The Transparent Hypnotist

Princess in Training – that is what the t-shirt said. And there I was, all of four-years-old (try 10) in the middle of Buckingham Palace. Granted at this time, I might have been a rival of Princess Di’s, both of us, running-nose young and into our mini tea sets. Did the shirt make me feel important? Yes, yes it did. If the shirt said it, it must be true. And I thought this. I was on top of the world pretending the castle was mine (until my Da said, “Ellie come along, we must stay with the tour”). Deep sigh, I was as far from being royalty as I am now. This last thought was compounded when someone on the tour pointed at me and began to laugh.

Since then I have not had a huge fondness for t-shirts. LOL. That really is not true, as I spend much of my non-professional time in either yoga wear or hiking grab. In those worlds, t-shirts can make or break an anticipated sweat and release (not to be vulgar).

In looking at Crazy Dog t-shirts, I realize this first week or so of 2009, I have been caught up in a time of great seriousness, longing, waiting, and frustration. I mention this because, it took a few moments for any silliness on the Crazy Dog site to engage me, but as I scrolled through the silly designs, a smile began to flicker and my partner was finally forced to ask, “What are you laughing at?”

In answer to his question, I described the snakes on an inclined plane motif (the image above). He crinkled his brow at me and said in reply, “Ellie, you have an odd sense of humor.” Touché. But, beyond the quick chuckle of the shirt, it seems an apt solution for a client I am expecting to see in the near future. She is one of my hiking buddies and has a tremendous fear of snakes. Just from watching the teaser for the movie Snakes on a Plane, she refused to travel by flight for the past year. I am not exaggerating. I love this t-shirt because it is a great “reframing” of the concept (I am actually going to work on her fear of running into a snake while hiking). It makes light of the fear, shows it in another format. I may just have to buy it (heck shipping is on sale for $4 currently) and give it to her after a fearless hike.

Now wondering what on earth I am going to ask about for this Sunday’s Question? Hmm, favorite t-shirts (yeah, I kind of like that, so feel free to share yours)? Or maybe something more academic like – what is the most creative use of reframing have you incorporated in your practice or life? Your choice.

Photograph by alfredo lietor

Comic books, video games, bubble gum, and lipstick – these are all things I take pretty seriously. Okay, maybe not bubble gum. I have never been much of a gum chewer (I was affected by people who insisted in chewing with their mouths open..yuck). In the past, I have occasionally mentioned my love of video games (including some wrist problems that stemmed from an overload one weekend). You may not know about my lipstick fetish, but hey, I am female – see me paint my lips. And as for comic books, I really enjoy a good graphic novel (the darker the better).

And yes, a comic book is the theme of this Esoteric Saturday, one that is not so dark in its graphic depictions, but of hypnotic interest. It is called Too Cool to Be Forgotten by Alex Robinson. Now I have not actually procured a copy, but I did visit the artist’s website and it offered a selection from the hypnosis portion of the story. It is an amazingly wonderful depiction of a session. The hypnotist has a pretty decent patter and the induction is very familiar. But what is really fun is the open panel of what the protagonist is experiencing during the session. Alex uses words (or thoughts in this case) to create a portrait (literally) of the guy. It is both hilarious and extremely realistic.

Hmm, perhaps this warrants a deeper look or at least a conversation with Alex. Stay tuned…

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Cyber Locations:
www.DentalHypnosis.Com
www.WhatFear.Com
www.DentalSedation.Info
www.BerkeleyClinic.com

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

I’m a full time dentist who uses hypnosis as part of my daily work. I am currently the President of The British Society of Medical & Dental Hypnosis (Scotland).

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

Dental Hypnosis.

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

Anything unrelated to dental problems. I am a dentist and as such I restrict my hypnosis to dentistry.

