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A System for Creating Guided Meditations and Hypnosis Recordings
For two decades Joe Kao has been the head writer for one of the world's leading hypnotherapy audio sites, with over a million users all around the world. It's possible Joe has written more hypnosis sessions than anyone on the planet.
This eight week masterclass will take you through Joe's personal system that he's developed for creating sessions that make a real difference for people.
This is something Joe has never taught publicly before.
If you're interested in creating your own hypnosis audios or guided meditations, this course will give you an effective structure to help with almost any problem or goal.
And yes, these same principles can also be used when working in person with clients.
Writing can be a powerful training tool for sharpening up your use of language, metaphor and how you apply techniques. Over the years, Joe found that more he wrote the scripts, the more "hypnotic flow" he had when working with clients.
So this is not about memorising what to say, or parroting someone else's words. There are endless ways to pour your natural creativity into this structure.
The aim of the training is for you to be able to create sessions that are uniquely your own.
We'll be covering the fundamentals of sound recording and editing, and vocal drills to give you more resonance.
But the core focus of this training is about the writing part... in getting really good at generating hypnotic language, in the use of imagery and metaphors, and designing audio sessions in a way that deeply engages the listener.
Although this masterclass is centred on creating hypnosis audios and guided meditations, the underlying principles go much further. The same structure Joe uses to design powerful recordings also maps directly onto effective live client sessions. Learning how to sequence a session, build rapport, evoke resources, work with imagery and metaphor, and bring change forward in time gives you a clear internal framework you can hold in mind when working one-to-one. In recordings the structure is universal; in live sessions it becomes personalised, shaped around the client’s language, memories and metaphors. Many practitioners find that developing these skills through writing actually sharpens their presence, pacing and hypnotic flow with clients. In that sense, the training offers a double benefit: a system for creating high-quality audios, and a practical blueprint for structuring deeper, more coherent live work.
The core modules of this course will be delivered through video, which will be released each week. There will be writing exercises from each module to hone your skills. And we will be holding three live Q&A sessions, where you can ask Joe whatever questions you have about the course material with support provided throughout.
Joe Kao DHypPsych(UK) is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist in Cambridge, UK. He is the head writer for hypnosisdownloads.com, one of the world's largest and most highly-regarded websites for hypnosis recordings, and he has taught numerous workshops on therapeutic metaphors, storytelling and Ericksonian hypnosis to people around the world.
Joe has been named the first official trainer of Provocative Change Works, and he has trained extensively in improv theatre, voice work and performance skills. Joe has run popular workshops for Aether and Alchemy on topics such as: Hypnotic Language - Skill Development and Advanced Applications, Improv for Change Workers; Transformational Storytelling and Socratic Questioning and Conversational Belief Change.
“There was a fascinating blend of theory, explanation from Joe and exploration, learning by doing. I felt I was being thrown into the deep end but in a safe and supportive environment. And by the end of the course, I was beginning to swim! This course could benefit a huge range of therapists, coaches and anybody interested in self-development."
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it and each week the time has flown by”.
"Joe Kao’s really delivered, and in a way I was not expecting. I thought I was in for a theory deep course on story structure and linguistic tricks but instead it was a very practical with immediate application”.
“Joe Kao is an engaging and subtle presenter and storyteller”.
Register your interest for this fascinating online workshop with expert trainer Roni Matar.
Have you ever wondered why some relationships feel effortlessly supportive while others feel like an uphill battle? The answer isn't just in what people say or do, it’s in how your brain maps them.
We invite you to join Roni Matar for a transformative training on the Social Panorama Model. This groundbreaking NLP tool reveals the unconscious 3D map you’ve been using since childhood to navigate your social world. By making this "invisible landscape" visible, you gain the power to reshape your relationships, your self-confidence, and your life.
Human beings are wired to simplify complexity. To survive, our brains take "flesh-and-blood" people and turn them into personifications, mental diagrams placed at specific heights and distances in the space around us.
"Relationships are no longer uncontrollable phenomena, but the products of unconscious processes. Once you understand the map, you can change the territory."
