Staircase Deepener: Walkthrough and Sample Wording

After the induction closes the client’s eyes and narrows their attention, a deepener consolidates that focus before the main work. The staircase is one of the oldest and most intuitive deepeners: the client imagines walking down a set of stairs, and each step pairs with a suggestion of going further into comfortable absorption.

At a glance

• Type: deepener
• Typical length: 2 to 5 minutes
• Experience level: beginner-friendly
• Works well after: progressive relaxation, breathing induction, eye fixation
• Less suitable for: clients who have difficulty with stairs in real life (knee problems, hip replacements, fear of falling), clients with very limited visual imagery who do not respond to the alternative cues below

How it works

The staircase deepener rests on three elements:

1. Spatial metaphor. “Down” means “deeper” in many cultures and many hypnotic traditions. Walking downstairs translates a suggestion into a concrete action the mind can rehearse.
2. Countdown structure. A numbered descent gives both client and practitioner a clear beginning, middle and end, and each number is a fresh suggestion.
3. Sensory anchoring. Details like the feel of the banister, the sound of each step and the changing light sustain inward attention and make the imagery more absorbing.

Deepening is not always necessary. Yapko notes that some clients respond fully after a simple induction, and excessive deepening can waste session time [1]. Use the staircase when the client seems lightly absorbed and you want a clear transition before the main work.

Sample wording

Written for this library. Read slowly; each step should fall on or near an out-breath.

In a moment, you will find yourself at the top of a staircase… ten steps leading down to a place of deep, comfortable focus… [pause]

The staircase is well lit and safe… there is a smooth banister under your hand… and with each step down, you can let yourself go a little further…

Ten… placing your foot on the first step… feeling the surface beneath you, solid and steady… [pause]

Nine… another step down… the air a little warmer… [pause]

Eight… going deeper… the sounds of the room above fading gently… [pause]

Seven… the banister under your hand, guiding you… nothing to think about… [pause]

Six… halfway now… and you may notice how comfortable the descent has become… [pause]

Five… each step easier than the last… [pause]

Four… the light around you softening… warm and quiet… [pause]

Three… almost there… so settled… [pause]

Two… one more step… [pause]

One… and you are here… a place of deep, comfortable focus… take a moment to settle into it… [longer pause]

Adapting it

• Fewer steps. Five steps instead of ten for a quicker transition or a client who is already deeply absorbed.
• More steps. Twenty steps for a client who needs a longer transition, or for a session that is mainly about relaxation.
• No visual imagery. For clients with limited visual imagery [2], replace the staircase with sensation: “With each number, imagine sinking a little further into the chair, as if the cushion is softening beneath you.” Or use sound: “With each number, the sounds around you grow quieter.”
• Ascending staircase. If the session theme is about building confidence or energy, reverse the direction: each step upward takes the client closer to a bright, expansive space.
• Wheelchair or mobility adaptation. Replace stairs with a gentle slope, a lift or an escalator. The descending metaphor still works; the physical action changes.
• Combined with counting breath. Each step falls on an out-breath, and you count the breath alongside the step. This layers the countdown onto the breathing rhythm established during the induction.

Delivery notes

• Pace to the client. If their breathing is slow, slow your steps. If they seem deeply absorbed already, you can take the stairs more quickly.
• Use sensory variety. The sample includes touch (banister, surface), temperature (warmer air), sound (fading sounds) and light (softening). Vary the modality from step to step so the imagery stays alive.
• Watch for signs of unease. A furrowed brow, a held breath or a shift in posture may mean the imagery is uncomfortable. Pause and offer a choice: “You can continue down, or you can simply float where you are.”

Cautions and scope notes

• Mobility associations. For clients who have difficulty with stairs, the imagery can bring up frustration or fear. Always ask about physical conditions during intake and choose an alternative metaphor.
• Fear of enclosed spaces. If the staircase imagery includes a narrow passage, this can trigger claustrophobic anxiety. Keep the space open and well lit, or use the elevator deepener only if the client is comfortable with lifts.
• Not a treatment. A deepener is a transitional tool, not a therapeutic intervention. It sits between the induction and the main work.

Before you use it. Check during intake whether the client has mobility problems, a fear of falling or a fear of enclosed spaces. If so, choose the garden visualization deepener or a simple counting deepener instead.

Related entries

For an alternative imagery deepener, see Elevator Deepener or Garden Visualization Deepener. For where deepeners fit in a session, see How to Structure a Hypnosis Session.