Internet
Hypnotism: Farce, Fable or Miracle?
HypnosisAustralia,
May 2006
By
Dr Tracie O'Keefe DCH, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist &
Counsellor
Editorial Director of HypnosisAustralia Online.
The journal
recently received information about a person calling themselves Dr W Keeble,
a hypnotherapist, who was offering mass hypnotism via the internet. The
internet spam quoted:
"I have
set up an on-line system; I give 2 free sessions per month where up to
100 people can log in (particularly for smoking, slimming and stress)."
They go on to say: "The rest of the sessions I only charge £5
(UK) per person for (I have up to 100 people log in so you can see how
this is of benefit)"
Such a service
brings to mind many questions including that of client safety and vulnerability.
The hypnotist does not say that he belongs to any kind of peer review
professional association. Neither does he seem to understand the necessity
to take a patient's history as an individual when dealing with problems
of addiction.
The likelihood
of any healthcare professional acquiring insurance to cover this activity
has to be zero.
It is important
for associations to clearly define the boundaries for their members with
regard to attempting mass hypnotism. We know that attempts at mass hypnotism
produce very high failure rates. What associations would be wise to make
clear to their members is that when a therapist takes on a client for
addiction problems, the therapist makes it clear they will continue to
attempt to help the client cease the addiction until the addiction has
ceased or refer on. This undoubtedly requires an interactive personalised
approach than that which can be gained solely via the internet, tapes,
CDs or DVD recordings.
©HypnosisAustralia,
May 2006
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