It is the purpose of this paper to bring attention to the credibility of
people in the field of Hypnotherapy (Hypnosis, Self-Hypnosis, and Guided
Imagery). By reading through several websites it became apparent that no Ph.D.
is necessary to be a Hypnotherapists. All that is required is that you pass and
complete 200+ hours of Hypnotherapy training.
Marla A. Sloane at the website www.marlasloane.com is a Member of the American
Board of Hypnotherapy and a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists. Sloane
is currently working on her Ph.D. She has shown in the past a strong drive in
academics by completing high school at age 16, getting a college degree, and
starting a corporation. The name of the Corporation however was not stated; nor
was the college at which she obtained her degree. She is currently a Registered
Hypnotherapist and claims to be able to “recreate your destiny.” She does have
testimonials form people she has treated that support her claim. She sites
hypnotherapy being used to help overcome Kevin Costner’s seasickness (which she
did not assist in) and states that statistically it is the best way to stop
smoking and lose weight. Sloane also sites a random experiment comparing two
basketball teams where one was under hypnosis and did better overall.
Chaplain Paul G. Durbin Ph.D. at the website www.durbinhypnosis.com has
Professional Affiliations and Awards from numerous organizations. These awards
and affiliations can be viewed at www.durbinhypnosis.com/bio.htm. Durbin was in
the military, served as Special Assistant to Chief Chaplain, and had a title of
Brigadier General. Durbin received his Bachelor of Arts from the College of
Louisiana, his Master of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta GA, his
Ph.D. from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy in Irvine CA, and has
completed 4 quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed A.M.C.,
Washington D.C.. Durbin has been published in hundreds of times in magazines of
Religion and Hypnotherapy. Durbin Has also written two books, one of which is
out of print, and one of which is in it’s second publishing. Kissing Frogs:
Practical Uses of Hypnotherapy published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
(educational 1st-college material) and received two awards. The awards were the
Pen and Quill Award from NBHA and the Outstanding Performance Award from IMDHA.
Durbin did not however have testimonials on his site to back his claims and he
uses biblical passages to help promote his business. "Whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is
gracious, whatever is of good report, if there be any excellence, if there be
anything worthy of praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
"A cheerful heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit makes one
sick." Proverbs 17:22
Rev. Dr. Douglas R. Chesner Sr. CCHT is practicing in a way that was different
from the other two people I studied. This man offers consultation through the
Internet and phone. Chesner offers his services to people that have troubles
from the 9/11 attacks at no fee. Chesner has copies of his certificates scanned
onto his website with an explanation of the process that it takes to receive
your CCHT (Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist). He graduated from the
Transpersonal Hypnotherapy Institute Santa Monica CA. He does not have any work
published but does have many testimonials from which people thanked him for
helping them overcome their addictions. Chesner’s website can be viewed at www.online-hypnotherapist.com/
.
In my personal opinion, considering that all hypnotherapy is actually self
hypnotherapy and you have the ability to end it at any time, these people all
have some sort of training in the field which makes them qualified. Depending
on the level of training does depend on the level of influence they may have on
somebody, which is why there are experts in different fields of hypnotherapy.
They did not all have the same level of experience. The thing to do in
hypnotherapy if one feels it is the way to go, is to find someone who has the
type of training you feel is necessary.