InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapistswww.hypnotherapyassociation.org

inside:

Cam OxendaleFeatured IACH member 2

Hypnotherapy in theForest of theHuman Mindby Ross Laird 4

BC Legislative Update 5

What’s On 6

Fearlessnessby Serge King 7

Reviews 9

Hypnotherapy - A Keyto Personal Wellnessby E Hopkins 11

Editor’s Note 12

Members Section(IACH members only)

Standards & Ethics 13

Membership 14

Finances 14

Serge King takes on a child’sfear of the ocean on page 5

the scriptSummer 2004 Newsletter

Welcome

president’s letterSHELDON BILSKER

Welcome to the InternationalAssociation of CounselingHypnotherapists.

This association came about as aresponse to the needs of a growinggroup of hypnotherapists with aparticular vision. Our name reflectsour vision. Although at present ourmembers are in North America, ourgoal is to be a truly internationalassociation. The term counseling isin our name because we believe thatgood counseling skills and trainingare essential in any therapeuticrelationship.

This is also reflected in our standards.We have an organization in whichanyone can apply for membership,run as a director, or vote fromwherever they happen to be located.Geographical distance becomes lessof a factor in allowing our membersto be involved.

Our group started with an idea of aHypnotherapy Association that would

make connections, support andpromote our members. An exampleis our use of telephony software tohold online meetings. Through ourweb site we will be able to promoteour members’ practices and schools,and eventually create an onlinedatabase for referrals to the generalpublic. All of our members also haveaccess to our member’s only area onour web site which contains amember’s resource section, a privatemember’s forum and pertinentinformation relating to ourassociation. This newsletter and ourweb site represent the official launchof our association.

As with starting any association,much work has gone into creatingthis one. Thank you to all of ourdirectors who have worked tirelesslyin helping our vision become a reality.Our initial goal was to have thirtymembers

continued on page 2

She

ldon

Bils

ker

Describe your training, experienceand qualifications.

I was trained through the CounsellorTraining Institute and at that timealso took the Basic and AdvancedHypnotherapy Training with SheldonBilsker, also through CTI. I receivedmy certification in 1992 and wassupervised for another 2 years.

How would you describe the workthat you do?

My work is psychodynamic andexperiential in nature. I assist clients’understanding of their concerns –intellectually, emotionally and atother levels…helping them toexperience unprocessed feelings thatblock the maturation process.

How much do you charge?

$100 per session.

Describe your workspace.

My office is warm, welcoming,calming - with an incredible view.

Tell us about your greatestchallenge as a counseling

the script page 2

A peek into the mindand practice of...

CamOxendaleQuestions by MOIRA CAMPBELL

hypnotherapist.

To create a safe, loving and authenticrelationship with a client so they canexplore their feelings and needs andyet remain separate from their choiceswhile in connection.

…and your greatestaccomplishment.

When I make a mistake and can repairthat error, allowing the client toreconnect securely with me again.

What are your spiritual or religiousbeliefs? How do they impact uponyour work?

That we all have the ability to healand grow and mature emotionally ifwe have a relationship that allows usto be authentic and to risk feeling ourcore feelings in the presence of aloving present other. When we areable to do that we can also releaseour defenses and live more fully, withmore vulnerability and moreresiliency. The effect of my spiritualbeliefs upon my work is simply to bethat loving presence – to provide thatsafe holding environment so thatclient can grow into their whole self.

How have you evolved spirituallyand mentally since becoming acounseling hypnotherapist?

In doing this work I strive to be mybest self and have matured as a resultof being present with my own fears. It takes a lot of courage to betherapeutic and authentic as I dealwith transference and counter-transference in the context of thetherapeutic relationship.

If you had to pick a favourite, whatcounseling hypnotherapy techniquewould you choose, and why?

I use any technique to facilitate a lighttrance state (progressive relaxationor a visual deepener such as astaircase), really whatever works forthe client – and then, in the trancestate ask the client to just notice what

by launch date and we have surpassedthis number. As of today’s date wehave 37 and growing. Without theparticipation of our initial membersthis association would not have beenpossible. A number of our membershave also donated funds over andabove their yearly dues to help coverstart-up costs. It is much appreciated.

We invite anyone who is not amember to read through thisnewsletter and peruse our web site.If you feel you would like to sharein our vision and become a member,please e-mail us and we will be happyto speak with you.

