The latest edition of the Australian Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis arrived while I was in Singapore, so it was pretty nice to see it sitting on my desk when I got back.
I was looking forward to receiving it because a few months ago the Editor of the journal, Lindsay J. Duncan contacted me and requested that I consider submitting an article for their upcoming edition which would focus on the application of hypnosis and hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Of course I was honored to be asked, but at first I hesitated, because at the time I was really busy getting ready for a class I was going to teach, as well as having many other obligations. But then on second through, I decided that I really should take him up on the opportunity to speak up on behalf of 5-PATHers everywhere. I also thought that the uniqueness of our approach to handling smoking cessation would be of interest to their readers, and that the article would enable more hypnotherapists to be successful when simpler approaches, i.e., using direct suggestion along was insufficient. So, I “burned the late night oil” as they say, and managed to get it out to him in time. (Well, actually he gave me a bit of an extension on the deadline. He is a very understanding fellow.)
The article is entitled, Two Treatment Groups Hypnosis Smoking Cessation Program. The article discusses our approach to utilizing hypnosis cessation I which clients are screened and placed into one of two treatment groups. We ask our clients a number of questions which enable us to determine whether or not the client is using cigarette smoking to manage emotions, or if it is a simple habit. When we are able to determine that the clients are emotionally motivated to smoke then they receive the 5-PATH® treatment, and if they it appears that the motivation is mostly out of habit, then they are placed into a shorter program, which is a two session, shortened version of 5-PATH® consisting of only one direct suggestion session and one age regression session (in which the client is not regressed based on emotional causes, but rather to their first cigarette).
I want to thank Linday J. Duncan for his assistance with getting the article published. I enjoyed the process and hope to do more work with ASCH in the future. I believe that working with such professional organizations is a very important part of building our profession.
For more information about the article, and the journal please go to the organization’s website, www.asch.com.au.
Hello again! I just got back from a wonderful visit to Singapore where I went to visit and conduct some hypnosis training. I always love going to Singapore. The country is so beautiful, the people are so kind, and the food is simply wonderful.
I suppose the things that I enjoy most though are all the new friends that I make when I conduct each course, and visiting with my old friends that I made during my previous visits.
One of my most delightful friends in Singapore is Sister Geraldine! She has gone through our NGH Approved Hypnotherapy Course two times, and is a great advocate of the use of hypnosis. She is also certified as a 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® Teacher. “Sister Gerry” as we call her, is very busy in her ministry, but managed to receive permission to also do some 5-PATH® hypnotherapy out of our office in Singapore. We are very happy to have her.
With her very busy schedule it was not easy for her to find time to do this interview with me, so I am grateful that we were able to do it, and to get some really nice socializing time in as well. With that introduction let’s get started.
Cal Banyan: Sister Gerry thanks so much for doing this little interview on such short notice! I know that you are so busy. Why don’t we start off by having you tell the readers about yourself and the kind of work that is currently involved in your ministry?
Sister Gerry: Hi Cal, it is very nice to have the time to do it and spend some time with you. Let me say then, I am Geraldine Lim, a religious sister. Currently, I am involved in the Prison ministry and the families of the inmates.
Cal: I think that the work you are doing is so wonderful, and I had a great time when I visited the convent a while back. And, I look forward to see the new place where you are working now. Tell us a little bit about how you became interested in hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
Sister Gerry: I was introduced to hypnotherapy by a friend who was a psychologist sometime in 2002 when I was the principal of a Special School. He is a graduate of your course Cal, and gave very good feedback. What interested me was his remark that I could use the skill effectively to help the children in school and also experience a change within myself.
Cal: Oh, that is really nice. I’m certainly glad that your friend mentioned the class. I know that you and some of the other Sisters have used some of what you learned in class to help students at the school. That is just so fulfilling for me when I hear things like that. And, I know that you told me in the past that you felt like you got a great deal out of the course personally, especially because of 7th Path™. I really feel honored to have been able to teach 7th Path™ to you and another Sister working at the school, as well as one or two others who work there.
Since then you have really studied 5-PATH® and you are using it with clients at our Center here in Singapore. What is it that you like about doing hypnosis the 5-PATH® way?
Sister Gerry: 5-PATH® is done in a very systematic and wholesome way. What I value most in 5-PATH® is the process of FORGIVENESS; as it is said: To Err is human and to forgive is Divine.
Cal: Yes, I’ve heard that you are really utilizing that part of the process, and really enjoying the results that you are getting. It really is about getting results that serve the clients we work with in the best possible way! Tell me what it is you like most about 7th Path Self-Hypnosis®?
Sister Gerry: 7th Path Self-Hypnosis continuously reminds me of the love of God and my mission to love and serve. And Cal, as you know, I do my practice with Linda Damara at the Center once a week. I just enjoy being there giving myself fully to help people.
Cal: That is so wonderful. What would like the readers to know about the process and what you are doing?
Sister Gerry: I think that it is so important to be able to integrate spirituality with hypnosis. When we get into the pain of a person’s life in the Age-regression, we definitely need God to heal the pain and beg for the graces to forgive self and others. 5-PATH® and 7th Path™ help me to do that.
Cal: What kind of challenges do you come across?
Sister Gerry: Oh, that is a very good question. I find it challenging! I feel that I need to be sure that the client is deep in hypnosis when I do the work. Sometimes clients will want to emerge themselves and avoid doing the work of age regression hypnosis, which is also such and important part of the 5-PATH® Process.
