Wordweaving: The Science of Suggestion - A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Hypnotic Language: 1 [Paperback]

For me, Trevor Silvester's book 'Wordweaving' has represented the difference that makes the difference to my understanding of NLP, as well as a number of other important issues relating to the way I communicate with myself. If you are wondering about what should be your next purchase on the subject, believe me...this particular book will help you connect (or rather inter-connect) the components. As for the author's style of writing and graphical representations...superb. It is as if you can imagine him speaking to you.

Wordweaving is easy to understand and jargon free. It is written in a concise, but simple style, making it an ideal work of reference for both hypnotherapy trainers and practitioners.

Its' step-by-step approach, and use of NLP language patterns, offers a straightforward guide to therapy sessions, identification of client induced trance phenomena, and teaches you how to use these trance states to effect change in a clients' perception of a problem.

In addition, formatted examples of both direct and indirect suggestion, facilitates the creation of high-impact hypnotic language, aimed specifically at the root of the client's problem.

For experienced hypnotherapists, or those just starting out, this book will prove invaluable, and one that you will want to return to again and again.

With a foreword by Dr. Shaun Brookhouse, easy to follow chapter headings, useful exercises and conclusions, it is a joy to read and a valuable work of reference. Endnotes, Bibliography and comprehensive indices are also invaluable. Highly Recommended.

Silvester's "Matrix Model", like the similar "APET" model in the "Human Givens" approach, recognises the fact that our emotional responses to events precede conscious evaluation of what happens. By the time we form an opinion about an event, it has already been filtered through our unconscious associations and possibly generated an emotional response which if powerful enough rational thought. This view of how we perceive events is more in line with current research knowledge than older models, such as the cognitive-behavioural, which attempt to address problems by challenging beliefs.

Building on developmental psychology and Wolinsky's ideas of psychological problems as trance phenomena, Silvester shows how suggestions need to utilise these trance phenomena in order to be effective, and offers a step-by-step guide as to how to do this.

He also shows how a problem may be focused at a particular level in Dilts' Neuro-Logical Levels model, and how to formulate suggestions to address each level. An interesting insight is the maxim that 20-30% of your suggestions should be focused at the Beliefs and Identity levels, to help clients build new beliefs about themselves and their situations, thus promoting generative rather than just remedial change.

This book definitely fills a gap, showing how to construct effective suggestions for many different conditions. 'Case histories' of typical client problems illustrate the process, and exercises are provided to help you build your skills step by step.

Silvester is a wise and experienced hypnotherapist who has done his research, reading widely outside the disciplines of hypnotherapy and NLP and keeping up with recent developments in psychology and brain science. His passion for his subject shines through on every page.

The book is also an easy and enjoyable read. These ideas are too powerful to be ignored and will bring about a much-needed shake-up in the curricula of many schools of hypnotherapy. They are certainly influencing the way I teach my students. Highly recommended, and should be on every hypnotherapist's shelf.