Contact Sheldon Bilsker atpresident@hypnotherapyassociation.org

president’s letter continued

continued on page 3

Our commitment is to createan international organizationof professionalhypnotherapists and thoseinterested in this healingmodality, to continue toincrease public awareness,acceptance and support in thetherapeutic and ethical use ofhypnotherapy througheducation and promotion.

InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapists

missionstatement

the script page 3

comes up for her or him, as I beginto speak about the issue, symptom,thought or situation that isproblematic. I like this approachbecause it is so open to whateverrelevant connections come up viathe unconscious and I can also easilydeepen my work with a client in thisopen ended question to include thehistory (trauma, family of origin,adult/child) of “the problem” –thereby connecting it with theemotional meaning.

What would you like to see changein the field of counselinghypnotherapy?

I’d like to see more emphasis on theemotional work via hypnotherapyrather than using trance work tooverride the feelings or defenses, aswell as much less scripted work andmore focus on the relationshipbetween client and therapist.

How do you unwind/rebalance?

Meditation – exercise – time withdear friends – dancing – I also liketo veg out for a whole day – stay inmy jammies – do nothing but reada good book or watch good movies.

What did you dream last nightand what did it mean to you?

I was flying, soaring on currents ofair. Strangely, I was riding a spoon,like a witch might ride a broom. Iused the spoon as a rudder, it wasgreat – especially when I used it toslow myself down - as I skimmedthe ocean with my spoon, the watersprayed out behind me and in mywake prisms of rainbow colouredlight funneled out. The feeling wasof pure freedom. I believe themeaning is that I, like everyone else,have limitless potential. It felt likea connection to spirit vs our body-bound reality. Why the spoon? I’mstill wondering.

What place in time and space is

most special to you?

Time with my family when we shareour real feelings – the good – thebad – those special times when wefeel really seen and understood andappreciated.

What is your greatest hope?

To be able to be a source of healingand growth in my own life and inthe lives of others.

…your greatest fear?

To lose track of the beauty andinfinite resourcefulness of the humanspirit – to succumb to fear.

Is there anything I haven’t askedabout that you’d like to share?

Just that doing this work is a rareprivilege and a sacred trust – Ialways feel awed by the enormousresponsibility as well as thetremendous joy in being part ofanother individual’s process to healold wound and to grow into theunique human being that they werealways meant to be.

Cam Oxendale can be contacted at(604) 739 9299.

Cam Oxendale continued

PresidentSheldon Bilsker

Vice-PresidentElaine Hopkins

SecretaryDanielle Smyth

TreasurerTheresa Dupuis

NewsletterMoira Campbell

Member ResourcesJim Vieth

Standards and EthicsJamie Billingham

MembershipByron Miki

Directors

Co-TreasurerMumtaz Mihta

Director at LargeMelody Turner

Australia RepresentativeErin Falconer

InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapists

executive

There are no mistakes.The events we bringupon ourselves, nomatter how unpleasant,are necessary in order tolearn what we need tolearn; whatever steps wetake, they're necessaryto reach the places we'vechosen to go.

- Richard Bach

the script page 4

The inner life is a remote country.Even now, after centuries of study –from the quests of medieval alchemyto the scientific research of modernpsychology – we are not substantiallycloser to understanding the dynamicsof human development and character.We tinker, we speculate, we test; butour understanding of human natureremains fragmentary. The essenceeludes us; and if we are honest,humbles us. We are our own greatestmystery.

Glimpses of the mystery have beenoffered to us by way of our efforts:we know a tiny amount about thebrain and body, we grasp theimportance of social andpsychological factors, we cobbletogether provisional theories aboutbehavior. We wander in the greatforest of the human mind with aflashlight, imagining we are the sun.

Somewhere in the forest there livegreat, unfathomable beings. Weknow this. We’ve heard them talkingand singing, and sometimes we seethe great feats of which they arecapable. They run great distanceswithout fatigue, pass through painand trauma without ill effect. They

are capable of transcending what webelieve, of defying what we assumeto be impossible. They possesssecrets, fables,. stories about us –

what we need and desire, what wefear. They know all that we mayknow aboutourselves.

