The Transparent Hypnotist

Photograph by liam.jon_d

The world is fine for the moment - rather, my world is fine for the moment. Thank you to those who rallied for my cause from yesterday’s posting. Since I went so far as to tell you a scary story involving a child’s view of hypnosis (or at least his mother’s), I thought I would begin the day will a positive tale.

This past weekend included a casual hike on a local lake trail. A few friends and their child joined me for the couple of miles to a beach area for a swim and then a cold lunch (living largely on the edge and hoping the chicken salad would stay chilled in my cold pack). While throwing off hiking boots, t-shirts and shorts and plunging into the semi-coolness of the lake waters (you can use your imagination however you like here - but for those who need to know, yes, I was wearing a swim suit), one of my friend’s adolescent daughter plunged in as well. She and I often have long discussions about hypnosis and she seems to really want to know how it really works.

As she emerged to the surface from her dive, shaking her head to remove the water from her vision, she immediately launched into a conversation about hypnosis. She mentioned watching a hypnotist at her local fair. She was disgusted, she said. He seemed to perpetrate all the myths and did little to educate the public about the truth and the goodness of hypnosis. I tried to explain to her a little about the group phenomena that happens at such shows, but she swore that the people who were on stage really were experiencing what the hypnotist described (like watching a horse race). One of her friends had participated. As I prodded my young friend a bit more, it did come out that the friend who had been hypnotized couldn’t really remember much of anything she had done on stage and was totally exhausted for the whole event. So, whether the participant believed anything is suspect. Apparently their conversation was the briefest of such communications.

But - but…though I know we still have lot of ground to cover, my friend and I, I thought it most positive that she is now paying attention to what she sees and hears about hypnosis - and is questioning it. She is no longer taking the myths for granted and is becoming an advocate. I think I see the makings of  a future hypnotherapist.

Scary. Really scary!!! I cringe at the thought but know that I must persevere, even if my hands tremble and my forehead glistens with sweat that my make-up cannot conceal. My cool, outer exterior will remain.

Did I watch another beloved horror flick? Did I have a client threaten me? Oh no. It is much worse than those ideas.

It started out with an innocent enough encounter. I was taking an evening walk around the neighborhood where my office is located. One of my so-called friends lives on the street and it is not uncommon for her to invite me to join her on her porch for a cool glass of ice tea. Last night was no exception. My palette was ready for the cool taste of tea (with a hint of mint). The ice-cold glass felt wonderful in my warm hands.

Her little boy also joined us (I believe he had some sort of red juice that I hope would not contaminate the whiteness of my suit). The subject of Halloween came up and my friend asked if I would be having another party this year. I am not so sure at this point, but suspect I will indulge in my favorite holiday.

Being polite, I asked her six-year-old what he was planning for the holiday. His mother laughed and began to discuss why it is so healthy and important for young children to dress-up for said event. Rather than exercising demons, she believes it is an opportunity for children to try on different rolls - experimentation, if you will. What I did not know, as I listened patiently, was that her description of a “mini-career day” opportunity, was a set-up.

I walked right into it and asked again, “So, what are you dressing up as?”

“You,” said the child, most matter-of-factly.

Good grief.

“Me?” I looked down at my linen white suit that has been my trademark for the summer. The child is going to vamp as a female business woman, I wondered - trying not to be judgmental, though I was a tad bit appalled. My heels would kill the kid. Would I be liable if he fell over his own two feet?

I must have looked puzzled because his mother began to explain, “You are one of his favorite people and he is fascinated by the idea of hypnosis.” I asked her if she would make him a miniature version of my white suit or if they would modify it to be a pants suit. It was her turn to appear puzzled.

“What? Oh wait,” she giggled, “Oh no, he’s not going as a miniature you - that would be so wrong. His costume is going to be what a hypnotist would wear.”

“This is what a hypnotist wears,” I told her.

“No, not your kind of hypnotist…you know what a typical hypnotist would wear?”

Still puzzled and yes, dismayed that I would be the cause of this child perpetrating the myth of the evil hypnotist, I asked “And what is that?”

So, she showed me. Halloween Costume Stores was what she searched under on her computer. And there it was at Halloween Adventures - The Masters of Masquerade (okay, I admit, I like the tag line) - no, not the evil hypnotist costume, but the classic magician.