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

Yes – to stay relaxed and sometimes to get to sleep. In fact I recently used self hypnosis when staying overnight in hospital with my 18 month old son who has a respiratory virus. I was in a ward with 5 other babies (and parents). So you can imagine – there was a lot of crying and noise during the night. Obviously I needed to be tuned in to my own son so that I could attend to him if he was upset or thirsty etc – so I did some self hypnosis (taking all of 5 minutes!) and told myself to ignore all noises other than any made by my son. I had a great night’s sleep – and was woken by my son on four or five occasions when he wanted a drink. After each time – I was able to fall asleep again within a few minutes. Despite my work with hypnosis – I was still impressed that I was able to to block out the other babies loud cries, yet be able to waken when my son let out a whimper!

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

A dental surgery!

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

A typical work day involves working from nine-six. My work in dental phobia management involves using hypnosis, sedation, relaxation techniques and a lot of tlc. Many dentists will see 20-30 patients per day – I tend to see a maximum of 10. I do spend some time just doing hypnosis for gagging, bruxism, dental phobia, smoking etc- but the majority of my day is doing standard dental procedures, often with anxious patients.

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

I originally trained with the British Society of Medical & Dental Hypnosis. I have a Masters in Hypnosis Applied to Dentistry from University College London. I’m Accredited with BSCAH and BSMDHS and have the European Certificate of Hypnosis. I have attended countless conferences and courses on hypnosis.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

I especially like Dabney Ewin’s ‘COMPISS’ hypnoanalysis technique as it is excellent at identifying the cause of most problems (it is in his book – Ideomotor Signals for Rapid Hypnoanalysis: A How-to Manual ) – if you don’t know this technique yet- it is well worth buying the book for this alone!

I also like Pat McCarthy’s ‘Special Place of Bliss’ found in The Use of Hypnosis in Surgery and Anesthesiology: Psychological Preparation of the Surgical Patient – I use this with most of my hypnosis patients - it is a lovely technique and allows the patient to deal with any problem – you don’t even need to know what it is!

As a dentist- glove anesthesia and transfer is really useful and can be very dramatic. I have even been involved in cases whereby using GA combined with other hypnotic pain control techniques (eg ‘comfort dials’) patients have had teeth removed, internal sinus lifts, cysts removed and implants placed using no other traditional pharmacological pain relief! You can watch a clip of me doing this for a BBC documentary at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgu6vk3_ByE

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

One of my very first hypnosis patient’s was in her special place (having a lovely picnic with her family) and began to get upset and cry during dental treatment. It turned out that she had an allergy to bees, and the noise of the ultrasonic scaler tip made her think that there were bees swarming around her picnic! Although I found out what was going on really quickly and we managed to create a ‘breeze’ to blow them far away into the distance – it made me more aware about how important it is to be fully aware of the patient history regarding allergies and other phobias. I always ask now that the patient tells me about anything - even if it seems irrelevant.

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

To any hypnotists who are members of a European Society of Hypnosis constituent society I’d say – make sure you come to the ESH conference in Glasgow in 2011. I am on the organizing committee and it is going to be a phenomenally good conference!

I would say to potential patients that as a dentist, I consider myself a person of science. I think many patients think that dentists or medics who use hypnosis are unusual in some way or are using strange unorthodox techniques. In actual fact the science is there. There have been many fantastic studies, especially in the last few years which use neuroimaging techniques to show what is happening inside the brain during hypnosis. It is exciting stuff and proves that hypnosis works. Hypnosis is a fantastic tool which can be used alongside traditional medicine. Hypnosis has changed my life and the lives of many of my patients. I use hypnotic techniques every day- especially in a non-formal way – eg in rapport building and increasing confidence etc. I think that hypnosis should be available to every medical and dental patient. It should certainly be taught to every dental and medical student and it should have a firm and well respected place in mainstream medicine. Hypnosis is not an alternative technique, it is very much a mainstream technique. (The theme of the 2011 conference is “Hypnosis in the Mainstream”).

