The Search for a Better Term than "Lay"

Fellow HypnoThinkers,

This topic cropped up in one of the other threads recently. As many of you know, I've taken umbrage with the use of the term "lay hypnotist" for reasons I've discussed in other threads.

As Keithanthony pointed out, Cal Banyan spoke on a recent video podcast on the need to reject this label, too. Banyan's argument was that if you look in any dictionary, the adjective "lay" is defined as "untrained," which is simply an inaccurate term--most of us have lots of training, sometimes far more training in hypnosis than the licensed practitioners.

I agree with Banyan, though in fact most dictionaries I consulted did not list "untrained" as the main definition of the adjective "lay." Most used terms such as "not associated with a profession," or "not an expert or a professional." One did define lay as "nonspecialist, unqualified, amateur, untrained, inexpert, nonprofessional."

"Lay" originally means "not ordained by God (via His priests) to perform sacraments." So really, by calling us "lay hypnotists," the psych community is casting themselves as priests with a divine mandate.

So, by any definition of "lay," we should reject that term as inaccurate and insulting.

The problem is what term to use in its place.

Of course, when talking to the public, we are simply "certified hypnotists," or "professional hypnotists," or "consulting hypnotherapists." But that's not the issue.

The issue is what term accurately differentiates between those of us who practice hypnosis as a profession, but are not licensed healthcare providers (such as doctors, dentists, counselors, nurses, and psychologists). We need a term of differentiation that is not derogatory.

The best I've come up with so far are terms like "unlicensed" or "non-degreed"--and I'm not happy with either term. In addition to being cumbersome, both carry mildly negative connotations of illegitimacy. They are also not wholly accurate--many "lay" hypnotists have advanced degrees in fields other than psychology and medicine.

So I invite this community to arrive at a better term to describe itself.

Remember, if you don't name yourself, anyone can name you.

James

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on December 18, 2011 at 7:37am

Ummmmm its a no brainer: Professional Hypnotist

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on December 18, 2011 at 7:41am

I don't find the term "lay" to be insulting, James. But, I have never been referred to as a "lay" hypnotist and in fact I have personally subscribed the term "lay" to people who are unschooled in the hypnosis field!

I usually use the term medical hypnotist for myself while adding, when appropriate, that I am not a licensed doctor. I feel that resonates in a pretty positive manner for most audiences.

Regards, Kelley

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 18, 2011 at 8:05am

Michael Yapko is a professional hypnotist, yes? And Cory Hammond?

"Professional Hypnotist" covers anyone who gets paid. I'm seeking a term of differentiation.

With all due respect, my friend, this is not a no-brainer.

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

Ummmmm its a no brainer: Professional Hypnotist

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 18, 2011 at 8:11am

Again, I'm not talking about what we call ourselves when talking to the public.

I'm talking about a term of differentiation.

Only a complete idiot would advertise himself as a "lay hypnotist"--and I hope that my friends here are not under the impression that I'm a complete idiot.

But if those of us who are not licensed medical and counseling practitioners are to have any sort of meaningful conversation with those who are, there needs to be a term to differentiate the two groups without denigrating either group.

Kelley Woods said:

I don't find the term "lay" to be insulting, James. But, I have never been referred to as a "lay" hypnotist and in fact I have personally subscribed the term "lay" to people who are unschooled in the hypnosis field!

I usually use the term medical hypnotist for myself while adding, when appropriate, that I am not a licensed doctor. I feel that resonates in a pretty positive manner for most audiences.

Regards, Kelley

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on December 18, 2011 at 8:26am

How about a certified "vocational" Hypnotist?

John

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on December 18, 2011 at 8:56am

How about "great lay" hypnotist -- I think the focus should be on "Certified" There is no such thing as a licensed hypno and whether or not one is a licensed health care pro what unites us is our certfication in HYPNOSIS

Michael

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 18, 2011 at 9:49am

I think Ross Jeffries aims to be "great lay" hypnotist. :-)

All kidding aside, "certified" is a term to emphasize in marketing, even though it's ultimately meaningless. Anyone can print up a certificate.

