Trances People Live [Paperback]

Stephen Wolinsky (Author), Margaret Ryan (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2007

At last, the missing piece of the dysfunctional puzzle. It is not enough to understand or even relive our childhood traumas. Dr. Wolinsky shows us how we continue to recreate those traumas in our adult lives and how to stop creating them. Every uncomfortable emotional state, and many psychosomatic symptoms, are also states of trance. Trance is the "glue" that holds the problem in the present moment. Learning to identify the kind of trance state beneath a problem or symptom gives us the tool that finally dissolves the glue. This book offers a gold-mine of resources for those who suffer from dysfunctional patterns of behavior or for anyone who feels stuck in an undesirable emotional or addictive state. Learning to step out of the trance states that create our problems and symptoms is to learn to step into the present moment at last free of the baggage from our past.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Wolinsky's work is a true development of the brilliance of Milton Erickson. I have already adapted his thinking to my own understanding of the Therapeutic situation. It makes enormous sense to see a shame-based person as a person in an identity trance

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bramble Books (November 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096261842X
• ISBN-13: 978-0962618420
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Changed the way I perceive and live in "reality", February 17, 2000

By 

Diane Kistner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trances People Live (Paperback)

Wolinsky offers the compelling argument that, unless we are enlightened, we are always in a state of trance. As an example, he speaks of a day in the life of someone flowing through various trance states: the "playing with the kitty trance," the "walking on the beach trance," the "fighting with the spouse" trance, the "making up with the spouse" trance, etc. In each of these states, the narrowed focus of attention induces a trance state in which only that particular reality is experienced.

I trained in clinical hypnotherapy, but it was not until I read this book that I got an important and powerful piece: our attention/intention and every word we say to ourselves and others serve as post-hypnotic suggestions that alter our perceptions of reality--and thereby reality itself--for good or ill. Because most of us are not conscious that we are in trance, we have less say in what happens to us; the inputs from the world around us operate on us unconsciously and largely negatively. It was exciting to me to realize that much of the world is out of touch with the power we all have to create the kinds of realities we desire, but that this does not have to be so. Armed with the ideas and tools in this book, we CAN change reality, each and every one of us, and shift the consciousness of the whole planet to a higher level.

In summary, this book has had a profound influence on the way I live and work in this world, on my understanding of human behavior, and on my ability to help marshal in the kind of world we hoped would come with the dawning of the new millennium. Yes, I would go so far as to say this is an extremely important work. I am now reading Wolinsky's other titles on quantum psychology with great interest and relish.

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars YOU ARE IN A TRANCE RIGHT NOW, August 23, 2004

By 

DOC BARHAM "COACH HOLLYWOOD" (LOS ANGELES, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trances People Live (Paperback)

Yes, you're in a trance right now. That's the essence of Stephen Wolinksy's exceptional 'Trances People Live'. Most people associate the idea of trance with some movie Svengali swinging a pocket watch in your face and moaning, "You're getting sleepy." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Trance states are everyday, habitual states of mind that have an incredible range of structure and depth. For example, trances while driving your car: Ever blown past your exit? Ever pulled into work and suddenly realized you don't really remember the whole trip of driving there? Ever forgot to go when the light turned green because you were daydreaming? Ever "zone out" driving down the interstate at night as the road dashes in the headlights are coming at you clip, clip, clip? Of course you have, and all are examples of trance.

Trances while driving are one thing but trances about who we are and what we believe about the world are another thing altogether, and they can cause us a tremendous amount of suffering. Basically, a trance is focusing your attention on something to the exclusion of all else. We do this ALL the time, which is another reason we we don't see our trances, because we're in trances more often than not. The fact is we don't recognize our trances during daily life, and that's also part of how trances stay in place. Are there areas in your life where you feel stuck? Chances are there's a trance holding you in that "stuck" place.

Wolinsky has a wonderfully direct way of describing trance in all it's forms and manifestations. He studied under both Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Milton Erickson, and as a result, has a fascinating view of trance. Essentially, the client walks in the door with their trance already "on". The therapist observes the client's trance (or trances) and assists them in the process of dismantling them. The therapist's job isn't to change someone's trance so much as it is to assit the client in eliminating their trances, to dehypnotize them. From an Eastern perspective, this process of dehypnosis is at the core of Awakening or Enlightenment.

'Trances People Live' is filled with tools and techniques for the therapist as well as those interested in working with their own trances. As an Integral Consultant, Speaker, and Trainer and certified clinical hypnotherapist, I can attest to the effectiveness of Wolinsky's model. Trances exist not only within individuals but organzations, too, and at all levels.

After reading the book, it becomes a lot of fun to engage in "trancespotting". You'll be amazed as you start seeing and hearing them EVERYWHERE.

Wolinsky explores these and other ideas in detail in later books such as Quantum Psychology, The Dark Side Of The Inner Child, and The Way Of The Human Trilogy, but start with this one first. It's a great read.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a student of the Milton Erickson, March 21, 2002

By 

Shawn Regan (marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trances People Live (Paperback)

This book is geared toward practicing hypnotherapists. Dr. Wolsinsky is a student of the Milton Erickson school of hypnotherapy but has brought his work much further. Wolsinksy gives us his idea that all disorders can be thought of as "Deep Trance Phenomenon" and there is no need to induce a secondary trance. Instead you can/should work with the orignal trance that is causing the disorder. Most of this book discusses the therapy process and specific 'trances' and how to deal with them.