Hypnosis, Religion, Beliefs and Referrals...

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on December 1, 2009 at 6:38pm

I am generally uninterested in the religious beliefs of my clients in hypnotherapy, and generally do not share mine. I can help someone quit smoking with direct suggestion, embedded commands, and expectancy in hypnotherapy. There is NO REASON for faith and relgion to come into the process, and I do not encourage it nor want it. Same thing with pain management, overcoming fears, and the many other things people come to hypnotherapy for. At times, I have clients who begin to tilt discussion into a religious topic, and I quicky redirect them. Of course there are some exeptions, but 99.9% of the time, I offer solutions focused in the present that have nothing to do with religion - mine or theirs. I have never had a case of spontaneous PLR in hypnotherapy (I actually do not believe there is such a thing as spontaneous PLR, it is ALWAYS led by either therapist or client) and when I do have clients reveal relgious biases and beliefs, I simply accapt where they are and move on no matter how bad I disagree with them as to how many angels dance on the head of a pin.

What are some of the exeptions? I will work with clients in the spiritual framework of the 12-step programs (these are non-sectarian) and I am accepting of my clients different beliefs but do not try to integrate my faith with clinical practice, nor do I ever debate theology or "rightness" of one religious viewpoint. Sometimes in my pretalk I will talk about the natural process of hypnotherapy and its universal value to people regardless of religious faith. I offer clinical services rather than faith based- or spiritual services.

I do think that for those who do hold themselves out as sprititual healers, christian counselors, past-life regressionists, wicaan shamens,or whatever, that clients will expect the integration of faith and practice, but you are probaly only attracting "like" clients anyway (fundamentalist Christians do not seek out hypnotherapy from past-life regressionists; Wiccan clients do not seek services from Christian Counselors) and if one chooses the pathway of spiritual services there is nothing wrong with integrating faith and practice, and most will find little conflict no matter what their spiritual orientation.

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Permalink Reply by ricky strode on December 1, 2009 at 7:56pm

In science everything is proven false given certain amount of change in varibles. We just have generalizations about things. We know no absolutes and everything changes at some point in time one way, or another. I say Keep Your Mind Open and Rationality Closed. Why argue over something we will find out in the end anyways. We are all probally wrong anyways and really not worth the time. Like in the movie Dogma (Great movie) "People kill over beliefs, why can't the just be ideals", ( I want to add some to this) thats all everything is anyways is just our ideal of something is, or is not.

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on December 1, 2009 at 9:00pm

Doreen,

I think it's a no-brainer that it's unethical to use your position as someone's hypnotist to push your religion (or other views) on them. My views don't matter--it's all about the client. My clients are not paying me to proselytize. (Never mind that it's against my religion to proselytize.)

I've helped devout Christians feel more in touch with God, and I've also helped practitioners of voodoo sort out issues within the context of their beliefs. I had a client show up with a giant image of Ganesh on his shirt, so I asked if it would be okay if we invoked Ganesh at the beginning of the session. Heck, I personally abhor marijuana, but I've hypnotized many a pothead to feel stoned when firing off an anchor. It's not for me to judge.

Of course, because Wiccans know I'm Wiccan, they might seek me out. But most of my clients don't know and don't care--which is exactly as it should be.

Sincerely,

James

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on December 1, 2009 at 9:12pm

To me this is simple. They don't come to me for religion, belief, dogma, or discussions of any of these. They come to me for help with a problem and/or to achieve a goal. If they have issues with the way we do it, then they are in the wrong place to begin with.

John

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on December 1, 2009 at 10:24pm

Hello Richard, James and John,

I am pleased to hear your answers and It seems to me that we all on the same page.

And James, you said: I think it's a no-brainer that it's unethical to use your position as someones hypnotist to push your religion (or other views) on them. My views don't matter--it's all about the client. My clients are not paying me to proselytize. Well either If it is against our position or not, It's happening... and this post is also to reinforce the idea of: "Keep your personal business to yourself", and I hope that it is going to be taken seriously.

I am not kidding, but know people who impose their political views on their clients and in the end they end up losing them as a client, and lucky me get to have them as my clients.

So political, religion, faith, all other unrelated healing modality's, need to be kept apart from Hypnotherapy.

Respectfully, Doreen Cohanim C.Ht

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Permalink Reply by Scott Cooper on December 2, 2009 at 4:48am

Hey Doreen,

I so agree with Hugh to stay out of our own head, you have to be with the client, in the intake. Elner's six steps to hypnotic mastery talks about "If you are thinking about your sub sandwich for lunch,, get out of your own head" and get with the client.
Dan Cleary makes agreat point. "You have to believe that your client is telling you is currently their real belief's."

I feel that the intake is such a key part of what we do,, it is best to make your new client feel safe, let them say what they want to say without guiding or questioning their beliefs. Just listen and either record, write down, how ever you remember what they tell you will be very important for trance work.

So to honor thy client, I am really not interested in who or what they believe it,,(why get caught up in a religious battle with a client, when you can do that on Hypnothoughts, a little joke here)

What I'm looking for is their belief,, and is their body language, are their eyes congruent with what they are telling us..

If there is an area that they flinched on when they said it,, I may ask a question, near the end of the interview that is non intrusive to get a clear picture on where the ISE is or where many ISE's could be.

