InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapistswww.hypnotherapyassociation.org

inside:

Diane AuldFeatured IACH member 2

At the Core of our Beingis a Wise and HealingEnergyby Mahmud Nestman 4

What’s On 6

Hypnotherapy forFertility:It’sConceivable!by Lynsi Eastburn 7

Reviews 9

BC Legislative Update 11

Editor’s Note 13

Members Section(IACH members only)

Standards & Ethics 14

Membership 14

Finances 15

Mahmud Nestman has anenergetic experience on page 4

the scriptWinter 2004 Newsletter

Welcome

president’s letterSHELDON BILSKER

Welcome to the second Newsletterof the International Association ofCounseling Hypnotherapists.

With 42 current members wecontinue to increase our membershipat a steady pace. We have recentlyhad a very successful Executivemeeting to discuss issues including:expanding our Online MembersResource Directory, forming andexpanding committees, streamliningour intake and evaluation process anddiscussing the best ways we can serveand promote our members’ practices.

There has been movement in thelegislative area in British Columbiawhich in my view is potentiallyrevolutionary, not just for BC butpossibly other jurisdictions as well.Please read Dr. Jim Browne’s articlefor an overview of how this cameabout and what is happening now.

You will notice there is a section onour web site entitled, MembershipWebsites. Soon that page will contain

a list of our practicing members whowould like to promote themselves atno cost.

I would like to welcome MollyMcGetrick and Mahmud Nestman,to the IACH Executive. Molly willbe the director of the MemberResources Committee and bringsextensive research experience withher as a librarian. She is based inNew Mexico. Mahmud becomes theDirector of the Standards and Ethicscommittee and brings 25 years ofexperience in the fields of Counselingand Hypnotherapy.

I would also like to welcome the newcommittee members as follows:

Newsletter Committee – Diane Auld,Lee-anne Wiseman and David Greig.

Examining Committee-- MahmudNestman (head).

She

ldon

Bils

ker

continued on page 2

Describe your training, experienceand qualifications.

I trained at the Vancouver Collegeof Counsellor Training. I have beenan adult trainer and teacher for 25years and that has given me anenormous amount of personexperience. For the last two years Ihave been counselling in my ownprivate practice. I have run art therapygroups for Sexual Abuse Survivorsand Journalling groups for fun andfor Survivors.

Personally I have participated in 3years of Art Therapy groups and 6years of Dance Therapy and 10 yearsof personal psychotherapy. I feel thishas been as valuable a teacher as myschool training.

How would you describe the workthat you do?

In my counselling practice I walk ajourney with my clients helping themto look inside and connect with theirfeelings and the various aspects ofself. It is our unique way of being inthe world that defines us a human

the script page 2

A peek into the mindand practice of...

Diane AuldQuestions by MOIRA CAMPBELL

being and I work with my clients infinding ways to explore and honourthat uniqueness.

I use many Gestalt, Person- Centered,and Jungian approaches.Hypnotherapy has become a valuableway to help my clients connect withthe unlimited resources of thesubconscious mind and explorethemselves at deeper level. I wouldsay I am an integrated Counsellor.

For those clients interested in a varietyof modes of expression I invite themto use art, journalling, music,movement, dreams and body focusas tools to connect with the manyaspects of self.

How much do you charge?

$65.00 an hour

Describe your work space.

I work out of my home and my officeis very warm and cozy.

There is space to do art therapy, apiano for those who want to usemusic, and some room to movearound for those whose who findmovement a valuable way ofexploring self. I have lots of art onthe walls and crystals around theroom.

Tell us about your greatestchallenge as a counselinghypnotherapist.

Trusting myself. Letting the storywrite itself through me. Trusting thatif I get out of my way that willhappen. Trusting that whateverhappens in a session is supposed tohappen and letting that unfold in itsown way and time.

…and your greatestaccomplishment.

Moments of trust - where the clientsays after they come out of trance -"It is as if you were there with me.The story you told is exactly what I

Members Resources – MollyMcGetrick (head)

We have come a long way in arelatively short amount of time.Thank you to everyone who hasparticipated on our executive and therest of our members for your support.

Contact Sheldon Bilsker atpresident@hypnotherapyassociation.org

president’s letter continued

continued on page 3

Our commitment is tocreate an internationalorganization ofprofessionalhypnotherapists and thoseinterested in this healingmodality, to continue toincrease public awareness,acceptance and support inthe therapeutic and ethicaluse of hypnotherapythrough education andpromotion.

InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapists

missionstatement

the script page 3

was doing at one point I lookedaround to see if you were there."

What are your spiritual orreligious beliefs? How do theyimpact upon your work?

I believe we are all God, we havethe power create our lives and tochange our lives when that creationno longer serves us.. My heart lovesTibetan Buddhism and yet I needthe freedom to create my own uniquespirituality and way of living it.

My beliefs give me wisdom tohonour all beliefs, and to believe inthe unlimited healing power of eachindividual and honour their journey.

How have you evolved spirituallyand mentally since becoming acounseling hypnotherapist?