I really believe that in the next couple of decades we will witness a vastly increased understanding and appreciation by the medical professions and the general public as to how important a role hypnosis has in modern medicine, especially as exciting new studies continue to confirm what many of us hypnotists have known for years – hypnosis really works!

Today is all about going forward, packing it up, and moving out. There is a part of me that still wants to remain in bed and wish that I could just skip forward to being settled again. But, that is a completely unproductive thought. I am working with self-hypnosis to help maintain a positive attitude, counteracting the negative thoughts that threaten to mutiny.

So, my apologies for not writing a more beefy post, but I must pitch in and help, and that is what has my attention.

See you tomorrow for the Friday 10 Questions. My guest will be Mike Gow, Britain’s top dentist.

Photograph by bogenfreund

My jeans, slacks, and sweaters are amassed in piles around me. Coffee cups sit abandoned, the brew grown cold. Today I feel like crawling back in bed, warm within the covers. I stood in a hot shower for an entirety, feeling the cold flow down my body like mud. My holiday journey is petering out and plans look like I might be going home tomorrow. I am tired.

In the spirit of moving forward, which if you can tell from the above paragraph is something I need to do, I have decided to seriously utilize the site 43things.com. I mentioned it on the last post of 2008 and how I thought it could be a great way to be productive. Taking my own advice, I have just broken the surface of my goals and have it currently running as a year long project on The Unwinding Path. All the information is on that blog. Please consider visiting me there.

Photograph by j / f / photos

A tired sort of morning that threatens to become afternoon a little too quickly seems the fate of the day as I type this. However, as I am in a new location with high-speed internet and my faithful laptop, I could barely let the week pass without comment on the hypnoworld happening around us.

The Good

Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, CT gets my seal of approval. They have gone completely smoke-free, but in doing so they implemented programs to help their employees with smoking cessation. Hypnosis was just one of a number of programs they provided to their new non-smokers (Greenwich Time).

For those whose companies are not so quick to help with smoking cessation, consider taking a vacation to stop smoking. The Royal Yacht Hotel in St. Helier, Jersey features a three session way to become a non-smoker through guide Bryce Alford, who uses life coaching, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), NLP, and hypnosis. The writer reflectioned on his experience with Alford (The Times Online).

There is a name among modern hypnotists that one cannot miss when studying hypnosis and that is the name Dave Elman. Hypnotist Martina Finnerty has written a concise piece about Elman’s idea of the Critical Factor, which is the part of you that inhibits the changes you might want to make (The Guardian).

Congrats to hypnotist Paul McKenna whose book I Can Make You Thin was listed as one of the nine self-help books of the year by the New York Daily News.

Made a New Year’s Resolution? Maybe you should reconsider. Hypnotist Michael Dimas has an interesting point of view on this (www.kswt.com).

And I would like to salute the following hypnotists who did something for World Hypnotism Day this past weekend. These are the items that found their way to my inbox.

Georgina Cannon - www.thestar.com

Debbie Lane - www.tampabay.com

Kathryn McGlynn - www.telegram.com

Diane Mitchell - www.recordcourier.com

Doug Meacham - www.theoutlookonline.com

Merron - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Seth-Deborah Roth - www.insidebayarea.com

Jerry Valley and Tommy Vee (www.eagletribune.com).

Roger Willard (www.ldnews.com)

In His Own Words

Max Kirsten on Surviving and Thriving in 2009 (www.timesonline.co.uk).

Good Interviews or Articles about Other Hypnotists

Sean Flanagan of Dublin, Ireland (www.independent.ie).

Betty Labbate of Bradenton, FL (www.bradenton.com).

Kathryn McGlynn of Worcester, Mass (www.telegram.com). (This article was actually about her participation in World Hypnotism Day).

Photograph by viewsnortheast

While I sit here, waiting for a few pages to continue loading in FireFox, I realize I am truly grateful for the invention of high-speed internet and fast laptops. How I have begun to to take those two things for granted. Yet sitting here on my friend’s computer, I take away the gratitude for those two things as I pause, not of my own accord but the computer’s.