Space for this deep-dive into social cognition is limited. If you are ready to explore the 3D construction of your social reality and gain a level of influence over your life that few ever achieve, we want to hear from you.
Be the first to receive dates, venue details, and early-bird registration links by registering using the form below.
Find out more and register your interest using the form below and we will keep you posted with release dates and early booking offers.
Scientific Psychology believes that it is the climactic practice of mental health and that preceding healing practices are rooted in superstition and primitive assumptions. In actuality, every culture has included gifted healers who independently discovered the apex practices of change and transformation. These “therapeutic wizards” attributed their successes to their mastery of the “secret knowledge” or gnosis. Aldous Huxley, in his book, The Perennial Philosophy, documented the existence of such healers and explored the secret knowledge that unites all their practices.
A spirituality-infused constructionism is a modern, Western version of this tradition. This workshop begins by reviewing the historical roots of secret knowledge, and then demonstrates how these perennial principles can be integrated into psychotherapeutic practice.
Lineage: Understand how a Gnosis-informed practice differs from standard psychotherapy. Recognize how transforming one’s exoteric practice into an esoteric one is possible and embrace the resulting benefits. Feel as if one is a member of an ancient lineage and how that supports both your case conceptualizations and your interventions.
Experiential: The workshop is based around six experiential exercises, each of which illustrates a significant aspect of secret knowledge and spirituality. Some of these interventions will be extant psychotherapeutic practices; however, the way they are introduced and explored will reveal how they relate and lead to gnosis.
Deconstructionism: Conventional psychotherapeutic practice is based on shared Western assumptions about what is real and what is unreal. Access to secret knowledge requires identifying assumptions that covertly mask the truth and deconstructing them. Berger and Luckmann, noted social constructionists, argue that human suffering is universal and real but that cultures construct unique explanations for the suffering. Understand how these arbitrary constructions limit interventions and lock practitioners into a minimal range of therapeutic possibilities.
Spirituality: The Perennial Philosophy and the Secret Knowledge also have the goal of personal liberation, compassion, and access to the ground of reality. This goal of realization and gnosis is paradoxically related to the freedom and apparent chaos of a fully deconstructed sense of social reality. Paul Tillich, noted existential theologian, worked to update the Perennial Philosophy for modern, Western culture and developed an approach to spirituality that is available to all individuals—from the overtly spiritual to atheists to the undefined. The workshop reviews Tillich’s work and shows how to integrate it into a modern practice of psychotherapy.
Participants: This workshop is designed for all psychotherapists and related healers (coaches, case managers, counselors and facilitators). These ancient principles are designed to fit numerous types of structured and unstructured situations and can be easily adapted to different environments.
Interventions: While specific interventions will be taught and experienced, the emphasis will always be on understanding the fluid nature of therapeutic reality and how to design rituals that maximize client fit, expectations and beliefs. Faith in the inherent power of psychotherapeutic techniques is a misconstrual and one of the chief targets for deconstruction. Healers must do something - literally make interventions, but embracers of gnosis understand that almost anything can be therapeutic if it is framed correctly.
Altered States: Constructionists are expert at understanding how cultures and individuals create realities and the assumptions at the root of such creations. As a corollary, they are equally expert in altered state - levels of consciousness that occur when the therapist helps the client move from secular space into sacred space. The appropriate utilization of altered states is a central strategy in a constructionist-informed psychotherapy.
Lasting Change: According to the Perennial Philosophy, lasting change is always based on the manifestation of a life path that addresses an authentic Ultimate Concern. Each client is on or off their own path and at different stages on their path. Effective healers recognize the nature of their own path, accept the variability in client paths, and cultivate discernment about unproductive paths. Dancing with the Abyss is a metaphor for the dynamic tension between healthy practices and the knowledge that real wisdom and inner peace lie beyond practices. Using a common gnostic metaphor, one must “kill the Buddha to become Buddha.”
The course is structured in two distinct parts:
Part 1: The first half of the workshop covers The Perennial Philosophy, the lineage of gnosis (secret knowledge), and the problematic assumptions and misconstruals that arise from scientific Psychology’s approach to mental health and healing. Understanding the implications of constructionism for creativity and client fit are covered; finally, there is an emphasis on cultivating a consciousness of the fluidity of the past and present.
