The Transparent Hypnotist

Legs crossed and comfortable in my chair, I watch as she fidgets in the recliner. I use this time to allow her to get acclimated, making small talk about this and that, hypnosis and life. Last week she was too warm. The week before she was too cold. My office blanket lays abandoned in her fray for comfort. The pillows that she sunk into in a previous session are tossed about carelessly, lifeless things that they are. Then she gets up and walks out of my session room and back to the waiting area. I take a sip of my tea and pause before going after her.

This is good because she comes back into the calmness that has prevailed since her absence. With her, she has her bag, from which she pulls out a shawl and wraps herself in it. Leaving the pillows abandoned, unwanted, she finally settles herself (a few moments of readjusting the shawl and squirming to get into a comfortable position. But alas, she is not done. Just when I am about to start, her eyes pop open and she again digs into her bag. This time it is for a pair of old socks.

“My feet get cold,” she tells me. I nod, wishing I could put on a pair of warm socks and loose the heels.

Again, I center myself and get to the point of uttering my first hypnotic syllable.

I am again interrupted, “You know, Ellie, though I like you pillows and blankets, I just don’t like using items that I know other people use. I’m sure you wash them, but it all just freaks me out.” I tell her that is fine, she has been and is always welcome to bring whatever she thinks will make her feel more comfortable. It is part of my standard introduction-to-hypnosis patter.

And so the session finally moves along and she goes home. I write my notes on the session, but it has started me thinking about the comforts I offer my clients. Temperature is always an issue. One client is too hot, one is too cold, and one is just right. It is the three bear syndrome. I am not sure who Goldi Locks is, bit I suspect it is not me. I keep blankets and pillows handy, but I am always lugging them back and forth from the office to the house, where I wash them. Sometimes I feel like an over priced laundress.

So along comes the sponsored opportunity for the Cabin Cuddler. Kismet, perhaps? I believe they were originally designed for travel comfort, but they might just be the thing. How perfect if my clients would just bring one of these to their sessions. No more laundry. No more worrying about hygiene. All the client would have to do is unpack the cocoon-like blanket from the tote bag (which becomes a pillowcase for the blow-up pillow that is included). It even considers the cold-feet issue with a foot pocket. Warm, snugly and clean.

I suppose, I cannot assume all my clients would have their own travel blanket. Maybe a few for the office would be the way to go? They look more compact than the big pile of blankets and pillows I lug home to wash. Maybe for those who sign-up for the several session packages, one of these should be included?

So, here is the Sunday Question - hypnotists, counselors, and the the like, what do you do to help make your clients more comfortable in your space?

Those of you who are readers who are not included in the above, would you prefer to be responsible for your own comfort in places like hypnosis offices, counseling sessions, or public transportation (plane, train, or vehicle)?

After watching the Tracey Fragments, I admit to some trepidation to watching those independent movies that have something to do with hypnosis. And yet…I am sucker for them (apparently). Because of the aforementioned hesitation, I have not seen the movie I am writing about in this post. I am sort of hoping that anyone of you readers out there has seen it and would consider reporting back on it. The movie is called Thumbsucker. Being a Keanu Reeves fan (a cool line line up for a concert would be Keanu and his band, the Bacon brothers, and Jon Corbit…but I digress), I suspect I’ll see it no matter what…but I always like to be prepared if it is going to be a downer (I’m still not over Play it Forward).

Bet you cannot guess what Thumbsucker is about, though. Darn, you figured it out. The synopsis says it is about a teenager who sucks his thumb. He comes across an orthodontist (Keanu…sigh) who uses hypnosis on him to get him to stop. I’m sure there is more to it, but that’s what I’m in it for - the hypnosis.

Photograph by Michael Casey

Another Friday without the 10 Questions for Hypnotists. The deal is I am only as good as those who answer the questions. I have extended many invitations to some wonderful hypnotists, but I have yet to receive their answers. So, it will indeed be back up and running soon.