That is such a good question.Hypnosis has helped me to trulyexperience the incredible resourcesof the subconscious mind, to observethe beauty in its workings. Howcreative it can be when I remembereverything in its own time. It hashelped me to honour my process andto trust. Spiritually hypnosis hasgiven me an experience of feelingand knowing I am part of the onenessof all things.

What book, if any, do you findmost useful in your practice?

1) Radical Acceptance – EmbracingYour Life With The Heart of aBuddha - Tara Brach Ph.D

2) Healing Through the DarkEmotions – The wisdom of grief,fear, and despair. – MiriamGreenspan

3) Focusing. – by E. T. Gendlin,New York: Everest House, 1978.

4) Embracing Our Selves – TheVoice Dialogue Manual – by Haland Sidra Stone PH.D.

5) Emotional Alchemy : How theMind Can Heal the Heart by TaraBennett-Goleman

6) Metaphoria - Metaphor andGuided Metaphor for Psychotherapyand Healing - by Rubin Battino

If you had to pick a favourite,what counseling hypnotherapytechnique would you choose, andwhy?

Metaphors and stories - I love lettingmy intuition create a story to help aclient explore a problem and possiblesolutions. For me stories are sohealing as they are gentle, powerful,soothing, and freeing. In myexperience the client almost createsthe story themselves, I am just thevoice speaking it.

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

Prejudices - hypnotherapy is such apowerful tool. We need to be gettingthe word out about its incrediblevalue, such a powerful yet gentletool to help people understandthemselves. Yet most people onlyknow of stage hypnosis and howcontrolling it is.

Who is yourhero(ine)/mentor/guru and why?

Carl Jung - he had the courage toexplore the unconscious and writeabout it. I love how he tested all hiscreative processes on himself, doinghis own personal work. He walkedhis own path not caring what othersthought.

Susan Seddon Boulet - as a artistshe walked the inner journey of theunconscious and painted her visions.She walked the Shamans’ pathgiving us images to use and connectwith for our own personal journey.

Mahmud Nestman - my supervisor- as a teacher and mentor hisgenerosity and support feeds myCounsellors soul. He supports my

Diane Auld continued creative way of learning and growingas a person and Counsellor. He makesit so easy for me to explore my issuespersonal and professional.

How do you unwind/rebalance?

I meditate, paint, journal, dance, watchmovies. I love movies. Talk to myhusband or friends. Nuzzle with mycat.

What did you dream last night andwhat did it mean to you?

Pass

What place in time and space is mostspecial to you?

I have a magical house. This house istruly magical. I can create anything Ineed in this house. All my inner kidslive in this house and we do our healingthere. There are stairs made of bluesapphire, lights of amethyst, beautifulart lines the walls in the hallways. Eachroom has its own turret and readingnook. There is a hypnosis room andhealing room for my body. In thekitchen we make cookies and EarlGrey tea. This magical house lives inme and has played a major part of mypersonal healing.

What is your greatest hope?

Is that all people truly experiencethemselves as Gods, take responsibilityfor their own thoughts and feelingsand see themselves and others as partof the great oneness.

…your greatest fear?

Pass

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

Pass

Diane Auld R.P.C. can be contactedat 604-218-9341or emailhealing@auld.ca. You can visit herwebsite at www.dianeauld.ca.

the script page 4

The title of this article has the soundof a cliché or a slogan – a truism thatmay have been vibrant with meaningtwenty-five years ago but which hasbeen overused and subsequently lostits meaning.

Why use it? Because it is the closestmeaning I can come to in describinga phenomena that is present at timesin my counseling/hypnotherapypractice. An energetic experiencearises out of the intersubjectiveconnection between counselor andclient that is linked with therealization of the client’s therapeuticgoals.

I will illustrate how this takes placeby describing the emergence ofenergy during the therapeuticsessions of two of my clients.

Five Key Ideas

With each of these clients, I beganthe induction phase of the tranceworkby communicating a number of keyideas intended to create a climatewhich will stimulate a therapeuticprocess. The fundamental ideas Icommunicate are variations of thefollowing themes:

a) Within you is an intelligence thatknows how to assist you to meet yourtherapeutic goals.

b) This intelligence is far wiser thanyour everyday conscious, rationalmind.

c) This intelligence can manifestspontaneously in different yet similarways – through images, feelings,thoughts, sensations and energy.

d) You can trustin the flow ofthis intelligenceas its source iswithin you.

e) Yourconscious mindcan assume adifferentfunction thanusual. Ratherthan needing toconstruct yourexperience, itcan stand back,be curious and witness the creativework of your deeper intelligence.

Although I usually communicatethese ideas to my clients in thebeginning phase of the hypnotherapyprocess, these are fundamental beliefsof mine that I touch upon in muchof my counseling/hypnotherapy

work.

The energetic experiencesassociated with these keyideas involved two young,male clients of mine.