“That’s a magician,” I told her.

“Yes, but if you take away the wand and give him a pocket watch, there you have it - a hypnotist.”

I said a few polite words (I hope) and knew it was time to leave. This Halloween-career day-thing was merely something fun, not educational. Then I began to exercise the demons that it had caused to lurk in my soul. It is merely costume. Costumes are stereotypical - is this any different from the good fun adults have when they dress up as evil religious figures? Probably not.

“Children’s Costumes are so expensive,” she went on. “This seems so easy and affordable.” I nodded as though I agreed and hedged to the door, feeling a little ill.

As I waved goodbye and began on my path back from this pseudo Twilight Zone, from the porch my friend had one last request,”Could you teach him some basic hypnosis - those induction things, so he could hypnotize a few friends at his party. That would be such a hoot.”

Sigh.

Art by alicepopkorn

I awoke to a morning that whispers that Fall is not so far away. Its gentle coolness wraps around my skin and the first sip of left-over coffee is a warm caress that tempts me to take another sip (pretty good for a left-over cup).

The past few weeks have been crazy-hectic (you can tell because I drink more coffee than tea during those times), but this week looks like one in which time provides a slowing down. For all others who were in the same boat, I hope you find yourself safely on the dock of relaxation.

Now to begin the week properly with a look back at what found itself into my email, hypno-news-wise.

Quote of the week:

Forgive me for borrowing this, Anmari. It seems most appropriate for some of the stuff one encounters in a hypnosis setting. This was posted it on her blog this morning at Bright Blue Rain.

“Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of a situation. Then deciding what you’re going to do about it.”
-Kathleen Casey Theisen

The Good

It is really interesting to hear about people who have done something in their past that makes them a bit phobic to do it again in the the now, especially when it was something like a sport in which they were particularly talented. And of course, it makes my heart glad to hear when such people have overcome the situation - through hypnosis. A prime example is U.S. karate champion Billy Finnegan. Three sessions with hypnotist Barbara Swanwick, who specializes in sports improvement hypnosis, he was able to return to his sport and excel. Bravo to both!! (Port Washington News)

Another phobia that made news last week was the fear of flying. Hypnotist Alan Gilchrist talked about the negative mindset that the flight industry builds before one even enters a plane. It is very thought provoking (Round Town News).

Though it has aired already, there will be repeats of an episode of Secret Lives of Women, which is of great interest to the Transparent Hypnotist. It is about Melissa Straub who suffered form years of panic attacks. She has made great progress in dealing with them through hypnosis, among other techniques. The episode is her story and will run again at 11 p.m. on September 16 and 2 a.m. on September 17 on the WE channel (The York Daily Record).

The Midwest Training Institute of Hypnosis (Fort Wayne, IN) is offering a basis hypnosis course in September. That in itself is good, but hypnotist Gisella Zukausky talks about how she used self-hypnosis to overcome vision issues (Fort Wayne News Sentinel).

The Bad (crazy cool)

I am not a hypnotist who shies away from the idea of doing past life regression. I believe it is a valid tool, among many, that can help people learn about themselves (whether one believes in past lives or on the other side, just wants to learn about the creative functioning of the subconscious and what it has to say). Writer Andrew Sia attended a group past life regression session with hypnotist Selina Chew. Curious about what a group experience is like? Sia reports on his reflections (The Star Online - Malaysia).

Also, I admit to a thrill when I think of the idea of alien abduction. I take a neutral stance on using hypnosis to probe the mind to see if one was abducted. My thoughts on this are very similar to my thoughts on past life regression - if it helps someone deal with life a little better, then there is no harm (codicil here for the other hypnotists reading this - I am aware of the idea of false memories and being careful not to create them). Art Champoux has written a really great piece about hypnosis and alien abduction. Even if you are not big on the whole idea of people remembering their alien encounters, the article talks about hypnosis is a most positive way - about what it is and what it is not (The UFO Digest).