Hypnotherapy andother creativeapproaches aremethods ofsearching for thegreat beings hiddenin each of us. Otherpsychologicalstrategies workfrom the outside:measuring theedges of the forest,sending in smallprobes, watchingthe treetops formovement.Hypnotherapyfollows a differentpath, a much olderpath begun bytraditional shamansand healers morethan a hundredthousand years ago,when the humanmind emerged fromthe shadow of its ancestry. This oldest

and most establishedapproach uses consciousnessitself as a lantern. We enterthe forest not as interlopersbut as guardians and trustees.And the light we bring leadsus ever inward, toward theopen clearing at the forest’s

heart where we find its spirit.

By examining the bodymind fromthe inside, by using the instinctualand intuitive modalities employed

We tinker, we speculate, we test;but our understanding of humannature remains fragmentary...Weare our own greatest mystery.

Reflection

Hypnotherapy in theForest of the Human MindBy ROSS LAIRD

by hypnotherapy, we enter into adialog with the self that is richer,more diverse, and more satisfyingthan what is achievable by solelycognitive or analytic means. Theworld of symbols and dreams opensto us, as does the body’s wisdom.By tuning inward, to the slowrhythms of the breath and the blood,by finding our way past the din andthe scattered flotsam of daily life,

we discover that we have notforgotten ourselves after all. Byshifting our consciousness towarddeeper impulses, toward a way ofbeing not clouded by the mind’sturmoil, we return to the clearing.And we find a long-soughthomecoming.

Sometimes it seems thathypnotherapy and other creativeapproaches that ride the spectrum ofconsciousness (dance, art, poetry,integrative healing) are under siege

continued on page 5

Amendments to the HealthProfessions Act

Bill 62-2003 the Health ProfessionsAmendment Act received RoyalAssent during the 2003 LegislativeSession. Proclamation is notexpected until late in 2004, or eveninto 2005. Members might recallthat section 52.1 of this legislationrestricts the use of the terms"registered", "licensed" or"certified" to persons describingtheir work in health care and whoare registered in accordance withthe Health Professions Act. For anhistorical overview of the HealthProfessions Act and how it relatesto counselors please go to:www.bc-counsellors.org/college.htm 

Personal Information ProtectionAct

Bill 38-2003 was Proclaimed duringthe 2003 Legislative Session andcomes into effect January 1st, 2004.BCACC’s Legal Counsel hasprepared a two-part article on theimpact of this legislation entitled"EC's New Personal InformationProtection Act: EntrenchingCommon Practice or Adding NewComplexities"in the winter issue oftheir newsletterwhich can be foundat their website, www.bc-counsellors.org/college.htm

(Reproduced with the kindpermission of BCACC.)

britishcolumbialegislativeupdate

the script page 5

from current trends in psychologyand the medical sciences.Pharmaceutical approaches,behavioral strategies, and quick-fixmodalities seem to be claiming thelandscape, challenging more holisticand often more humane approachesthat build on relationship,communication, and awareness.Humane approaches take time, inthe meandering and unpredictableway of healing. This is at odds withthe current economic climate –which demands tight budgets andshort therapeutic schedules – andthe current professional climate,which favors skills over sensitivity.

But the inner landscape resists quick,mechanical strategies. Humanconsciousness prefers slow, gentleencounters, offered by hypnotherapyand similar traditions, in which ourinnate healing capacity is awakened.This healing capacity – spirit,unconscious, authentic self, call itwhat you will – is the destination ofhypnotherapeutic journeys. And ascuriosity among the general publicincreases in response to emergingaccounts of the power of alteredconsciousness, hypnotherapy will inturn become more of a mainstreampractice.

In my own work – with artists,writers, and other creativeprofessionals – hypnotherapeuticapproaches have becomefoundational. As creative artistsincreasingly understand the role ofmediating subconscious process byway of conscious practice, many areturning to the straightforward andsensitive approaches offered byhypnotherapy. Fortunately, manyartists now recognize thatilluminating the forest enhances,rather than impedes, the creativeprocess.

In many ways, hypnotherapy is a

recursive practice: it draws uponarchaic modes of awareness whilesimultaneously acknowledging theimperatives and discoveries of themodern mind. This holistic characterenables hypnotherapy to be a healingparadigm rich enough to find theglade at the center, the still andresonant core where all thecontradictions of human nature makesense.