Cal: You bet. I know just what you mean. But I hear from Linda that you are very good at it! And, you clients keep coming back until the work is done. It really is all about having a process that provides the kind of success our clients need to get their lives back on track and lead happier and more fulfilling lives.
What kind of tips would you give those who are new to hypnotherapy or have just been certified as 5-PATH® Hypnotherapists?
Sister Gerry: Hypnotherapists should follow the procedures and process (5-PATH®) closely! And, I advise those thinking of going to see a hypnotherapist to pray to be guided to the right one.
Oh, and when you are starting, remember that practice make perfect! You have to begin doing the work!
Cal: Of course I would agree with all of that! You are such a great advocate for the system. What are your plans for the future with regard to doing hypnotherapy?
Sister Gerry: Although I wish to continue another year at the Center with Linda, but my plans will be subjected to my Superior’s need.
Cal: I know that our time to do this interview is limited and you have so many responsibilities. How would like to wrap this up?
Sister Gerry: I want to tell those reading the article that Cal Banyan will willingly and unselfishly share with you anything that he knows if you ask.
Cal: Yes! That is definitely true. You have heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again, our success comes from your success. The only way that I can succeed is to help those I work with and teach to succeed.
Thanks so much Sister Gerry for taking the time to answer these questions and share your insights. It has been fun and interesting. I am looking forward to seeing you next year when I come to Singapore again. And, as always, I’m here for you if you need any help.
That is it for now. I hope everyone reading this interview will check back and read more from our grads who share their insights and tips about doing hypnotherapy successfully. Bye for now!
Ah, it is so nice to be back in my office here at the Banyan Hypnosis Center for Training and Services. Now that I am back I’m going through my list of things I wanted to do as soon as I got back home. Wow, have I got a lot of things to do!
One of the things that I wanted to do right away was listen to a recording Bruce and Pablo made of me explaining 5-PATH® during their Certified Professional Hypnotherapy Instructor (CPHI) training. As it turned out we managed to produce a relatively short description of the entire process that I thought some of you would like to hear, especially if you have been “foggy” at all about what 5-PATH® is.
I hope you like the recording. Leave your comments and let me know what you think.
Oh yes, and one more thing…. Keep checking back to hear the latest on my “hypnosis for weight loss” success. Right now I am projecting a start date of January 4th. That is World Hypnotism Day. That should be a wonderful time to start don’t you think? 
Cal Banyan’s Hypnosis Training Podcast #17 (right-click and save as…)
Just before I left for Singapore I had a conversation with one of our 5-PATH® graduates, who is also a 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® Teacher. He called me to tell me how much 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® is doing for him and that he wanted to see if I would offer a course on it at Kaiser Permanente. Write now we are looking at January 2007. I’ll let you all know when we have decided on a date. Sorry, this 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® class will be for Kaiser Permanente doctors and nurses only.
If you would like to learn 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® please visit www.HypnosisCenter.com or give our office a call at (714) 258-8389.
7th Path Self-Hypnosis® is a very special kind of self-hypnosis that is different from all forms of self-hypnosis that have come before it because is a holistic hypnosis program that you can do yourself. It is a mind-body-spirit approach to self-improvement that goes far beyond any other kind of hypnosis because it provides insight, and works directly with old painful emotions that cause you to become stuck in old patterns and not progress as quickly and successfully as you would like.
PS – Remember to read about the National Guild of Hypnotists’ Solid Gold Weekend in February. It is going to be fun, entertaining and you are going to learn a lot!
PPS – I’ve been having a wonderful time in Singapore indulging in all of the local foods. It has been especially fun knowing that I am going to start my weight loss program very soon so that you can all learn how 7th Path can really help with weight loss. Right now I’m considering a launch date of January 4th, 2007. That is World Hypnotism Day. I hope you will all follow along with my progress and comment as we go along.
I just had to post this even though I’m busy teaching our hypnotherapy certification course here in Singapore. In a moment I’ll be headed back to class but right now I just want to “get this out of mysystem” so to speak.
I was doing some research on the Internet the other day and I ran across some real “deals”, or at least that is what these sites are promising. Did you know that some websites out there are trying to convince you that getting a free certification in hypnosis or hypnotherapy in a single day is a good thing? My goodness, even weekend or three day courses could only amount to a brief introduction into hypnosis. I just can’t believe it.
These free and instant certification courses are obviously no more than unethical marketing ploys that most will see right through. Certainly these promoters then intend to get you to sell you on going through additional courses.
And honestly, the worst part is that these “training programs” are just about the most destructive thing that I can imagine at this time in the development of our profession. Now-a-days, all of the reputable modern hypnosis training schools and organizations require a minimum of 100 hours of training for certification. And, I expect that over time this will minimum requirement would grow. (Right now our hypnotherapy certification courses require a minimum of 150 hours of training for completion.)
As the profession continues to develop I hope to see Regionally Accredited colleges and universities offer Bachelors Degrees, and graduate degrees in hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Right now no such thing exists in the USA. (I believe that there are a few such programs available in the UK, however.)
For right now, I can only do my best to get the word out, please do not be fooled by these “free” 1-day courses, or the much too brief 1 to 3 day courses. I expect that you will feel very disappointed when you get done and lack sufficient confidence to use what you have learned. Instead turn to organizations like the National Guild of Hypnotists and learn about a good program near you.
Well, I’m glad I finally got that “off my chest!” Now I’m off to class.
Oh, and one last thing, keep checking back to learn more about my weight loss commitment for the NGH Convention. I’ll be posting more very soon.
See you at the Solid Gold Weekend!
