Trance Levels

Trance levels vary throughout every experience and must be understood, in order to best work with a subject, so that one has the most educated assumption in knowing what to do when within the therapeutic process. There are primarily four levels of hypnosis but each can also be broken down into more levels at that.

Descriptions for the four levels of hypnosis are as follows;
a) The light or superficial state: This is a state of simple physical relaxation. As reported in much of Milton Erickson’s work, and the works of many others, most hypnotic work can be accomplished in this state. I personally believe the kind of work, which can be achieved in this state, has much to do with an individual suggestibility factor. For most work, I believe deeper trance states are required, along with preventative measures such as amnesia.

b) Somnambulistic state: This state hypnosis is present when a subject is both physically and mentally relaxed. There is also a level prior to that of somnambulism, which Dave Elman refers to as artificial somnambulism. The difference being that for true somnambulism the mind must become relaxed enough, if only for a moment to produce amnesia. With artificial somnambulism, the subject simply becomes so physically relaxed that she simply has an unwillingness to speak or react. In the state of somnambulism, both analgesia and anesthesia are possible with hypnotic suggestion.

c) The Coma, or Esdaile state: In this hypnotic state, a subject reaches such a deep trance level that catatonia becomes present; that is, if one of the person’s limbs are raised or moved, not only do they not realize it, but the limb will stay in the position indefinitely until the level of hypnosis is changed. It is also noted that within this level of trance there is an inability to move groups of both large or small muscles, so if a suggestion to move a leg, or open eyes is given, the subject will be unable to do so. At the very best a slight quiver might be noticed, but the subject generally soon gives up.

d) Hypnosleep, or hypnosis attached to sleep: This is considered the deepest of all hypnotic states by many practitioners, and is reached by taking a sleeping subject and raising them from sleep into a state of hypnosis, called hypnosleep.

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Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)
Hypnotic Advancements
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Mississauga , ON
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© 2004, Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)

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