Ross Laird, Ph.D. teaches creativeprocess, psychology and counsellingat various educational institutionsin the Pacific Northwest. Hisapproach is experiential andcollaborative, with particularemphasis on the creative as aninstrument of change. He is a clinicalsupervisor to social service agencies,an award-winning poet and scholar,and best-selling author of Grain ofTruth: The Ancient Lessons of Craft(shortlisted for a Governor General'sAward). His most recent book, AStone’s Throw: The EnduringNature of Myth is currently inbookstores. A new book onaddictions will be released in 2005.Visit www.rosslaird.info for moreinformation.

Hypnotherapy in the forestof the human mind continued

If you hate a person, youhate something in him thatis part of yourself. Whatisn't part of ourselvesdoesn't disturb us.

- Herman Hesse

the script page 6

August

6,7 - HypnoBirthing Programme (Intensive).Natural childbirth education classes enhanced by hypnosis.Victoria, BC.For more details contact Moira Campbell on 250 480 6729 or emailmoira@blissfulbirthing.ca

7 - Free Introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming Workshop.Victoria, BC. For more details contact Daniel Scott on 250 361 4705

7,8 - Introduction to HunaVancouver, BC. For more details call 0114860 275 8295 or emailsoulwork@gmx-de

9-11, 13-15 - Basic Hypnotherapy Certification Course (Intensive).Victoria BC.For more details contact Sheldon Bilsker on 1 800 665 6722or email info@orcainstitute.com

20-22 - Basic Color Energy TherapyVancouver, BC. For more information call Alijandra on 408 986 8550 oremail alijandra@colorhealing.com

23-25, 26-29 - Basic Hypnotherapy Certification Course (Intensive).Winnipeg, MB.For more details contact Sheldon Bilsker on 1 800 665 6722or email info@orcainstitute.com

September

13-15, 17-19 - as above.Calgary, AB.

October

October 2004 - May/June 2005- NLP & HypnosisPractitioner CertificationCourse, Victoria BC andRegina SK. For more detailsemail sciongroup@shaw.ca

October 2004 - May 2005 -NLP & Hypnosis MasterPractitioner CertificationCourse, Regina SK. For moredetails emailsciongroup@shaw.ca

For your calendar

what’s on

Learn about Color Energy Therapy

panic when facing a swimming pool.Even further refinement producedthe interesting discovery that thepanic occured only when the poolwas closer than two meters, morethan one meter wide, and the colorof the water was blue. In fact,regardless of the size or proximityof the pool, the panic disappeared ifthe color of the water was green.

In the first example above, my sisterhad no fear of spiders until she wastaught to be afraid by our mother.Her first reaction to them was theinstinctive one. In the secondexample, my son was afraid of theocean, not the water itself. I knowthis because I had seen him happilysplashing bath water all over onnumerous occasions. I have no ideawhat event taught him to be afraid - and he doesn't remember - but hisability to get rid of the fear in sucha short time definitely indicates alearned behavior and not aninstinctive one. And in the lastexample, the fact that so manyspecific conditions had to be metbefore the debilitating fear occuredis indicative of learned behavior aswell.

This would be a good time to definewhat I mean by "instinctive"behavior, because many peopleconfuse it with "automatic" behavior.

Behavior is automatic when you havelearned it so well you don't have tothink about it anymore. It is basicallya stimulus response like Pavlov's dogsalivating at the ringing of a bell.For many people, riding a bicycle,using silverware, reacting with fear

We were born to be fearless.

We do not inherit fear from ourancestors. It is not an instinctivereaction, nor is it necesary forsurvival. Caution, yes; recognitionof potential danger, yes; but not fear.We have to be taught how to beafraid.

I remember when I was a youngboy watching my younger sister walkdown a hallway in our home whilesmashing spiders on the wall withher hand. I thought it was disgusting,my sister thought it was fun, myMom thought it was horrifying. I canstill hear her screams when she sawmy sister happily diminishing thespider population, and I rememberhow quickly my sister changed herattitude and behavior toward spidersafter only one intensive spiders-are-awful-be-afraid-of-them trainingsession.

One minute we can be fearless, andin the next we can learn to be fearful.For the moment let's put aside thequestion of whether fear has any

Arachnaphobia...nurture not nature?

Fear as a learned behaviour

FearlessnessBy SERGE KAHILI KING

the script page 7

value. The issue at hand is whether itis inborn or acquired behaviour.

