Misusing Influence: The Dark Side of Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Coercive practices take manipulation a step further, often crossing ethical boundaries. This could manifest as a hypnotist or NLP practitioner using their position of trust to pressure clients into uncomfortable situations or decisions that serve the practitioner's interests rather than the client’s. For example, consider a hypnotist who, instead of empowering a client to confront fear of public speaking, attempts to coerce them into performing in front of others for their personal exhibition. Such actions can lead to not only a breakdown of trust but also psychological harm.