This means that the Monday Hypno Happenings from the past week is something beyond my patience today, so I do offer my apologies. But instead of whining, I will continue babbling. World Hypnotism Day was yesterday. It sounded like Debbie Lane had a fantastic day! Terry O’Brien is thinking ahead to next year (yuck to the yard work yesterday). And it was nice to hear from Tom Nicoli (the chairman of the event)!

Interestingly enough yesterday, I did have an opportunity to educate a friend about hypnosis, though it all went a bit, well unpleasant. My friend asked me about the idea of using hypnosis to deal with her phobia of going to the dentist. She had a dentist she was really happy going to who used laughing gas to relax her, but alas, her company switched to an insurance this dentist did not accept. No dentist on the list offered laughing gas, so she was trying to find a solution. We discussed a few options that could help her (client-centered hypnosis where one deals with understanding the subconscious cause and traditional hypnosis that is mostly suggestion work). We discussed how she could find a hypnotist and what she might want to look for during her search (I am very sad to say the NGH referral network did not work. No one ever responded to her email - I write this last sentence in hopes that someone there will read this and do something).

During this time, her boyfriend was listening to the conversation. He also asked a lot of questions, but his total fear in my genre of work came flashing to the surface like a summer heat storm. I patiently answered the questions, hoping to quell some of his lightening scared responses. But it is interesting (in a most frustrating way) when people refuse to open their mental ears and succumb to mindless debate. He debated all the myths as though they were true and he had experience with it. When asked if he had ever been to a hypnotist or had researched it, the answer was an emphatic “no,” but he had seen stuff about it on television. I realized quite rapidly that he was only interested in coercing her into not using hypnosis. He suggested she use other relaxation drugs instead (they work for him).

In the end, it was really one of the saddest moments I have had in my career. Here was an interested person who could have really benefited from hypnosis. I am pretty sure she will not use hypnosis so that she can maintain the peace in her household. I can understand that (you have to do what you can to find and keep peace). But I am troubled by the boyfriend’s response. It leaves me feeling a bit queasy.

But I too will move on. Everything in its time and place. I write this as a request. Look at your relationships. If you find yourself in the process of trying to stop someone from doing something they want to do because your own issues get in the way, just back away. Take a breathe. Feel free to state your opinion to the other person, but do not hinder them for selfish or silly reasons (like your own fear). Ask yourself what is going on with you and why? Use the moment to move forward in your own evolution.

Happy World Hypnotism Day!!!

Today is a really big day for the hypnosis community. It is a day when we all get together to help educate the world about the positive aspects of hypnosis. Granted everyday is World Hypnotism Day here on the Transparent Hypnotist, but I feel a pang at the idea that I am still on travel and this post is the only contribution I am currently able to make.

For those who are interested in learning more about this momentous day, you can visit www.worldhypnotismday.com. They offer downloads, information, and a listing of events going on all over the world. You might just find an event in your area.

Therefore, my Sunday Question is – what are you doing for World Hypnotism Day?

Well, it is an Esoteric Saturday here at the Transparent Hypnotist. I think I will use this space to say thank yous and to talk about a few blogs I really enjoy.

First, you will have noticed the above award. It was given to me by the lovely and most positive Leslie Smith from the blog Inner Sanctuary. I believe this is the first such award I have received from another blogger and I am actually completely flattered. So, thank you Leslie for the wonderful compliment.

Now, upon my choosing, I am to pass it along to ten other blogs.

MJG’s Rambling Thoughts - You have to like a blog that wishes you a “happy dulcimer day.” (MJG has also dropped his entrecard here everyday for three months).

Lofty Matters - A blog about this and that, but always interesting (and has dropped an entrecard here everyday for the past two months).