Here is another example, opposite tothe one above. On a sunny day on abroad beach in Africa, when the oceanwas like a calm lake, I noticed that myfour-year-old and seven-year-old sonswere having fun the water, and mythree-year-old son was having fun onthe sand. No problem with that, exceptthat I also noticed how he scamperedout of the way every time the smallestwavelet came within two feet of him.This looked like a job for "Parentman!"

I picked up my three-year-old, talkedto him soothingly, and carried him afew steps toward the water. Heimmediately tried to squirm out of myarms, even though the water was onlyaround my ankles. He was clearlyafraid, so I stopped, calmed him down,and took a few more steps forward.Of course, he reacted in the same way.Very slowly and gently, using a classicpsychological method ofdesensitization, I was ableto get him to accept beingin the water ankle deep,waist deep, chest deep, and,finally, we even duckedunder the water together.After that I returned him toshore and let him develop his ownrelationship to the ocean. Today myyoungest son is a US Navy Seal.

One more example to illustrate mypoint. During a seminar demonstrationI had a young woman on stage whosaid she was afraid of water. We furtherrefined that to be a state of paralyzing

We do not inherit fear from ourancestors. It is not an instinctivereaction, nor is it necesary forsurvival... We have to be taughthow to be afraid.

continued on page 8

to specific events, or getting coldsymptoms when you get your feetwet in street shoes, but not in beachsandals, are common examples ofautomatic behavior. Such behavior islinked closely to individualexperience and cultural expectations.

Instinctive behavior, on the otherhand, is common to all humans andnot dependent on individualexperience or culture. Breathing isinstinctive; breathing rates are learned.Eating is instinctive; food choices arelearned. The urges to get warm whenyou are cold, get cool when you arehot, seek security when you feelinsecure, or move toward or repeatpleasurable experiences, and moveaway from or avoid unpleasant orpainful experiences are all part ofhumanity's repertoire of instinctivebehaviors.

Another important difference is thatlearned behaviors, automatic or not,are capable of being unlearned ormodified very quickly, whereasinstinctive behaviors can only besuppressed, amplified, or redirected.

It is a fact, supported by abundantresearch, experiments and experience,that fears can be unlearned, oftenquickly, without suppression,amplification or redirection. Thisalone puts them into the learnedbehavior category.

Part of the misunderstanding aboutfear comes from early experimentsin which babies were tossed into theair and observations were made oftheir behavior. The instinctivereaction of seeking a connection tosomething secure was interpreted asan expression of fear. Actually, aslong as you don't drop them, somebabies get immense enjoyment frombeing tossed into the air.

"As long as you don't drop them."This brings up the subject of how fear

gets learned in the first place. For thatto happen, three vital factors must bepresent: self-doubt, a memory of pain,and an expectation of pain.

Self-doubt is the most importantfactor, for without it fear doesn'toccur. Self-doubt is also learnedbehavior, but it can be learned whileyou are still a fetus. Basically, self-doubt is born when an individualinterprets a feeling orsensation as meaning that onehas lost contact with theirsource of power or love. Tothe degree that thisinterpretation is repeated withsimilar feelings or sensationsit becomes learned andautomatic behavior.

Memories of some kind of pain arepresent in everyone, but everyone isnot affected by them in the same way.Fear is born - and eventually learned- when self-doubt is present at thetime a painful experience occursbecause, due to the self-doubt, anexpectation of pain arises under anystimulus that resembles the originalpain.

When I was about seven years old Iwas playing with some friends andwe decided to climb a tree and jumpoff a large branch. The other boysdid it without a problem. They didn'thave any self-doubt, at least in relationto jumping out of trees, so that evenif they had gotten hurt in the pastfrom leaping off a branch they hadno expectation of pain from doing itagain. I, however, had sufficient self-doubt, and a memory of a previouspainful fall not related to trees, thatI crouched on the branch, frozen withfear, for a very long time. At longlast I suppressed my fear, gatheredmy courage, and leaped into theunknown. Fortunately, I had a goodlanding and it was so much fun I didit over and over, unlearning my fearin the process.

