The Transparent Hypnotist

(guest posted by Michael Raugh)

Morning, everyone.   It’s been way too long since we had a Monday news round-up.  Part of the reason, I’ll confess, is that I haven’t found much to include.  Ellie is much better at finding these things than I am.  Still, here’s what a bit of Googling turned up.

From naturalnews.com comes a short piece by Steve G. Jones that touches on how researchers use hypnosis to study how the brain responds to different stimuli.  His sources are all pretty old and the piece is vague, but at least it’s possible and factual.

A piece on WebMD last week talks about a recent University of Geneva study on paralysis that looks interesting.  A dozen volunteers were hypnotized and givent he suggestion that their left hand would be paralyzed and then, while hooked up to a functional MRI, told to move that hand.  Those results were then compared to a control group who were not hypnotized but instead told to fake the paralysis.

A press release from the weekend announced that Jeffrey H. Cohen received the Humanitarian Award from the IACT/IMDHA at their May convention in Florida.  IMDHA has seriously upgraded its image, in my estimation anyway, since merging with IACT and coming under the guidance of the likes of Robert Otto and Wendi Friesen.

Did you notice anything that I missed?  Leave a comment and let everyone know.

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Photograph by Sebastian Fritzon (cc)

Wow. There is a lot to catch up on in the world of hypnosis. Sadly, my time is limited, but I shifted through a few things to catch-up.

Quotes of the Week

Once again, hypnotic therapy works quite well in such situations. It helps people overcome their nerves about facing people and makes them more confident in such situations – from the article Overcoming Social Anxiety And Shyness on Best Syndication.

Meditation, relaxation training and even self-hypnosis can not only blunt the negative effects of anxiety and tension but also promote beneficial emotional and physical changes of their own – from the article Combat cognitive decline with lifestyle changes in the dailypress.com, which presents ideas by psychologist Terry J. Gingras.

Scientifically Good

Previous research shows that hypnosis can improve quality of life and symptoms for individuals with ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. The British scientists did suggest that perhaps hypnotherapy helps all three conditions because all three are subject to fluctuation and worsening of symptoms due to psychological stress. Hypnotherapy can potentially remedy those flare-ups without drugs – from the article Hypnotherapy Effective for Reducing Inflammation, Colitis in The Alternative Health Journal.

Brown (1991) points out the benefits of hypnosis on treating people diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. There are many psychological factors involved with this eating disorder including negative body image, perfectionism, and outside factors such as family. This study showed that using hypnosis sessions to treat people with bulimia, showed to be very effective. The hypnosis techniques involved relaxation, imagery, and positive suggestions to target the subconscious mind of the patient. Hypnosis was able to improve and treat the psychological issues contributing to bulimia nervosa – from the article Use Hypnotherapy to Treat Bulimia in Natural News.

Not only have I awakened to sunlight streaming through the flaps of my tent, but also to the smell of coffee. My partner has brought me cup. Though we remained dry yesterday, nature kept us from being free and easy as she continually seemed miffed about something and seemed quite ready to unleash a torrential downpour.

I did get an email with some pertinent hypno world news, or news that applies directly to one of the participants on the Transparent Hypnotist. Kate Beaven-Marks has just received her certification to be an NGH instructor! In layman’s terms that means she can teach you how to be a hypnotist. I congratulate Kate for this achievement (and I am very proud of her as well). You go, girl!!!!

Being in the back country and with people waiting for me to put up this device (some of the hiking purist are really annoyed with me), I have a small request for my hypnotist readers out there. As I am not in a position to properly do the weekly hypno world news, would you please help me out. If you have news yourself or know of any that relates to hypnosis, would you leave a comment about it? Huge thanks!

Photograph by Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar)

Quote of the Week

A lot of people have only seen hypnosis demonstrated on TV. Now they can see this unique phenomenon in person. It‘s like the ultimate reality show – from an article about hypnotist Rick Allen’s hypno show (thebeacon.net).

Scientifically Good

Ah, the literary opportunity to speak about the value of learning from children. Alas, I shall let it go and just say that we all can take a page from 19 children who were diagnosed with cancer and used self-hypnosis to deal with the side effects of certain treatments. The study, done at the Minneapolis Children`s Health Center, involved 25 children, of which 21 decided to try self-hypnosis. Out of this, 19 of those children experienced large relief by using self-hypnosis (Natural News).

Good

I have mentioned it before and I will mention it again - using hypnotism in the birthing processes. Need more validation for it? Check out the article called St Albans mother’s praise for alternative birthing techniques in the St. Albans and Harpenden Review.

