Hypnotists gather to promote technique

Sunday, October 14, 2007 By: (C) Sandy Trozzo

A shady character slowly swings a pocket watch in front of a person's face as the subject gets sleepier and sleepier, falls into a trance and, against his will, struts like a chicken on command. That's how hypnotism traditionally has been portrayed in old movies and television shows, but real life does not imitate art.

Today, hypnotists work with willing subjects, and they succeed by getting to know the person who is being hypnotized and talking quietly with them about how they can stop such behaviors as smoking, over reacting or nail biting.

Hypnotism is a slightly altered state of consciousness, in which the person's conscious mind, in effect, moves aside to allow the subconscious to receive suggestions. The treatment is recognized by the American Medical Association as a way to stop unwanted habits or to help relieve pain, even during childbirth.

The Hypnotism Society was formed in 1943, and its mission is to promote the truth and benefits of hypnotism. Lois Reich, of Peters, is president of the Pittsburgh chapter which meets monthly in the Ross/West View EMS building. The meetings are open to the public and draw hypnotists from all over southwestern Pennsylvania.

Many entered the field through different avenues. Bill Duffy, 86, of Mt. Lebanon, got hooked in college when a psychology professor hypnotized a classmate to prove the existence of the subconscious.

Ms. Reich progressed to hypnotism from reflexology and massage therapy to improve her clients' health.

"They might be physically healthy but, mentally, they are pretty unhappy about some event in their lives," she said. "Change your mind, change your thoughts and you change your life. It's all how you view life."

Mark Kerr is an entertainment hypnotist. Under the stage name Magic Marker, he performs at schools, parties and clubs and for corporations.

"What I do is different from the majority here," he said. "I'm probably 90 percent entertainment and 10 percent serious stuff."

It was just such a stage show that hooked John Weir, of Munhall. He saw his older sister get hypnotized and decided to look into it. Now, at 25, he is one of the youngest practicing hypnotists.

Training for hypnotists differs throughout the state and country, Ms. Reich said. The National Guild of Hypnotists offers a 12-week DVD course and a one-week intensive course, she said, adding that conventions for hypnotists are basically training sessions.

The key to successful hypnosis is the subject must truly want to stop a behavior. George Nowak, of Crafton, is a physics teacher who specializes in smoking cessation through hypnosis. A client came to him to quit smoking but admitted that quitting was his wife's idea.

"If you are a habitual smoker, and you love it, and you don't want to quit, hypnosis is not the way to go," Mr. Kerr said.

The most significant aspect of the hypnotism treatment is the "pre-talk" -- talking quietly with the client about what he wants and why, Mrs. Reich said.

"You should take a lot of time talking to your subject before you attempt hypnosis," Mr. Duffy said. They can have a lot of reasons why they continue the activity they want to stop. Something may be bothering them that they don't even recognize.

"To me, it's wrong to help a person get rid of a habit without knowing what the underlying cause of the habit is," he said. Mr. Duffy said he once hypnotized a person to stop biting his nails but he then began picking at his skin. The underlying cause wasn't addressed, he said.

Before a recent Pittsburgh chapter meeting, Mr. Duffy talked one-on-one with a woman who wanted to stop eating when stressed. At one point during his presentation, he approached the woman and quietly told her she no longer would feel the need to eat when she experienced stress, that she was strong enough to fight the temptation. He had learned what he needed to know about her in the "pre-talk" and was ready to plant the subconscious suggestion.

Although hypnotism was recognized by the American Medical Association in 1958, the public has taken a long time to embrace it.

"When I first started, I got calls about ghosts," Mr. Duffy said. "They thought that anybody who did hypnosis was out of their mind."

First published on October 14, 2007 at 12:00 am

Sandy Trozzo is a freelance writer.

The Hypnotism Society of Pennsylvania meets at 7 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month at Ross-West View EMS, 5325 Perry Highway, Ross. More information is available at www.hypnopa.com..