Part 2: The second half of the workshop focuses on reprogramming the map of what Kahneman calls the “fast thinking” aspect of the unconscious mind. The central relevance of altered states to change is examined and an exploration of Tillich’s path of Ultimate Concern completes the workshop.
Stephen has a background that bridges spirituality, psychology, and psychotherapy. He has worked as a psychologist in private practice for over 30 years, served as the Vice President for Program Development for Outward Bound USA. He has a Religious Studies degree, and lived in a yoga ashram for almost 6 years.
His current focus has been on exploring how psychotherapy works, the nature of social constructionism, and the connections between spirituality and therapy. He regularly conduct workshops, in the US and internationally, on these topics and have published numerous articles and a recent book, Practicing Psychotherapy in Constructed Reality: Ritual, Charisma, and Enhanced Client Outcomes.
“Despite being on the scene for nearly 150 years, psychotherapy has never has mass appeal. The majority of people who could benefit actively choose not to go. What is more, significant numbers end contact before achieving a reliable improvement in their well-being -25% of more after a single visit. Bacon’s thought provoking book not only explains why but offers a practical and effective alternative for engaging people in therapy and improving outcomes.”
- Scott D. Miller, director of the International Centre for Clinical Excellence
“This provocative book advocates the idea that the therapist is at the core of what makes psychotherapy and effective treatment. Bacon challenges prevailing wisdom by encouraging therapists to develop greater charisma if they want to maximize their impact on client mental health.”
- Michael J. Lambert, Brigham Young University
“I got 20 pages into Practicing Psychotherapy in Constructed Reality: Ritual, Charisma, and Enhanced Client Outcomes and just knew I had to contact Stephen and ask him to share this material. I am glad I did, as Stephen’s work has profound implications for people involved in, or interested in, the whole field of change work”.
- Pete Dalton – Aether and Alchemy
Register your interest for the next training with Bob Register your interest using the form at the foot of this page and we'll keep you posted on the next dates and offers.
Take 5 minutes, watch below and find out why Bob Burn’s, ‘The SWAN’ is now actively used by therapists and healers in more than 85 countries around the world…
In this clip, Bob explains what the SWAN is… and how he deals with people when they first arrive for a session. Enjoy…
Bob’s work is inspirational, experimental and practical – all at the same time – a feat not many people manage. In these packed two days, Bob will share content covering hypnosis, the Swan protocol and some other areas covering the exploration of consciousness that he has not shared very often until recently.
In this content-packed workshop you will learn:
Plus Bob will share:
The Perfect Consultation
The door opens and a stranger walks in…. to be met by another stranger. One is a nervous client, the other a therapist, who can ‘go with the flow’, but that is only because they own and are highly trained in: a process. A magical template which takes them from station to station in an incredible journey whereby the client now possesses no more nerves. Rather in their place is now the knowledge that this is indeed the therapist. This is the one who is about to help them. And not just because this therapist knows exactly what to do and say, but also how to deliver these skills in this… ‘The Perfect Consultation’
And in order to possess The Perfect Consultation one has to know how to break down ‘The Wall’
The Wall is a total and complete description of the consultation Bob Burns has built up in his therapy room in over 40 years. It has been said by many full time therapists around the world that if a new student only learned:
The Bob Burns Wall Template … they could literally walk into a therapy room and begin healing patients (something Bob does NOT advocate!). However, it is taught in such a way by Bob Burns himself that all students will possess the full and complete knowledge of its power, AND be shown how to deliver it in a full consultation. The student will leave with every single word (hard copy) Bob uses and his entire repertoire exactly the way he presents it.
The Swan
A full demonstration will take place of The Swan Process. Bob will reveal how to make instant contact with the subconscious in a full wakened state without any form of hypnosis. He will also revea why The Swan is NOT an Ideo-Motor Response.
