Integrative Hypnosis: A Comprehensive Course in Change

The book Integrative Hypnosis is written as a transcript from a workshop. Perhaps about 80% of this book consists of NLP techniques, so if you have attended NLP training, they will not be new to you. However, since NLP is generally thought through NLP workshops, and most hypnosis courses teach only classical hypnosis techniques, if you've only learned classical hypnosis, then this book will open a new world for you. Some of the NLP techniques covered in this book are calibration, eye accessing cues, submodalities, pacing, leading, anchoring, stacking anchors, collapsing anchors, swish, time-lines, few hypnotic language patterns and meta model, backward spin, reframing, future pacing, and of course an overview of NLP presuppositions. Even NLP training programs tend to teach you just techniques, not necessarily offer suggestions for different situations where you may use them. The author of this book, Melissa, on the other hand, shares with you varieties of techniques she picked up, from hypnosis, NLP, EFT and few other places and then opens you up to brainstorm the possibilities of techniques you may use to help a client to stop smoking, lose weight, manage pain, engage the body to heal itself, deliver a child, explore past lives, transform emotions like anger and fear, even explore spiritual questions like "who am I?" You'll also learn different ways of inducing trance in Ericksonian hypnosis, including arm catalepsy, handshake induction, hand drop induction, a review of an induction from Bandler's book Trance-formations, as well as the fact that sometimes you don't need to use any formal induction because simply directing the client's attention to a subjective experience, will guide the client into a trance. The essence of Ericksonian approach to hypnosis is utilization - utilizing what is already present in a client to help the client solve the problem. For that reason, you will not find hypnotherapy scripts in this book, though you will find hypnotic suggestions interspersed throughout the book, giving you an idea of possible ways in which you may use hypnotic language to help the client get desired outcomes. This book is only a start. Its purpose being to elicit curiosity in you to learn more. Some techniques in this book may help you to get even instant results in some situations, while other techniques you may need to practice perhaps for months or maybe even years to develop the mastery, and the learning really never stops. The more techniques you have under your belt, the more you experiment, the more skillfully you'll be able to deal with any situation, because if one thing doesn't work, you'll always be able to try something else.

I'm not a specialist. I'm a philosopher and I study consciousness; after a surprisingly effective experience with hypnotherapy I wanted to learn more about it. I read for a living, so I did what I always do: I indiscriminately read a bunch of books in the order available (from Milton Erickson to Richard Bandler, through some less prominent names like McKay, Hewitt or Friesen and everything kindle-available on Amazon). I can definitely say that I benefited the most from Melissa Tiers' "Integrative Hypnosis". The book is a polished transcript from a class Tiers was teaching. Whether it's about her way of teaching or the skill of the editor, the book manages to take you inside the seminar room, and experience the content of the course as an unfolding dialog of sorts. What made it so useful to me is Tiers' ability to synthesize a variety of metods I've read about elsewhere, give them a personal touch and integrate them into a comprehensive, sensible attitude that I ended up admiring. Here is one way in which this specific attitude comes through. Where other hypnotists would always say things like "you now feel that your arms are heavy", Tiers would prefer saying "You *might notice* that your arms are heavy", or "You have perhaps already succeeded in making your arms feel heavy". This is not an actual example (I don't have the book with me writing the review), but it illustrates her determination to shift the power from the therapist to the client whenever possible. You get the impression that she is not teaching you how to be a great hypnotist; she's teaching how to make your clients feel good and in control. It's a skill of "modest hypnosis", where the healer is conceived as a facilitator and a companion rather than a savior or a healer. Bandler tries to do that sometimes, but he's so full of himself that it's very unconvincing—you know that he is always thinking "But I'm so damn awesome, and it really helps". Another good thing about Tiers is her flexible approach to 'method'. Where others would try to sell you the limited toolbox (of, say, NLP or Time Line therapy), she tells you: here is a bunch of methods. Here is how I used them; here is what I changed and why. This worked, and this didn't. Take it all and use it creatively; try to not get stuck. One more thing: I'm incredibly sensitive to unwarranted, exaggerated statements and unreflective 'spiritual enthusiasm'. This is why I loathed most of the readings on hypnosis (from the outside of the proper 'Ericksonian' tradition). Past lives regression? Universal consciousness? Please! I had to use so much of my energy to drag the useful stuff from underneath the craziness. Tiers finds a way to talk about some beliefs associated with particular hypnotic practices with commonsensical arguments; she is calm and non-judgmental. When asked about past lives regression, for instance, she said "Well, the unconscious mind speaks in metaphors". It's a great way to both, defend the practice and put it in perspective. About one other thing she said something along the lines of "If it really worked it would probably be on CNN, but I like to think it's true". This kind of honesty about one's longing for spirituality (whatever 'spirituality' is, but you get my point, I hope) wins me over immediately; a commitment to spirituality that lacks reflection, on the other hand, makes me want to rip my arm off and beat myself with it real hard. I didn't have to do it with Tiers once. She's teaching in NYC and she knows how to deal with her audience. So, if you're interested in hypnotherapy, you should get this book. It's a good one.

