ABSTRACT
If authors reconceptualise hypnosis in terms of a particular, favourable cognitive set, or "hypnotic mind-set", rather than the concept of "hypnotic trance", an altered state of consciousness, certain practical consequences follow. Cognitive factors such as expectation and focused attention on appropriate ideas and strategies can be developed through education and skills training. The hypnosis researcher Martin Orne introduced the notion of "anticipatory socialisation" from social psychology to the field of psychotherapy in his original article on the subject. Socialisation in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) typically begins by helping the client to understand how her thoughts appear to influence her emotions, and perhaps also the relevance of behaviour such as avoidance or safety-seeking in maintaining problems. A common strategy in CBT is to ask the client about her thoughts about the session while in the waiting room outside, which has been referred to as providing a "base camp" from which further cognitive conceptualisation can proceed.