Client #1

My first client was a male ofsixteen years who came to therapyfor help with improving his athleticperformance. He was ranked in the

An energetic experience arisesout of the intersubjectiveconnection between counselorand client that is linked with therealization of the client’stherapeutic goals.

Reflection

At the Core of Our Being isa Wise and Healing EnergyBy MAHMUD NESTMAN

top 20 in British Columbia in hisparticular individual sporting eventbut he had been unable to place inthe upper three in any significantcompetition. His major problem washis attitude towards himself. Hisexpectations were exceptionally highand whenever his match performancebegan to slip he became agitated,self-blaming, impatient, and hiscritical inner dialogue and associatedfeelings led to further deteriorationof his performance. He wanted helpin a few specific areas of his gamebut his main goal was to alter hisself-critical and angry reactions and

develop an attitude of tolerance,patience, calmness andself-acceptance.

He was a highly motivated client as,within a few days, he wasparticipating in a tournament inwhich the winner would qualify toparticipate in the WorldChampionships for his age category.

The Therapy Process

In our first hypnotherapy session, hedeveloped a relaxed and inwardlyabsorbed state of consciousness. Asthe session progressed he developeda deep trance.

As I was speaking with him in thisstate, his body suddenly responded

continued on page 5

the script page 5

as if a powerful surge of electricitywas going through him and healmost bounced out of the recliningchair. He came out of trance at thatpoint and shared his experience.

In trance, he was leaping off a cliffinto the unknown when suddenly hewas headed for a crash landing onthe ground below when he awokewith a start. Rather than befrightened or traumatized by thisexperience, he was both surprisedand amused by the experience andamazed by the “jolt of energy” thathe experienced.

When I reflected back upon what Iwas communicating to him at thetime of the “jolt,” I recalled that Iwas strongly encouraging him totrust in his deep inner resources. Ireally meant it.

He willingly went back into tranceand we continued and completed thesession. At the end of the session hestated that he felt calm, centered,relaxed but was mostly in awe ofthe “jolt of energy” he experienced.He was amazed that that kind ofexperience could happen to him.

A few days later I received a phonecall from him informing me that hehad won the tournament and was offto the World Championships. Heshared with me that he had a rockystart at the beginning of thetournament, but that he remainedcalm, centered and patient. Thosecritical, persecutory voices wereabsent.

Was his “jolt of energy” experience

a significant factor in his progress?I can’t prove it to be so but I believethe two are connected, particularlywhen I take into account theexperiences of my second client.

Client #2

My second client is a male oftwenty-four years who had beenreferred to me for help with chronicpain. He had injured his back andneck in a series of motorcycle racingaccidents, become addicted to painmedication, developed a tolerancefor the pain killers and turned toheroin for relief from his pain.

When he came to see me he hadbeen in recovery from his addiction

for three months and wasreceiving support from twoaddiction therapists and afamily therapist. Although hewas making excellentprogress with his recoveryfrom addiction he was stillplagued by chronic neck and

back pain. The pain was continuousthroughout the day and night and hewas exhibiting symptoms of stressfrom his inability to relax and sleepdeeply.

After gathering relevant informationfrom him and conversing with himabout the myths and realities ofhypnotherapy, I began ourhypnotherapy session by seeding thefive key ideas mentioned earlier inthis article. I also spoke with himabout two ways that he could learnto deal with his pain, explaining thephenomena of dissociation, wherebyhe could experiment during oursessions and outside of them withcreating various kinds of distancesand separations between himself andthe pain, and, association, wherebyhe could allow himself to connecteven more deeply with the pain inorder to release it.

The Therapy Process

When the induction phase of

At the core of our being is a wiseand healing energy... continued

hypnotherapy began, he quickly wentinto a state of relaxation and innerabsorption.

I noticed that he was unconsciouslyholding on to a shallow breathingpattern and I suggested to him thatas he paid attention to his breathinghe could discover how to slightlyalter his breathing pattern and thatcould take him even into an evencloser connection with his deeperintelligence.

His breathing deepened, and as it didso, his chest expanded, his shoulderslowered and let go of tension, hisneck tensed and then let go oftension, and his head tilted backslightly. He seemed to be breathingin a largely involuntary fashion fromhis abdomen right up into his head.I encouraged him to follow thisprocess as deeply and as strongly ashe needed to and he continued todemonstrate this pattern of deep,rhythmic, naturally expansive patternof breathing.

When we finished the tranceexperience (approximately 25minutes), he reported that he feltcalm yet energized, had moreflexibility in his neck and asignificant lessening of pain in hisneck and shoulders.

I asked him if he would like to shareanything about his inner experiencein trance and he stated that the mostimpressive and surprising part of hisexperience was “the energy that wasmoving through me. It moved rightinto the areas that were tense andpainful and began to help them openup and let go.”

