3 Stages of Truth: 20 years ago, they laughed at me… and now they’re lining up

Twenty years ago, hypnosis was still laughed at relentlessly. The mainstream world viewed it as if it were a circus act. As if everyone who worked with it were some kind of neighborhood eccentric. A strange bird shouting about rapid change, deep trance, and results in a single session.

But anyway, fast forward to now.

Now psychologists, therapists, doctors, coaches, and other professionals are suddenly taking notice. Now they want to know how it works. Now they’re flipping through the books, following the methods, and applying the techniques to clients who have sometimes been stuck in the conventional healthcare system for years.

And that’s fascinating, of course. Because how can something first be dismissed as nonsense, only to be suddenly seen later as valuable, powerful, and perhaps even necessary?

Well, that’s because of the three phases every revolutionary truth goes through.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/h9HGbHGyDY0?si=5ok3NUi3Mt0LlHWe

Phase 1: At first, you’re the neighborhood weirdo

At first, people don’t take you seriously. They laugh at you, shrug their shoulders, and think: Oh, just let him be. It’ll blow over on its own.

The same thing happened with hypnosis. Twenty years ago, the idea that you could work quickly and deeply with the subconscious was truly a bridge too far for many people. The established order was firmly entrenched in its own way of working. Talk, talk, talk. Even more talk. Another session. Another analysis. Another explanation. Another treatment plan.

Meanwhile, clients would sometimes spend months or even years in therapy without anything really changing.

Of course, talking can be helpful. Let’s be clear about that. But if someone just keeps talking about the problem without changing the emotional charge within the system itself, it’s a bit like trying to mop up water while the faucet is still running.

That’s where the conflict came from.

Because hypnosis basically said: Hold on a minute—why do we keep working only on the surface? Why do we keep talking to the conscious mind, when the problem is often stored deep in the subconscious ?

And yes, the establishment couldn’t make heads or tails of it back then.

Phase 2: Then you become a threat

But then something interesting happens. When something really works, it doesn’t stay small.

Clients start seeing results. They spread the word. The practice grows . People become curious. And suddenly, you’re no longer that innocent weirdo on the sidelines. Suddenly, you become a nuisance.

That’s phase two: the struggle.

Because as soon as a new method gets too much attention, resistance arises. That’s when the establishment feels threatened—not only in terms of content, but also in terms of status, credibility, and perhaps even their revenue model.

But what many critics fail to understand is how psychology works.

The harder you fight against something, the more interesting it becomes to others.

Because people think: Hold on a minute, why is the reaction to this so intense? If it really were nothing, then no one would need to worry about it. But if there’s so much resistance, then maybe there is something to it after all.

And that’s exactly why the attention just kept growing.

Phase 3: Eventually, they can’t ignore it anymore

And then you reach phase three.

That’s the stage where the storm has subsided. The stage where people no longer say, “What nonsense,” but rather, “Hmm, maybe there’s something to this after all.”

And that’s exactly where hypnosis stands today.

More and more professionals are no longer just watching from the sidelines—they’re diving deeper into the subject. They’re reading the books. They’re taking courses. They’re applying techniques. And then they notice with their own clients: hey, this actually works. This resonates. This creates movement where there was none before.

Clients who have been struggling with anxiety, mental blocks, or old patterns for years can suddenly experience a huge breakthrough in a short amount of time.

And as a professional, you have to be honest.

You might still feel that the tone on social media is sometimes a bit harsh. You might feel that it’s all presented in a somewhat simplistic way. But when the results are there, you can’t ignore them[1].

Then skepticism slowly turns into curiosity. And curiosity into recognition.

The HIN doesn’t rely on isolated tricks

At the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands, we work with a system—a methodology—a blueprint for deep transformation. So, no small, isolated tricks.

Our method is called the Phenomena Method.

And it consists of 27 points, divided into three phases:

1. Amazing.
2. Believe.
3. Heal.

That might sound simple, but there’s a whole world behind it.

First, you have to amaze someone

And that’s essential. Because as soon as someone is truly amazed, something special happens. The critical mind falters for a moment. The analytical brain no longer knows exactly what to make of it. A moment arises of: wait a minute… what’s happening here?

And that’s exactly where the opportunity lies.

That’s the moment when the subconscious becomes more accessible. The usual defense mechanisms temporarily fall away. A person stops controlling, rationalizing, and clinging to the old narrative.

And that is the window through which change becomes possible.

But what often happens in traditional therapy? Everything is weighed down by heaviness. Everything is serious, formal, cautious, and sometimes almost clinical. The magic is gone. The playfulness is gone. The sense of wonder is gone.

And so you often end up getting stuck talking about the problem.

Yet wonder can actually open the door to something new.

Then someone has to believe

Because a client shouldn’t just believe in the therapist. Or in the method. That’s important, certainly. But the most important thing is that someone comes to believe deep down that change is possible for him or her.

If someone consciously says, “Yes, I want to change,” but subconsciously still thinks, “I’ll never be able to do this anyway,” then you have a problem.

Then there’s a glitch in the system.

That’s why belief isn’t a side issue. It isn’t just a nice little extra to top off the session. It’s a fundamental part of transformation.

The client must feel: this method is right. This practitioner can help me. And perhaps even more importantly: I can do this. My brain can change[2]. My system can learn something new.

Only then is a solid foundation laid for the third phase.

And then comes healing

And this is where things often go terribly wrong.

Because many therapists perform an intervention, then ask how someone is feeling, receive a cautious “yes, it does feel a little lighter,” and then send the client home.

