View Full Version : How far to go (safely) without being a pro?
betlamed
03-01-2005, 12:06 PM
(Did I simply forget to hit the send button, or has this thread mysteriously vanished before?)
That other thread about the writer's gf not waking up, made me think: How far can you go in hypnotising someone else, without any special professional training (and without being a psychotherapist!), and still be "safe" and sure that you don't harm anyone?
A list of examples, even though they seem pretty obvious (to me at least):
Can you safely...
Lead someone into a relaxing trance?
Induce some widely appreciated relaxing images?
Try to remove someone's headaches?
Live out those erotic fantasies?
Give that horror movie a little extra twist?
Work on multiple personalities and other serious nasties?
Do past-live regressions?
Do age regressions?
bl
rpglover64
03-01-2005, 07:26 PM
I dissagree, skip. I think that the key word is safely, and everything below erotic fantasies that betlamed listed could end badly, especially if the person being hypnotized had some physical or mental condition.
Merlin
03-01-2005, 08:21 PM
Any of them *can* be harmful.
If I understood the question correctly it was whether or not they COULD be done safely, not whether there was a potential for harm.
Safety as a highest value leads only to paralysis which isnt very safe.
Dont drink the water and dont breath the air!
skip
Alonso
03-02-2005, 06:01 AM
Dude you live in Camelot, and your name is Merlin?
Alonso
03-02-2005, 06:03 AM
As Paris Hilton would say, "That's Hot."
Personally, I wouldn't allow anyone to hypnotise me without being very sure of their credentials. Hypnosis is not a game, and neither is it in my opinion entertainment.
Ask instead, if you had a physical ailment necessitating surgery would you allow the bloke next door to perform it? Assuming the bloke next door isn't a surgeon, of course.
Every time you enter someone else's subconscious something will be changed, perhaps on a minute scale, but nevertheless changed. Amateur hypnosis can create damage. No trance state induced by and with suggestions made by an amateur for any purpose whatsoever can be considered 100% 'safe'.
Jack
AnthonyM83
03-02-2005, 08:42 AM
I thought the question was whether it could be done safety if you're not a pro
betlamed
03-02-2005, 12:17 PM
Jack,
well, group and guided meditation has been a practice in all religions for thousands of years, and virtually none of the teachers were professional therapists. Would you really consider it an unsafe practice?
bl
betlamed
03-02-2005, 12:28 PM
Yeah, I think I'm with skip on that. Risk is an integral part of our daily life. We all constantly take risks. We all get manipulated every day in thousands of tiny ways. If I'm with a girl who suffers from Borderline personality disorder, I risk triggering intense suffering on her part with every word I say (been there, done that, so.. well...).
Yet, when it comes to hypnosis and DELIBERATELY INDUCED trance states, some people suddenly go wwhhhhoooa only let the experienced therapist do it.
Well, okay, only Jack did in this case... *g*
On the other hand, I constantly read on this forum that trance is a natural state, maybe even the state we're in most of the time.
I think the answer can't be to limit the practice to a few enlightened ones. Elites are always a hidden means of control and power. And besides, secrecy simply doesn't work in the age of the internet.
I think we need good criteria for what can be done under what circumstances. You know, like the obvious "don't mess around with schizophrenia". Which happens to be the reason why I started this thread.
bl
solaris152000
03-02-2005, 12:57 PM
IMO I wouldnt recommend trying to treat a serious condition if you were not a pro. Although a standard relaxation excersise, into some positive suggestions, cant do to much damage now can it?
Terry (existing)
03-02-2005, 02:15 PM
IMO I wouldnt recommend trying to treat a serious condition if you were not a pro. Although a standard relaxation excersise, into some positive suggestions, cant do to much damage now can it? Yes you are right, I have a doctor for instance whom I consider to be very good at what he does, but it I need surgery, he will not be the one doing it, it will be done by someone expert in surgery not medicine, yet both seem integrated...The question is, can we trust every one who visits this board to be careful to only do that which they are capable of doing, or not? Me, I have my doubts.....All to often I read posts that make me wonder at why we spend so much on education, and get so little in return, so I tend to move to the side of caution...I have no doubt that some on this board who have had no training, could do as you say, and do it safely, but when we reply, we are replying to all who read our posts, including the careless and ignorant, who think hypnosis is something to play with. For example, one of the uses quoted was the removal of a headache, I would never do this without leaving some discomfort behind to remind my client that a problem still existed that must be dealt with, such as getting an eye test, or seeking some other cause for the pain. Imagine now, that you removed the pain, and finding you could do this, repeated it regularly until the day that an examination revealed a brain cancer. You would live with the fact that you will never know if what you did caused such delay in treatment that your friend died. Not a nice thought eh? Yet the fact is, you tried to do something nice, but didn't have the knowledge to do it right......We who are skilled need to know so much about other areas of expertise that we might come in contact with, hence the need for caution even for us.......Do as you wish, but never complain at those who preach caution, they probably know what they are talking about from experience.
Merlin
03-02-2005, 08:19 PM
Dudette if you don't mind :)
Merlin
03-02-2005, 08:24 PM
Wasn't the question:
>How far to go (safely) without being a pro?
Rather than who does what currently?