When he returned for his secondsession, he shared that the gains inpain relief and comfort had largelymaintained and he was sleepinglonger with more ease. However,

there were still areas of pain anddiscomfort that needed further work.

continued on page 6

...his body suddenly respondedas if a powerful surge ofelectricity was going throughhim and he almost bounced outof the reclining chair.

the script page 6

December

12 - Intro to Emotional FreedomTechnique, Vancouver, BC. Formore details contact Within Wellnessat 1 604 696 9355 or emailinfo@within.ca

19 - Intro to Chakras & Energy,Vancouver, BC. For more detailscontact Within Wellness as above.

January

4 - World Hypnotism Day

15 - Intro to Chakras & Energy,Vancouver, BC. See above.

19 - Intro to Emotional FreedomTechnique, Vancouver, BC. Formore details contact Within Wellnessas above.

February

7-9, 10-12 - Basic HypnotherapyCertification Course (intensive).Kelowna, BC..For more detailscontact Sheldon Bilsker, OrcaInstitute at 1 800 665 6722, emailinfo@orcainstitute.com or visitwww.orcainstitute.com

Please submit events that you feelwould be interesting to IACHmembers. Inclusion is free and atthe discretion of the editor.newsletter@hypnotherapyassociation.org

For your calendar

what’s on

Learn about Chakras and Energy

In our second session, he went veryquickly and deeply into trance, hisbreathing deepened on its own, andthe same pattern of energeticbreathing occurred as in the firstsession as we focused on specificareas of his body where he still feltpain.

At the end of session two he wasexperiencing less pain and morecomfort in the painful areas and hehad had another experience of“energy that just takes over at somepoint on its own.” After six sessionsthis client no longer was experiencingany chronic pain. In addition to thehypnotherapy, he was helped withhis pain by an exercise regimenprescribed by one of his addictioncounselors.

Closing Comments

What conclusions can be reachedabout the hypnotherapy experiencesof these two clients?

Both clients were able to successfullymeet their therapeutic needs.

They both experienced a surprisingand spontaneous occurrence of“energy” that was an outstandingand memorable (for them, at least)part of their therapeutic experience.

In the case of Client #2, the energywas more visibly and directlyconnected to his therapeutic successthan Client #1.

The presence of this “energy”emerged out of an experientialinteraction between them and theirtherapist.

I have more intuitions about thisenergy and what possibilities cantranspire in the intensity of thetherapeutic relationship but these arespeculative without verifiable proof.

I will close here – acknowledging

what is observable and respectingwhat is mysterious.

Mahmud Nestman, MEd, RCC, CCH,has been integrating spirituality andcounselling for the 30 years that hehas been working in the counsellingfield. He has a private counsellingpractice in Vancouver, directs theCURA Institute for IntegratedLearning, and leads intensivepersonal growth workshops. He canbe contacted at mahmudn@telus.netor visit his website at

www.curainstitute.com

At the core of our being is a wiseand healing energy... continued

Creativity requiresthe courage to letgo of certainties.

Erich Fromm 

in the Journal of the AmericanMedical Women’s Association 42%of 132 infertile women in theprogram conceived within six monthsof completing it. In the second study,published in 2000 in the journalFertility and Sterility, 55% of thepreviously infertile women who metregularly in a mind/body programconceived, compared with 20% ofthe control group who used nomind/body techniques and who didnot attend meetings.

Dr. Gayle Peterson, creator of atechnique she calls Body-CenteredHypnosis, has found that high anxietystates in the mother must be reducedin order to normalize pregnancy andbirth. She cites research studies thathave documented the correlationbetween stress and infertility sincethe 1980s and states that recently arefined look at depressive symptomsand their impact on biology hasoffered new hope through amind/body approach.

One study published in ReproductiveEndocrinology, April 2000, vol. 73,issue 4 treated women who were intheir second year of infertility andnot yet depressed. The women who

received group psychologicalinterventions to stem the tide ofdepression caused by infertility, hadsignificantly increased viablepregnancies compared to those whodid not receive preventative treatmentfor depression.

A very real concern for a lot ofpeople is the inability to conceive ababy. Each year more than a millionNorth Americans pursue treatmentfor “infertility.” Most consultconventional doctors—an infertilityworkup is conducted, and, dependingon diagnosis—drugs or high-techprocedures such as InvitroFertilization (IVF) are recommended.

Since the 1980s—as a result of a vastamount of research into howconception occurs and what canprevent or interfere with it—greatstrides have been made in AssistedReproductive Technology “ART.”A range of options are availableincluding Gamete IntrafallopianTransfer “GIFT,” ZygoteIntrafallopian Transfer “ZIFT,” EggDonation, Gestational Carriers,Intrauterine Insemination “IUI,”Invitro Fertilization “IVF” andSurrogate Pregnancy.

Despite the progress that has beenmade in the treatment of “infertility”the success rate for those whoundergo high-tech procedures isabout 20%. To boost this successrate and have the very best chanceof conception, women are seekingout complementary treatments suchas Acupuncture, Herbal Remedies,Homeopathic Medicine,Chiropractic, and Mind/BodyApproaches. One of the mostpowerful of these is Hypnotherapy.

