Seductive Teaching

I found this article and thought it was appropriate. Substitute "hypnosis" for "healing".

For quite some time I had viewed myself as a “healer” or an “enlightener”, or an “uplifter”, or a “lightworker”. Like many, I was sold a bag of promised goods. I was seduced by teasing salespeople—posing as teachers—namely to get me to pay the tuition into their healing-type classes. I was told that with “this” healing modality:

• I would be able to do what others cannot

• I would be able to change/improve a person’s life in a way they are not able

• I would be able to offer the most powerful healing modality in the world

• I would/could even be a miracle worker

• I would be valued and appreciated

• I would be sought out and respected for the great work I do

I believed what the teachers told me because I WANTED to be the miracle worker. I wanted to be respected, valued, and important. And the salesperson saw this weakness in me and waved it under my nose until I succumbed to the temptation. I didn’t see the truth of the seductive charade because I didn’t want to see it. So I took their classes, still believing that with this particular information I would finally be “somebody”. In fact, most instructors had been spouting the untruths for so long, they have forgotten the real truth and believe their own sales pitch.

So I embarked on a healing career. I also learned that believability of the client was key to success. Most all my instructors (if they were “good”) told me it was important that I raise the client’s expectations and “sell” (of course they didn’t say that word) them on the greatness of the modality, of my ability, and of their part in it. And then look out, miracles could happen. So that is what I told my clients. I told them “I can help change your life. I can make things happen that no one else can. Just come to me and I’ll do some things so your life most definitely will improve.”

Understandably, I attracted people believing in what I was selling. I would get people desperate for miracles. At each session end, I held my breath, waiting to hear “Eureka. It’s a miracle!” But I never heard those words. Both they and I would invariably be disappointed in the sessions. Without providing them the miracles I had promised, I had failed. We both knew it. I was a failure with one thing I really wanted to succeed in.

I since have learned the reality of healing modality effectiveness. The only way I can “help” anyone, and the only thing I can offer to prospective clients is to give them the opportunity to increase their level of peace, happiness, or joy within themselves, just a tiny percentage. And only to the percentage/extent that is the next logical step for that person. I cannot make change happen with others, I cannot improve people’s lives, nor can I be a miracle worker. My success is SOLELY dependent upon the client’s desire to take one logical step towards a happier life, and offering them that one step. It’s up to them to either take it or decline it. So that is what I—and anyone else in the healing/service field—can offer. If the client wants a miracle, send them elsewhere. If a “healer” offers a miracle—DON’T PAY. Be wary of seductive teachers. Know your weaknesses and learn to be aware of those preying on them. Can you imagine how great your life would be if you took just one logical step forward every week/day/hour. A bunch of those and THAT would be the miracle we seek!

Tags: healing, instructors, miracles, teaching

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Comment by Jan Krüger on September 26, 2011 at 6:46am: For me, the really important point in this is that you can only ever go one step at a time. The real challenge in working "miracles" is to be acutely aware of what kind of step will work for a given client, and what conditions have to be fulfilled to make that step work. To me, the value of different schools of therapy (etc.) is in giving you a broader perspective of which steps you can make work in general, as well as giving you ideas on how to sharpen your perception of the client's reality. Both of that, together with plenty of experience, translates into a "miracle worker", because you'll identify and facilitate the appropriate step(s) much more quickly than others. That's what I'm trying to achieve, and I think that certain key shifts in my perspective and my approach to interacting with people have already brought me much closer. Of course there's still plenty left to learn.

(Side note: I'm not selling anything... yet. ;))

Comment by Bill Kennedy on September 25, 2011 at 5:28pm: Well said!

Comment by Kelley Woods on September 24, 2011 at 1:08pm: Hi Cindy,

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mention that you can only find what you want from "in here"...that's where it all starts and ends, in my opinion, for all of us. Being a guide who helps people navigate "in there" can be extremely satisfying, but also frustrating and even disappointing at times. When we find the right path, it feels right to dance upon it, despite an occasional rut.

Keep dancing your path, my friend!

Comment by CindyLou on September 24, 2011 at 11:22am: Thanks for the replies

Kevin,

Yes I do animal regress to cause with with really good results. No, I don't do weight loss or hypnoband anymore. Nor do I have the technology to do Skype sessions anymore. I'm pretty low key in hypnosis work right now.

Dale,

No thank you. I don't think you "got" my post.