Last Friday, I mentioned I would share with you some of the responses I  have received when I have invited various hypnotists to participate. I will not mention names. First, the responses I normally get fall into two categories - those who do respond positively and those who ignore me. Both of these seem acceptable. I do not take the later personally because there are a plethora of reasons why someone would not respond - they do not have time, they do not like the questions, or they do not like the blog. I respect all of those. The people who write back positively have been a total joy. The answers are fabulous (and often fun). Plus, we have all learned a lot and seen a variety of perspectives in how we each approach hypnosis. Thank you to all who have participated.

There is also a third category of responses, but a valid one none-the-less. These are the hypnotists who are not familiar with the Transparent Hypnotist (fair enough). They ask a lot of questions. These are great, too. I might do the same. Usually people want to know about how I edit the responses (bare minimum…I hate being edited myself, lol). They also want to know how I plan to use their answers (only in their 10 Question post).

Then there are some that concern me greatly. I still respect their reserve, but I wonder what life has done to them to make them so bitter and defensive. I occasionally get lost in enlightenment and forget this is not the path for others or that we all struggle periodically. But still. In an age where there is a lot of negativity and a weariness to trust strangers (and I am a stranger in a strange land), I strive to be a positive beacon as much as I can and still be true to my daily adventures in hypnosis. It amazes me that some react in a rude or negative fashion (sending out more negative energy) when asked to participate. It does not take that long to do a search for the 10 Question Fridays to see the format and how many prestigious hypnotists have participated. Heck, ask those who have participated for their opinion of the segment or blog (I know of some who have actually received new clients from their participation).

So, the thing is, rudeness gets us no where. I do not understand it. I do not accept it - no matter how much one may be reacting to a negative experience that has nothing to do with me or the blog. I am sorry. It just makes me so tired.

I do not write this to add more negativity to the world. I am merely being transparent and now you may know why we have missed two weeks of the Friday 10 Questions.

Photograph by * michel clair *

The positive thing is that yesterday is over and I am still alive. My cat is still alive (and recovering nicely from his latest brawl with the neighbor cats…a few new struggles with pink, icky, liquid antibiotic and he should be good as new). My car is still running. And I slept well.  Maybe I need to join the gratitude blogs out there?

Relieved that the cat would be okay, I then showered and raced to the office to see the first client of the day. Again - a gratitude moment - my veterinarian was able to get to us first thing. But, you are probably not here to read about what a wonderful person my vet is (he so is).

Instead, maybe you are here to read about what a wonderful person my car mechanic is.  LOL. Yes, I know - Ellie stay on the topic (hypnosis). But, really, my mechanic story does have to do with hypnosis - my ability to continue to see my clients.

Continuing - I did make it to the office and my first appointment went well (nail biting - the client, not me - rather - the client used to bite his nails). Thinking I deserved a treat and to celebrate the anticipated recovery of the cat, I got back in my car and drove off to a local restaurant for lunch. Lunch was good. Then I got back in my little car and nothing. Nothing at all. No power. After a few expletives and a desire to sit in the car and sob (I didn’t), I called my mechanic. Last week my car was ill and I had to have the battery replaced. Could the problem really be the alternator? I knew it, I should have become a mechanic…

So, I called my mechanic. He said my problem sounded like loose battery cables. Was there someone there who could check them for me? No. Did I have a pair of pliers? Ah…no. Could I get a pair of pliers?  Hmmmm….maybe. I walked into the Christian bookstore across the street. I told them about my dilemma. No one offered to help. No one had pliers. They did however point me in the direction of the hardware store two blocks away.

Finally, with pliers obtained, I popped the hood of my car and called my mechanic back. There I stood, in my whitest of white suits and uncomfortable heels, in the rain, and learned how to tighten my battery cables. Once accomplished, my mechanic had me try turning over the engine again. I bumbled back to the driver seat, hands black with car ick, fumbled with said hands for the keys, and hoped with everything I had within me that this would do the trick. The keys finally slid into the ignition. I turned them and sure enough…the sound of a positive moment - the engine turned over. I had power again.