The Bad (is this really cool?)

Did you know Justin Timberlake is a hypnotist? Interestingly enough he taught Ciara all about it (The Press Assoication).

Ugly

• This week’s news has brought a few mentions of hypnosis in conjunction with court cases. It all just makes me shake my head – not so much because it denigrates my profession, but rather because of the situations involved. Take for instance the case of Kiplyn Davis, who was murdered and there are two men in prison because of it (not because they may or may not have killed Davis, but because they perjured themselves in court). One apparently used a polygraph test. Here is where hypnosis comes into the mix. The court hearings that are currently underway are about trying to find out if  lie detector tests are admissible. The expert hired to testify about polygraphs sites an instance where another person used self-hypnosis to thwart the system. Good grief (The Daily Herald).

• Self-hypnosis also appears in another murder case, but in a more positive light (though I suspect it is meant to create a tone of something more sinister). Apparently, a person accused of murdering his family, used self-hypnosis to deal with  stress. All I can say, is if indeed he did kill his family, he should have used self-hypnosis a lot more and perhaps he could have worked through the issues (stuff.co.nz).

• Then there is the case of a murdered prostitute. One of the witnesses was hypnotized to remember details of the murder and reported how she found the body of the victim (looking through a letter-box). The psychologist involved has made a reference to the fact that the witness may have seen more but is blocking out the memory. Then the witness said she really was not in a state of hypnosis. Again – good grief (guardian.co.uk).

Entrecard

It is the begining of a new month and also time to thank those entrecarders who have faithfully dropped their cards here. I did things a little differently this motnh and gave credits to 20 top droppers rather than people who were here everyday for the month. I did this because of the new system bumps and glitches that people experienced. Change can be difficult for some.

Here are a few special thank yous, though. Please click on the image above and visit the blog ik.my. They have visited here faithfully for three months. Also check out Septagon Studios who has been a vistor here most everyday for four months (and is on my blog roll this month). You guys rock!

Photograph of Mandy Moore by itselea (cc)

Quotes of the Week

Hypnosis helped me eliminate the things that triggered my overeating. Gone is the anxiety, stress, loneliness, low self-esteem and shame. I’m excited for each day and have new energy. I’m eating healthier and getting slimmer – quote by Jane Lambert in an article about a free clinic hypnotist David Prudhomme is presenting (Port Clinton News Herald).

There are no zombies, no murder sprees, no mid-life crises. There is only a midnight-blue sky twinkling above a vast field of brilliant-green grass, which is sandwiched between the ocean and — could it be? — a 70-room mansion of gold. The Breakers estate is mine! – the words of writer Andrew Mangino for the Yale Daily News about his hypnosis session with hypnotist Ruth Carr. (This is a really great discription of his inner thoughts while at a hypnosis session).

Some people are more suggestible than others, and there are different levels of hypnosis. It’s a mindset. I’m guiding you, and you’re doing it to yourself. I can get you in a trance in a few moments, but the long and short of it, is you’re doing it yourself. If you’re not willing to cooperate, I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. That’s not the way it works - from an article about dentist Dr. David N. Grayson, who uses hypnotism with some of his dental clients (The Daily Record).

Generally, I find that in Western countries the misconception about hypnosis is that it is mind control; and if it was, I wouldn’t be [in Cambodia]. I would be in the troubled spots of the world – from hypnotist Lance Castille in an article in The Phnom Penh Post.

Hypnotist Dale K is used to the skeptics who doubt his craft [hypnotism]. In fact, he likes them. They’re the most fun – from an article in The Daily Item about hypno-performer Dale K.

As Barry Wolfson introduces himself to a room full of hopeful quitters, the idea of hypnosis at first seems a little out of the realm, but as his one-hour session commences (only about 12 minutes of hypnosis), it seems like the desperate to kick the habit crowd are digging it. His class stands at about 15 members. He’s enthusiastic most will be able to stop smoking by the time they leave the doors. He said there’s a two out of three success rate – about hypnotist Barry Wolfson’s smoking cessation program, as written about in The South Bergenite.

We help them control their behaviors and to eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full. The point of this is helping people take control and teaching them to make the best choices – hypnotists Kasey and Jeff Quillin about their weight loss program in an article on www.oceancitytoday.net.

