Steve Roh’s Hypnosis Blog

I have heard the following from too many people:

“A friend went to one of those group seminars and all they did was tell him to relax, and then they tried to sell him a bunch of products. What’s that about?”

Well, this recent report from the Better Business Bureau sheds some light:

http://tinyurl.com/2ep4nv

“The Better Business Bureau serving Dallas and Northeast Texas has received complaints from across eight states for Changes International Inc. The company promises ‘QUIT SMOKING & LOSE WEIGHT in one brief HYPNOSIS SESSION’ and offers a 100 percent money back 10-year guarantee if the hypnosis doesn’t work.

Until confronted by The Better Business Bureau, the company attempted to instill trust in consumers by falsely claiming in online and print advertising that they were ‘the only organization of our kind endorsed by the Better Business Bureau.’

Complainants report paying more than $250 for the hypnosis seminar and a set of CDs, and allege that the hypnosis is ineffective and that the company doesn’t honor its refund policy.”

For most professional hypnotists, this is not surprising news.

If someone really expects to solve two very different problems like smoking and weight control from sitting through a generic hour-long pep-talk along with dozens of other people, then I wish them luck. I work with many clients who have tried that before.

Some of these seminars are run by people who travel from town to town using made-up titles, calling themselves “Master” and “Elite” practitioners, promising absurd success rates which can’t be proved, and guaranteeing results. Good luck trying to get a refund once they have left town.

Sometimes these kinds of guarantees require you sign a contract with conditions that are laughable:

• You must listen to the CDs you purchased at the seminar for 21 days, or the guarantee is void
• You must follow all the hypnotist’s “lifestyle change” instructions, or the guarantee is void. In other words, if the hypnotist told you to go to the gym every day, and you didn’t do so, you’re out of luck!
• You must sign up for more sessions in order to get your “money’s worth” – this is a classic use of “weasel words” that can be interpreted in any way that’s convenient to the practitioner

Are they for real?

Hypnosis is not like a magical pill. Just like anything else, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Unfortunately these traveling groups often leave behind a trail of disappointed people who may end up thinking that hypnosis in general is nothing but a fraud. This is bad for the long-term interests of the profession. Worst of all, it may cause people to not even consider hypnosis as a real option for solving their problems.

The sad thing is, there are ethical hypnotists who run seminars and group sessions.

But use caution when dealing with those who promise the moon and stars but disappear with the wind!

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I like this quote by Marcus Aurelius, one of the greatest Roman emperors:

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

People often create troubles for themselves because at some level they identify too much with their circumstances. Or they think that other people are always judging them, as if they were the center of other people’s worlds. They take situations personally even when they can’t possibly have any deeper meaning behind them.

Imagine someone taking a nap on a Sunday afternoon. Then a car alarm goes off outside. What is the “normal” reaction? Anger, cursing, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

What purpose does that anger serve? Did the car alarm go off in order to insult and disrespect the napper?

I’m not saying that I would remain calm if a car alarm woke me up from a nice nap. On the contrary, if there happened to be a brick and an open window next to my bed…

There is a tendency within all of us to take too many things personally. I think this contributes to the very common fear of worrying about what other people think. Also things like road rage.

In that quote by Marcus Aurelius, it seems like he recognized that a lot of stuff was just out of his control, and so he didn’t “sweat it”. It’s an interesting perspective coming from someone who was probably the single most powerful human on the planet at the time.

The word is getting out. Today was the 4th Annual World Hypnotism Day and all around the world people are spreading the good news about how hypnosis can help change lives.

Center City Hypnosis was featured today on KYW Newsradio 1060AM, the most listened-to radio station in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. As awareness spreads, more people are waking up to their potential, and taking control of their own minds and their own lives.

Here is a PDF version of the story from the KYW website: You Must Believe! Friday is World Hypnotism Day.

Here is a link to the live KYW site You Must Believe! Friday is World Hypnotism Day (I’m not sure how long this link will be valid).