Direct Suggestion

A hypnotic suggestion that is stated clearly and explicitly, appealing to the conscious mind which has the opportunity to evaluate it. Direct suggestions are the hallmark of traditional, authoritarian hypnosis (e.g., 'Your arm is becoming rigid and you cannot bend it'). While effective with highly suggestible subjects, direct suggestions can be resisted by clients with strong critical faculties. Modern hypnotherapy often combines direct and indirect suggestion, using direct suggestions after sufficient rapport and trance depth have been established.