Should We Be Concerned?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on July 7, 2010 at 8:05am

Hi Doreen-

This "problem" is bigger than HypnoThoughts. It's the entire internet. The site that has this happen the most is probably YouTube. People post instructional videos on there all the time on a huge variety of topics. We live in the information age where instructions and education are expected to be instantaneous.

I understand where you are coming from. You are concerned that someone is going to get hurt because someone is using a technique incorrectly. My question is what is the difference between getting incomplete education on the internet and incomplete education with all the terrible courses out there offering to "make you a certified hypnotist in just 2 days!" or, "teach the secret hypnosis techniques THEY don't want you to know about" etc? People leave those classes confident they know what they are doing because they have been told they are ready to see clients. YouTube/HypnoThoughts/the yahoo groups/etc. don't do that.

you said, "Of course we all know that hypnosis is great, but we must remember the consequences when someone without a proper training can have on someone else."

If a 10 minute video or a 5 page script isn't enough to be qualified, then what is? 20 minutes? 20 hours? There is no real answer. We work in a field that has no objective standards for competency. I'd love to have standards, but to have them you also have to enforce them. Let me ask you this: What should the punishment be for practicing hypnosis without the proper training?

I'm all for more education, more learning, and more sharing. I'm all for people practicing what they learn, and taking this stuff seriously. You've touched on a piece of what I see as a very large road block in us being taken seriously as a profession by more people. I don't know what all the answers are because I'm not even sure of all the problems.

I'll get off my soap box now and step aside for the next person to post.

-Scott

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Permalink Reply by Michael Haifleigh on July 7, 2010 at 8:48am

Scott,

I want to disagree investigate with you on one point. Objective standards do not require enforcement. They do require transparency and accessibility. The visibility and position of hypnothoughts on the net/web seems to offer a very good place for just about anyone to find these standards so they can use when interviewing a prospective hypnosis practitioner.


Michael


Scott Sandland, C.Ht. said:

We work in a field that has no objective standards for competency. I'd love to have standards, but to have them you also have to enforce them.

-Scott

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on July 7, 2010 at 8:58am

Michael-

I think you are talking about "recommended standards" or something of that nature rather than objective standards. I see your point, but the follow up goes back to the question I asked Doreen:

what should the punishment be for NOT meeting those standards?

I believe their is an expression that says don't command what you can't enforce. Something like that anyway. Currently all the certifying bodies have their own standards. The problem is nobody has to follow them, so they are pretty toothless. They also differ dramatically depending on which organization you refer to.

That fragmentation means there is no single set of standards. I don't want to derail this into a different topic though, so I'll leave it there for now...

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Permalink Reply by Mika on July 7, 2010 at 9:07am

Hi.

I understand what you are saying and myself I am a teenager and I do have experience with hypnosis. But this website is for everyone interested in hypnosis and how else are younger people supposed to learn hypnosis? Younger people don't have money to buy books or very expensive material that is found on the internet thus we need to use info found on websites like this or youtube and I think that's perfectly fine. Everybody is responsible for their own actions and if they choose to hypnotise people without experience then it is there problem. I cannot stress about this topic more.

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on July 7, 2010 at 9:16am

It's certainly a concern and worrisome. As hard a time as I had trying to learn exactly how to induce hypnosis of any depth and then to learn how to give suggestions, I wonder how many people can really pick it up from a youtube video or a script.

However, I don't discount that some people can pick it up and might do some damage. After all, I know certified and practicing hypnotherapists who have done damage as well as MFC'S and other psychotherapists who have done damage.

Perhaps it might be helpful to make a youtube (singularly or in a group) warning people of the dangers. At least its something. Also, remember, even properly induced hypnosis wears off in approximately 10 days, so I'm just not sure how much actual danger there is.

I do agree with Scott though in that these kinds of issues do damage to our credibility. On the other hand, it gets the word "hypnosis" in front of the masses.

Bottom line (not trying to be glib): The one thing in life I've learned is this: "The only thing I can be sure of is that I don't know anything for sure."

Susan

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on July 7, 2010 at 9:31am

Thank you Scott, I am with you all the way, and you asked me this: What should the punishment be for practicing hypnosis without the proper training? Well, I am not a procurator and I am not the law, but my fear is If the higher authority will step in, it will happen like what happened in Israel, That means, only physicians will be allowed to practice hypnotherapy, for me, It means all my passion and hard work is going down the drainage, because In my of 46 to start over with a new career that I am passionate about is not what I would like to do.