With much gratitude, I thanked my mechanic, tried very hard not to touch myself with my dirty hands (that’s really very hard - and where are those tissues when you need them?), and felt the soaked wet cotton of my suit clinging to me in ways that do not benefit a professional. A wet cotton suit contest, maybe…but not a clinical hypnotist. But, I did make it back to the office for the next client. I even had time to scrub my hands and dry off a bit.

And that was yesterday. There are times when I think I should have been a mechanic…

If you are a night owl, prowling the blogosphere, you may have noticed that I am not drinking a cup of tea or coffee, watching the sunrise. Nope. In fact, here I am, slumping through the dark and playing around with my eyes (watch the slideshow and you’ll get it).

If you are reading this blog with your cup of tea or coffee and just starting your day, I am not here. Well, I am here, in slideshow format but it is merely my residue that is floating before your eyes - I am probably at the veterinarian with a sick cat. (Please send us your pink thoughts, I think we may need them).

And so, here I am (or here I was), waiting for morning, trying not to freak out about the cat. This is what my mind was able to concoct as a distraction. I have a love of simple animation (and hypnosis and cats and coffee and tea and blogging and…) and my favorite way to expose myself to you is not with film and camera, but with little drawings and a tad bit of video. I am ever looking for ways to do this that simplifies the process. Roxio online , which is what I used to create this special late night diversion, allows for simple animation. Now granted, I think most people probably use it for photos, I thought this was more suitable for me. So you know what was mine and what was the program’s - the title credits are all Roxio. The text (though my words) are all Roxio. The cool tiling is all Roxio. Basically, the swirl picture is mine. And of course the eyes.

There you have it. My diversion. My experiment. May this document just another night without consequence in my life. If so, I will hold it special. Now I am going to post this and try to sleep.

Art by arkano3.

It is a bit of a gloomy morning today, outside. Inside, its bright and festive and very much a proper coffee time. I am actually listening to a little mariachi to drive out the dulls. Now kiddies, don’t try this at home (okay do not try it at home unless you are ready for big sound early in the day).

Last I week I mentioned a client in my post frivolous and several of you left comments or emailed me about it. So, I though I would follow up on it and let you know how the story is continuing. I can truly call the subject of that post “my client.” She confirmed her appointment with me before I could confirm with her and showed up for it.

Trying hard not to pre-judge her, I was surprised when a beautiful, bubbly person walked in the door. She was wonderfully expressive and open. I guess I expected neurotic, closed posture, and old beyond her years. Wow. Big difference. Granted I only had emails to go by, but she was completely the opposite of what I envisioned. I mentioned this to her (in a kind way) and she said she was good at projecting what she is not.

This made me think of the idea (someone said this…someone famous) that often by affecting the attitude you want to portray, you end up feeling that way. In this case, that seems far from the reality - or her belief of who she is and how she feels. She would have me believe that she wears a mask of happiness (or good natured femininity). But she seems so genuinely kind, warm, nurturing towards others, that I think she does not see the forrest for the trees. She blames herself for every bad thing. I suspect if that hurricane had hit, she would have found some way to blame herself for it - not being prepared enough, not having enough provisions, not batting down every shingle on the roof.

And so, this is the starting point for her, diving into her self-image and finding the first hurt that caused this awful feeling of fault. Progress.

And after the session, she has decided she wants to do more sessions. She is worth it, she says.

It is a good start.

Photograph by hlkljgk

Welcome to a new week…so my calendar tells me. Not a bad way to start the day! I rested my wrist over the weekend as Michael suggested, and it is loads better. Thanks, Michael!!! And Debbie, I communed with my feminine side and did find some stuff…but that’s another posting.

So without much ado, I present the past week in the world of hypnosis.

The Good

Kudos to John Weir!!!! He won the Charles Tebbetts Award at the 2008 National Guild of Hypnotists Annual Convention. For those who aren’t in the know, it is kind of a big deal.

