Psych Forces by Lewis Le Val
Created by: Lewis Le Val
Key features
Teaches multiple psychological forcing techniques
No gimmicks or special props needed
Works with various performance items (cards, ESP symbols, etc.)
37 minutes of detailed instruction
Focuses on natural-seeming influence methods
Pros
Extremely versatile techniques
Can be applied to many existing routines
Makes performances more convincing
Detailed teaching from a respected mentalist
No special equipment required
Cons
Requires practice to master subtlety
Psychological methods may not suit all performance styles
Longer runtime means more study required
Effect
Psych Forces by Lewis Le Val teaches psychological forcing techniques that allow a performer to influence a spectator's choices while maintaining the illusion of free will. The methods rely on verbal cues, gestures, and subtle psychological principles to guide the spectator toward a predetermined outcome. The techniques can be applied to force cities, numbers, words, objects, and even tarot or playing cards, making them versatile for various mentalism routines.
Full details
Psych Forces is a 37-minute instructional segment where Lewis Le Val explains multiple psychological forcing techniques. These include:
- The Hotel Technique – A conversational method for forcing a city or location by guiding the spectator through an imaginary scenario.
- ESP Forcing – A way to influence the selection of ESP symbols using carefully structured wording.
- Fingertips Method – A technique that uses the spectator’s own fingers to force numbers, words, or objects.
The methods require no gimmicks, setups, or complex sleight of hand. Instead, they rely on psychological principles and performance skills to create the illusion of free choice.
Who should consider the trick
Psych Forces is ideal for mentalists and magicians who want to enhance their psychological influence techniques. It is particularly useful for performers who:
- Work with predictions, ESP, or tarot routines.
- Want to eliminate reliance on physical gimmicks or marked cards.
- Prefer methods that appear completely impromptu and fair.
- Seek to improve their verbal misdirection and audience management skills.
Information on how difficult it is to perform
The difficulty of Psych Forces depends on the performer’s ability to apply psychological principles naturally. The techniques themselves are not physically demanding, but they require strong presentation skills, confidence, and an understanding of human behavior. Some methods may need practice to refine timing and delivery, but they are accessible to performers at various skill levels.
What magicians say
The reviewer from Mentalist on a Shoestring highlights the depth of Psych Forces, stating:
"This is quite a biggie... Lewis will give you a bit of discussion on psychological forcing techniques that you can use to give your spectators a push in the right direction whilst maintaining that they think it's a free choice."
They also note that the techniques improve accuracy in mentalism performances, making them valuable for refining psychological influence. While the reviewer admits they are still learning in this area, they emphasize that the material is worth repeated study.
Psych Forces is praised for its practicality, offering methods that can be integrated into existing routines without additional props or setups. If you want to strengthen your mentalism with subtle yet powerful psychological techniques, this is a strong resource to consider.
What people are saying about Psych Forces
mentalistonashoestring says...
Lewis will give you a bit of discussion on Force psychological forcing techniques that you can use to give your Spectators a push into the right direction whilst maintaining that think that it's a free choice.
Review videos
The Whisper Tapes by Lewis Le Val
mentalistonashoestring mentioned this magic trick in this video.