Hi Tim, thanks also for taking the time to write and share that. (got both your messages and both are showing up here as far as I can tell)

Best wishes, Adam.

Thank you for taking the time to write and say so Rita, I hope it proves useful for you.

With my very best wishes, Adam.

Hi Tim,

Your original comment was in the potential spam folder for some reason… We get so much of it, your comment got ignored for a while, but has been approved now.

Thank you for your contribution, very much appreciated 🙂

Hello Eric, I tend to (albeit wrongly) assume that it is mainly hypnotherapists who read my blog (it is aimed at them at least) and most of us have the stalwart big red book by Hammond et al that I refer to here and as such know the details of it… The edition I have was printed in 1990 by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
I am well aware of Richard’s teachings which form DHE and have attended one of those trainings. I am also aware of your own contributions. Though I am at a loss as to why you mention this. Because you could enlighten me?

Are you suggesting that this was the first time anyone had ever created such a metaphor of a control panel and as such expect some reference? or were you mentioning it just for interest and if so, thank you for the contribution to the thread. Otherwise, please do tell me, or I’ll be (again, probably wrongly) assuming in order to ascertain the reasons for stating that.
I’d hasten to add that I am not claiming this is the only way to do this kind of thing and not even suggesting that it is the best way to do it. It is however, the way I prefer to do it and on my blog I like the self-indulgence of being able to write about things I like the best.
In answer to your question… The reason for the “control centre” inside their head is because our real, actual control centre – namely, our brain, is inside our head – which seems pretty natural to me.
Plus, this is a self-hypnosis session, whereby people are insular and focused inwardly so it seems natural to keep that focus equally inwardly pointed.

Sean, I think it is a wonderful notion to have people utilise a control panel in front of them too. The joystick is as you say, one other way of doing this and indeed, the variations are as numerous as people that think of them, eh?
Though I am unsure who decides what is more “logical and meaningful” as you suggest. Sean, do you have some evidence other than anecdotal experience that supports your statement that “most people cannot really get an approximation of being inside their brain”? I ask because in my experience of doing this with many students and many thousands of hours of client hours, it is fairly simple to do this.

Interesting discussion.