Bob will explain and demonstrate every single word, movement and hesitation (and why) of how The Swan should be presented. Students will leave with the hard copy of every ‘little difference that makes the big difference’ with regard to the presentation of the Swan. And yes, this will be workshopped by the students during the 2 days, giving them the knowledge and confidence to deliver this fascinating process for the rest of their lives.
Five Point Rebuttal Formula
Designed by Bob Burns in the 80’s this is a full formula whereby the therapist can handle any given challenge by any member of the public in either the therapy room, street or
impromptu. This ensures the hypnotist will never fear any challenge from any person with regard to their hypnotic skills. Bob will demonstrate this in full so that you will be able to use it thereafter.
Group Presentations
Here the student will be shown how to story-tell, how to test the audience for both imagination and response tests. Students will also be shown how to demonstrate hypnosis (or the power of suggestion) where there can be NO failure. And of course Bob’s now world famous teaching of ‘how to present a simple business card’ in a way the recipient will never forget you!
Smoking Cessation
Bob has never had a desire to charge high monies for his therapy, and yet his fees for Smoking Cessation are among the highest in the UK. This is for a very important reason, which will of course be fully explained. He believes his record in Smoking Cessation can sit with any other therapist anywhere in the world. A full demonstration of The Bob Burns Smoking Cessation protocol will be provided as will a full ‘evidence based’ breakdown of the facts and treatment behind cigarette smoking over the last 20 years.
Doctors Referrals
Bob will explain the method he uses to make contacts with doctors and how to gain referrals (copies of letters will be included).
Colour Protocol
Bob works with some of the finest marksmen, snooker players and golfers in the world (including World Champion and ‘The Open’ winners). Here he will show his complete consultation on exactly what he does with each one.
Pendulum Power
Bob will reveal the real fascinating facts of ‘Chevreul’s Pendulum’, in ways that Cheveul himself probably never considered possible! In this exercise Bob reveals WHY different parts (real or imagined) within the subconscious can agree but also argue with each other! But in the hands of a therapist who understands…. mini miracles can seem possible! This WILL make you giggle! And maybe squirm just a little….
Mentalism in Hypnosis
As a fulltime professional stage hypnotist and mentalist/magician over many years Bob will be revealing several of the very best things that crossover from mentalism to hypnosis, including work he uses in his actual therapy rooms. At the end of this section the students will have that ability and the knowledge in how to present these. This is something you WILL use, again and again and again!
Lucid Dreaming
You spend a third of your lives asleep. And it is in this state where some of your finest work can be done. Bob has been a Lucid Dreamer for most of his life and in this workshop Bob will speak about what he does.
The most Important Therapy Questions Answered
Bob will also honestly answer what he considers to be 6 of the most important questions any therapist could ask, and needs to know!:
Do I NEED to talk to the Subconscious
If I fix them will they stay fixed
Do they need to be in hypnosis for me to help them
Do scripts work (one of the biggest arguments in hypnotherapy)
Do I need to do phenomena in the therapy room
Is it true that a somnambulists (someone who enters hypnosis easily) gets fixed better than a non-somnambulist
Fill in the details on the form below and as soon as we open bookings we will be in touch with details and early booking offer.
Register your interest for this fascinating online workshop with Joe Kao.
Complete the form at the bottom of this page and once registered we will keep you posted with dates and offers.
The human brain is hungry for stories.
And when we think of the most influential speakers throughout history, they all used an abundance of metaphors, parables and anecdotes to illustrate what they were saying.
The right story, at the right moment can create profound changes in the listener, where whatever problem or issue they were dealing with suddenly feels so much simpler to deal with.
This training is all about how to develop your confidence and skill in speaking metaphorically, and in telling compelling stories that captivate people's attention.
You'll learn how to expand your own repertoire of stories, so that you have a richer, broader inner library of anecdotes, which you can draw upon and adapt for any situation.
We'll be exploring the strategic use of stories for seeding ideas, for evoking states, and for helping people to see the patterns of their problem from the outside.
And you'll learn performance skills and vocal development techniques to help you to become more naturally engaging and charismatic as a storyteller.