Hypnosis goes beyond simple guided

Hypnotherapy for Fertility

It’s Conceivable!By LYNSI EASTBURN

the script page 7

imagery and working with a skilledCertified Hypnotherapist—followingthe guidelines of the HypnoBirthing®Certified Fertility Therapistprogram—not only increases the oddsof conception but also enhancesoverall health.

In an article by Suzy Greaves entitledCan Hypnosis Help to Make YouPregnant? Dr. Elizabeth Muir, aclinical psychologist working withhypnotherapy for infertility explainsthat hypnosis affects thehypothalamus, the neural center atthe base of the brain linked to thepituitary gland, and controls the flowof hormones in the body.

The hypothalamus is sensitive tostress and acts as a bridge betweenthe emotional and physical, turningemotional messages into physicalresponses that affect hormone levelsand thus fertility. Muirbelieves that thepsychological issuessurrounding pregnancy arenot sufficiently welladdressed for many womenwith fertility problems.

Studies conducted by AliceDomar, PhD, director of the BethIsrael Deaconess BehavioralMedicine Program for Infertility inBoston support Muir’s theory thatunresolved issues about having a babycan be removed with counseling andhypnotherapy.

In the first study published in 1999

...55% of the previously infertilewomen who met regularly in amind/body program conceived,compared with 20% of thecontrol group who used nomind/body techn iques . . .

continued on page 8

Liam’s mom was diagnosedwith “secondary infertility.”After 5 years of “trying” to getpregnant, including severalu n s u c c e s s f u l m e d i c a lp r o c e d u r e s , L i a m w a sconceived within a few monthsof a single HypnoFertilitysession.

Hypnosis Supports a Sense ofControl

Stress and a lack of confidence tendto be the top culprits that must beaddressed when working with clientswith hypnosis for fertility. Manycouples have lost faith in the naturalprocess of conception and maintaintoo strong a conviction in the needfor medical assistance. With moreand more women in high stress jobsit’s really no wonder that conceptiondoesn’t always occur immediately(disastrous in this want-it-right-nowsociety). Hypnotherapy reduces stressand increases confidence, instilling asense of control in the client, whichin turn enables her to maximizechances of conceiving naturallyand/or increase the success of medicalassistance. A highly effective adjunctto conventional medical care,hypnosis is rapidly becoming the mostsought after modality of therapytoday.

Hormonal problems often contribute

to conception issues. Restoration ofhormonal balance and eventualpregnancy may occur by utilizationof these powerful hypnotismtechniques and implementation ofpositive lifestyle changes such as dietand exercise. Hypnosis is wellrecognized for its effectiveness insmoking cessation, weight control,stress release, and general habitchanging. Interestingly, these sameissues pose the biggest threat tofertility.

“Infertility” is Big Business

Let’s face it—no matter the state ofthe economy, people are going tocontinue to get cancer, to dumpmillions of dollars into the weightloss industry, and to have babies. Theaverage price of IVF is $10,000 -$15,000 and often the procedure isrepeated 3 or 4 times. The cost ofhiring a surrogate is around $65,000and there are no guarantees in eitherscenario. Some of these expenses maybe covered by insurance, but still thefinancial, not to mention emotionaldemands can be devastating.

Often what I see in my officeare women so desperate tohave a baby that their livesare an emotional rollercoaster. Some of thesewomen are obsessed with talkof cycle days and basal bodytemperature to the exclusion of almosteverything else. Paralyzed with fear,dreading the start of another period,consumed with thoughts of yetanother failed attempt, marriages intatters, beaten down self-esteem withthe body in a perpetual state of fightor flight, is it any wonder pregnancydoesn’t occur?

Approximately 1 in 80 British babiesis now born with some type ofmedical fertility assistance, and thenumbers are higher in the UnitedStates. In many cases, an actualphysical condition is present, however“unexplained infertility” is often cited.

At present time, women aged 35 andup are immediately considered “high-risk.” The media is saturated withstories proclaiming the rise of“infertility” and our increasing “need”for medical intervention. It is now anunfortunate but common belief thatit’s just not easy to have a baby. Howmuch of this could be offset by“dehypnotizing” people?

HypnoFertility is not considered“alternative” or “anti conventionalmedicine.” Most times my servicesare sought after in conjunction withmedical fertility treatment.Most ofmy clients are, at the very least,already under the care of a physician.

My clients average 4-6 hypnotherapysessions for fertility at a cost of$150/session. Those seekinghypnotherapy as a complement toIVF for example are looking atspending thousands of dollars on amedical procedure and my feesamount to a drop in the proverbialbucket comparatively, especially

since it is an investment inmaximizing success.

Those wishing to conceive naturallyare looking at a small fraction of thecost of IVF and they learn a skill thatwill remain with them for the rest oftheir lives. Not only will a clientincrease their chances of conceptionwith hypnotherapy, they will reap thefringe benefits including stressreduction and relaxation.