Hypno Blogs I Read:

Adam Eason’s Hypnosis Blog - A definite kindred spirit!

Debbie Lane’s Wisdom Hypnosis Blog - Debbie is a fabulous friend and hypnotist.

What’s On My Brain - Josh Hougton’s hypnosis blog. Josh is somewhat of a regular here, so of course I am a fan of his blog.

Blogs I Plain Out Enjoy:

Annie Spandex - If I were a blonde, I would want to dress just like Annie.

The Junk Drawer - A funny, funny lady.

In the Stream - Because Francis’ art and writing always makes me think.

Art Constellation - She breaks my heart and charms me at the same time. She is an amazing example of a survivor who uses her pain in a creative and through provoking way.

Origins: Room 237 - I love this blog. I love this blog!!! I LOVE THIS BLOG (do you get the message?)

Should any of these bloggers choose to accept this award from me and wish to pass it on, here are the rules:
1. Put the logo (the award) on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Link 10 other bloggers of whom you want to give this award to.

Location: Westminster, Massachusetts
Cyber Location: www.MaxhamHypnosis.com

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

I’m a part-time hypnotist.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

My specialty is clinical hypnosis. The most common things I help
clients with are pain management, stress reduction, smoking cessation,
weight loss, sleep improvement, and fear management.

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

I don’t do stage hypnosis. I’ve also refused to hypnotize people to
accomplish something that I think may not be in their best interest.
For example, I won’t help a client lose weight when I suspect an
eating disorder. In a case such as that, I require a doctor’s referral
before continuing to work with the client.

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

I do. I often use it to help with sleeping,

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

I work from the offices of Dr. Linda Smith in Westminster,
Massachusetts. Dr. Smith is a family physician who does medical
acupuncture and osteopathy. She has created a Center with several
practitioners who provide an array of services that promote natural,
intrinsic healing. It’s a comfortable, professional setting. Most of
my clients relax in the recliner during a hypnosis session, but there
is also a massage table with booster pillows available in the room for
those who find that more comfortable. There is art on the walls, and I
play background music.

We also have a large room for lectures and group activities. I use
this space for stress reduction workshops, self-hypnosis classes, and
group hypnosis sessions.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

I see clients in the evenings and on Saturdays. Before each session, I
spend time “prepping”, which includes reviewing notes from the
previous session, planning the upcoming session, getting the room set
up, and testing my recording equipment. Sessions typically last from 1
- 1 1/2 hours. Afterwards, I spend fifteen minutes or so writing up my
notes.

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

I received my NGH certification in Basic and Advanced Hypnosis in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since then, I have also trained in Medical
Hypnosis, Pain Management, NLP, and Regression with Julie Griffin,
Scott Sandland, Will Horton, and Henry Bolduc respectively. I’m an
avid reader on the mind-body connection, and I regularly attend NGH
conferences. I’m very much looking forward to Hypnothoughts’ first
Global Hypnosis eSummit in March.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

I don’t really have one most fabulous technique. Several NLP
techniques, such as Swish and Timeline, have served me well. I’ve also
gotten very good results by having clients travel inward to their Wise
Self for guidance and insight.

9. Worst moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a
valuable learning experience.

Honestly, I really haven’t had a worst moment.

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

Potential clients: It’s important that you trust the hypnotist and
feel comfortable with him or her. You should expect to spend time at
the start of the first session talking about what you want to achieve,
what hypnosis is (and isn’t), and what you can expect during your work
with the hypnotist. At the end of that discussion, and before the
actual hypnosis begins, decide for yourself whether you’re comfortable
proceeding. If you’re not comfortable, let the hypnotist know that you
don’t feel it’s a good match and find someone else to work with. It’s
my belief that the hypnotist should refund your money if you choose
not to proceed, but it’s a good idea to clarify if they share my
policy when you book the appointment.

Other hypnotists: Learn from a wide variety of instructors and develop
your own style!