From Abracadabra to Zombies
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comments:
hypnosis
31 Dec 1997
Responding to your piece on hypnosis. I am in agreement with everything
you say, especially with regard to all the repressed memory nonsense, trance-state
theories, and the like. I use hypnosis in therapy with brain injured patients,
chronic pain patients, and anxiety patients. Hypnosis, like you say, is
not a special trance-like state, but it is an enhanced state of attention.
Such a state can be induced by a good TV show, an interesting conversation,
a good book, etc. In a hypnotherapy session, the therapist, with the help
of the client, uses this state to help the client achieve behavior or emotional
change. It is a client-centered process, and all clients are taught self-hypnosis,
which is nothing more than teaching them how to gain better control of
their own emotions, and apply it in the real world. Nothing mysterious.
Well-controlled clinical experimental studies have shown that the addition
of hypnosis to psychotherapeutic procedures makes them more effective.
You make a lot of good points, but don't throw it out entirely.
Robert M. Stein, Ph.D.
Center for Neurobehavioral Health, Ltd.
Lancaster, PA
reply: I agree that hypnosis has its uses in some forms of behavior modification. My main concerns are with claims that hypnosis brings about an altered state of consciousness and such associated claims as mind control or being able to communicate directly with the unconscious mind, reservoir of deep truths and memories of evil.
12 Sep 1997
I am greatly impressed by your lack of scholarly understanding of
hypnosis. I would like to refer you to the work of the late Dr Milton Erickson
and Dr Ernest Rossi as well as the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
(a nonprofit PROFESSIONAL organization). Regarding false memory syndrome:
do you actually know of any hypnotherapist who "nurtures delusions of evil
suffered" in their clients, thus doing "irreparable harm" ???? I think
this is speculation on your part. People are motivated basically by two
things: fear and/or self interest. It is obvious to me that you are misleading
your readership.
Ken Steinmetz, CHT
San Franciso
reply: let me guess what motivates you: not fear. As for the reports
of misuses of hypnotherapy, I refer you to Dr. Sanger's book on Crazy
Therapies, to numerous reports from the American Psychological Association
and to cases which have gone to trial and have been widely reported in
the mass media.
14 Jan 1998
I wanted to respond to a comment made by Ken Steinmetz in his September
response to the Hypnosis article. He said: "Regarding false memory syndrome:
do you actually know of any hypnotherapist who 'nurtures delusions of evil
suffered' in their clients, thus doing 'irreparable harm' ???? I think
this is speculation on your part."
I know of one particular person who does precisely that: Budd Hopkins.
Well, OK, I don't know if he still uses hypnotism to do his dirty work, but I know that he used to. Perhaps he's been more careful lately to just "counsel" abductees rather than hypnotize them. I read a great book by Phil Klass (formerly of CSICOP) on the subject a few years back, and he detailed Hopkins' one-man crusade to convince the public that we were all abducted. Hopkins is one of those folks who are on my "people who should be stopped with a restraining order" list.
Budd fits Ken's description perfectly. He nurtures delusions of evil suffered, and does irreparable harm to his clients by making them think that they underwent horrible experiences that never really happened to them. People who've been convinced that they were abducted tend to be worse off than they'd be if they weren't. Would you hire somebody who put "anally probed by aliens" in the "extracurricular activities" section of his job application?
I know Budd is mentioned in the Skeptic's Dictionary, in the review
of the Nova program on Alien Abductions. I was surprised, however,
that he didn't get a direct link in the "H" section of the index.
Tony Fabris
reply: Hopkins fits the bill but he is not a therapist.
hypnosis
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