Watch Joe discussing the workshop here:
Joe Kao DHypPsych(UK) is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist in Cambridge, UK. He is the head writer for hypnosisdownloads.com, one of the world's largest and most highly-regarded websites for hypnosis recordings, and he has taught numerous workshops on therapeutic metaphors, storytelling and Ericksonian hypnosis to people around the world.
Joe has been named the first official trainer of Provocative Change Works, and he has trained extensively in improv theatre, voice work and performance skills.
"A wonderful course! I learnt so much about how storytelling can be used in therapy and coaching in a subtle and understated way. It’s not all about having huge EMBEDDED MESSAGES in a story! In addition, where do we get our stories from? This course opened up a whole world of story material for me, on ways of building a “library” of relevant stories and metaphors.
Joe Kao is an engaging and subtle presenter and storyteller. Anybody doing this this course will be much better placed to understand the potential impact of stories on the listener and how storytelling can fit perfectly in to a broader coaching or therapeutic framework. It’s the kind of course where you learn a lot and at the same time, have a lot of fun".
Michael Shoolbred, retired academic.
"I highly recommend this course. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and each week the time has flown by. After being a part of this I can say I am more able to develop stories to use in the moment. Transformational stories isn’t something you attend and then it’s done. It’s just the beginning of developing a whole vault full of your own stories. Thanks again Pete and Joe".
Lisa Davenport
"Joe Kao’s course in transformational storytelling really delivered, and in a way I was not expecting. I thought I was in for a theory deep course on story structure and linguistic tricks but instead it was a very practical with immediate application. As I reflect I realise that this is much better as I could have easily drowned in too much theory and it wouldn’t have been useful. I would love to build on these skills with Joe and I look forward to another course.
Thank you Pete and Joe. This is by far the best learning platform for change work that I have come across".
Thomas Wood
Fill in your details below and we'll keep you posted about this event and any related offers.
Register your interest for this fascinating online workshop with Joe Kao.
Complete the form at the bottom of this page and once registered we will keep you posted with dates and offers.
How to use targeted questions, provocation and reframing to help clients find new options and fresh perspectives.
There are many models for coaching and therapy, and many lists of "coaching questions" to ask a client during a session or "sleight of mouth" patterns to bamboozle them with.
But even after training in such approaches, it's very common for coaches and therapists to not know what to ask next in a session. There can often be a sense of searching around for another good question, without there being a clear, focused "through-line" guiding you where to go next.
This new training is all about working with clients' beliefs, assumptions and expectations, and bringing awareness to the choices that they may have been overlooking.
It's about helping people to change the stories they are telling themselves and the meanings they are making out of their current life circumstances.
One of the most beautifully simple responses that can emerge from this way of working is when someone says: "It's like there just isn't a problem anymore". What had felt like a serious, weighty burden can simply vanish over the course of a conversation.
This is a training in how to have more of those kinds of conversations, and how to know precisely where you are heading and what to ask next in therapy and coaching sessions.
Joe Kao DHypPsych(UK) is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist in Cambridge, UK. He is the head writer for hypnosisdownloads.com, one of the world's largest and most highly-regarded websites for hypnosis recordings, and he has taught numerous workshops on therapeutic metaphors, storytelling and Ericksonian hypnosis to people around the world.
Joe has been named the first official trainer of Provocative Change Works, and he has trained extensively in improv theatre, voice work and performance skills.
Fill in your details below and we'll keep you posted about this event and any related offers.
Register your interest for this fascinating online workshop with Joe Kao.
Complete the form at the bottom of this page and once registered we will keep you posted with dates and offers.
How to use hypnotic language congruently and effectively, both for helping others, and for more impactful communication in daily life.
Hypnotic language isn't about reading a script at somebody, or parroting language patterns and hoping they'll have an effect.
It's about communicating naturally and congruently, in a richly engaging way, to evoke powerful, positive experiences in another person.
But it isn't always taught this way.
In this training, Joe will be teaching the principles of hypnotic language from a different perspective, focusing on the core principles that actually matter, real world applications, and how to develop much more fluency and ease as a hypnotic communicator.