Five stars, five stars, five stars. I would like to share with you how I happened upon this book, as I believe it speaks to its incredibly useful and applicable nature to a complete newbie on the topic of hypnosis. Please note that I would consider myself very passionately and thoughtfully inclined to have conversations about 'how change happens' and very curious about the mind in general. I have experienced enough in my own life to be humbled by the power of the brain/mind. First of all, my career is in finance. On occasion, we have sales training which teaches some NLP (neuro linguistic programming) techniques. I'm not privy to attend these trainings just yet, but I do get to enjoy the hubbub of these new ideas around the office and thought that a lot of what I was hearing sat well with my current thinking. But I wanted to know more. So I went on Amazon and did my own research of sorts and Melissa Tiers' book 'Integrative Hypnosis' appeared. The reviews were so positive. It won the Pen and Quill award. --- So I ordered it. And now, here comes my glowing review: Even though I have NEVER studied anything is this particular field before, what Melissa writes, just makes sense. I couldn't stop highlighting the material. I started practicing some of the techniques on my own, specifically because the book is written in a way which makes it feel like you are with her, learning from her. The book contains such excellent explanations about how the mind works and techniques about how to interrupt/start breaking up any patterns which are unbeneficial to you in pursuing the best version of yourself, the real you...the you that is unhinged from its reactive qualities and freed from `self-sabotaging unknown factors'. It illustrates multiple techniques to help one begin rewiring those deeply grooved paths in order to produce different results. Learn to drop those preconceived notions about how change can happen and read this book. The brain is just so cool! I wish more people knew more about the mechanics of their own mind and body. I feel SO FORTUNATE to be able to piggyback my own learning on what Melissa has gathered together in her book. Please note, that I read and buy a lot of books. But I only keep the most effective, deeply interesting, growth-producing books which contain that 'lasting' quality in my possession. I just don't like to hold on to mediocre. `Integrative Hypnosis' by Melissa Tiers has earned its place in my very, very small library.

This book is a 'must read' for anyone interested in the field of hypnosis. It was recommended to me by one of Melissa's students after I expressed my confusion and frustration on how to move to the next level in my learning. I didn't want to be dependent on reading 'scripts' to clients but didn't understand how to work on a variety of issues without doing that. It was after reading this book that the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. I felt like I was a participant in one of her seminars and, in fact, after reading the book immediately registered for her class. She is a knowledgable teacher who has never stopped learning and is truly passionate about sharing what she knows. You will be given simple but effective techniques that will benefit you and your clients immediately. In addition to trancework, she also includes a variety of techniques, including EFT and NLP change patterns. It's concise, easy to follow and I would recommend reading it for anyone interested in this area. Melissa provides a step by step process for applying tools that are easily assimilated and, most importantly, extremely empowering. After reading this book my understanding and confidence increased tremendously. Thank you Melissa!

Two pages in and I was hooked! Melissa is my new hero. This book most certainly is the most comprehensive book of its kind that I have ever read. It is written in plain, easy to understand language, and is diverse in its content. Melissa clearly gets excited about helping her clients make positive change, and you cannot help but get excited yourself as you go through the chapters. I wish I had come across Melissa when I was training, but regardless, I will be a better hypnotist for having found her now. I cannot wait until I can attend one of her live courses or seminars. Calling all hypnotists wishing to better their skills, do yourself a favor..... Grab this book! *** Postcript - I have been reading and re-reading Melissa's book, like a fiend. After implementing the material in her section for smoking cessation, I have been having a 100% success rate. Exciting for me and for the clients! I have enrolled in the Galaxy of Stars this month in Detroit, so I look forward to meeting Melissa in person and gaining some more knowledge from her!

