Approaches to difficulties in realerting subjects from hypnosis

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of identifying and addressing failures of realerting or dehypnosis. In parallel with the exploration of the adverse consequences of hypnosis in workshop settings, a number of techniques for effecting realerting subjects from hypnosis were collected. Some of these techniques are well-known, some were developed by applying techniques developed for other purposes to the task of realerting, and some were developed by the author when other known techniques proved unsuccessful or were rejected by subjects requiring dehypnosis. This article reports 15 techniques, three of which are foundational and designed to orient the subject to becoming realerted, and 12 more specific approaches to achieving dehypnosis. When appropriate, the particular opportunities of and the potential difficulties and relative contraindications for each technique are discussed.