The vast field of “Women’s Issues”affords many avenues for pursuanceand one could realistically specializein any one of the related subcategories

It is now an unfortunate butcommon belief that it’s just noteasy to have a baby. How muchof this could be offset by“dehypnot iz ing” people?

the script page 8

It’s Conceivable! continued

continued on page 9

the script page 9

such as: PMS, Endometriosis,Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia,Pregnancy and Birth, and Fertility.

Eastburn Hypnotherapy Center is thelargest hypnotherapy practice andtraining facility in Colorado withseveral certified hypnotherapistsworking at three locations. The Centerprovides hypnotherapeutic supportfor many issues, often for people whohave tried everything else and aregrasping for their last hope. TheCenter receives referrals fromphysicians, therapists, and numeroustraining facilities throughout the stateof Colorado.

Dr. Carol Ramatowski has beenreferring patients to the Center foryears. “Hypnosis is an effective andpowerful tool for change,” says Dr.Ramatowski. “I recommend it for anumber of health-related issues aboveand beyond smoking and weight loss.The results of hypnosis can be quitestaggering, and it is an excellentcomplement to the practice ofmedicine.”

The field of hypnotherapy remainsvirtually untapped, with manyopportunities available for the creativeand enthusiastic hypnotist. TheNational Guild of Hypnotists iscurrently striving to establishhypnotherapy as a “separate anddistinct profession” and it is definitelythe training of well-skilled hypnotiststhat will enable us to truly make ourmark on the world.

Lynsi Eastburn is a Board CertifiedHypnotherapist and CertifiedInstructor through the National Guildof Hypnotists. She is aHypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educatorand the creator of theHypnoBirthing® Certified FertilityTherapist Program which she teachesinternationally. For more informationabout the HypnoBirthing® CertifiedFertility Therapist Program checkout www.hypnofertility.com.

It’s Conceivable! continued Reviews

the bookshelf

The Structure of Magic: ABook Abut Language andTherapyBy Richard Bandler & JohnGrinder

Published by Science andBehaviour Books, 1975ISBN 08314-0044-7193 pages

Reviewed by Moira Campbell

This book, along with NoamChomsky's work on language areconsidered the roots of the nowpopular neuro-linguisticprogramming (NLP).

Bandler and Grinder’s basic premiseis that although we live in the realworld, we do not operate directlyupon it, but rather upon our ownindividual and inexact inner “maps”or representational systems. It isthe difference between reality andour representation of it that causeus to experience emotional pain –

continued on page 10

PresidentSheldon Bilsker

Vice-PresidentElaine Hopkins

SecretaryDanielle Smyth

TreasurerTheresa Dupuis

NewsletterMoira Campbell

Member ResourcesMolly McGetrick

Standards and EthicsMahmud Nestman

MembershipByron Miki

Directors

Co-TreasurerMumtaz Mihta

Director at LargeMelody Turner

Australia RepresentativeErin Falconer

InternationalAssociation ofCounselingHypnotherapists

executive

the script page 10

particularly when our representationscontain limiting distortions ordeletions. This is not a new theory– they draw heavily on the work ofH Vaihinger among others - but onethat has stood the test of time asevidenced, for example, by thecurrent popularity of the docudrama“What The Bleep Do We Know?”.

They go on to link the work oflinguists in the field oftransformational grammar to this.Language, they say, is itself arepresentation of our inner map ofthe world. By applying the rules thattransformational linguists havedeveloped about how the way peoplespeak (“surface structure”) is derivedfrom this linguistic representationalsystem (“deep structure”) therapists“can assist their clients in expanding

those aspects of their representationswhich limit and impoverish them”.

The book is intended as a manualthat will teach therapists a set oflearnable tools that will help themto become more effective – the“meta-model” that came to be knownas NLP. First published in 1975, thisbook is still extremely useful fortherapists who wish to understandNLP’s basis.

Of course, there are some that feelthat the authors’ unethical conductat the time the book was written andsubsequently, Bandler’s in particular(alleged or otherwise), underminesthe credibility of their work. Othersquestion their academic credentials

(even though Bandler often uses thetitle “Dr” he does not have a doctoratedegree, whereas Grinder is a professorof linguistics) and say they are moreinterested in the bottom line than inscientific validity.

It is true that others had laid thegroundwork for their theories – a factthat the authors certainly do notattempt to hide. In fact, they give awell laid out bibliography at the backof the book for those wishing toextend their knowledge.

What they do claim to have done, isto have identified the reason whywidely differing psychotherapies canbe successful, established a structuredway for thinking about this theory,and formulated a way of learning touse this theory for therapeuticpurposes, no matter what school ofpsychotherapy you are aligned with. Virginia Satir, Milton Erickson and

Gregory Bateson, three ofthe “magicians” thatBandler and Grinderobserved in order toformulate their theory, allfelt that they had beensuccessful in this endeavour. Of course, a great deal hasbeen written about MiltonErickson’s work in

particular, and if you are interestedin understanding his work in moredepth you would certainly be betteroff reading something like StephenGilligan’s “Therapeutic Trances”, oreven some of Bandler and Grinder’slater work, specifically focused onErickson.