Also what the Internet show is a tip to attract people to buy products for relaxation, I am talking about hypnotizing the wrong people wanting to fix them or someone who is monthly ill, but not having enough education.

few days workshop is is not enough knowledge and even one year training people still need to keep taking continue education, like any other professions out there.

Doreen Cohanim C.Ht
www.EnterYourMind.com

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on July 7, 2010 at 9:53am

I think there are now 2 different issues being discussed:

1. people learning hypnosis via youtube/this site/etc and practicing on friends
2. standards for the profession.

let me say this about the first one: I learned hypnosis when I was a teenager and had hypnotized dozens of people before I took a formal class. Was I great at it? Definitely not. Did I learn from my mistakes? Yes. Would I recommend a teenager do anything even remotely close to "therapy" or even "help" a friend using hypnosis? Probably not.

I like that this site can be a resource for people starting out (of any age) who are looking to experiment with different techniques and methodologies. What I don't like is when those people think they are ready to help people with real issues because they have gotten good at hypnotizing people.

Lastly, we have some very talented teenage hypnotists on this site with lots of training and experience. We have people of all ages who have never read a book or attended a live training. Let's not confuse "young" with "inexperienced."

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on July 7, 2010 at 10:00am

Hello Mike, I understand what you are saying In regards to how else are younger people supposed to learn hypnosis? Well, I think the other way you can learn is by going to hypnosis school in your area, and I know that they also offer training on line, like going to a collage. Of course "you are perfectly fine" and everybody is responsible for their own actions, but if they choose to hypnotize people without experience then it is not only their problem.

You see, this is where you are wrong, of course in my opinion only, let me ask you this question, If for ever been accused with causing damage, would you say the same thing you just said? Will you say, "Oh well I am responsible for my own actions"

Let me tell you this, just because you are a teenage, it doesn't make just you responsible, are you following... I tell you what, when it hits the news and it hurts us the one who take our profession seriously, you wont be the one who pays the price, will you? And that is exactly why you cannot stress about this topic, you may have nothing to lose.

I am also not talking about the hypnosis you did with your friend, I am talking about hypnotizing the wrong people wanting to fix them or someone who is monthly ill.

Doreen Cohanim C.Ht
www.EnterYourMind.com

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Permalink Reply by Joe K Fobes on July 7, 2010 at 10:19am

This has bothered me for years.

Young and untrained people can discover from the world at large how to kill people. They can find out from movies, books, and even the dangerous internets.

I, as a highly trained consumer of violent media, see this as a disturbing trend that must be stopped.

As a side point, I have discovered that some of these untrained teenagers also think dangerous thoughts. Unthinkable thoughts. This should be stopped and we must do something about it.

Discuss.

Joe

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on July 7, 2010 at 10:32am

Thank you Joe....

God bless, Doreen Cohanim CHt

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on July 7, 2010 at 10:39am

Thank you Scott,

And I agreewith you that many people learn hypnosis when they are a teenager and this is great, but I am not talking about them, I am only talking about teenagers and adult who have no real experiance to do "therapy"

Doreen Cohanim C.Ht

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on July 7, 2010 at 11:04am

Susan,
You write:
"...even properly induced hypnosis wears off in approximately 10 days,..."

According to whom? Is that your opinion? Is that one of your teachers' opinions - Do you have a citation?
Just asking?

Hugs,


Susan French said:

It's certainly a concern and worrisome. As hard a time as I had trying to learn exactly how to induce hypnosis of any depth and then to learn how to give suggestions, I wonder how many people can really pick it up from a youtube video or a script.
However, I don't discount that some people can pick it up and might do some damage. After all, I know certified and practicing hypnotherapists who have done damage as well as MFC'S and other psychotherapists who have done damage.
Perhaps it might be helpful to make a youtube (singularly or in a group) warning people of the dangers. At least its something. Also, remember, even properly induced hypnosis wears off in approximately 10 days, so I'm just not sure how much actual danger there is.

I do agree with Scott though in that these kinds of issues do damage to our credibility. On the other hand, it gets the word "hypnosis" in front of the masses.

Bottom line (not trying to be glib): The one thing in life I've learned is this: "The only thing I can be sure of is that I don't know anything for sure."

Susan

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