I will not impose my beliefs, religious let alone who will wing the Hockey, Football game... It's about the client,, not about my life.

On the flipside,, I do learn alot about religions in my practice.. And I believe that being exposed to so many different ways of life,, different sets of rules per religions,, and perhaps it's the aging process as well,, I have more patients and compassion for the clients I see and that has really help me grow in my friendships, being more tolerant and also learning to say no to situations that I know I'm not going to be effective in..

Hope you have a great day,

Scott Cooper
Clarkston MI

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on December 3, 2009 at 1:31am

Thank you Scott,

I like all answers, now I am looking for the ones who say or think that we are wrong lol... Just kidding...
Beside, Not sure they will come forward, and If they do, I want to hear their side of story, as why do they think It is their business?

Not looking for a fight, I really want to hear why?

Respectfully, Doreen Cohanim

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Permalink Reply by GIL BOYNE on December 3, 2009 at 2:42am

Doreen said;---do you tell them that you know some other therapist who will be happy to work with them, stating you don't have. experience in the ares they need help?

My response---Doreen, In 56 years of practice, (42 of them in a metropolitan city, Los Angeles) I have only had two clients ask for PLR. With a pleasant smile and tone, I stated "I do not have experience in that process and I can refer you to another therapist who is knowledgeable in the subject"
I will not apologize or defend my personal choice except to say here that I would feel psychically uncomfortable in doing PLR and that would reduce the quality of my work with the client. Many hypnotherapy instructors tell their students that many clients will request PLR (to justify another several days of instruction) personally, I frown upon such marketing since I have not found it to be so. I an certain there will be responses telling of the great numbers of clients demanding PLR and the incredible therapeutic results that follow. Well, that's life, I guess




Hello Doreen,

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on December 3, 2009 at 3:17am

Hi Gil,
Thanks for that dignified and useful reply. I think I'll plagiarise it!

I do not believe in past life stuff, so it was most amusing to me that during our training, I happened to be the one the class 'did' (supervised) PLR on.

I spent the whole session arguing with myself, and them, that everything I was coming out with that wasn't accurate to my life as I know it was 'silly'. Yet when asked, I gave all sorts of details of people, and my surroundings (admittedly, with a running commentary about how it wasn't real etc!). That would account for those tales we hear of people who didn't believe in PLR being 'proved wrong'. My UC seemed more than happy to play along, but I don't think any of it was real, and I'm yet to find any use from it besides amusement.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on December 3, 2009 at 5:15am

Hi,

My 29 years of experience mirrors Gil's experience in that only a handful of people ever asked me about PLR .

The few times it came up - I explained that in my opinion human beings have many lives within our lifetime and offered to help them using that model. If they wanted a more conventional PL experience - I gave them a few referrals and wished them well...





GIL BOYNE said:

Doreen said;---do you tell them that you know some other therapist who will be happy to work with them, stating you don't have. experience in the ares they need help?

My response---Doreen, In 56 years of practice, (42 of them in a metropolitan city, Los Angeles) I have only had two clients ask for PLR. With a pleasant smile and tone, I stated "I do not have experience in that process and I can refer you to another therapist who is knowledgeable in the subject"
I will not apologize or defend my personal choice except to say here that I would feel psychically uncomfortable in doing PLR and that would reduce the quality of my work with the client. Many hypnotherapy instructors tell their students that many clients will request PLR (to justify another several days of instruction) personally, I frown upon such marketing since I have not found it to be so. I an certain there will be responses telling of the great numbers of clients demanding PLR and the incredible therapeutic results that follow. Well, that's life, I guess




Hello Doreen,

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on December 3, 2009 at 7:00am

I believe in meeting the client where they are. If my client has a faith different to mine, and if that faith is relevant to their issue, and if that faith is based in love then I learn what I must to communicate with that client to address their concerns. If a client came to me who truly follows a dark path I would not be able to help them effectively and I would let them go with love.

I've had more people ask about regression in this life than about past lives. Interesting that I am more willing to visit a past life than regress to a childhood memory which may or may not be accurate or beneficial.

In my very young practice I've had 2 clients come to me for things I didn't believe in or believe would work. However, this is about the client and I am always open to learning something new if it is helpful to that client. I do not give them my personal opinion, I simply tell them yes, hypnosis can help with that. Both clients walked away very happy and my experience (and referrals) have grown because of it.

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on December 3, 2009 at 7:23am

A funny aside: I had a client who told me he loved working in his garden. He said that when a preacher invited him to church, he shrugged and said, "God is in the garden." I thought that was such a wonderful sentiment that I mentioned it during his trance, expanding on the idea that he and God were co-creators in the garden. Then I went on to some metaphors about weeding and tending the garden in order to activate an "inner gardener" who would help him heal his body.

After the trance, the client said, "That was great--but so you'll know, I don't believe in God. I just liked getting the preacher off my back . . . "

Just shows how hard it is to keep yourself out of a session. I didn't say anything about *my* religion, and I thought I was stepping into his spiritual beliefs. Lesson learned.

(Fortunately, the client was smarter than my gaff, and his hypnosis session had dramatic positive results.)

James

P.S. I'm still thinking about making a plaque that reads, "God is in the Garden." I just like it.

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