Reposting this from the omniblog . . . recently on Omnigrads, a member posted that she has lost interest in discussing or sharing cases or advanced hypnosis healing technques in the group in large part as there are members who are only there to be nosy watchdogs for this or that organization who have no interest in actually participating or sharing ideas or spreading information or helping the profession as a whole beyond advancing their organization’s agenda.

Not knowing the specific context for this, but knowing my own issues with watchdogs, I had to laugh at that description.

Of course, the presence or not of such individuals doesn’t really preclude discussion of advanced techniques . . . unless, for some reason, one fears what they might say about what you’re doing . . . but if you don’t really think all that much of them or their position as the nosy neighbor peering through folks’ windows while standing on an overturned garbage can just so they can say "shame shame" then what they say shouldn’t matter a whit to you either. If what you do is above board then nothing they say should bother you.

The only issue I could imagine is whether or not so-called "advanced healing" is being done with or without a medical referral. The law in some states allows for alternative treatment as long as proper disclosure is made and other states require referral from a licensed medical professional. These issues are irrelevant to any organizations that any nosy watchdogs might belong to. If you are following your local laws, then you are covered and anyone who might disagree with you can go sit on a well oiled baseball bat. If you are in compliance to your local laws but don’t agree with the practices or values of any guilds, societies, or organizations, then you’re in fair practice so don’t sweat it.

I would think that as long as you preface any discussion of medical or advanced methods that might be controversial with a statement that folks have an individual responsibility in regard to compliance or noncompliance to local laws, then there is nothing to preclude discussing the techniques here or in other forums.

While I have no idea as to what particular watchdogs for what organizations the person above might be referring to here (well, actually, I have a pretty good idea and understand the frustration) but as I have had my own run-ins and frustrations with one group that fits the bill, I can certainly sympathize . . . but as I finally gave up any hope of being able to work with folks there, I cut the strings and feel much better for it as now I don’t feel I have to hold back on my criticisms or complaints or discussions of this or that technique or method. It really is rather freeing. Certainly, I do agree with a number of the ethical guidelines of the group, but it was the political aspects of protectionism and redtape and obvious injustice inherent in the business model as well as the vast preponderence of training incompetence I had most issue with. Even so, I don’t go out of my way to mention them specifically as they’re not really worth the effort.

I used to be a supporter of one of the organizations that has observers on the Omnigrads list . . . now, I am not . . . big time am not . . . extremely big time not to the point that I actively discourage any involvement with them when it comes up . . . so I can understand your frustration . . . I used to hold my tongue or temper my statements so as not to offend the powers that be . . . if you go through the archives of my blog wherever I talk about idiots, incompetents, or just plain wrong or illegal actions, the vast majority of the cases I mention of hypnotists doing wrong or being incompetent are actually higher-ups or well-placed members of that very organization I finally divorced all involvement with . . . let me tell you, my sense of integrity and wellbeing shot up big time after cutting that cord . . . it was a long time coming but it felt good when I finally gave ’em up for a lost cause and got on with my life . . . however, that’s neither here nor there . . . while this has been discussed previously, it doesn’t follow that the presence of such watchdogs must preclude any real discussion of advanced or innovative techniques . . . if you post and jiggle the tree a bit, Jerry Kein and Bob Brenner still choose what to respond to from their email list and how they respond or not to respond at all . . . as do others in the community . . . if they don’t respond, it may also be because you haven’t jiggled the tree and posted . . . don’t anticipate a nonresponse if you won’t post . . . heck, even if they don’t respond, perhaps others will . . . if they do indeed feel hobbled, as you do, in regard to what techniques they can discuss then they might wish to consider removing observers from the list or at least keep technique discussion open while noting that not all members of the omnigrads list are members of the organizations the "watchdogs" represent and so are bound only to follow their local laws not guild policy . . . so to speak.

Why let fear of a watchdog stop you from posting and participating? You either have something to say or you don’t. You either believe in open communication, community, and the freedom to spread ideas and techniques, or you don’t. Watchdogs come in two varieties, big ol’ nasty things that can tear a leg off or little bitty noisy kickable dogs that piss on the floor if you come near them . . . if you fear discussing the real work because of a couple noisy little chihuahuas, you’re the one who is empowering them with the illusion they’re pitbulls. No matter how hard it tries to believe it is a doberman, a toy poodle will never be a doberman . . . so why would you want to act like it’s one?

If the chihuahuas and toy poodles are really too frightening . . . might I suggest a technique for simple phobias? Or, you can hide in your house and limit all communication to private email lest you cross paths with a toy poodle. If you’re really at wit’s end, there are other public venues for public discussion of techniques or issues . . . http://omnihypnosis.blogspot.com and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypnosisTechniqueExchange come to mind . . . but these, like all public forums carry their own challenges, risks, dangers, and joys . . . just like life. A toy poodle is just a kickable toy pretending to be a dog . . . don’t let it run your life.

My apologies to any lovers of ultra small dogs. No offence intended in my comparison of certain types of individuals to your pets. Ours is a cat and husky home.

All the best,
Brian
http://omnihypnosis.blogspot.com

Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH
http://www.briandavidphillips.com
http://briandavidphillips.typepad.com