You'll learn about the strategic use of hypnotic language for therapeutic hypnosis, and how these exact same principles can make you more engaging and persuasive in your daily life.
Joe Kao DHypPsych(UK) is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist in Cambridge, UK. He is the head writer for hypnosisdownloads.com, one of the world's largest and most highly-regarded websites for hypnosis recordings, and he has taught numerous workshops on therapeutic metaphors, storytelling and Ericksonian hypnosis to people around the world.
Joe has been named the first official trainer of Provocative Change Works, and he has trained extensively in improv theatre, voice work and performance skills.
Fill in your details below and we'll keep you posted about this event and any related offers.
Register your interest for the next course using the form at the foot of this page and we'll keep you posted as soon as details become available.
Just about all styles of therapy and coaching have specific techniques and processes, but when we clutch onto these techniques too rigidly, it can get in the way of working with the unique person in front of us.
This course, taught by hypnotherapist and psychotherapist Joe Kao, is about putting more life and spontaneity back into your sessions, so that you can trust your impulses as a coach or therapist, and draw upon your natural creativity as you work with people.
There is nobody who has had your unique life experiences. You have your own stories, perspectives and insights that can make all the difference in the world in helping someone to make a change.
This training is about putting that life experience to good use as you work with clients, spontaneously, creatively and with confidence and conviction.
After all, how can we expect people to change and be open to new possibilities if we're not open to new ideas and insights ourselves, right then and there, as the session is happening?
This doesn't mean throwing all techniques out of the window, but techniques are only ever examples of broader principles of change.
When you relax your grip on specific techniques, and allow the core principles of change to guide you, you'll find you can adapt and adjust your sessions in ways that best fit the client you're working with.
And you’ll also find that your sessions become more liberating, memorable and enjoyable for you and your clients.
Coaches, therapists, hypnotherapists and NLP practitioners who want to move beyond formal techniques, and to work with clients with more ease, creativity and flow.
The course will be delivered online over a number of sessions. Each session will involve a mixture of teaching, demonstration and practice.
Joe Kao DHypPsych(UK) is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist in Cambridge, UK. He is the head writer for hypnosisdownloads.com, one of the world's largest and most highly-regarded websites for hypnosis recordings, and he has taught numerous workshops on therapeutic metaphors, storytelling and Ericksonian hypnosis to people around the world.
Joe has been named the first official trainer of Provocative Change Works, and he has trained extensively in improv theatre, voice work and performance skills.
"I have had the pleasure of taking Therapeutic Improvisations with Joe Kao.
It was easily the most fun I have had at a workshop and one of the most personally beneficial.
I not only had a great time practicing in the breakout rooms provided; but I also brought the exercises into my personal life and have had a great time practicing with my loved ones.
I think people who are looking to add something to their work will benefit greatly from this workshop. Joe’s generous teaching style alone will make it worth your time".
Ron Gonsalves
Boston, MA. USA
Following a fantastic workshop, we are planning the next Lucid Dreaming workshop with expert Lucid Dreamer Hayden Ebert. This will be a great opportunity to explore the wonderful world of Lucid Dreaming.
Sign up here to keep posted with the details and dates for the next Lucid Dreaming workshop and to get the special offer booking rate.
Lucid dreaming is a skill and like any other skill it can be developed and Hayden will teach you how in a safe and supportive environment.
These Include:
A Lucid Dream is much different from a normal dream, it is a hybrid state of consciousness in which you have full waking awareness within the dream state. You have full rational thinking and can direct the course of the dream whilst still within it.
Nothing can compare to the clarity that can be achieved within a Lucid Dream… often Lucid Dreamers report that the state feels ‘More real’ than waking reality!
These trainings are highly experiential which is necessary to develop the mental tools and techniques to become a proficient self-sufficient lucid dreamer. Training s consist of a mixture of teaching, experiential group exercises, exercises to practice alone and support sessions.
When you undertake this training, you can be confident that you will be laying the foundation to become a regular lucid dreamer and you will be learning in a supportive environment from a trainer who has been lucid dreaming for 3 decades. This can be the start of a lifelong practice that can bring you many benefits and enjoyment.