There is a new show airing in Britain that aims to educate people about that most taboo topic - sex (ah, the wonderfulness of cliche). This is all good and fine, but there is nice mention of hypnosis. Anna Richardson from Supersize vs Superskinny (who is doing the sex education show), found hypnosis most effective in losing weight. Yeah hypnosis!!! (The Daily Record - UK)

The Ugly

There is no ugly. Nothing about the Positive Changes franchise. Nothing slanderous. Huge sigh of relief!

The Poll

If you participated in the poll about preferences in what types of businesses to support, small businesses came out ahead with 72% of the vote. Following this at 44% was whatever type of business is most convenient. Twenty-two percent of the poll takers did not have a preference and minority-owned businesses and internet businesses tied at six percent. Religious-Affiliated businesses and franchises received no votes from the he readership.

Photograph by Dave Bullock / eecue

Recently a reader emailed me and asked if I knew what was happening with Hypnoticon and the October convention. Rumors abound that it has been cancelled, and according to my source this is the truth. The organization wants to concentrate more on the Atlanta convention (where the first one was held). This date may change as well.

So here’s the thing, my reader has already booked her flight to go to the convention. She still plans to go to Los Angeles on the dates of Hypnoticon (October 10 -12, 2008). She asked if I knew of any interesting hypnosis happenings there at the time - courses, shows, anything. I do not spend that much time in LA so I am at loss here.

This is the Sunday Question - Do you all know of anything going on in LA around October  10 -12? Please leave a comment or if you prefer, email me at ellie.blunt@gmail.com.

Photograph by h.koppdelaney

I am guilty. I have emerged myself so much into the world of hypnotics, that every now and then I lose touch with the world that has nothing to do with hypnotics. I forget about the myths. I forget about the close mindedness. I forget about the non-believers. And I forget that hypnosis is sometimes mistaken for mind control. There are past times when we have seriously discussed the subject here (see the list at the end of you are interested), but now I find myself on this Esoteric Saturday returning to the subject.

Note here that I do distinguish between mind-control and hypnosis - they are completely separate entities (even if there are sites that would tell you different). But people often end up here looking for the magic concoction of ideas to control someone else (sorry people, you won’t find it here -nope, don’t even bother searching the site for it). What I can do is point you in another direction - to a more scholarly venue on the subject of governmental mind control programs. Don’t shake your head and click off assuming I’m about to talk about conspiracy theories. I’m not.

Check out columnist Timothy K. Perry’s article Real-Life Mind Control Assassins? on nolanchart.com. Hypnosis is mentioned, but read the article for the conclusions.

Past Postings that Relate to Mind Control:

• A Question of Mind Control
• Hypnosis is not Mind Control
• Hypnosis in the Mind Control Process

Location: Ohio

Cyber Locations:

www.yoursecretwishes.com
www.mentoring-support-for-hypnotists.com

1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

I am a part time/full time hypnotist.  I do much more than hypnosis but include it in what I do.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

I specialize in hypnotic brain dialog.  This is invisible dialog we script between the brain’s 4 quadrants.  Once you understand what your brain thinks of you, then you can understand more clearly, precisely and more exactly what you want to do in life and/or help you clients easily, predictably, repeatably understand how to “get unstuck” mentally and stay unstuck by seeing situations from a creative instead of a competitive, circular, self-limiting view.  Please see “Success Strategies” on my website http://www.yoursecretwishes.com/Success-Strategies.html.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

Anything typically long term, say for years.  I prefer to use my time in other endeavors than long term training.  Please see www.mentoring-support-for-hypnotists.com and listen to the latest MP3 of our Wednesday night teleseminars that help hypnotists do things to get clients or improve their business.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

Yes.  Everytime I get by my husband, I’m hypnotized.  Going on 27 years and likin’ it!

5. Describe your hypnosis office setting.

It’s a room in my home.  Have my massage table set up there, too, when I do energy field clearings for a client or do Jin Shin Jyutsu.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

Kiss my husband and son so long for the day as they go off to work and school.  Do exercises.  Eat breakfast with real food like vegetables instead of something out of a box. Create new projects with people showing them to enjoy and prosper during life.   Together my clients and I create products or service programs so they can generate money from them.  Laugh a lot.

Drink some water.

Do lots of right brain/left brain copy writing for websites or sales letters or sales brochures to promote people’s businesses.  Pause from work and pet our dog and our cat.  Laugh a lot.

