Simpson Protocol - Open Source Hypnosis ?
Simpson Protocol Hypnosis as a system could almost be considered an ‘open source’ system that allows for so much experimentation and expansion – without this changing its core values of being Holistic and Inclusive
But perhaps most of all the reason Simpson Protocol Hypnosis is so successful and complete as a system is because of all the things it brings together from the world of Hypnosis.
Before we start dropping names - Simpson Protocol moves forward and refines itself - nowadays - thanks to the Trainers and students and practitioners that all bring something to the process - this open process. By using it and confronting their difficulties with this or that client - by bringing their own training and skill - all this allows SP to constantly be the ongoing living protocol that it is.
To begin with it combines the best aspects of the practices of Dave Elman and Milton Erickson
(Note you don’t need to be a genius like Erickson or a Showman like Elman to make it work – another bonus)
Milton Erickson
“Just as it’s possible to talk about hypnosis before and after James Braid, so it’s possible to talk about hypnosis before and after Erickson. His influence is enormous. In a very real sense, he remade hypnosis in his own image.”
“ Above all, his interest was in the therapeutic value of hypnosis, and to this end, he adopted a unique approach. So unique, in fact, that it could be said that true Ericksonian therapy died with Erickson.” https://www.historyofhypnosis.org/
Erickson believed in allowing the client maximum freedom to interpret what is being said in their own way – for example, “you may begin to find new ways of feeling at ease at parties”, instead of “you are now more confident in talking to complete strangers at parties.”
Simpson Protocol, in the same way offers no judgment – The Client’s own Mind does the work.
In Simpson Protocol language is of vital importance – open language – no leading. Allow the Client’s Mind to find the optimum way for that client to resolve the issue
Erickson went to great lengths to see the world from the client’s point of view, helping them reach their own goals and solutions, rather than imposing his own idea of happiness on them.
Simpson Protocol (SP) removes Judgement and guesswork from Hypnosis
All reality is the Client’s reality
The whole process from the Induction to the outcome is to empower the client and allow them to finally take charge of their own processes.
In fact, Simpson Protocol goes one step further – as the Hypnotists does not even need to know the issue they are working on. The Client’s ‘Higher’ Mind always knows and if allowed will work through the issues or issues to get the Optimum outcome.
This takes pressure off the hypnotist and client- and they can just allow the process work
Dave Elman
An important figure in the development of practical hypnosis is Dave Elman (1900-1967), a vaudeville performer from North Dakota, often billed as “The World’s Youngest and Fastest Hypnotist”. Elman, who’d been fascinated by hypnosis since a very early age, adapted the rapid induction techniques used by stage hypnotists for therapeutic purposes, teaching them to doctors and physicians and eventually publishing a book, Hypnotherapy (1964), which is regarded as a classic in the field. https://www.historyofhypnosis.org/
The Elman induction achieves trance in minutes, sometimes seconds, freeing up the hypnotist to concentrate on therapeutic work. It also represents a move away from the more directive, “you are feeling sleepy” style of hypnosis, where subjects were basically told to go into trance by the authoritarian figure of the hypnotist.
Simpson Protocol allows the Hypnotist to step back and merely be a guide for the Client. Authoritarian Hypnotists need not apply.
Simpson Protocol is simple fast and is non-directive.
Simpson Protocol uses the Elman induction – revised and updated – to allow the Client to find deep states of Hypnosis that work best for them for that session and that day. It also allows the Hypnotist to know exactly at what state or level the client has reached
The Elman Induction (if done correctly) is one of the few Inductions ever devised to have covert testing throughout so the Hypnotist without any overt testing knows where the client is in the process.
To know ‘where’ the Client is in the process allows the SP (Simpson Protocol) Practitioner to allow the client to attain Deep States of Hypnosis simply and quickly. That’s the main reason SP finds the Elman Induction so valuable.
James Esdaile
Of course, also Elman was one of the first to have the Client attain the Esdaile state – on purpose ( James Esdaile another Hypnosis pioneer)
SP was the first protocol to allow interaction at the Esdaile level – which had previously not thought to be possible.
This Level, named after James Esdaile, was used by James Esdaile in place of anesthetic (not at that time readily available) It was a long process taking upwards of 10 days!!.
Elman got it down to a few minutes. And SP the same – but can use it on purpose in Pre and Post Op situations, Birthing etc.
In SP the Esdaile State is not a mystery or an incommunicado state. The Client if they so choose can do a whole session in Esdaile and be able to communicate with the Hypnotists and vice versa.
As SP is always exploring we can add Walter Sichort - the Sichort level of Hypnosis - that was taken further by James Ramey - and now SP is experimenting with the aspects of Sichort
Jerry Kein
Jerry Kein ( Ines Simpson’s Mentor) took Elman’s training and Regression to Cause methods , improved and refined and expanded it – and was able to use the Induction to allow Students attain Esdaile and Sichort states (Walter Sichort – see Ultra-Depth)
Jerry Kein always encouraged his students to spend 10% of their time experimenting – to move Hypnosis constantly into new territory.
Ines Simpson took this to heart – and through experimentation and necessity of working in all aspects of a Client’s issues – SP was gradually developed.
SP practitioners are encouraged to always experiment which is why SP is always in ‘development’. Always moving forward. The Ultimate open-source system of Hypnosis.
Because of this constant input from working with Clients and Practitioners and constant experimenting – it allows SP – to develop but to also simplify itself. To get maximum outcome from Optimum effort.
Fritz Perls
SP includes, Regression, Chair Therapy ( as Jerry Kein used- though in SP it is much simplified and refined process) Forgiveness work and much more, and even takes a form of Gestalt therapy that was created by Fritz Perls. Again simplified in SP and refined to always get the maximum outcome for the Client from Optimum Effort
Side note: Fritz Perls in 1969 left Esalen and started a Gestalt community at Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, Canada. – just down the road from where Ines Simpson would eventually set up her practice on Vancouver Island