How about hypnosis for small business owners? That is a group that hypnotist Dr. Hena Husain is targeting. Read the article about her in the Detroit News. It might give you ideas for marketing or being better business owners.

Congratulations to Rob Shotton. He just opened a natural healing shop. Though not a hypnotist, he has used hypnosis to help him with panic attacks and to lessen anxiety. (Worcester News).

Congrats also to Andy Duncan who has gone from being a Royal Marine to launching a new career helping people deal with phobias. His training is in hypnosis, NLP, and motivational training. (Birmingham Mail).

I have known a lot of artists in my time, and though I think they are wonderful and talented (mostly), they often seem to feel that their art is their gift. Nothing wrong with that. However, every now and then one will do something extraordinary. Tanya Hartman, a professor of art at the University of Kansas volunteers as a hypnotist at the St. Louis Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma. There is a really lovely article about her in The University Daily Kansan.

KETK-TV in Tyler, Texas did a great interview with hypnotist Tana Hornischer.

Another positive interview is in the www.thisisexeter.co.uk with Dawn Robinson, who trains moms-to-be in self-hypnosis.

Bad (As in Oh So Cool)

Another Olympian admits that hypnosis has helped him and his game (or sport in this matter). Steve Hooker uses hypnosis to help him with phobias he has in his pole vaulting speciality. (theage.com.au).

I’m-Not-So-Sure-Where-This-Goes

Another soul is rallying for Positive Changes in Connecticut. Last we heard, two investigations were being launched to look into two of the franchises. However, Paul Hughes had a really good weight loss experience with this hypnosis firm (courant.com).

Last year some of you may remember that there were a series of robberies at connivance stores involving supposed hypnosis. Wondering what happened to those who were the victims of the crime? Yogesh Patel tells what happened in the year after the robbery in a story by Mark Connors for the India New England.

There are times when I sit here, consciously oblivious to the trends that surround me. At other times I give in the the crashing waves of the populace and this is one such time. Whether you are a blogger who has written about C’elle stem cell products, listened to your preacher (minister, priest, or whatever term you use) discuss it (sometimes for, often against), or heard the raging political debts, surely the notion of stem cells and their pros and cons have touched your awareness.

Tending towards a more liberal side of thinking, I have never personally bulked at stem cell research - even when the media (and politicians) conjured up all sorts of nasty thoughts on the souls of unborn children abandoned for research using fetuses. But even in the beginning of the negative spin campaign for stem cell research, there was discussion on using stem cells from umbilical cords (how is that bad?). Now stem cells are collected from menstruation blood (it’s not like we were using that substance for anything else). Granted the research verdict on the use of such stem cells is still being studied, but what a positive step forward.

As a hypnotist, I chose this profession to help people. I hate to see any suffering (I suspect many of you can relate). I do what I can to ease that suffering, but I know that science and medicine also have much to offer. There is so much mind-body related suffering and yet there are also diseases that are much more complicated. This is where stem cells come into the picture.
About the Science
The potential for stem cell research is large. It has shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of illnesses (Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Autism, to just name a couple). Using menstrual stem cells that can replicate a variety of body cells (heart muscle, bone, nerve, fat, and cartilage) may lead to larger advancements in healing.

So, here’s the deal, even if you are not generously inclined to save humanity (or decrease its suffering), you might be into helping yourself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with preparing for the future and saving your own stem cells (women). With science and technology advancing at a furious pace, menstrual stem cells may hold the key to saving your own life at some time or even maintaining your well-being. Heck, many people bank their own blood before a surgery. Is this so different provided you have the financial means - $499 with a current discount?

C’elle Client Testimonial
For those of you who are pro-testimonials, you might want to visit the link above.

So now for the Sunday Question - do you invest in your own future well-being already and if so, what do you do? Do you use hypnosis, do you bank your blood, do you save your own stem cells, do you exercise, are you a healthy eater - all these are considered an investment for the future. What do you do?

