Don
09-03-2004, 12:06 PM
Last night, Penn & Teller on their cable TV show, "Bullsh*!," did a "debunking" of hypnosis.
If you are in practice, you may have some people come to you asking you about it. First, here are some of my comments:
Debunking ,as done by Penn and Teller, is not an even-handed or skeptical look at a topic. Rather, it approaches a subject with an attempt to disprove its validity at all costs. Here are some of the techniques they used:
1) They equated stage hypnosis with hypnotherapy
2) They did no research to discover if there was any documentation supporting hypnosis
3) They presented some hypnosis ideas superficially, then made fun of them, using the attitude that if they seem wrong, they can't possibly be right.
However, I discovered their outright duplicity goes much farther than these typically deceptive debunking technqiues.
They particulary excoriated one well-known and very visible hypnotist, Wendi Friesen. With my experience with video and debunkers, it was clear to me that what they were showing of Wendi was heavily edited. I wrote to her asking for an official statement.
Here it is:
Hello Don,
Yes I do have a statement for you.
What they did was irresponsible and parts of it were MADE UP by them.
Please feel free to post the following anywhere you like. I really would
like the truth to be known. The pictures and notes from what we filmed
are on my website.
*******
What really happened on Penn and Teller?
Through the magic of television, it was said by Penn that I claim that I
can cure cancer.
In fact, I was not interviewed about that, I do not have ONE single
claim about curing or healing cancer on my website, and the comments
made by them were fabricated.
They made that up, and stated it as fact.
I do have several healing programs that are focused on healing the
emotional state that contributes to illness. I work hand in hand with
doctors, and for my clients who have cancer I work with their fears,
create a positive outlook, help create the imagery that will enhance
their immune system. The fact that your mental and emotional state
affects your immune system is nothing new. This is well researched and
documented. Yes, I do help people with imagery that can create a better
state of health. Yes, the word cancer is used, but not in any context
that I can cure it.
I have never, ever claimed that I can heal or cure cancer. It is
disappointing that they chose to make this claim for me on the show.
The segments they filmed were mostly in the Dentists office with some
great work on phobia release, in the MD's office on pain control with
some very powerful statements by the doctor about what he observed. The
majority of the footage that they filmed was about medical and dental
uses of hypnosis, and showed my work in that area.
They insisted that I do the birth regression, and I said no. They said
they had to have it. I agreed, but explained on camera that birth
memories are mostly metaphors that are created to help the mind heal. I
cited some research from psychiatrists who have verified that some birth
memories are accurate. However, I stuck by my statement that birth
memories are a metaphor that the mind creates.
They sure didn't put that on the show!
Toward the end they asked me about the penis enlargement, filmed about 5
minutes of me explaining that this is not the focus of my work, but it
seems to work for some men, and does not work for many men.
Same with growing hair. They asked me a question, I told them the theory
behind it. Many men have found that their hair began to grow when they
did hypnosis. The placebo rate for the hair growth drug propecia
successfully grows hair in 38% of the participants in the study. They
grew at least 100 hairs per sq in from just a placebo. Hypnosis seems to
create a similar response. Again, this was a few minutes of footage out
of the 8 hours that day.
To those of you who took the time to respond and visit my site, here is
what I want you to know.
The great work we did for 8 hours of filming that day was focused on the
medical aspects hypnosis for phobias, pain, fears, blood pressure and
stress triggers. They chose to show NONE of that.
I have built a business that is successful based on results that people
have in creating a better mind, happier relationships, releasing
headaches, chronic pain, and so much more.
The enlargement stuff is such a small part of my business- less than 2%.
My life is dedicated to creating better and more powerful lives for
others. The only reason I am successful is because of the people out
there who have discovered that they can change their life and create
what they want.
Life is full of risks. Being on Penn and Teller was one of them!
Thanks for reading this far! If you have any other questions, please
feel free to email me.
Wendi Friesen
www.wendi.com
If you are in practice, you may have some people come to you asking you about it. First, here are some of my comments:
Debunking ,as done by Penn and Teller, is not an even-handed or skeptical look at a topic. Rather, it approaches a subject with an attempt to disprove its validity at all costs. Here are some of the techniques they used:
1) They equated stage hypnosis with hypnotherapy
2) They did no research to discover if there was any documentation supporting hypnosis
3) They presented some hypnosis ideas superficially, then made fun of them, using the attitude that if they seem wrong, they can't possibly be right.
However, I discovered their outright duplicity goes much farther than these typically deceptive debunking technqiues.
They particulary excoriated one well-known and very visible hypnotist, Wendi Friesen. With my experience with video and debunkers, it was clear to me that what they were showing of Wendi was heavily edited. I wrote to her asking for an official statement.
Here it is:
Hello Don,
Yes I do have a statement for you.
What they did was irresponsible and parts of it were MADE UP by them.
Please feel free to post the following anywhere you like. I really would
like the truth to be known. The pictures and notes from what we filmed
are on my website.
*******
What really happened on Penn and Teller?
Through the magic of television, it was said by Penn that I claim that I
can cure cancer.
In fact, I was not interviewed about that, I do not have ONE single
claim about curing or healing cancer on my website, and the comments
made by them were fabricated.
They made that up, and stated it as fact.
I do have several healing programs that are focused on healing the
emotional state that contributes to illness. I work hand in hand with
doctors, and for my clients who have cancer I work with their fears,
create a positive outlook, help create the imagery that will enhance
their immune system. The fact that your mental and emotional state
affects your immune system is nothing new. This is well researched and
documented. Yes, I do help people with imagery that can create a better
state of health. Yes, the word cancer is used, but not in any context
that I can cure it.
I have never, ever claimed that I can heal or cure cancer. It is
disappointing that they chose to make this claim for me on the show.
The segments they filmed were mostly in the Dentists office with some
great work on phobia release, in the MD's office on pain control with
some very powerful statements by the doctor about what he observed. The
majority of the footage that they filmed was about medical and dental
uses of hypnosis, and showed my work in that area.
They insisted that I do the birth regression, and I said no. They said
they had to have it. I agreed, but explained on camera that birth
memories are mostly metaphors that are created to help the mind heal. I
cited some research from psychiatrists who have verified that some birth
memories are accurate. However, I stuck by my statement that birth
memories are a metaphor that the mind creates.
They sure didn't put that on the show!
Toward the end they asked me about the penis enlargement, filmed about 5
minutes of me explaining that this is not the focus of my work, but it
seems to work for some men, and does not work for many men.
Same with growing hair. They asked me a question, I told them the theory
behind it. Many men have found that their hair began to grow when they
did hypnosis. The placebo rate for the hair growth drug propecia
successfully grows hair in 38% of the participants in the study. They
grew at least 100 hairs per sq in from just a placebo. Hypnosis seems to
create a similar response. Again, this was a few minutes of footage out
of the 8 hours that day.
To those of you who took the time to respond and visit my site, here is
what I want you to know.
The great work we did for 8 hours of filming that day was focused on the
medical aspects hypnosis for phobias, pain, fears, blood pressure and
stress triggers. They chose to show NONE of that.
I have built a business that is successful based on results that people
have in creating a better mind, happier relationships, releasing
headaches, chronic pain, and so much more.
The enlargement stuff is such a small part of my business- less than 2%.
My life is dedicated to creating better and more powerful lives for
others. The only reason I am successful is because of the people out
there who have discovered that they can change their life and create
what they want.
Life is full of risks. Being on Penn and Teller was one of them!
Thanks for reading this far! If you have any other questions, please
feel free to email me.
Wendi Friesen
www.wendi.com