I found the explanation for their“meta-model” straightforward andeasy to understand. In fact, one ofthe major criticisms of NLP is that itis overly simplistic. However,Bandler and Grinder suggest that youdo not replace your current practicewith their meta-model, but simplyuse it to enrich your practice.

The authors dedicate a chapter eachto the concepts of representational

It is the difference betweenreality and our representationof it that cause us to experienceemotional pain – particularlywhen our representationscontain limiting distortions ordeletions.

systems and the structure of humanlanguage systems. Chapter 3 links thetwo together, and chapter 4 is a “step-step-by-step procedure for learning andusing these tools”, including exercises. Chapter 4 is the by far the longest anddensest part of the book. The authors’conversational style is at times marredby their use of pseudo-scientificdiagrams and some unnecessarilycomplex, wordy and repetitiveexplanations. However, the theory isrelatively easy to grasp and thesubsequent chapter, which contains twotranscripts that demonstrate the meta-model’s use in therapy is instructive.

Up to this point, the authors have merelyhinted at how these tools could be usedwith representational systems other thanlanguage – eg kinesthetic. In the finalchapter the authors suggest how theirmeta-model could be integrated with anumber of pre-existing, well-knownnon-verbal techniques. However, thisbook focuses almost exclusively onverbal techniques and also assumes thatthe therapist wishing to use their meta-model is a native speaker of English.

Despite the criticisms to which this bookand Bandler’s work in particular is preyto, it is an essential read for anyonewishing to understand the origins of theNLP phenomenon.

It is in our idleness,in our dreams thatthe submerged truthsometimes comes tothe top.      

Virginia Woolf

The Structure of Magic contd

the script page 11

Since its inaugural work in 1998,the Task Group for CounselorCertification with the unanimoussupport of constituent memberorganizations, has remainedcommitted to designing a “Collegeof Counselor Therapists” based ona model of “core competencies” asa basis for registration.

Competencies are measurablelearning outcomes that can beobjectively tested. Properly stated,competencies include knowledge,practical skill and attitudinal orbehavioural components, thusproviding a comprehensivedescription of the requirements foreffective counseling practice. Aclear articulation of the entry-levelcompetencies for counselingpractice in the form of “CompetencyProfiles” is of critical importanceto a profession with a potentiallydiverse membership.

Over the past two or three years,the Task group, in trying toencourage the government toproceed with designation, hadadopted the stance of seeking todefer laying out entry requirements,to the first Board of the College.However, recently, other professionsawaiting designation have beenasked by the government to preparean action plan and draft bylaws thatwill provide details about how aCollege would be established,composition of first Board, theCollege’s admission criteria and

process, first year operating budget,etc.

The Task Group, includingrepresentatives from all of themember organizations (withthe exception of the “GeneticCounselors”), met on April26th, and were walkedthrough a discussion on usingCompetency Profiles to defineentry-to-practice requirementsfor “counseling therapists”.

A Competency Profile consists of aseries of competency statements.Each statement describes a discrete,stand-alone job skill. Each statementis clear, concise and objectivelymeasurable. The defensibility andmeasurability of CompetencyProfiles is the reason that they arethe “industry standard” for entry-to-practice requirements.

The workshop, “An Action Plan forEstablishing A Competency-BasedRegistration Model for the ProposedCollege of Counseling Therapists ofBritish Columbia, was held on May17th, 2004.

Competency Based Framework

Under this framework a completedescription of the profession iscontained in the Competency Profile,which is then divided into a numberof Competency Areas which arebroad clusters of activities, of whichonly 6-8 are necessary to encompassthe entire profession.

Each Competency Area is thensubdivided into a series of GeneralCompetencies which are relativelybroad competency statements, eachcontaining a number of related jobtasks. It may be expected that perhaps8-10 General Competencies wouldbe sufficient per Competency Area.

Finally, each General Competency isfurther characterized by a number ofSpecific Competencies, each onespecifying a stand-alone task. Again,8-10 Specific Competencies wouldbe necessary to adequately defineeach General Competency.

Thus a Competency Profile for theprofession may contain severalhundred Specific Competencies (500-600 is typical), arranged into 7 or 8different Areas, each with a series ofGeneral Competencies as sub-headings.

Established educational theory is usedto compose and structure thecompetency statements, such that theCompetency Profile provides acomprehensive, measurable anddefensible listing of registrationrequirements.

In this process it is possible to utilizeas source documents availablepublications such as educationalprogram materials (i.e. showing thelearning outcomes), professionalspecifications, certification criteria,etc. In our analysis, this approach willbe followed, where feasible, therebyreducing the amount of material thatmust be developed from firstprinciples.

. . . competenc ies i nc l udeknowledge, practical skill andattitudinal or behaviouralcomponents, thus providing acomprehensive description ofthe requirements for effectivecounseling practice.

Report from the Task Group for CounselorCertification

british columbialegislative updateBy JIM BROWNE, Coordinator

continued on page 12

the script page 12

Working CommitteeComposition

Each Task Group memberorganization was asked todesignate 2 of their members.

