The Hypnosis Innovation Contest: Where Creativity Meets Practice

What if there were a space where hypnotists could safely experiment, test bold ideas, and grow their skills in front of a supportive audience? That is exactly what the Practice Rooms inside the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy were created for.

Unlike a typical training course or certification module, the Practice Rooms function as a live laboratory. Members gather virtually to try out techniques, combine methods, and push their creative edges. Every session is followed by feedback, giving participants real-world experience and fresh perspectives they can immediately apply.

These rooms are the beating heart of the MMHA community. With the leadership of Noelle Perry, the primary facilitator who organizes schedules, guides the flow of sessions, and makes sure every participant feels both supported and challenged, the Practice Rooms have become a trusted environment where innovation thrives.

It was in this setting that the MMHA Hypnosis Innovation Contest was launched. The challenge: take one or more familiar hypnotic tools and use them in a completely new way. Nineteen members took part, and what followed was an inspiring showcase of originality, courage, and community spirit.

A Creative Challenge

The goal of the contest was to encourage flexibility and adaptability in hypnosis. Inspired by Mike’s mentor, the late great Derek Balmer, the notion that hypnosis is not static and that a skilled hypnotist shouldn’t be limited by rigid protocols or scripts is what guided the challenge. 

A technique designed to remove fear can be adapted to anchor confidence. A method created to install resources can be turned toward easing grief. When hypnotists are free to experiment in a supportive environment, they uncover approaches that would not appear in a manual.

This “low-stakes, high-creativity” environment made the contest unique. Participants were encouraged to stretch their thinking, even risk failure. The result was a blend of serious therapeutic exploration, lighthearted experimentation, and imaginative metaphors that demonstrated the flexibility of the craft.

For the community as a whole, the contest showed that innovation does not require brand-new tools. It often comes from daring to apply the old ones in a different way.

Contest Highlights

Every session brought something uniquely valuable. Some participants kindly summarized their experience. Here are some contest highlights:

Michael K. — Reigniting Ancient Memories

Michael used a deep trance process to reawaken archetypal strength, guiding participants through imagery of Ancient Kings and Queens. His session invited the unconscious mind to evoke qualities of power and resilience, showing how historical or mythological themes can fuel transformation.

Timothy S. — Unscripted Flow

Rather than scripting or rehearsing, Timothy chose to let the unconscious mind lead. His intention was simply to have fun and allow what needed to happen to emerge in the moment. This reminded everyone that hypnosis can be playful as well as profound.

Claire C. — The Rewind, Reimagined

Claire deliberately broke the “rules.” She applied the Rewind Technique in a way that is usually discouraged—removing positive feelings in contexts where they were unhelpful. The experiment worked better than expected, proving that even techniques that are usually advised against can find surprising and beneficial applications.

Beth K. — Overcome the Ominous

Beth addressed the heavy feeling of being overwhelmed by global troubles. She combined ego state work with guided imagery to bring order to chaotic thoughts. Participants reported a sense of calm and perspective, demonstrating how hypnosis can be used to navigate not just personal issues but also collective anxieties.

Paul F. — The Amulet of Awareness

Paul guided participants to create a symbolic resource—a glowing amulet representing clarity and perspective. This tangible inner tool became a bridge between trance experience and everyday life, offering a metaphor that participants could carry with them long after the session ended.

Lisa C. — Magic Hat Trick Hypnosis

Lisa worked with a student experiencing alopecia and approached the issue metaphorically by speaking directly to the hair itself. The session evolved into playful loops, humorous confusion, and linguistic twists, reminding everyone that laughter and metaphor can be powerful agents of change.

Thom & Devin — Bow-Wowed: People and Pet Bonding

Blending hypnosis, NLP, and humor, Thom and Devin led a heart-centered session exploring the bond between humans and pets. With creative imagery and trance processes like the Hand/Paw Clasp, participants rediscovered the healing and grounding role their animals play in their lives.

Gisela G. — Spiral Into Sleep

Gisela used spiral imagery to mirror the natural cycles of sleep, guiding participants through Alpha, Theta, Delta, and REM stages while weaving in NLP Timelines. The outcome was restorative and practical, offering tools for deeper rest and lasting focus.

Valerie A. — The Phoenix Rising Way

Valerie’s Phoenix Rising Way helps individuals transform grief into strength and resilience, particularly for those mourning the loss of a pet. Her protocol blends techniques like metaphor, guided imagery, parts integration, and direct suggestion to guide clients through deep emotional processing, empowering them to heal and move forward.

These sessions illustrate the diversity of approaches. Some leaned on metaphor, others on humor, others on archetypes or symbolic tools. Each pushed boundaries in ways that inspired participants and observers alike.

Note: Not all participants were listed here

The Power of Community Feedback

What made the contest remarkable was not only the creativity of the participants but also the audience's engagement. Every session generated real-time testimonials. Attendees offered encouragement, detailed reflections, and constructive feedback.

The numbers tell the story clearly. More than 160 testimonials were submitted. Over 95 percent rated their experience four or five stars. Participants consistently described the sessions as creative, inspiring, and deeply transformative.

• “Brilliantly creative. I walked away with a tool I can actually use every day.” – Anna
• “It was inspiring to see people experiment and succeed in such original ways.” – David
• “This gave me new ideas for my own sessions. I didn’t realize techniques could be applied like that.” – Sarah
• “The community spirit was incredible. Everyone supported each other and we all benefited.” – James

These testimonials show that the event was not only beneficial for presenters. The broader audience also gained new skills, insights, and inspiration.

Why Innovation Matters

The Hypnosis Innovation Contest reflected one of MMH’s core values: hypnosis should never be limited to scripts or static protocols. True mastery comes from understanding the principles deeply enough to adapt, remix, and apply them to new contexts.

For many participants, the contest represented a step forward in confidence. They learned how to present to groups, how to improvise, and how to test an idea in real time. For the wider community, it reinforced that hypnosis is a living art, capable of evolving as practitioners experiment.

By fostering this spirit of innovation, MMH is helping hypnotists move from knowing techniques to creating unique approaches—approaches that may one day become part of the wider body of practice.

Continuing the Momentum

Although the contest has ended, the inspiration continues. Many of the ideas sparked during the sessions are being refined and tested further. The upcoming sizzle reel will showcase highlights, ensuring the creativity and energy reach even more members of the community.

The success of this event points toward the future. More opportunities to innovate will come, and each will build on the enthusiasm, courage, and imagination displayed here.

The MMHA Hypnosis Innovation Contest proved that when hypnotists are encouraged to experiment, the results benefit everyone. Nineteen students took the challenge. Hundreds participated as audience members. Together, they created a living demonstration of how hypnosis can evolve when tradition meets imagination.