t matter if you prefer to
breathe deeply as you go into trance or if
you prefer to slow your breathing down
instead.

Advantage Advantage
- lies in its rapidity - it gives the practitioner more time to
calibrate the patient’s response
Disadvantage Disadvantage
- patient fails to comply with the suggestion, - patient may become so relaxed that they
the rapport that was established will be sleep before therapeutic suggestions can be
eroded. made.
- take longer for the change to take effect.
- repetition and invitation involve allowing the
patient to analyse the suggestions before
taking them on board so there will be a
longer period of time between suggestions
and response.
-

Suitability for patients Suitability for patients

- have mindset of accepting suggestions, - anxious,
- taking orders - for younger patients
- and those who are used to issuing orders - those who are experiencing for the first time,
and having others comply with them. as it allows them more apparent control over
- In extreme cases, such as emergency the process
cases e.g accident

CONCLUSION
In Clinical Hypnosis, approaches vary according to situation. Therapist has to look the suitability of the
approach. There will be sometimes mixed approach used.