Stage hypnosis and clinical hypnosis are two distinct practices that involve the use of hypnosis but serve different purposes and are applied in different settings. Here are the main differences between the two:
Purpose:
Stage Hypnosis: Stage hypnosis is primarily used for entertainment purposes. In this setting, a trained stage hypnotist performs in front of an audience and selects volunteers from the crowd to participate in the hypnosis demonstration. The main goal is to create a captivating show and induce various entertaining hypnotic phenomena in the volunteers, such as amnesia, strange behaviors, or suggestibility to unusual suggestions.
Clinical Hypnosis: Clinical hypnosis, also known as hypnotherapy, is a therapeutic technique used to address various psychological or behavioral issues in a therapeutic or medical setting. It is used by trained therapists or healthcare professionals to help individuals access their subconscious mind and explore and resolve underlying issues or make positive changes in their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. It is commonly used to treat conditions like anxiety, phobias, smoking cessation, pain management, and more.
Setting:
Stage Hypnosis: As mentioned earlier, stage hypnosis is performed on a stage or in front of an audience. The main focus is on entertaining the spectators, and the hypnotic demonstrations are designed to captivate and amuse the crowd.
Clinical Hypnosis: Clinical hypnosis typically takes place in a private and confidential setting, such as a therapist's office or a healthcare facility. The therapist works one-on-one with the client, creating a safe and supportive environment for exploring and addressing specific issues.
Consent and Volunteering:
Stage Hypnosis: Volunteers in stage hypnosis shows usually offer themselves willingly and understand that they will be participating in a performance for entertainment purposes. They expect to experience hypnosis and may be seeking fun and excitement.
Clinical Hypnosis: In clinical hypnosis, clients seek out the services of a trained hypnotherapist or healthcare professional to address specific concerns or issues. Consent is obtained, and the process is focused on the well-being and therapeutic goals of the individual seeking treatment.
Depth of Hypnosis:
Stage Hypnosis: In stage hypnosis, the hypnotist often aims to induce a relatively light state of hypnosis in the participants. This allows for entertaining and engaging experiences on stage, but the hypnotic trance is not necessarily deep or therapeutic.
Clinical Hypnosis: In clinical hypnosis, the goal is to induce a deeper state of hypnosis, allowing the client to access their subconscious mind and work on therapeutic goals effectively.
In summary, stage hypnosis is primarily for entertainment, performed in front of an audience, and involves inducing a relatively light state of hypnosis. On the other hand, clinical hypnosis is used for therapeutic purposes, takes place in a private setting, and aims to induce a deeper state of hypnosis to address specific psychological or behavioral issues.