Please do excuse my week-long sabatical from this blog… I was away on a training in London last week which was utterly brilliant and I intend to write about some more soon… However, in the meantime, lots has been going on in the world of hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Firstly, there was the affair of the man in Australia attempting to hypnotise a nation! It was on most Australian media websites, but this hypnosis article at ABC news stated:

The communications watchdog has found Channel Nine breached the TV Code of Practice in a stunt that aimed to hypnotise viewers.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that the segment broadcast on the program, A Current Affair, in September last year was designed to induce a hypnotic state in viewers.

During the segment, entitled Think Slim, references were made by the program’s host, the reporter and a hypnotherapist to the fact that the story would feature a demonstration of a hypnotic process designed to help with weight loss.

The segment culminated with a brief hypnotherapy session that lasted for about one minute.

The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (2004) states that a licensee may not broadcast a program designed to induce a hypnotic state in viewers.

The watchdog also found that Channel Nine breached the code by failing to provide a substantive written response to someone who complained about the segment.

This is something that surely only Uri Geller would try usually. It is quite a funny tale that got a lot of media coverage.

Sadly, there was a unpleasant story hitting the headlines here in the UK, was this hypnosis story featured at the Daily Record about a nurse who has been alegedly using hypnosis to conduct himself sexually inappropriately.

This story is doing that usual sensationalisation of hypnosis… It attempts to make out that hypnosis is being used for evil-doing, when it simply can’t… The man in question is allegedly doing some improper behaviours, which could have been done with or without hypnosis – I wonder if the story would have made the headlines in the same way if hypnosis was not mentioned?  The article states this for example:

A PERVERT nurse tried to hypnotise two women patients before groping them, a disciplinary panel heard yesterday.

Iain Balsillie, 40, used “inappropriate relaxation techniques” on the women at his workplace, it is alleged.

The tribunal heard that he commanded one of the women to “drop for me”.

Then, when she fell into his arms, he allegedly grabbed her breasts and lowered her head towardshis lap.

The woman told the hearing she felt like she had been raped.

I would never condone any such acts… But the slant on how hypnosis is supposedly used is orchestrated by the media to make out hypnosis can be used to make people do things against their will… It can’t. Along with my many years of experience, empirical evidence and research supports wholeheartedly what I say here.

I’ll end this week on a high note though… Literally.

UK theme park Chessington World of Adventures, have hired a hypnotherapist. This hypnosis article in the Telegraph states:

Chessington World of Adventures has hired a hynotherapist to help terrified parents overcome their fear of roller coasters, big dippers and other adrenalin filled rides.

The theme park’s bosses are so concerned by the numbers of “I’ll hold the bags” mums and dads that it is calling in professional help.

Now the park is offering scared parents the chance to face their fears and get on rides with their kids by attending a session with professional hynotherapist Stephen Rigby.

David Smith, General Manager at Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo in Chessington, Surrey, said: “We understand that guests can find roller coasters frightening, however we pride ourselves on being a family attraction, so it’s just as important for adults to enjoy themselves as much as children.

“We hope that Stephen can help parents overcome their coaster phobia and let their hair down on some our of family friendly coasters.”

The one-off session will take place on Friday October 9 but if it proves a success the park will consider doing more sessions.

Mr Rigby,said: “Often parents force themselves to go on a ride so that they don’t disappoint their children, and they will try many things to overcome their fear, such as screaming or even closing their eyes for the whole ride.

“Whilst these methods may help them get through the ride, we want to help them sit back and enjoy it!”

I love hearing that stuff. Forward thinking people over at Chessington, obviously… Good to see hypnosis and hypnotherapy getting some use for fun lovers, eh?

Ok, I’ll be back again later in the week with this week’s main article, and boy have I got a treat in store for you this week. Until then, cheerio… 🙂