Trance Analysis and Psychotherapy
Dennis R. Wier
Director, Trance Research Foundation, Inc.

In 1995 I wrote a book entitled Trance: from magic to technology. In that book I described a model for trance which included specially defined type of trances termed meditation, hypnotic, addictive, and charismatic. This model was empirically derived from my personal experiences with meditation and hypnosis. I have been meditating since 1965 and have practiced some form of hypnosis since 1960.

Since my book was published I have had thousands of responses - letters, email and telephone calls - and some of these contacts have resulted in clients who have come to me for sessions of what I call trance analysis. Trance analysis is based entirely on my model for trance, and it may be interesting for you to learn what my model is and how to use this model for trance analysis.

Many therapists use hypnosis in order to lead clients into more robust approaches to life. While such usage may not be an overt and declared hypnotic session, therapists who are effective do use techniques such as positive reframing, embedded commands and pacing and leading clients to explore new options. Many such techniques are more fully described elsewhere. Which I am describing here is a consultative technique to empower clients to manage their own trances. Part of the consultative technique is instructive, but a more important aspect is to help clients recognize trances that they are - because of the trance - not aware of. Thus, consultations are very individual applications of the trance model.

The model was developed over several years of deep self-analysis and inquiry along with subtle experimentation while in trance. Basically, the model says that any repetition of a cognitive loop causes a type of dissociation, and that this dissociation necessarily brings with it a disabling of one or more cognitive functions. It is the order and kind of cognitive functions which are disabled which characterizes various forms of trance, including meditation, hypnosis, addiction and charisma.

Now what is a cognitive loop? Cognitive loops are repeating sequences of thought objects. A thought object can be a word, a thought, a sound, a feeling, even a physical movement. There are many examples of cognitive loops. Drumming and chanting are two examples, so is marching. Music is quite often a complex mix of cognitive loops. Mantra meditation and most other forms of meditation also use cognitive loops. Watching television forms a cognitive loop. Pacing is a cognitive loop. Yes-sets form cognitive loops.

According to the model, cognitive loops when repeated over a period of time cause dissociation, a splitting of consciousness. It is during this split of consciousness that some cognitive functions become disabled.

What are cognitive functions? Critical judgment is one of the first cognitive functions to become disabled in most dissociated conditions. Short term memory is another cognitive function which fails. Other cognitive functions can result in increased visualization, inner involvement, literalism, awareness, and an inability to discriminate realities. Some cognitive functions are interconnected so that when one cognitive function fails, other cognitive functions will also begin to fail.

The types of trance - according to the model - are derived from the content of the loop as well as location of the objects of the loop. A meditation type of trance has the loop objects entirely inside. A hypnotic type trance has the loop objects partly outside. An addictive type trance has both a meditation trance on which is built an hypnotic form. It is the hypnotic form which contains the addictive substance, but it is the meditative trance which makes it compulsive. A charismatic type of trance has further complex loop forms which use all three previous forms.

Problems with trance - indeed, we are refering to trance pathologies -mostly occur when more than one trance has been created without being aware of the process of creation or having the handle to terminate the trance. This leads to compulsive thoughts, behaviors, and delusions of many sorts. Multiple and complex forms of trance leads to addictions of all sorts and manifests in sociopathologies of all kinds. Analyzing and unraveling the trances and their creating loops is one goal of trance analysis. A second and important goal is to help clients gain personal control over their trances.

Understanding the model for trance gives therapists a big advantage in being more able to work more precisely with trance and its effects. A precise model brings the benefit of being able to engineer a trance if needed.

Most of my clients do not need to be induced into a trance. Rather, they need the tools to break trances which have been deliberately, sometimes maliciously, or inadvertently induced by television, by spouses or family members. I have had several email consultations with persons who have complained of hypnotherapists abusing them. While such clients may have their own psychological problems, I have found that teaching them how to recognize, control and break trance serves them much better than leading them into yet another trance.

What is practical about the model is that if you recognize that a client is showing any disabled cognitive function, then you can assume correctly that the client is in a trance and that there is an underlying cognitive loop. You might not know what that loop is, if you are attempting to break a trance created by someone else, or you might be the one who has created that loop if you are the hypnotherapist. Interpreting such loops as being the cause of a trance which disables specific cognitive functions helps clients to manage their own trances.

I have found that most real cures for whatever ails a client always involves empowering the client to recognize and break the causal cognitive loops and sometimes to construct new and more worthwhile cognitive loops.

Developing and testing the trance model with myself, with my clients and with psychotherapists who have used the model with their clients, has shown me that the model exhibits a great deal of practicality and promise.

I am very interested in working with serious minded people who wish to use trance theory in scientific or in personal research. I invite you to contact me personally with your questions and proposals.

References:

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Wier, Dennis R., Trance: from magic to technology. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Trans Media, 1996.

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About the Author:

Dennis R. Wier is the Director of The Trance Institute in Switzerland. He may be reached by email at HERE. See also www.trance.edu
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The Book: Trance: from magic to technology How and where to get it.