There are a number of reactions you can encounter when you tell people you are Certified Hypnotist. Some are quite enthusiastic as they either have personal experience or know of someone who has overcome a problem with hypnosis. Still others take a comical view and will often pantomime the stereotypical image of a hypnotized person, a glassy- eyed zombie who states in a monotone, ?your wish is my command? Then there are those persons who react with fear, equating hypnotism with brainwashing or coercive mind control.

The latter impression has been bolstered by movies like the Manchurian Candidate and other works of popular fiction. In addition, the terms hypnosis, brainwashing and mind control are often used interchangeably, albeit inaccurately.

Clinical hypnosis uses the power of suggestion so at to facilitate the client?s pre-existing ability to communicate with his or her own subconscious mind for a beneficial purpose. This requires a large degree of trust and rapport since hypnosis cannot occur without the consent of the client. It is for this reason that a Certified Hypnotist or any other professional utilizing hypnotic techniques must make sure the sessions take place in the context of a respectful and cordial relationship. If the client harbors mistrust, it guarantees rejection of the suggestions given. So how does this differ from brainwashing and mind control?

The methodology used by cult leaders and similar figures to coerce and control their followers always have one key element that is missing in the clinical hypnosis situation. At some point the individual must be separated from his or her familiar surroundings for an extended period. Having restricted the physical freedom of the potential follower(s), the cult leader can then subject them to certain types of physical and psychological manipulation that creates a sense of fear and uncertainty, which can only be relieved by compliance with the indoctrination process. If a person had the option of going home or calling a trusted friend on a regular basis, the brainwashing process would be interfered with and probably thwarted.

It is for this reason that it is important for you to view any group that asks you or a loved one to go on some type of weekend retreat with extreme suspicion unless you are absolutely certain about their integrity. With predatory cults, quite often the introductory meetings have a warm fuzzy quality about them that creates a false sense of security with the group and sets the stage for future manipulation. When placed in unfamiliar and uncertain surroundings even a very strong personality may have trouble resisting negative manipulation.

So while you are in no danger of being brainwashed by your friendly neighborhood Certified Hypnotist, it is important for every parent, teacher, law enforcement officer and helping professional to be familiar with the workings of predatory cults An excellent resource on this topic is Steven Hassan?s ?Combating Cult Mind Control.? Below is a link to a page containing a number of resources on the topic of mind control that you may be interested in.

Amongst the Creative Calm subscribers are a number of people with extensive experience in various forms of holistic healing as both practitioners and recipients. In order to help share this wealth of knowledge, the guest column is now going to be a regular feature of this newsletter. Email me if you are interested in having your article posted and I will forward you the details.

Our first guest columnist is my longtime collaborator Judy Gepp, a Reiki Master who integrates meditation, hypnosis and other mind/body approaches in her work with cancer patients and others with life- changing illnesses. Her article is entitled Complimentary Care and Self Healing Modalities,where she discusses the various methods she uses to promote a greater sense of wellbeing in her clients.