How to Construct Hyperempiric Suggestions Using the Best Me Technique

Excerpted from Gibbons, D. E. (2003, July). The Best Me Technique for Constructing Hypnotic Suggestions. Paper presented at the British Societies of Medical, Dental, Clinical, and Experimental Hypnosis, Royal Society of Medicine, London.


One of the difficulties which we face as human beings is that our motivational centers have not kept pace with the development of our intellect. As we set out in pursuit of the short-term or long-term goals which we have chosen, we often discover that without additional structures and incentives to keep us going, these goals are simply beyond our motivational ability to achieve them, no matter how desirable they may appear to be.

For the past five years, I have been modifying and adapting the multimodal approach to therapy of Arnold Lazarus (1989; Lazarus & Shaughnessy, 2002) into a procedure for constructing hypnotic suggestions. Lazarus’ approach is based on the assumption that therapeutic change can more effectively be attained by working simultaneously with several experiential dimensions: Behavior, Affective responses; Sensations; Cognitions; Interpersonal relationships; and Drugs, biological functions, nutrition, and exercise (Lazarus, 2000). He employs the acronym, BASIC I.D., to refer to the aforementioned experiential dimensions which comprise the focus of his therapeutic endeavors.

Since suggestion is inherently multimodal, I have modified Lazarus’ experiential categories into a set of multimodal suggestions which I refer to by the acronym, BEST ME, which may be summarized as follows (Gibbons, 2001).

Belief systems, which identify person, place, time, and events which may be suggested as being different, allowing the client to transcend present realities.

Emotions may be intensified, weakened, enriched, or combined with others by means of direct or indirect suggestion.

Sensations and physical perceptions may be suggested and experienced with an intensity approaching, or even exceeding, those of real events; or existing sensations and perceptions may be reduced or eliminated.

Thoughts and images may be created and guided in response to explicit or implied suggestions.

Motives may either be suggested directly or inferred as a consequence of other events.

Expectations may be structured concerning the manner in which the subject will look forward to suggested events which will occur in the future, and the manner in which these events will subsequently be interpreted when they occur.

While most of us routinely attempt to include as much variety as possible into our suggestions, the Best Me Technique provides a systematic, comprehensive format to involve the whole person in the hypnotic experience, for greater involvement and effectiveness in therapy.

There are so many ways to induce hypnosis that several books have been devoted to this topic alone (e. g., Edmonston, 1986; Furst, 1982; Gafner & Benson, 2000; Teitelbaum, 1980). However, the Best Me Technique provides an organizational framework to insure that major dimensions of experience are included; and Best Me suggestions may be incorporated into many types of inductions without altering their essential style or specialized function.

Following is an example of one way in which multimodal suggestions may be utilized to incorporate each experiential modality in an induction procedure. For ease of illustration, I have retained the original B-E-S-T-M-E order. In actual use, however, Best Me suggestions may be administered in any order and repeated as often as necessary, with appropriate variation and elaboration to match the client’s responsiveness; and each step in the procedure may incorporate elements of the others. In the latter case, the label applied to each step refers to the dimension of experience which is being given the greatest emphasis.

Belief systems. Just imagine, or picture in your mind, that you are sitting or lying on a sandy beach, by the side of the ocean. If you accept each detail of the scene as I describe it, your imagination will be free to allow you to experience the situation just as if you were really there.

Emotions. Let yourself absorb the peacefulness which is all around you, on that sandy beach, late on a warm summer afternoon.

Sensations and physical perceptions. Listen to the sound of the gulls in the distance, and the gentle waves breaking on the shore, and savor the freshness of the pure salt air. Feel the softness of the sand beneath your blanket, and the cool ocean breeze blowing softly across your skin. As your body absorbs the gentle warmth of the setting sun, you can feel a heavy, relaxed feeling coming over you. It’s so calm, and so quiet, and so peaceful there, that you can just let go and relax completely, as every word that I speak carries you deeper and deeper into a peaceful, relaxing experience of hypnosis.

Thoughts and images. Sinking down, and shutting down, and sinking down and shutting down. Sinking down, and shutting down – shutting down completely.

Motives. And the deeper you go, the deeper you want to go. And the deeper you go, the deeper you are able to go, and the more peaceful and relaxing the experience becomes.

Expectations. And as we continue, these peaceful, relaxing depths of hypnosis will give you the power to change your life forever, and turn each day into a thing of wondrous beauty.

Terminating a hypnotic experience involves the use of suggestions to facilitate a smooth transition from the trance mind-set to the normal levels of awareness and responsiveness with which we are familiar in everyday life. Specific suggestions for clear thinking and for responding effectively to whatever situation is at hand should be included. The experience itself should be described as one which will be recalled as pleasant and enjoyable, with a pleasant mood remaining for a time after the experience itself has been concluded, and the benefits of the experience should be reiterated, using suggestions similar to those which follow.

Belief systems. In just a few moments now, I’m going to count from one to five, and by the time I get to five, you are going to be back in the everyday state of consciousness in which we spend most of our waking lives.

Emotions. You are going to be feeling thrilled and delighted by the exciting experiences you have had.

Sensations and physical perceptions. Your entire body will feel happy, rested, and refreshed.

Thoughts and images. Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will easily be able to concentrate on anything that you have to do.

Motives. And each time that you return to these blissful depths of multimodal trance, you will find a deep, inner core of peace and happiness at the very center of your being, that nothing can weaken, nothing can dislodge, and nothing can overcome, which will give you the faith and the strength that you need to accomplish your goals, and turn each new day into a thing of wondrous beauty.

Expectations. And because you can unconsciously sense your own needs better than anyone else can, each time that you return to these blissful depths of multimodal trance, it will improve your life in many different ways and on many different levels, some of which you may already be aware of and some of which you may not yet realize.

The personality characteristics and the range of hypnotic phenomena which may be manifested by experientially gifted individuals has been well documented (Hilgard, 1974; Hull, 1933; Shor & Orne, 1962; Spiegel, 1974). It would appear that these people are especially capable of utilizing suggestions which are aimed at the simultaneous, systematic involvement of several different modes of experience. Thus, in addition to telling metaphors to our clients in hypnosis (Hammond, 1990; Migaly, 1990; Steckler, 1992); or providing corrective experiences which are largely of our own devising or are written by other therapists (Erickson & Rossi, 1989; Gafner & Benson, 2003), the ability of highly responsive clients to become comprehensively involved with suggested events should make it possible for us to draw broadly upon the fields of history, literature (Stevens-Guille & Boersma, 1992) and the mass media as sources of therapeutic material (Gibbons, 1998). If the suggestively gifted are able to actually live out, and experience to the fullest, the reality of whatever is suggested to them by means of the Best Me Technique or a similar procedure, then the entire creative genius of humankind may be viewed as a potential source of inspirational and therapeutic material.

Other potential avenues of investigation might include whether Best Me suggestions are more effective when used with traditional hypnotic inductions or with various forms of alert inductions (Banyai & Hilgard, 1976) such as hyperempiria (Gibbons, 1973, 1975, 1976), and to what extent Best Me suggestions may be employed as either a facilitator of, or a substitute for, more commonly employed techniques of self-hypnosis.

(See Also:)

What is Hyperempiria?

Hyperempiria: From Convulsions, to "Zombification," to Experiential Theater

Hyper-Motivation: Remembering the Future to Empower the Present

Hyperempiric Therapy of Depression

HyperSex: Pathways to Ecstasy

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