Many people have a misunderstanding
about hypnosis; they thought that those, who use hypnosis, could control
others. In fact, hypnosis is not used to control others, but to help
people cure certain psychological or physical disorder.
If you wish to possess such power, you should
either take hypnosis course or hypnotherapy course.
In television or movie, we always see that
those who are hypnotized can be completely manipulated by the hypnotist,
their speech or action are not under self-control, just like the hypnotist's
puppet¡K The public is just misled. Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mr. Rene
Lien pointed out that, ¡§If you don't want to be hypnotized or think
that what hypnotist said differ from your own moral views and your
values, you can resist to it.¡¨
With healing function
Hypnosis possesses the mysterious function of healing, for instance,
relieving or eliminating psychosomatic illnesses, relieving stress,
increasing self-confidence, and even smoking cessation and weight
control. Mr. Lien explained the reasons for it, ¡§Hypnosis is to communicate
with the sub-consciousness and then put in some positive message to
change one's behavior or habits the one wants to change. Sometimes
our sub-consciousness receives some false message, but misconceives
that it is correct. As a result, the behavior would be affected. Hypnotherapist
finds out the root cause of the problem through exploring client¡¦s
sub-consciousness and put some positive or correct message or belief
into it, thereby improving the client's problem.
The hypnotherapists who are qualified on therapy
differ from the general hypnotists. Although both have studied the
basic skills and theoretical course, those who perform the hypnosis
on television, or in the movie or on foreign stage may not know or
learn how to heal others. Only those who are qualified on therapy
can be regarded as clinical hypnotists or hypnotherapist. During the
studies, practicum about the therapy for the needy is essential. After
graduation, the skills of hypnosis can be applied for the use of therapy
only, but not for performance.
When we are conscious, we may repress or not
want to recall some past experiences, but when entering the state
of hypnosis, the hypnotist is able to explore these experiences through
sub-consciousness, and these experiences may be the root cause of
the problem. In this sense, Rene Lien thinks that hypnotherapy provides
a faster healing than counseling and psychotherapy.
Last year, Rene Lien offered the unique one-year
Professional Practitioner Diploma Course in Hong Kong, focusing on
teaching hypnotherapy. He thought that this course emphasizes much
on hypnotherapy when compared with the short-term certificate course
available in Hong Kong, ¡§The short-term certificate courses lasting
for a few hours up to ten days usually focus on skills. If you just
want to know what hypnosis is, you can take all kinds of certificate
course; if you want to help others or yourself solve problem or heal
disorder, you'd better take long-term courses.¡¨
This 1-year Diploma course has conducted to
its third batch, students come from different professions, such as
clerk, nurse, practitioner of Chinese medicine, social worker, counselor,
etc., the age ranges from 20 to 50 years old. The reasons for enrolment
are different from person to person; it may be out of interest, or
the hope that the knowledge of hypnosis can be applied to their own
present profession or the hope of helping others or the pursuit to
the profession of hypnotherapist.
Lack of supervising mechanism
Rene Lien spoke frankly, it is easy to work as clinical hypnotherapist,
for there is no sound supervising mechanism in Hong Kong, but with
reference to the basic requirement for hypnotherapist in the foreign
countries, we can see that it is necessary for a hypnotherapist to
complete a total of 200 hours course with onsite supervision, so as
to attain approval from the local Guild. In this sense, he compiled
the curriculum as 1-year curriculum with a total of 200 hours, the
diploma received by the graduate obtains the official approval from
the Association of professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy and Hong
Kong Guild of Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. Its holders can
become the approved hypnotist. The graduates are also eligible for
applying for the Diploma Examination organized by Essex Institute
of Clinical Hypnosis in England to obtain the Diploma offered by that
Institute.
Space for local development
Rene Lien pointed out that the present local employment opportunities
for hypnotherapists is not high, the Police Service Bureau is the
only government department which has the post of hypnotist. Some private
organizations, which offer counseling and psychotherapy services,
may only employ one or two hypnotherapist; there is a tendency for
hypnotherapists to run their own clinic.
Regarding the fee, the private hypnotists normally
charge $1,000 per session. Rene Lien mentioned that as for the case,
e.g. cessation of smoking, the clients only need to visit the clinic
one or two times, but for the big problem, for example, the coping
skill for interpersonal relationship, it takes 8 to 9 therapy sessions
for obtaining improvement.