There was a time in my life, many (many manys) when I wanted to be a vampire. At the time it was not so much the immortality thing that got me (I don’t really want to live for ever - that would be so tiring), but it was the supernatural, super powers with which they were endowed that really appealed to my gawky teenage life. Sure, I could have wished for a super power and been a super hero, but it was the suave, sophisticated darkness of the vampire that appealed to me. I also had a hard time grappling with the whole drinking blood thing, though. That always made me a bit queasy. So, had I become a vampire, I think I would not have been particularly brilliant.

A few month’s ago, when Terry O’Brien did an Esoteric Saturday here at the Transparent Hypnotist, he wrote about hypnotic vampires. His post was fabulous, so I do not need to do a repeat of it. Instead, I offer a slight tangent to it.

Last night, I anticipated a sequel (I know, I know….sequel, grumble, grumble, grumble) to one of my favorite childhood movies, The Lost Boys (go figure). The sequel, The Lost Boys: The Tribe spun in my DVD player and began playing. I thrilled to the pre-movie music. I longed for my youth and craziness. I awaited the seduction of the vampire. And I received in-you-face gore. I am old. I am old. Alas, I watched the movie in a slightly mordant state of mind and went to bed. No seduction there.

But, BUT, there was one scene (just one) that caught my fancy. It was an almost hypnotic moment, when the subconscious mind shines through. In it, the main vampire hands a dead rose to the heroine. Here’s where I wish I had the script (or the patience to find the scene), so my synopsis of it will have to do.

He asks her, “Do you believe that with sheer willpower of the mind that one can change reality?”

She says, “I thinks so.”

“Do you know so?”

“I know so.”

He has her cover the rose with her other hand, close her eyes and visualize the rose as vibrant and alive.

“Do you feel it?”

“Yes.”

And then he has her uncover her hand, and wouldn’t you know, the rose is a freshly cut bud.

It’s not really hypnosis, probably more of a magic trick (I would love to learn how to do this one, I am sure an illusionist could give me some pointers). However, the way the vampire phrased it, it was a wonderful example of a guided visualization. Very nice. Very positive.

And so, with that bud of something good, I leave you on this beautiful Saturday. No more vampire dreams.

You may notice there is not a 10 Question interview here today like most Fridays. (Never fear - it shall return soon). There are many reasons for this, but suffice to say - I am tired. Really tired. I have had to make some big decisions in my personal life and after a week of running about here and there…it has caught up with me.

At some point, I will write a post dedicated to some of the responses that I receive when I ask people to consider being part of the 10 Questions - but again I am tired and my wrist hurts. So, instead of a rant, I’ll dedicate this post to my wrist.

Dearest Left Wrist,

I know I have taken you for granted. I have assumed you would always be there for me, unnoticed in the background. But alas, I have neglected you and I am sorry. I should have paid more attention to you, listening to your unhappiness about needing a new wrist pad for the mouse (and the perils of power dropping with the entrecard crowd). I know, I know - its time to look at places for carpal tunnel relief and be more responsible in how I care for you.

You see, I know you think a bout with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will prove to me that you do indeed need more from me in our relationship. I know with the new brochure and materials I have been working on day and night, your tendon sheaths have become irritated (believe me, I would be irritated, too), so much so that they are swelling up and are not allowing the rest of my hand to receive it very much needed blood supply. You can be so cruel. Yes, I know what that tingling sensation means. How I long for the days when my fingers moved gracefully, tendons happy and peaceful. Why must you incite me to a state of pain management?

Okay, I am listening. What do you want? Surgery - I don’t think so. Injections? Really, that seems extreme. What if I give you some rest time? How about a splint at night so I do not clench you? I would even consider the IMAK Smart Glove® since it has a flexible splint. How about that? I could wear it while we work and be reminded that I need to keep you positioned properly. It even has massaging ergoBeads™ - imagine it - a massage all the time.

So, before you grumble and throw another stabbing pain moment my way, please consider what I am saying. I’ll take better care of you and you can give me some carpal tunnel relief. Would you please give me another chance?

Love,
Ellie