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over thirty years, Terry Stokes has practiced hypnosis as a
hypnotherapist, lecturer, teacher and stage performer. |
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During this time, he has successfully assisted thousands of
people in their quest for self-improvement in such areas as
health, weight, sports, education and success. In addition, his
pursuit of the most fascinating phenomenon which can be produced
with hypnosis, past life regression, has brought him such
acclaim that his workshops on the subject attract capacity
audiences. |
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Terry still enjoys presenting his hypnosis
show purely for entertainment, which he does for over 1 million
people each year throughout North America. It is probably
through this medium he gains the most satisfaction. He offers
huge numbers of people a chance to forget their problems for an
hour or so, at the same time heighten their awareness, so that
many use it to effect positive changes in their own lives. |
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In my 15-year association with Terry Stokes as a booking
agent, personal manager, advisor and publisher, I have witnessed
firsthand the growth of this extraordinary man as a performer,
educator, humanitarian and leader in the field of
self-motivation. |
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As a performer, he carries on the tradition of
being the best at using hypnotism for entertainment as did his
predecessors Jack Berry, Pat Collins, Dante and Ormand McGill.
As an educator, he shares with thousands each year his
techniques of self-influence through self-hypnosis, in the
manner of friend and highly regarded contemporary Gil Boyne. |
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Now as he approaches the ever expanding
range of possibilities for personal growth, his gifts of voice
and philosophy endear him to all those who understand the
awesome power of communication with the subconscious mind. |
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From Terry: |
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My interest in hypnosis began
many years ago when I saw stage hypnotist Jack Berry perform
his nightclub show in Atlanta, Georgia.
That night, hypnosis became
my life's passion. The
passion has not waned over the years and my respect for
the science of hypnosis continues to grow.
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I began my professional career in
hypnosis as a therapist at the Atlanta Hypnosis Institute. One
night as I told a weight control class they should be doing what
they really want to do most, I stopped and thought, "If that is
really such good advice, why don't I take it myself?" |
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My dream was to become an entertainer. So I sold my interest in
the business to my partners, wrote a show, and have been touring
with it ever since. It was good advice. |
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I am aware that many
practicing hypnotists frown upon or condemn stage hypnosis, but
I want to say here that I have learned more about the science of
hypnosis as a stage hypnotist than I ever learned in college or
workshops or from textbooks. Without the stage hypnotist, the
are and science of hypnosis would have withered and died while
awaiting official sanction. It is also my belief that I help
more people in one performance as a stage hypnotist than I could
in weeks working as a therapist. If for one hour I can make 500
people forget all of their worries and problems and laugh...I
have performed a very therapeutic service.
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Over the years, I have taught hundreds of
classes and have worked with thousands of students in workshops
throughout the United States and Canada. |
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I always begin with two questions. (1) Have
you ever read or studied about hypnosis? (2) Have you ever been
hypnotized? |
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Invariably, the answers are the same. "Yes,
I have read about hypnosis," or "No, I don't think I've ever
been hypnotized." |
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These two answers do not go together. Those who
have read or studied about hypnosis should know everyone has
been hypnotized. So, either they are not understanding what they
are reading, or the books they are reading are incorrect or
confusing. |
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I believe the answer is somewhere in the
middle. a few people say they have studied a subject when
actually they have read no more than an article or two. Most,
however, have actually read a great deal about hypnosis, but
have read outdated or technically confusing materials. |
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Many of the most modern texts are merely
copies of outdated works, and poor or wrong ideas are passed
from text to text, often unchallenged. The books that do
challenge old concepts are usually to technical for the
layman. One notable exception to this is Self Hypnosis and
Other Mind Expanding Techniques by Charles Tebbetts. This
is an excellent work and a must for any complete hypnosis
library. |
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Because
hypnosis is possibly the most promising tool available for
developing human potential, I feel there is a great need for a
simple, easy to understand work on hypnosis. The first time
students of hypnosis will discover many, if not all of their
preconceived ideas about hypnosis are completely false. Even
many practicing hypnotists may find challenges to some of their
most basic beliefs about their craft. |
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For example, until a few years ago, all
hypnotists were taught that to achieve a good enough trance
level for behavior modification, the hypnotic induction should
be at least fifteen minutes long. When seeing a stage hypnotist
accomplishing this fifteen-minute task in one minute or less, it
was simply shrugged off as fake or a setup. My observations from
working with thousands of people every year has lead me to a
completely different conclusion, that not only is it possible to
accomplish this in a minute or less as you view my material you
will see I have actually done this. |
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