The Scientific Good

• When I was little, I remember my first shopping trip to Herrods, but the questions is – do I really? Maybe not. I may remember parts of it, but a lot of it I may have creatively filled in because it suits me better. Oh, and just so you know, I am not the only one creating fairy tales about my past, apparently we all do. There was a recent study done by psychologist Elizabeth Loftus from the University of California that seems to conclude that memory is a transient, adaptive thing. The study even mentions that we can lie beautifully when in a state of hypnosis. And what about all the hubbub of false memories (a reason why one needs to be very careful when doing regression work)? Not such a bad thing. In fact the article in the Daily Record about this study suggest that false memories can be used to help with weight loss. By creating a false memory of a bad experience related to certain food items,a sense of revulsion can be created toward that food item. Hence, the person avoids said food.

• Do you scoff at the idea of visualizing your success (or how about this question - do you scoff at the idea of visualizing your success, but oddly, find yourself feeling unsuccessful)? Well, stop scoffing. Visualization has some science linked to it that shows it can be very powerful in helping you accomplish your goals. Visualization during hypnosis is even more powerful (The Examiner).

The Good

St Mary’s University College in Twickenham (UK) is now offering a diploma of higher education in clinical hypnosis. This is being done to increase the qualifications for hypnotherapist (The Richmond and Twickenham Times).

The Bad as in Cool

Another celebrity is using hypnosis to curb stage fright - Mandy Moore (contactmusic.com).

The I-Think-This-Might-Be-Ugly

Finland is getting persnickety about alternative health care. The ministry of Social Affairs and Health working group is proposing:

that care for patients technically unable to decide for themselves, including the seriously mentally ill and those with developmental disabilities, be restricted to treatment by registered healthcare professionals only

.
On the surface this seems like a pretty good idea (most clinical hypnotists find it unethical to work with the demographic discussed above). However, this may be the usual slippery slope. The source I read also mentions that others seeking care (such as pregnant women and those dealing with cancer) would only be able to use alternative therapies if administered by a licensed
medical doctor (The Helsinki Times).

Sherrie Lea - is she Marilyn Monroe?

Quotes of the Week

The minute I walked in for my appointment I started to relax–are hypnotherapists supposed to be so friendly? And what about those great black pumps–how could she be evil with such good taste? – about hypnotist Sheila Swenson in an article in The Norfolk Examiner.

In June and July of 2005, famous American medium Kevin Ryerson channeled the ancient Egyptian spirit of Ahtun-Re, known for its accurate readings, confirming that Sherrie Lea Laird is indeed the only true linear reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe - from a blog post in The Area Wide News by Bret Burquest about Sherrie Lea Laird, whom Dr. Adrian Finkelstein hypnotically regressed and discovered just may be Marilyn Monroe reincarnated.

Stone’s midnight act takes more from Vegas than vaudeville; he leaves the gloves, cape and watch back in hypnosis history – from an article about hypnotist Kevin Stone in The Los Angeles Times.

The Good

A headline in The MetroWest Daily News reads “Subconscious relief: Hypnosis gains acceptance as medical treatment.” I guess I will take the high road and be happy for such a positive headline. This article talks about the work of hypnotist Gina Orlando (phobias and stress), the Light Heart Center (motivation), and the Rev. Dr. C. Scot Giles (cancer work), all based in Illinois. There is one quote by Dr. Giles that is particularly of note (so pay attention, please):

What’s been found is that cancer cells have receptor sites for chemicals in the body associated with stress. They use those chemicals to fuel a process called angiogenesis (generation of blood vessels that aid growth of a tumor). The stress chemicals in your body are energizing the tumor cells and encouraging tumor proliferation. So by maintaining a state of low stress in the mind, you actually change the physiology of the body and starve the cancer cells of chemicals they need to grow. That seems to be why hypnotism is effective. While it doesn’t kill the cancer, it does inhibit its spread.

The Bad as in Cool

A few Monday’s ago, I mentioned that Mel B (former Spice Girl) was going to try hypnotism to help her with stage fright. She has opened in a new show in Vegas. Did it work? According to People Magazine, it did indeed.

The Ugly

More ugliness in theft department of life. Hypnosis is being touted as the mechanism of robbery in a recent jewelry heist in India. Mind you, it is not the fact that the thief told the clerk he was the owner and that there were several other suspicious incidents (such as security cameras not working), but it was the use of hypnotism that allowed the perpetrator to get the diamonds…(note the sarcastic glint in my writing). Source: The Times

Photograph by Big Grey Mare

Quotes of the Week

You’ve got to make a choice: How do you really, really want to live your life? And what are you living your life for – quote from East Bridgewater, MA hypnotist Larry Quemere in an article on enterprisenews.com.