Drink some more water.

Enjoy real food for lunch.

Maybe call the NGH and chat with someone there.  Scratch my head if it itches or my chin sometimes…get online on IM Yahoo, don my headset and do a conference call with a client.  So far the farthest away client has been in Australia.  How did I get paid?  PayPal.

Drink some water.

Get ready for upcoming seminars or workshops I’m conducting.  Pause and talk with our dog and our cat.  Laugh again.

Twirl.  I especially like this when I’m wearing my favorite skirt and blouse.  The skirt fans out nice and wide and I sing while I’m doing this.

Thank The Creator Of All That Is for everything we do together.

Eat real food for dinner.

Kiss my son and husband hello again after they return home from their fabulous, wonderful adventurous day.

Put on my Elmo pajamas and go to bed snuggled next to my hubby.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

*Editor’s note. Susan is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

EFT and variations of it.  Age Regression EFT, Past life Regression EFT and Akashic Record Regression Retrieval and Clearing EFT.  Most fabulous NLP technique, Reverse Spin.  Most fabulous brain dialog/brain fitness technique I use:  quadrant negotiation/mental rehearsal/physical rehearsal.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting.

Working with sexual abuse survivor - turned out to be a multiple personality client - session lasted for 7 hours straight.  But we DID get to the angry personality.  Then I told her I would have to refer her to a psychiatrist because I was only trained to do hypnosis.  BTW, she knew ahead of time she was a MPD but choose to keep that hidden from me.  Hmmmmm.  Wonder why?

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist.

Get niche in your business.  You will have less tire kickers to get through and instead attract qualified prospects.  Expect that running your business DOES cost money.  Be willing to invest in yourself and provide for the world ways to achieve goals using hypnosis and hypnotic applications.

Crazy. That words describes the morning. The phone has been ringing (I admit, some of the calls are more personal then work related) consistently. I am getting ready to take a class with a mentor in a week or two, and you would think it was my first day at school. Ah the joys, the fun of buying pencil cases (how I miss the crayons - a crisp box of sharpened crayons), lunch boxes (my mum made mine - it was more of a lunch satchel), and books to be covered out of brown paper sacks (my da did that and in his best scrawl he labeled the book with my name). I also was allowed a new wardrobe each Fall. My best friend (which abruptly changed after school started) and I had matching outfits (her mum made those).

It is so much more complicated now. At my age, its not so much about fashion trends, but comfort and professionalism. Should I wear jeans? A pants suit (how did I get so old that I would consider such a thing)? I have my iTouch (with my schedule and contacts enabled) and a handy, leather-styled notepad. The books have come from an online book seller and they are mine to keep. Yet, like the camper I used to be, labels abounding, I feel the urge to designate all my stuff as my own (how did I get so anal?). Since I don’t have my da to scrawl my name across everything thing or my mum to embroider it, I am using computer generated labels. They are simple and clean. Color labels seem the way to go and how much easier it would have been for my da to have cranked them out on a Dymo label maker. I would have been terribly hip. Yet, the memory probably would have been more of my da cranking through a dozen possibilities and lots of sticky, labels all over the work table (and me).

But enough of the memories. My time grows short. I am later than I would care to be for this posting. I have to go buy some sort of cool new pen to take notes.

Photograph by katmere

The coffee is in a to-go mug and I am already half-way out the door. All sorts of craziness.

Anyway, since I have to do this at a quicker pace than I would prefer, I have been thinking about the whole idea of a hypnosis franchise (yes, I am thinking of Positive Changes). My partner has been privy to my comments about the whole Positive Changes franchise issues. He asked me an interesting question, though.

“Why didn’t you go the franchise route when you opened your practice?”

Good question. First, I admit it never occurred to me. I always knew I would study the arts and science of hypnosis and when I was comfortable with my abilities, I would begin building my own business with my own credentials, my own style, my own way of doing what I do. And maybe I am a bit dim here, but I had never heard of a hypnosis franchise.

There is a part of me that abhors the idea of a hypnosis franchise, but that may be me being judgmental and righteous (and that sucks). I guess I feel it makes it all business, and the business is foremost (or making money) and hypnosis or helping people make positive changes is secondary. I suspect I could be wrong here. I think of the place with the golden arches - why else would you open a one of their franchises?  The money, of course. And maybe that is why I am not wealthy - because it is hypnosis first and business second.

