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The Truth About Hypnosis

© T. Darlene Cheek

Hypnosis holds as many myths, I believe, as it does truths. I think that is what drew me to order this new book, The Truth About Hypnosis; well, that and the fact that it was written by William W. Hewitt, the author I credit for peaking my interest in Hypnotherapy. Mr. Hewitt's first book that I read, Hypnosis for Beginners, teaches a full course (along with scripts) in hypnosis. He begins by talking about everything you need to know to set up your practice, your office, your clients, forms you need to fill out, and much more. He ends Hypnosis for Beginners with the best way to lay out scripts that I've ever seen, using index cards that can simply be rearranged to tailor the scripts to your individual client's needs.

The Truth About Hypnosis is similar to what my husband calls "Cliff Notes," only much more. Llewellyn's "Truth About" series is a collection of short books (around 50 pages) that cost about $1.99 each. These little books are easy to understand, and they take away the fear and misconception that can surround some of the natural healing practices as well as other areas that generate confusion and/or false beliefs. You'll find a complete list at the end of this article.

For example, I've had my husband introduce me to friends, and often they'll ask, "What do you do?" When I reply that I am a Hypnotherapist, they will cover their eyes and look away saying, "Don't look into my eyes!" Of course I roll on the floor laughing at this, but often they really believe that I can hypnotize them, just like The Three Stooges, simply by looking into their eyes and saying, "You are now in sing-sing."

The most common question I get is, "Can you make people do whatever you want them to do?" No, I can't. I've had people debate this one with me till the sun came up, and I still couldn't convince them that hypnosis isn't a magical, mind control method. Mr. Hewitt says, "Absolutely false. The hypnotist has no power over you at all and cannot make you do anything against your will. Hypnosis is really just self-hypnosis. All the hypnotist does is guide you into a hypnotic state, which you can easily learn to do for yourself, if you wish. The hypnotist is not a master, but a guide, and does not have any special power or magic."

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