Others,

The point was that a smart facilitator SHOULD only offer/help the client to the next logical forward step to personal improvement. And that a smart STUDENT should be aware of the misinformation that is being put out there to get you to pay/come to their class. And for me to really look at what I want and realize I can't get it "out there". Respect and importance comes only from "in here"

Cindy Lou

Comment by Kevin Cole-NLPTrainingQuest.com on September 23, 2011 at 8:43pm: Cindy, it sounded to me like you were being pretty hard on yourself so I checked out your profile and it shows that you specialize in both Hypnoband and animal healing through regression work.

I mean this respectfully when I ask... Do you think your results may have something to do with the modalities you use?

Although I believe some gain great results from these new "Virtual Gastric Band" technologies, I currently refer out clients seeking it, because I don't feel like I'm qualified in that specific area. I do help clients release weight, by gaining health from the inside out- and I do so over a period of months, not in just 3-4 sessions, simply because I've found the long term success rates to be rather low with so little sessions, when it comes to weight loss at least. **Of course that's only my experiences with it. I'm sure there are some that do considerably better.

And as far as the animal healing through regression work, I'm not really familiar with that but I'm imagining that you mean doing regression work on animals? If so, again respectfully speaking... I think I would be terrible at regressing an animal! Or doing pretty much anything other than some energy work- which I've done actually, but I certainly don't promise anything other than an animal finding it pleasurable- although I have helped many animals with arthritis issues by using energy work with them. I've also never charged for working with an animal, although I see nothing wrong with that.

But regression work with an animal... If anyone is truly good at that, they've got my respect.

-Kevin

Comment by Kevin Cole-NLPTrainingQuest.com on September 23, 2011 at 8:07pm: • I would be able to do what others cannot **You may not be able to do things others cannot, but something tells me you have learned how to do many things many other don't know how to do and you've learned how to teach others how to do those things as well...

• I would be able to change/improve a person’s life in a way they are not able **No one can change or improve another person's life, but you can most definitely help in the process, and guide them along the way...

• I would be able to offer the most powerful healing modality in the world **I don't think there is "one most powerful healing modality in the world", but I do believe there are many powerful ones...

• I would/could even be a miracle worker **Something I like to say to clients that expect me to just put them into trance, give them some positive suggestions, or wave some magic wand and "fix" them, is... "I'm not a miracle worker... But you are!"

• I would be valued and appreciated **I have a pretty strong feeling you are valued and appreciated by many of your clients-- I just hope you include yourself as the first and most important one.

• I would be sought out and respected for the great work I do **Along with mastering the art of whatever modalities we decide to use, we must also master the art of marketing- ethical marketing (meaning striving to under promise and over-deliver. Not promise miracles and create disappointment).

The *respect* comes from doing great work, the *being sought out* part comes from marketing...

-Kevin

Comment by Hugh Cole on September 23, 2011 at 7:35pm: Chose your mentors wisely ... Limiting beliefs are contagious!

Comment by Dale Page Norton on September 23, 2011 at 4:15pm: Cindy, I have been instrumental in helping people that psychiatrists and other professionals have given up on. I have never done miracles - nor do I sell techniques etc.. I do have knowledge that will enable you to make massive and amazing differences in peoples lives - and I will be happy to share them with you if you are interested. There are no strings attached, or money to pay. Dale

Comment by Saul Rosenfeld on September 23, 2011 at 2:48pm: Cindy Lou,

Like they say: "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!".

That being said, I believe it's important to understand that with the proper training and experience, then "some" (but most certainly not "all"!) hypnotherapists are truly capable of facilitating "miracle" cures (in "some" of, but certainly not with "all" of their clients!). Notice I used the word "facilitating" rather than "causing" or "eliciting", because what we are sometimes able to accomplish is to "facilitate" a client's cure by judicious and knowledgeable application of certain techniques enhanced by hypnotic suggestion.

The big mistake (or rather, "scam") perpetrated by your instructors (as well as SO many others!), was to imply that this would be a "quick and easy" process- whether it be a seminar, or a brief course of classes in an "Institute", or even a course of study over the internet!

That, of course, is total bullshit. NOTHING relating to the study of the human mind, with all of its elegant and baffling complexities, can be learned in a brief course of study! It might take YEARS of dedicated study and constant practice to become an effective "miracle worker"- and then only in "some" cases!

But it is obviously not in the interest of such "instructors" to say that- because they know that most folks will lack the patience and dedication to achieve that level of competence. and will close their checkbook and run like hell....

Saul