One of the last sentences in theprevious paragraph reminds me of

another aspect of fear that needsclarification, the so-called "fear ofthe unknown." There is no such thing,folks. It's always a fear of the known.Or, rather, a fear of not knowing. Ifwe experience something trulyunknown we will either be curiousorwe will ignore it. Fear only arisesin this case when a new we will ignoreit. Fear only arises in this case whena new experience reminds us of a

previous painful experience and wehave an expectation of another painfulexperience because we don't knowwhat to do.

Here is the moral of the story. Itdoesn't matter if we have self-doubt,or painful memories, or fear ofanything whatsoever. We learnedhow to act one way; we can teachourselves how to act differently. Self-doubt can be erased by teachingourselves - over and over and overagain - to trust in ourselves and/or ina higher power. To trust, not thatnothing bad will ever happen, but thatwhatever happens we will be able tocope, and that more good things willhappen than bad. How do we know?We don't. The future is never fixed,but now is the moment of power.What we do and how we think in thepresent moment may not control thefuture, but it has more influence onthe future than anything else. Thereis no fear without self-doubt. Self-doubt begins with a decision. It canend with a decision, too.

This article reproduced with the kindpermission of the author. SergeKahili King, Ph.D., holds a doctoratein psychology and is a kahuna kupuaor master practitioner of theHawaiian shaman way. For morevisit www.huna.org

It is a fact... that fears can beunlearned, often quickly, withoutsuppression, amplification orredirection.

the script page 8

Fearlessness continued

Solution Oriented Hypnosis byWilliam Hudson O’Hanlon andMichael Martin

Published by W.W. Norton &Company, 1992ISBN 0-393-70149-2193 pages

Reviewed by Jamie Billingham

I read this book about a year ago. Iwas preparing for my final test in acounseling hypnotherapy course. Ihad immersed myself in all theserious literature around hypnosisand Ericksonian approaches and thenI found this book. It was like a breathof fresh air. Its down to earth style,simplicity and humour kept meengaged enough to read it in onesitting.

Perhaps one of the reasons this bookis so readable is that it wasn’t written,it was transcribed from a two day,solution-oriented hypnosis workshop,presented by Bill O’Hanlon andrecorded and transcribed by co-authorMichael Martin.

O'Hanlon, now an author, teacherand psychotherapist, met MiltonErickson while in graduate school.He became his gardener andeventually Erickson’s onlywork/study student. O’Hanlon’s website, www.brieftherapy.com, biostates that after meeting Erickson he

“was so confused and impressed byDr. Erickson's work, he feltcompelled to spend the next 12 yearsof his career writing and teaching inan effort to make it understandableand accessible.” And that is exactlywhat he accomplishes in this book.

The first chapter begins with an“outrageous promise” of learning toinduce trance by the end of theworkshop. He goes on to outlineexactly how that promise will befulfilled. The entire process is brokendown to the individual elements ofsolution-oriented hypnosis and theneach piece is described, modeled andthen practiced.

This is a step by step method oflearning a skill that is usually absentin Ericksonian based curriculum.O’Hanlon addresses the rational forthis by describing his personalexperiences at workshops “You

know, they keep saying myunconscious is going to learnthis, my unconscious is goingto learn this. After a while,though, I thought, well, I’dlike my conscious mind tolearn this, because I’m one ofthese people who like to know

what I know consciously.”

Following the “Inroinduction” is,among other things, a comparison ofEricksonian vs. TraditionalApproaches to Induction, descriptionsof Utilization and Naturalisticapproaches and definitions ofmatching, splitting, linking,permissive and empowering words.I particularly enjoyed the explanationof Erickson’s Tag Questions and thetranscript of one of Erickson’s BasicInductions.

The chapters following build on the

solid foundation that is laid in chapterone. The demonstrations andexamples are easy to follow despitethe lack of “seeing” and the exercisesare well laid out with theaccompanying “handouts”reproduced in the book. Topicsinclude Trance Phenomena: GettingYour Hands on the Control Knob ofExperience, Why Use Trance, TheClass of Problems/Class of SolutionsModel, Treating Survivors of SexualAbuse and Treating Pain and SomaticProblems. The book concludes witha chapter titled I’m Only a Hypnotist,So This Is Only a Suggestion.

I highly recommend this book toanyone curious about counsellinghypnotherapy or Milton Erickson andto those who are already practicingin the field. For either group, a goodread..

the script page 9

Reviews

the book shelf

This is a step by step methodof learning a skill that is usuallyabsent in Ericksonian basedcurriculum.

