Recap of Hypnosis at Walter Johnson HS

Teens across the USA are feeling high levels of stress that they say negatively affect every aspect of their lives, a new national survey suggests.  More than a quarter (27%) say they experience "extreme stress" during the school year, vs. 13% in the summer. And 34% expect stress to increase in the coming year.

Stressors range from school to friends, work and family. And teens aren't always using healthy methods to cope.

2014 Stress in America survey from the American Psychological Association

When I introduced my Hypnotic Experience show three years ago the initial 12 months was invested performing at different venues for different audiences.  What I quickly learned is that high school students are an engaged group who are generally open to alternative approaches for health, wellness and exceptional living.

That’s because they are at a phase in their life defined by learning and discovery.  They are just beginning to figure out who they are and have obtained enough maturity to assess the world around them.
 
Plus, they exist in an environment of constant stress – from school, peers and parents.  Teens often have unrealistically high expectations of themselves and the success they need to achieve in all aspects of their life.

I have written frequently on this blog about how the pursuit of perfection is an exercise in futility.

This morning I had the pleasure of returning to Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD to speak with a group of psychology students about the use of hypnosis as a tool for stress management, confidence and performing in the moment (i.e. academics, athletics, etc.).  The event was hosted by the school’s psychology faculty, who I’ve come to know well during the past year.

Here are a few observations from today’s event:

1. I incorporated some new material into my talk, including a funny anecdote about my experience with a homecoming date while I was in high school.  It played well and drew a positive reaction from the audience, yet resulted in the talk running a few minutes longer than I would have liked.  (Here is a photo of me at my 25 year high school reunion this weekend.)

2. In an educational environment, my philosophy is to take all volunteers as I want to encourage an interest in hypnosis and positive visualization.  That led to more than 60 kids joining me on stage for a hypnotic induction.

Great…I love the enthusiasm and it was a wonderful set of volunteers.  Bummer…I could only take the kids through a very basic induction with a few visualizations.  I also couldn’t incorporate convincers (i.e. heavy eyes) or an instant re-induction, which is always an audience pleaser.

3. I did have a group of 10 kids approach me individually afterwards with specific questions about hypnosis and its applications.  I passed along my business card and encouraged each to connect with me to discuss further and, if interested, learn more about the practice of self-hypnosis.

I’ve made it a priority to help anyone who expresses an interest in achieving positive change and empowerment.  It is how I got started on this journey.

PS  One of the most enjoyable parts of speaking at a high school is the time I get to speak with educators.  I’ve found that across the board they have a passion for what they do and deeply care about the success of their students.  As the father of three sons, that is incredibly encouraging.

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Updated on October 9:  Here is a kind Email I received from the educators at Walter Johnson in follow-up to my appearance at the school yesterday.

Hi Marc,

We just wanted to send you a big thank you for your wonderful show yesterday. Our students ( and all of us , of course)  really enjoyed the experience . You really helped our curriculum “come alive” . We are so happy to have you partner with and be part of the WJ family. We will be sure to spread the word about your talents to all relevant parties.  I look forward to seeing in in May for a “fun show” !

All the best-

Geri, Nicole, and Ty

My Impression of Hypnosis for Health at Whitman High School

From time to time, I fondly recall my high school experience in the late 1980s. 

I was fortunate to be a multi-sport athlete with a great set of friends.  In fact, I still meet-up every few months with a group of guys who I have been close with for more than 30 years.

Pressures were few and stress was relatively low.

Oh my, how the world for teenagers has changed.  A recent article in the Washington Post entitled “Stressed out teens, with school a main cause” cites a recent survey from the American Psychological Association that found many teens feeling overwhelmed or depressed because of high stress levels.

Forty percent of teens surveyed said they have felt irritable or angry during the previous month and more than one in three reported having trouble sleeping because of stress.

This study was top of mind as I arrived at Whitman High School this week to lead a series of discussions about hypnosis as a tool for healthy living.  My children will one day enroll at Whitman, so I’ve had a keen interest in being part of the community.  I attend a variety of sports events each year and have made it a priority to meet faculty members.

Whitman is not your typical public school environment.  The student population is loaded with high achievers in academics, athletics, music and the arts.  The pressure to succeed is extreme, as is the challenge to be accepted at an upper echelon college.

It’s for these reasons and the stress it produces that the school’s principal has made mindfulness a priority.  I recently wrote about Whitman’s mindfulness initiative in this blog post.

So…how did it go?  Here are a couple of observations after five presentations over two days to more than 120 students:

--Similar to my experience in December at Walter Johnson High School, I came away incredibly impressed by the maturity and intellect of the kids.  Every class was engaged in the presentation about hypnosis and I had a wonderful set of volunteers.

--In a classroom environment with a limited amount of time, I have to move quickly through a basic hypnotic induction.  This limits the experience and doesn’t afford me the time to incorporate simple suggestions or convincers (i.e. heavy eyelids).  I considered using a rapid or shock induction to save time, yet ultimately decided to stick with an approach similar to guided meditation.  It ensures a more positive experience, even if a volunteer doesn’t reach a state of hypnosis.

--After my pre-talk and a basic hypnotic induction, there wasn’t a lot of time for volunteer or audience questions.  This is personally disappointing because I always enjoy this interaction.  The exception was the demonstration for the last class of the day, as I had a couple of students stick around for a few minutes to chat.  Our discussion about focus in the classroom and after school activities was fascinating.

--Ultimately, my message to the kids is relatively simple – success and happiness in life is about confidence and empowerment.  Hypnosis is merely a tool that can help a person achieve that understanding.

I’d like to personally thank Nikki Marafatsos, the teacher who hosted me during the past two days.  Similar to the other educators who I’ve met, she is invested in the health, well being and success of her students.   

That’s inspiring!  

This week I led a discussion about hypnosis for health for more than 120 students at Whitman High School.  (Photo Source: Bethesda Magazine)