Can Hypnosis
Help
Your Child
Learn?
Long a tool of medicine and psychology, it now is used in remedial education
By STANLEY KRJPPNER, Ph. D.
Director, Child Study Canter, Kant Stat Unlvonlty, Kent, Ohio
Is YOUR child like Ann bright,
healthy, yet not achieving what she
should in school?
At 15, Ann whiled away valuable hours after
class chatting on the phone, listening to records,
and reading movie magazines.
Only in late evening did she get around to her
homework, and by then she was too sleepy to
accomplish much. She habitually handed in her
work late, and her grades showed it Nothing her
parents said could change her.
That was the "old" Ann. Now thanks to a
radical educational tool which has been used suc
cessfully with a number of students she faith
fully studies her biology and English before din
ner, finishes her history lesson in early evening,
completes all assignments on schedule, and only
then diverts her attention to her pastimes. In
stead of a disorganized procrastinator, Ann is
now an academic leader who makes full use of
her above-average mental capabilities.
The key to her amazing change is a centuries
old art hypnotism.
I hypnotized Ann and discussed with her how
she could improve her study habits. Before long,
she developed an excellent approach to her les
sons, and barring unforeseen problems, she is
unlikely to slip back into her old ways.
There are thousands of students perhaps
your own child who could similarly benefit from
hypnosis. These are the "underachievers" in
telligent, emotionally stable youngsters who are
falling below their full potential in the classroom.
Often, the reasons are bad study habits, lack of
motivation, and a poor approach to examinations.
The value of hypnosis in removing these
stumbling blocks lies in the "channel" it opens
to the unconscious mind. While hypnotized, a
student is able to concentrate intently on what
the hypnotist says and is extremely receptive to
suggestion. After he is awakened, he normally
feels compelled to follow the suggestions that
have been given him. By reinforcing these sug
gestions in a series of counseling sessions, the
hypnotist is often able to help the student change
his study habits.
OF COUKSE, hypnosis cannot bring a "C" stu
dent straight "A's" unless he is capable of
"A" work to begin with. But many students are
not performing up to their potential. In my ex
periments with elementary, high-school, and col
lege students, hypnosis has helped bring signifi
cant improvement in three out of four cases. And
as we become more skilled in this technique, pos
sibly even more can benefit
One recent success was Steve. He was well
motivated and enjoyed excellent study habits.
But like many students, when he walked in to an
examination, his heart pounded, and in general
he became so nervous that he made errors and
was unable to recall much of what he had learned.
During hypnosis, I assured him again and
again that in the future he would remain calm
and collected whenever he faced a test I worked
with Steve once a week for two months. By then
he was able to face even the toughest quizzes
coolly. His grade average jumped from "B" to
"A," obviously more in line with his 145 IQ.
A different problem concerned a student named
Bob. He was intelligent and had good high-school
grades but no motivation. This lack pulled down
his college grades. Under hypnosis, Bob recalled
a childhood interest in a chemistry set Gradu
ally, he came to see chemistry as a possible voca
tion. In subsequent sessions, I implanted sugges
tions that he would become interested in studies
and find career goals. Later Bob's unconscious
mind helped him act on these suggestions, and
he became a fine student
Regardless of what problem a student faces,
he should never be hypnotized by someone not
thoroughly trained in psychology and education,
and even then not until he has. been given per
sonality and intelligence tests. Sometimes school
problems reflect deep emotional disturbances, and
these cannot be cured with a few sessions of hyp
nosis. In fact hypnotizing some individuals can
cause serious emotional damage.
With safeguards, however, hypnosis for stud
ents can be one of the greatest innovations
remedial education has ever experienced. When
the ability to use one's intelligence to the fullest
is so vital, every possible technique should be
used to help our children. And hypnosis will help.
COVER:
Dennis Hallinan photographed this skin
diving duo in an unusual way. What's more,
he taught his son the trick. See p. IS:
"Underwater Photography It's a Snap!"
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