But it's not really a term of differentiation--after all, both ASCH and the NGH offer certification. (ASCH insists that their certification "distinguishes the professional practitioner from the lay hypnotist." http://www.asch.net/Public/CertificationInformation/HowASCHCertific...)

As a term of differentiation, I like John's suggestion of "vocational" hypnotist. It has associations of being highly trained and skilled, but also practical and well-paid (not unlike an auto mechanic or a plumber, as opposed to an engineer or architect). It clearly differentiates us from academics. Most of us attended training that can accurately be described as vocational. It also has a good etymology--it refers to having a "calling" for hypnosis. (Hmmm, it's hard to get away from terms that were originally religious, isn't it?)

James

Michael Ellner said:

How about "great lay" hypnotist -- I think the focus should be on "Certified" There is no such thing as a licensed hypno and whether or not one is a licensed health care pro what unites us is our certfication in HYPNOSIS

Michael

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on December 18, 2011 at 10:59am

Why would there need to be a differentiation? Some licensed people are professional hypnosists, some are not. Some unlicensed people are professional hypnotists and some are not.... All are professional hypnotists.

Why would a term differentiating something be of value?

Certified Hypnotist or Professional Hyponotist would seem to communicate well exactly what one is doing.

I am licensed, but always refer to myself with clients simply as a "professional hypnotist". The general public knows not what a licensed person is, nor do they care, as long as they find relief.

James Hazlerig said:

Michael Yapko is a professional hypnotist, yes? And Cory Hammond?

"Professional Hypnotist" covers anyone who gets paid. I'm seeking a term of differentiation.

With all due respect, my friend, this is not a no-brainer.

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

Ummmmm its a no brainer: Professional Hypnotist

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 18, 2011 at 11:45am

Look, I'd love to live in a world where there is no need for differentiation.

But the ASCH crowd has already made that differentiation. They exclude certain people from their trainings and membership; they make categorical statements about those they exclude. And they have a derogatory term for those they exclude: "lay hypnotist."

Since the differentiation already exists, I'm looking for a term that puts those excluded from academic hypnosis on an equal footing.

It's important to understand--I'm not looking for a term to be used with the general public, or to be used in our marketing. We've never used "lay hypnotist" in that way.

I'll give you an example.

Recently, a college student posted an article "Hypnosis should be used for fun, not medical cures."

http://www.trumanindex.com/hypnosis-should-be-used-for-fun-not-medi...

In the article, she alluded to the Lisa Nassef case. One of the commenters said that the hypnotist in that case was probably a "lay hypnotist."

Well, beyond using inaccurate and offensive terminology, that statement is flat-out wrong. The hypnotist in that case has a doctorate in psychology.

In pointing out that error and discussing the difference, I had no good term to use. I couldn't say, "That man was not a professional hypnotist"--because he was.

So, yes, I'd love to live in a world where there is no differentiation, just as I'd love to live in a world where no one cares about race. But even Martin Luther King Jr said that he dreamed of a world in which little white children and little black children would play together. If he'd simply said, "I have a dream of children playing together," his statement would have been meaningless.

James

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

Why would there need to be a differentiation? Some licensed people are professional hypnosists, some are not. Some unlicensed people are professional hypnotists and some are not.... All are professional hypnotists.

Why would a term differentiating something be of value?

Certified Hypnotist or Professional Hyponotist would seem to communicate well exactly what one is doing.

I am licensed, but always refer to myself with clients simply as a "professional hypnotist". The general public knows not what a licensed person is, nor do they care, as long as they find relief.

James Hazlerig said:

Michael Yapko is a professional hypnotist, yes? And Cory Hammond?

"Professional Hypnotist" covers anyone who gets paid. I'm seeking a term of differentiation.

With all due respect, my friend, this is not a no-brainer.

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

Ummmmm its a no brainer: Professional Hypnotist