American Association ofPastoral Counselors and theCanadian Association forPastoral Practice: Randy Frost(RCC) and Shiella Fodchuk (RCC)

British Columbia Art TherapyAssociation: Coleen Gold (ATR)

B. C. Association of ClinicalCounselors: Glen Grigg (RCC) andArden Henley (RCC)

British Columbia Association forMarriage and Family Therapy: JohnFriesen (RMFT) and Max Innes(RMFT)

Canadian Counseling Association:Blythe Shepard (CCC) and DavidPaterson (CCC)

Canadian Professional CounselorsAssociation: Dan Keeran(RPC/RSW) and Libby Stowers(RPC)

Music Therapy Association of B.C.:Kevin Kirkland (MTA) and StevenWilliams (MTA/CMT)

Chair: Jim Browne;Consultant/Facilitator: David Cane

Action I

Proposed Scope of PracticeStatement: Practice of CounselingTherapy

The practice of Counseling Therapyassists people experiencingdifficulties in relationships, or withinthemselves, and enhances theirgrowth as persons, by making useofrelational, conversational orexpressive means informed byestablished counseling andpsychotherapeutic theories;research; techniques; ethical

standards; and human diversity andtraditions.

Action II

Drafting Competency Areas withGeneral Competencies andStatements

(As of June 24th, 2004)

1.Foundational Knowledge andApplication to Practice

e.g., Counseling Therapy as aprofession; domain/cognitive;statement: Explain the role of thecounseling profession within the BCand Canadian Health Care System

2.Professional Relationships

e.g., Establishing therapeuticrelationships; domains/cognitive,psychomotor and affective;statement: Establish and maintaineffective therapeutic relationshipswith clients

3.Professional Issues &Ethics

e.g., Application of codes of ethics;domains/cognitive and affective;statement: Comply with relevantCode of Ethics

4.Clinical Practice

e.g., Record Keeping;domains/cognitive and psychomotor;statement: Maintain accurate andcomplete client records

5.Counseling Process: Introduction

e.g., Intake, interview andorientation; domains/cognitive,psychomotor and affective;statement: Orient client to thecounselling process

6.Counseling Process Interventions

e.g., Establish and maintain thetherapeutic alliance;

domains/cognitive/psychomotorand affective; statement:Establish and maintain aneffective therapeutic alliance

7.Counseling Process: Closure

e.g., Recognizing when closureis appropriate; domains/cognitiveand affective; statement: Identify

when closure is appropriate

(A possible 8th Competency Area of“Research and Program Evaluation”was identified by the committee inJuly…)

Members will see, and hopefullyappreciate, that establishing acomprehensive description of therequirements for effective, responsibleand accountable counseling practice,is a huge task. A clear articulation ofthe entry-level competencies that aredefinable, measurable and defensibleis of critical importance to aprofession with a potentially diversemembership.

Edited for the script and reproducedwith the kind permission of BCACC.The full version of this article can befound at their web site www.bc-counsellors.org.

Update...On October 12, 2004, the federalCabinet found that BC’s PIPA issubstantially similar to the federallegislation, the Personal InformationProtection and Electronic DocumentsAct, and – as a result – the Cabinetapproved an order that has the effectof exempting BC counselors inprivate practice from having tocomply with the federal legislation.

...Counseling Therapy assistspeople experiencing difficultiesin relationships, or withinthemselves, and enhances theirgrowth as persons...

BC legislative update contd

the script page 13

The field of counseling hypnotherapyis evolving and growing in populraitywith the public as they seek to healthemselves in a way that recognisesthe many and intricate ways thatbody, mind and spirit areinterconnected.

Legislation is often slow to catch upwith the experience of the public andin BC a long process that may resultin “counseling hypnotherapist” beingconsidered a specialty area under thework of the Task Group onCounselor Certification is coming toan end - which is why we haveincluded an extract from their recentreport here.

It is interesting to note how differentjurisdictions have dealt with thisissue. For example, in Texas,counseling hypnotherapists arerequired to call themselves”hypnotists” unless they have otherdegrees or licences forpsychological/mental health therapy.Do please let us know about the lawwhere you live.

This edition of the script containsan inspirational article by counselinghypnotherapist Mahmud Nestman.Mahmud has also just become

editor’snote

Director of Standards & Ethics, sothis is a great opportunity to get toknow his work better.

Jensi Eastburn, a native of Torontoalthough she is now based in Denver,has contributed a detailed andpractical article on usinghypnotherapy for fertility.

As editor, I encourage yourcontributions and comments via letteror email, 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 copy of the script possible - ourcontributors and the newly recruitednewsletter committee: Diane Auld,David Greig and Lee-Anne Wiseman.

I hope you enjoy this second issue ofthe script.

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

Moi

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Watcher, world-guardian, giver ofstrength, courage, /willpower, self-preservation, introspection, goinginside yourself for answers,studying the importance of dreams,instinct, healing.

Symbolic meaning

Bear

Ala

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