What are your thoughts?

Photograph by hypertypos

Yesterday’s posting had an incredibly positive effect (and a desired one) - a few non-hypnotists commented on the idea of hypnobirthing!!! One commenter asked if I was aware of any Australian hypnotists involved in child-birthing. That gave me a mission for the morning. I doubled checked all the hypnotists from 10 Question Fridays and find that I am seriously lacking in representing those fine people. Need to change that!

I ended up using the The Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists web site and found several candidates whose practices includes hypnosis and child-birthing. A list of those with web sites follows. I chose not to include those without web sites (or web sites that did not work) because I do not want to cause unnecessary spam in their email box. If you want the list, though, email me at ellie.blunt@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to send it to you. There are actually several who do not have web sites. And also, if they do not mention childbirth hypnosis on their web site, they listed it as something they offer on the ASCH site.

The List

• Del Layton - hypnotherapysydney.com.au
• Jennifer Palmer - www.thereadclinic.com
• Kerry White - www.hypnohealth.com.au
• Noreen Head - www.wnm.com.au
• Graham Moore - www.MooreSuccess.com.au
• Katherine Tassioulas - www.aihh.net

Also, awhile back I covered hypnobirthing more in depth. Here are the past posts:

• Body Centered Hypnosis
• More About childbirth and Hypnosis
• What a Pain

*Please note - It is unfortunate that I have to state this, but I guess it is necessary. The transparent hypnotist and Ellie Blunt do not endorse any hypnotist or practitioner. The content provided on this web site is for information purposes only.

Photograph by lorenzo cuppini // busy.

Today it is Jasmine tea and I hope it clears the muddle in my head before the end of this post. I had the brilliant notion of reading some local ghosts legends last night before bed, not to mention several worries about Gustav. That made sleep a bit evasive, but here I am, just me and the cat and a cup of tea.

Since it is Monday again, let’s review the last week in the hypno world.

The Good

Maybe you are one of those folks who can carry your pain well, so you blow off the notion of hypnosis for pain relief. But - in this budget conscious world - what if hypnosis is cheaper than sedation? Ready to look again, my friends? As reported by naturalnews.com, hypnosis is more cost effective in this area. The article cites a Harvard Medical School cost analysis study.

I know there are a ton of “Mom” bloggers out there and people documenting their pregnancies - you all need to look into hypnobirthing techniques. There is a positive story on gazettenet about it and Rose Quintilian’s classes that she teaches for said audience. She is located in Gaithersburg, MD.

Congrats to Sharon O’Connor of Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions in Hampton, VA on the great article in seacoastonline.com.

Fitsugar.com has started a discussion on hypnosis. The comments are the interesting thing. Hypnotists, gosh, we still have a long way to go…sigh. They could use some intelligent words over there on the subject, so check it out.

I’m-not-sure-where-this-goes (or maybe it should just be its own section)

For the past several weeks Positive Changes, a hypnosis franchise in Connecticut has been making news. There was first a watchdog report about them faking their credentials. Then a bunch of folks rallied with letters to the editor. These were about their positive experiences with Positive Changes. Then two governmental investigations began and I suppose with all the mounting pressure, the two Connect franchises are shutting down. George Gombossy, the original watchdog that started this whole thing has been back at it. He has discovered that up to the last minute the company was still signing up new clients for their long-term weight loss program (even with the doors shutting the next day). The owner also apparently encouraged the hypnotists that worked for him to finish out the sessions for their clients (probably without paying them), along with giving them recording equipment to create CD for the clients. Ugly (or wait…there’s the section) (courant.com).

However, according to wtnh.com, these two franchises are planning to reopen at a new location.

Interestingly enough, timing wise, this franchise showed up on nuwire.com listed in an article by Cali Zimmerman called Franchises for the Eccentric Entrepreneur. You too can own your own hypnosis franchise, by doing the following:

Potential franchisees must complete and submit an application, then attend a mandatory two-week training session at Positive Changes’ corporate headquarters in Dublin, OH. Three or more days of on-site training are also required once the location is up and running.