Therapy is often a matterof tipping the first domino.

- Milton H Erickson

and body, identifying the symbolicand powerful ways in which theunconscious manifests itself. Fromhelping a woman reversing her ownblindness to another undergoingsurgery without conventionalanesthesia, Calof relates his ownexperience as family therapist andhypnotherapist through the narrationof some of his surprising cases, which

The Couple Who Became EachOther: and Other Tales ofHealing From aHypnotherapist’s Casebook byDavid L. Calof (with RobinSimonshe)

Published by Bantam Books,1996ISBN: 0-553-09668-0

354 pages

Reviewed by Luciana W Lopes

This is an invaluable book forteachers and healers interested inenriching their perception andactuation in the process of therapyand hypnotherapy. Even for thecurious reader whose profession isnot related to therapy of any form,this is still a book of great value, asit is very entertaining readingmaterial.

With a creative and insightful mannerof handling clients’ challengingissues, the author, a former MiltonH. Erickson trainee, shows thefascinating connection between mind

the script page 10

will hook the reader’s attention fromthe first to the last page.

We all experience trance on aneveryday basis, for it is part of ournature to focus within. The authorsensibly acknowledges that fact tohis clients, explaining how we go intoa trance-like state while we do ourevery-day chores, or practice ourhobbies. Another interesting pointCalof brings to the attention of hisclients is that the hypnotherapist has,in fact, the important task ofdehypnothizing a client, for in realityclients come to the office alreadyhypnotized by the very same situationthat brought them there.

With a humble attitude the authorshares his own moments of self-doubtduring his practice, which enablesthe reader to relate professionallywith him, since many of us may havefelt this way one moment or anotherthroughout our professional life. Thisbook should be part of the personallibrary of the related professional.

Reviewed by Moira Campbell

The first site acts as a portal for theabove family of NLP sites. All thesites seem to be interconnected andhave many reciprocal links. Enteringthe site brings you to the question“What is NLP?” however the chieffocus of the site is as a marketingtool for NLP products rather thanthe education of the visitor.

Reviews

websitewww.neurolinguisticprogramming.comwww.richardbandler.comwww.purenlp.comwww.nlp.netwww.nlpstore.comwww.nlplinks.com

Having said that, for those curiousabout NLP, the site offers fascinatingglimpses into the therapeutic modelcreated by Richard Bandler and JohnGrinder, but tends to be rather toofull of mystifying jargon for theuninitiated. It also manages not tomention Bandler’s long time workpartner John Grinder – conspicuousby his absence. Though it explainsthe premise for NLP, none of thetechniques are described here – Iexpect you have to buy one of the 23books on offer for that.

There is a wide range of articlesavailable through links to and .Neither of these will give youanything much of a balanced view ofNLP, but since the site is after all, asales tool, it is to be expected. Thecontent has primarily been writtenby Richard Bandler, a man not known

for his modesty. Eg “I didn't just elicitpeoples' strategies since when I startedout there weren't any strategies, yet.I invented them.” Of course somewould argue that the co-founder of amodel as influential and useful asNLP has no need of modesty.

There are no search tools or site mapson the site, although there is a fairlygood FAQ section and a handyGlossary – great for looking up allthose pesky NLP terms fromAccessing Cues to Well-FormednessConditions.

The pages for NLP.net’s web site,the online and all take you to anothersite, as listed above. NLP.net is abasically a resource section and theonline NLP store has acomprehensive selection of tapes,

continued on page 11

Disease is often the end product ofexcessive stress, worry, fear and anunwillingness to change. Lookingoutside of ourselves we travel far andwide in search of a cure. We fail torealize that everything we needis inside of us. Sometimes ourlives are so out of control itis almost a relief to get sickor have an accident, we don'thave to face certain situationsanymore.

Unresolved issues from the past cancreate blockages in the body,oftenmanifesting as pain or disease. If wedo no resolve these issues or changeour thought processes,which createdour pain or disease, we will continueto create it. Energy follows thought. The conditioning messages wereceived in childhood, our corebeliefs about ourselves, leave animpression on the subconscious mindand make the habits formed inchildhood the basis for all futureactions, unless we consciously decideto change them.