When Martin Bremmer of rural Venango established his hypnotherapy practice in January of this year, he thought he’d be standing alone in a field of corn, so to speak, about accepting hypnosis. He has since found out that a lot of people are receptive of its use – from an article about Venango, NE hypnotist Martin Bremmer in The Imperial Republican.

The Good

• The Bristol Zoo in Ireland is helping people to overcome their fears of spiders. That is right, they offer a class with a hypnotist Mary Ison. How awesome is that? (www.herald.ie)

• Yes, there is another slightly smarmy article titled “Look into my eyes.” This on is on the Times Online and starts out with suppositions that hypnotism may have a bad rap and such, but do note that I have put this article under The Good category. It actually offers a nice run down of how hypnotism can be very helpful and cites three hypnotists who work in specialized areas. These include addiction work, sexual issues, infertility (all discussed by hypnotist Georgia Foster), weigh loss (Susan Hepburn – Lily Allen’s hypnotist), and financial anxiety (Paul Cullingworth).

The Ugly

Ah, the corruption just reeks!

“[Deleted] stated that he had constantly used hypnotism as a means of inducing young girls to engage in sexual intercourse with him.” According to this revealing government document, the person mentioned here was the instructor in a secret CIA mind control training program back in 1951 – from a series by Fred Burks published in the Examiner.com. The hypnotic suggestion used was that she was to believe that the instructor was her husband and she desired intercourse with him.

• Is Frederick Freeman innocent? According to an article in the Detroit Metro TImes, he got a bum deal in his case. Everything that could be wrong with the case, is wrong. From one witness who testified “under hypnosis” (when several alibi witness testified otherwise), to a lawyer who had cocaine issues, to a snitch in the jail house who was paid by prosecutors to say Freeman confessed to the murder in Port Huron. Good grief.

• Jurors in Turkey are now debating about a legal case involving hypnosis. Though Turkish law prohibits testimony gained from hypnotic techniques, for some reason the juror is still considering the information and whether it is admissible or not. This is not the ugly part (I kind of like that it is an issue). The ugly part is that the case itself is an utter mess, but it is the hypnosis part that rings the alarm bells. Let me quote:
  

  The petition also says that Balta was interrogated by Gürol Doğan, who identified himself as a retired lieutenant commander, and that the interrogator used medication and hypnosis to drug him and psychological pressure to extract statements from him.

  What? Medication? Psychological pressure? And here is the oddist thing of all - the testimony this man gave under the influence of not only hypnosis, but medication and psychological pressure, this testimony he has no problem with. Instead, when he was later hypnotized (and just hypnotized), this is the problem. Ummm. Is no one else concerned about the medication or psychological pressure? (www.todayszaman.com)

Now to Leave you with Something Positive from our 10 Question Alumni

Debbie Lane is back in the news. News station WTSP feature an articled about her smoking cessation program.

Photograph by 92wardsenatorfe

Quotes of the Week

Hypnosis is like taking an old floppy disc out of the brain and replacing it with a new one – from hypnotist Gerard Kelly in an article on www.westmeathexaminer.ie.

I do comedy hypnosis shows. If you have inhibitions, I relieve them. I get willing volunteers to join the stage where they undergo a series of relaxing suggestions. Once they are hypnotized, we bring down the house with comedy – from an article on yumasun.com about hypnotist Tyzen.

That’s why I am recommending a psychological behavioral approach to weight loss. I’m saying forget about the food. All the naturally thin people eat chocolate chips, pizza, cheese, all of the forbidden foods, they just don’t eat them to excess. Why is that? It’s because they feel in control around the foods – from hypnotist Paul McKenna in an article on www.wwltv.com about his hypnosis weight loss products.

Our mindset is everything. Life may be bumpy, but it’s important to remind ourselves that there’s a positive side. It’s important to laugh, to sit back and … relax – from hypnotist Gregg Pruett in an article on www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com.

Through hypnosis, Covington tries to find and re-program the subconscious reasons for our behavior. But she says it doesn’t work if the patient isn’t willing in the first place – from an article on www.11alive.com about behavioral therapist Jane Ann Covington.

“It’s an alpha state of mind, a dreamlike state, similar to the feeling you get before you fall asleep,” he said, “where I can plant positive suggestions for change at the subconscious level” – from an article on www.2theadvocate.com about hypnotist Barry Wolfson.