Well, practice will be the true test.

Well, that’s great, then.

Because what happens when someone is confronted again at home with the real trigger? The spider. The elevator. The presentation. The partner. The memory. The situation that normally evokes panic, sadness, or tension.

If the problem still persists, the client is disappointed. Trust erodes. And the therapist has to start all over again next time.

That’s why the big secret is: testing.

Not just a little testing. Not cautiously asking if it “feels a little better.” No. Thorough testing. Relentless testing. Really seeing if the change lasts.

Therapists are often afraid of the test

So why is it used so rarely?

Because many therapists are afraid.

Afraid that the problem will return while the client is still in the chair . Afraid that the intervention didn’t work. Afraid of being found out. Afraid of their own discomfort, their own failure.

And that’s a shame, because if the problem resurfaces during the session, that’s actually fantastic.

Why?

Because the client is still there.

You can actually do something with it. You can immediately see which layer hasn’t been resolved yet. You can continue working right away. You don’t have to wait until the client breaks down at home, gets disappointed, and comes back next week saying, “Yeah, it felt good there, but when I got home, everything was back to normal.”

No. You want to know right now. During the session. While you can still intervene.

A nod of agreement is worthless

Many clients don’t want to disappoint their therapist. So when you ask, “Do you feel better?” they’re quick to say, “Yes, I think so.”

But what’s in it for you?

That’s not proof. That’s social desirability. That’s a cautious response from someone who hopes it works but isn’t quite sure yet.

That’s why the HIN teaches you to go further.

Don’t settle for a polite nod. Don’t think, “Great, the session was a success.” Instead, challenge the client. Sow doubt. Ask follow-up questions. Play devil’s advocate.

“Is it really gone?”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I think there’s still some tension.”
“I think you’re fooling yourself.”

And then something magical happens.

The client will champion their own change.

Instead of passively waiting for confirmation from the therapist, he takes action. He feels: No, this is really different. I’m sure of it. It’s gone.

And that’s the moment when the change becomes much more solid.

The client must become convinced on their own

So the key isn’t that the therapist says, “It’s solved.” The key is that the client says it themselves: “It’s solved.”

In fact, the client almost has to defend it. As if he’s saying: “Listen, friend, I know what I’m feeling. It’s really gone.”

That’s a completely different position.

Then the client is no longer a dependent patient hoping the therapist is right. Instead, the client takes ownership of their own change.

And that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.

Real-world testing

Of course, the best part is when you don’t just test it in the chair, but also in the real world.

Does someone have a fear of elevators? Then after the session, you won’t go have a nice cup of tea and chat about how special it felt. No. You’ll walk right up to that elevator.

Off we go. Down the hallway. Into the elevator. Doors close.

And then it happens.

Or rather: nothing is actually happening.

No panic. No heart palpitations. No flight response.

And at that moment, the brain receives new evidence. The old program said: “elevator means danger.” But now the brain experiences: “elevator means peace.”

That’s not just theory. That’s not just an affirmation. That’s not just a nice thought.

That’s a physical experience. It programs the mind more deeply than talking does.

New neural pathways

When someone encounters an old trigger immediately after an intervention and notices that the old reaction doesn’t occur, something new is created in the brain.

The stimulus is the same. But the response is different.

And that’s exactly what you want.

Because then the brain learns: Hey, I don’t have to do this the old way anymore. I can stay calm in this situation. I don’t have to run away. I don’t have to freeze up. I don’t have to panic.

That new evidence will serve as the foundation for the future.

That’s why testing is so important. It takes change out of the realm of hope and brings it into the realm of knowledge.

Not: “I hope things are going well at home.”
But: “I’ve just experienced that it’s different.”

No guarantees, but a much better chance

Of course, this doesn’t mean that, as a therapist, you can ever give a 100 percent guarantee.

No one can do that. People are complex. Life is complex. New events may arise later that reawaken old layers. Stress, trauma, loss, or an extreme situation may trigger something again.

So no, there are no absolute guarantees.

But there is a huge difference between testing and not testing.

Not testing means: we hope it stays up.

“Testing” means: we’re checking to see if it stays up right now.

And that makes the chance of lasting results many times greater.

Dare to work in a results-oriented way

As a coach, therapist, or hypnotist, you have to dare to test things out. You shouldn’t be satisfied with just feeling good after the session. You shouldn’t settle for a client who says it “feels a little calmer.”

You have to want to know if it’s really changed.

And if nothing has changed yet? Great. Then you have information. Then you can move forward. Then the client is still right in front of you, and you can do what he or she came for: help them change.

Because in the end, that’s what it’s all about.

Not for endless programs. Not for fancy words. Not for spiritual chatter. Not to keep clients hoping for weeks on end that things might get better.

But for deep, rapid, goal-oriented transformation.

Amaze.
Believe.
Heal.
And then: keep testing until the client knows for themselves that it’s done.

That’s the secret behind results in just one session. It’s not just the hypnosis. It’s not just the regression. It’s not just the technique. But above all, it’s the therapist’s courage to ensure your work is rock-solid.

Because true freedom begins only when the client no longer hopes that it’s gone, but knows deep down that it’s gone.

Want to learn the Phenomena method?

Do you want to learn exactly how clients go home with this transformed sense of well-being? Come to a free masterclass to get an introduction to hypnosis.

Or sign up for one of our events and training courses.

Do you have a question about the training program? Schedule a one-on-one consultation here.

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