Hello Penny, thank you for your contribution, it is very much appreciated.

I’m going to play devils advocate…

So do you think that Usain Bolt’s coach needs to be able to run as fast as him to help him become the athlete he is? Should Milton Erickson not be allowed to work with people who were able-bodied as he was disabled and confined to a wheel chair? … Could he work with athletes wanting to enhance their performance, or advise clients wishing to weigh less to be more active on their two feet, for example?

I am not standing on that side of the fence on this discussion, just interested to see how far other therapists believe that they should be an example and where is the line drawn (if at all)?

Thanks again, lovely to hear from you, A.

Best Regards
Penny

Thank you Andrew,

Having written a bestselling book on the subject, running seminars for over 10 years on it and having my main audio programme on the subject too, I am sold on the virtues of self-hypnosis. 🙂

There is a massive difference between self-hypnosis and hetero hypnotherapy though, isn’t there?

I write regularly here, throughout my ezine and many other thousands of words on developing a regular self-hypnosis practice for oneself…. But that was not really my topic of discussion…

The poignant debate, one which is theorised over in many a hypnotherapy conference corner, is whether or not we need to have experienced hypnotherapy in order to be a good hypnotherapist.

I absolutley think we need ongoing processes and tools in order to keep ourselves well and functioning to our best… I certainly find it easier to teach self-hypnosis having experienced it daily for 15 years previously… Yet is it necessary to have experienced it in order to teach it well?

It is an interesting debate – thank you for your addition, it is warmly received.

Best wishes, A.

I think we all need hypnosis, even if we are hypnotists! Although we man not call it that. Remember as a hypnotist, we all have one great tool for improving ourselves, our business and our clients : Self hypnosis.

As we grow and develop, we all come up against new blocks, limiting decisions and emotions. As the person having these ‘things’. We don’t always realise or know. It is always great to have a mentor or buddy to have a weekly session with. Doing regular self hypnosis on oneself, is brilliant.

Happy Days

A

Thank you Sharon.

I would never have been the theraist I am today had I not been through the therapeutic processes I have been through, as I have stated already. Yet I have encoutnered therapists (and trained therapists) who experienced successful theray and because they believed in what they went through so much, they applied their own journey to everyone else they encountered, which is not the way forward.

There is no real simple answer, someone in my members area stated that most Gynaecologists are men and not been through the processes they have been through… I’d suggest that therapy is slightly different, but heck, I understand where people come from.

I think we all, however well trained, come from our own belief system and that our clients are attracted by that. So, if our belief is that you can easily do anything you put your mind to then that will attract some people and if you believe that you can achieve what you want but you have to work hard at it then that will attract others. If there is too much apparent disparity beween the beliefs of the therapist and client then it probably won’t be an easy match initially.

The danger comes if there is too much of the therapist’s belief in the mix and it’s not helpful to the client. I know I’ve met people on courses who have used the training to try and sort their own stuff out and then have projected that onto the clients that come their way.

Thought provoking as ever.