NEW to Hypnosis - this book is comprehensive, through, and easy to read. It is loaded with scripts of exactly what to say and how to say it. It covers many, many of the areas you will be dealing with in your hypnotic sessions: stress management, depression, stop smoking, pain management, insomnia, and many, many more areas. To sum it up, everything you need to know is in this easy reading book. Just look at the Amazon comments rating - 5 stars with more than 45 comments - that speaks for itself. Buy this book you not regret it. SEASONED Hypnotist - this gives you a through approach to the Erickson Model (Milton Therapy) with exact scripts, NLT, and many other useful techniques to deepen the hypnotic state. There are numerous inductions and deepening scripts that you can either read verbatim or put into your own words. Melissa Tiers believes in using your own words and not reading directly from scripts - either method of either reading from scripts or putting into your own words will work nicely with the scripts in this book. The book is through as is noted by the size of the book - 435 pages. A must read and a fantastic reference for further future study. Buy this book you will be a better hypnotist.

I also happen to know the author and have taken some classes with her. But I cannot stress enough what a valuable resource this book is! It doesn't matter whether you are a psychiatrist, therapist, just curious about hypnosis, or are looking for relief from your own symptoms; this book will prove to be a wonderful and powerful tool for you. Melissa manages to transport the reader into her "virtual" classroom where Milton Erickson, Bandler & Grinder and so many more of the great healers of our time will share their unique healing genius through her wonderful teaching style. She also gives the reader full access to her own unique knowledge and use of these powerful healing arts; access that would normally cost a person thousands of dollars in workshop/seminar fees. Melissa makes powerful healing techniques seem so easy to learn and incorporate into your practice (if you're a professional healer as I am) and by keeping it simple, allows anyone with an interest to understand how to help themselves and others. Navigating the "mind field" never felt so natural or easy until I read this book. Thank you Melissa for yet another wonderful gift! Sincerely, Jack Cleary MS, MEd Clinical Therapist & Certified Hypnotist

I thought the book had some good idea until I hit page 100 which discusses aversion therapy for smoking. She leads into this page with a script that describes all of the poisonous substances in tobacco and then offers this proposed script "If an ultra-conservative, very right-wing Republican tobacco industry guy were to offer you a nice little cocktail of some arsenic, prussic acid, .....and a bunch of other crap all mixed up in a nice little batch of kool-aid and they offered you a sip....." and then a little later the author makes the observation "Most people will say just the image of that ultra-conservative right-wing Republican offering them kool-aid killed it for them." Does the author not know that 42% of Americans consider themselves conservative, 35% moderate and only 20% liberal? How unprofessional is it to insult 77% of your potential book readers by injecting her twisted political ideology. Had the author indicated in the book summary that the proposed scripts are intended for liberal/progressive clients I would not have purchased it. I consider myself to be conservative because I believe in the Constitution, fiscal responsibility and free markets which I am sure qualifies me as an "ultra-conservative" in the authors eyes and I am sure the founding fathers and all Americans living in 1776 would qualify as "ultra-conservatives" as well since they had not yet been enlightened enough to adopt income taxes, social security, Medicare, food stamps, Obamacare and all the other entitlement programs that liberals love. When I realized that the author lives and practices in New York City that explained a lot since that is a true liberal/progressive bubble in which they are all drinking the same kool-aid and they never travel outside the city limits to realize that the rest of the country lives in a different world. I do have to say that her proposed script did rid me of one bad habit and that is the habit of not checking an author's political persuasion before buying their books - you won't catch me making that mistake again. I will be returning this book for a refund since the idea of the author making money off my purchase makes me want to retch. This author makes the same mistake many hollywood actors and actresses make when they become liberal political activists they end up making it impossible for conservatives (half the US population) to watch their movies because every time you see the actor you are reminded that they stand for everything you oppose.

This is a great book it's as if you are in the classroom watching and listening. Very interesting read.

Have read a little so far, think I'm going to enjoy this.

I would really love to do one of Melissa's classes.Her energy is carried over into written word really well. She obviously has great rapport with her students, I also found the course content just a little askew, which I interpreted as a person comfortable in what she does and willing to explore, which I loved. Well worth the investment.

Loved this book very informative. It goes very in depth & yet also implies a true sense of fun and freedom relaxed and flexible approach to learning hypnosis. I Enjoyed it alot

This book was highly recommended to me by a hypnotherapist colleague, and I am so glad I read it. Melissa Tiers has indeed integrated many processes such as NLP, time based techniques, EFT, Ericksonian hypnosis, reframing, anchoring, energy work, etc for creating deep change on many levels. What is so remarkable about this book is its accessibility. It is presented as an actual course with questions and answers drawn from the author's live teaching sessions. And you feel as though you're right there with her, enriched by her sense of wonder, of possibility, and excitement. If you want to choose one book to read on the subject then this is the one. -Irene Mock