Every thought that enters theconscious mind is subjected to ourreasoning power. If the consciousmind accepts an idea or thought astrue, it is then stored in thesubconscious mind for future use.The conscious mind decides our fate,so, to control our health we must beaware of our thoughts. Since ourthoughts govern our feelings andbeliefs, doesn't it make sense to beaware of our thoughts? When wefocus on the negative we will create

more negative energy (energy followsthought). When we focus on thepositive experiences in our life wewill create more positive energy.Focus on what you have rather than

what you want, if you only focus onwhat you want, you will always bewanting.If you are always projectinginto the future(Iwant), thats where itwill remain-in the future. Usethecreative power of your thoughtsto create what you desire NOW.

If you allow your thoughts to onlyfocus on what you do not have, orwhat you lack, you will continue tolack whatever you desire. Everythingwe believe is true about ourselves isstored in the subconscious mind.

Hypnotherapy allows you to changethe old programming you receivedin childhood and make positivechanges in your life, you cannot erasewhat is stored in the subconsciousbut you can record over it.

Elaine Hopkins DHP, Vice Presidentof the IACH, is a Cerified ClinicalHypnotherapist with training inAnalytical Therapy (Psychotherapy).She can be contacted at tel:(250)593-4043 or email elabria@bcinternet.net

Focus on what you have ratherthan what you want, if you focuson what you want, you willalways be wanting.

The mind body connection

Hypnotherapy - A Key toPersonal WellnessBy ELAINE HOPKINS

videos and books.

Richard Bandler’s web site plugshis seminars (no obvious bio though). The best bit is the intriguingrichardbandler.tv, which needs arecent version of Macromedia FlashPlayer to view. “Richard Bandler tvhas been created for the directtrancemission of Richard Bandler’swork” - and will take you to a funanimation of Richard talking abouthis upcoming seminars. (There isalso a members only area.)

Pure NLP appears to be John LaValle’s web site. John La Valle co-wrote Bandler’s last book and co-trains with him on occasion. Thissection is full of distracting ads tothe point where it is difficult toactually find the content. It doesoffer some extras though, like anNLP newsletter and informationrequest form.

www.neurolinguisticprogramming.com is not the most beautiful siteI’ve ever seen, but the text is easy toread and on a plain backgroundwhich is a plus. Not too manyannoying banner ads either. The siteis lacking in images, other than oneof Richard Bandler. All the linkswork and the site is well updated,with upcoming seminars listed andrecordings of recent events available.

Overall this is a useful site forthose interested in NLP – especiallyif you are looking to buy something. Don’t expect a “How to…” sectionthough, because it’s not there.

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website review continued

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Birth is the sudden opening ofa window, through which youlook out upon a stupendousprospect For what hashappened? A miracle. Youhave exchanged nothing forthe possibility of everything.- William MacNeile Dixon   

Working as a hypnotherapist withpregnant women has given me theopportunity to witness more birthsthan most. But I never fail to beawed by the wonder of new life. Inthe same way, I am awed by the birthof the IACH. I feel fortunate to haveshared in the energy and passion ofthe group of committed people thatcame together to form this infantorganisation.

The goal of the script is to givevoice to the growing professionalgroup of counseling hypnotherapists.To give our members inspiration,education, guidance and recognition.

To make the workings of the IACHtransparent and accountable. Toeducate the public about the art andscience of hypnosis and relatedmental sciences including healing,personal growth and spirituality. Andto draw new people into the

editor’snote

profession, as clients or practitioners.

For our first issue we’re very excitedto have articles by a number ofluminary writers and teachers suchas Serge King, Hawaiian/Africanshamanic healer, Ross Laird,Canadian artist and psychotherapist,and our own distinguished IACHVice President Elaine Hopkins.

As editor, I encourage yourcontributions and comments via letteror emails, as this is your newsletter.If you have any questions feel freeto contact me for more information.Thank you to everyone who hasworked so hard (unpaid!) to makethis inaugural copy of the scriptpossible - our contributors, LucianaLopes for collecting quotes, andSheldon Bilsker and JamieBillingham for proof reading andgeneral whip cracking.

I hope you enjoy this inaugural issueof the script.

Moira Campbell can be contacted at250 480 6729 or emailnewsletter@hypnotherapyassociation.org

Moi

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ell

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First Nations regard hummingbirdsas sacred messengers of the spiritsand bringers of joy, life and love.

Symbolic meaning

Hummingbird