The resulting legislation is a confused mess. It lists a number of professions that are handled in other sections of the code, and explicitly excludes stage hypnosis. Anyone else doing anything with anything hypnosis related, which includes a wide range of related activities including guided imagery, is subject to a Class A misdemeanor. From my reading, even someone taking the approved course can’t even practice an induction even inside class without being subject to arrest. Even someone who uses guided imagery for ritual work, which is what was going to happen at the local pagan group’s regular meeting, would be included.

And the training requirements are worse. For one thing, there is no exception for training outside the state. Someone with 25 years in the field and Masters certifications from every known organization still have to take 500 hours (the mandated limit in the legislation) to qualify. Add to that the rampant favoritism with the first school (and still the only school) approved (the founder was spouse of one of the accrediting board members) and the cluelessness of the state licensing agency that is keeping anyone else from getting accredation.

Thanks for commenting. You have actually inspired today’s post.

Ellie

What’s the answer? I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure that government licensing, even at the state or local level, is not it. Politicians are not competent to set standards for hypnotism, so they’ll codify whatever various lobbying groups tell them and filter it through ignorance. (Do I sound cynical? Maybe I’ve lived in the DC area too long.)

<MR>

It’s easy to forget that some of the greatest hypnotists in this century like Dave Elman, never had a certification a license or even bothered to put CHT behind their name.

And like I tell my clients, a stack of testimonials will get you way more new clients when used properly in your marketing, than a stack of certificates.

Cheers,

Craig Eubanks
HypnosisMarketingTips.com