He describes hypnosis as a natural psychological process of directed attention that provides access to the subconscious control functions of the mind - from Michael Hidalgo in an article on www.2theadvocate.com

The Good

• Sorry smokers, but there is even more cause for you to consider stopping your bad (BAD) cigarette habit. The US has just implemented a tax increase on cigarettes. For hypnotists (non-smoking ones), this is a large opportunity to help those who no longer want to pay the excessive fees for smoking. There have been numerous article about this, but I will cite winknews.com.

• In being an advocate for hypnosis, I think one of the biggest ways to go about that is to be truthful. By itself, hypnosis is not an easy miraculous thing that will instantly fix your issues. There are many forms and techniques - it is not just one thing. That is why last year I began a series of posts called “forms of hypnosis” and have begun “the tool box.” Many things can be resolved through hypnosis, but depending on the hypnotist, the techniques, and the client, it sometimes needs a little boost (be it another session, another form of hypnosis, a dab of NLP). In an article on lakeplacidnews.com about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the viewpoint of Dr. Gabriel Koz, he mentions using hypnosis to help a veteran walk again. It was successful at first, but as the sessions conitnued, it lost its effectiveness. But Koz knows why that occurred:
  

  I had not dealt with his underlying need to be paralyzed

• Debbie Gisonni is doing a four part series on hypnotherapy for the examiner.com.

The Bad as in Kind of Cool

Hypnotists having crazed fans. That is interesting and strange. I cannot imagine…but apparently Icelander hypnotist Sailesh deals with the craziness of being a celebrity:

According to Sailesh’s Web site and illusionist Reza Borchardt, Iceland contains some of Sailesh’s biggest fans. He requires constant security, and they even stand outside his door at night protecting him from fanatics. He had the top-selling documentary DVD in Iceland, as well – from an article on sdsucollegian.com

The Ugly

What if you went to a college, worked hard, and graduated with your degree. Then you find out that the administrator of the college committed fraud in reporting that the college met accreditation standards, when indeed it did not. Does all your learning immediately disappear? Does it mean that the people you have helped since receiving your so-called degree vanish as though it never happened. Does it invalidate your hard work? That is what Bill Stiles is dealing with since earning a degree from LaSalle University, which was shut down by the FBI. All this came to light by reporter Alan Jennings for an article on wpxi.com. I cannot help but feel bad for Stiles.

Art by Katiya Rhode

Quotes of the Week

“It’s not mind control,” Adams said, because hypnosis is a way of accessing the unconscious mind. It’s not a commonly used method, but he said it was effective – from an interview with sports counselor Morrie Adams in The Daily Iowan.

The Journal of Clinical Psychology reported that in a recent study weight loss subjects who utilized hypnosis as an adjunct to their weight loss programs experienced significantly more weight loss than the subjects who did not use hypnosis – from an article about hypnotist David Prudhomme’s upcoming hypnosis lectures (Port Clinton News Herald).

Hypnosis is an altered state of mind in which there is an increase in suggestibility. This state can be produced by oneself or by responding to the directions of a hypnotherapist - from dentist Stephen Dodd, who uses hypnosis in his practice (South Port Visitor).

When you are in this state, you can ask this (subconscious part of the mind) if certain ideas feel correct or if there is faulty logic about. In this calm state, one is not influenced by external influences including the conscious mind and can therefore make more honest objective decisions about issues – from an article by hypnotist Elizabeth LaDouceur on www.wawa-news.com.

The Bad as in Cool or Slightly Dodgy

Do I or do I not mention this particular item? Do I worry about offending half my audience or go ahead and mention a little piece of news that has pinged into my in box a few times. Ah, the temptation. As you can probably surmise, I am giving into and I am going to mention it. If you are feeling a bit prudish at the moment or are offended by talk of sex and the such, please skip over this. Erotic hypnosis is nothing new and it is not just for heterosexuals anymore. Meet Neil S. who now makes his living as a gay male erotic hypnotist. He was written about in the New York Observer. It is a fun story of one man finding his path and following his dreams. I wish Neil S. all the best.

The Why Don’t You Give It Another Shot Section

Here is one for Debbie Lane (Hiccup Queen extraordinaire). Christopher Sands, a British musician, has been suffering from hiccups for over two years. The article on www.metro.co.uk about him reports that he has tried everything from surgery to hypnosis and nothing has eased his issue. Maybe he should try another hypnotist or at least go back to the one he saw for more work. Sometimes it takes more than one session or hypno method.