M. Scott Peck, M.D. - exorcist?

A fellow traveler in Australia recently recommended a book called Glimpses of the Devil, by M. Scott Peck, M.D. Many will be familiar with Dr. Peck's book, The Road Less Traveled.

I have only just begun reading this book, and I find his method greatly differs from my training with Irene Hickman, D.O.(1915-2002). She trained with William J. (Bill) Baldwin, D.D.S., Ph.D. when she was 78, and I met Irene in 1988, when she was 73.

On the inside of the front dustcover is the claim that Peck's book "... reveals the amazing true story of his work as an exorcist - kept secret for more than twenty-five years." Perhaps he was afraid it would affect his psychiatric practice or his popularity as an author. The book was his last book, and it was published in the year of his death - 2005.

Although he mentions hypnosis briefly while describing his therapy and exorcism with a patient to whom he gave the name "Jersey", his methods seem to me to follow his psychiatric training and religious models.

My training, with Irene Hickman on Bill Baldwin's model, is likely to produce positive results considerably faster. It also does not require a larger "team" approach, lengthy preparation or long duration of effort.

I'll always remember being introduced to a C.P.A. in the Indianapolis area in about 1997. He asked what I did, and I asked him what he thought I did. He thought about it for a moment and then said, "You're an exorcist." I was so astonished that I didn't even ask him what has caused him to make that guess!

PTSD and Hypnotherapy

This morning's article in the Northwest Herald on PTSD and returning veterans and my recent visit to South Carolina have reinforced my belief that regression hypnotherapy can be very powerful in helping these veterans recover a sense of balance in their lives and a place of belonging, now that they are back home.

My study and work with a retired osteopathic physician in 1992-93 trained me to conduct regression hypnotherapy sessions with the toughest of cases.

It's important for readers to know that I am not a psychologist or a doctor or a counselor or a social worker or a therapist or any of those other things. I don't have a long alphabet of initials hanging off the end of my name. What I am, is a regression hypnotherapist.

The late Dr. Irene Hickman (1915-2002), my trainer and mentor, said this about "talk" therapy. "Talk therapy will cure any problem, every problem, as long as the client and the therapist live long enough and the money doesn't run out." Do you know people who have been in "talk therapy" for years and who don't seem to have made much progress in their recovery?

How does regression hypnotherapy work?

In the state of hypnosis (relaxation), many clients will go back to the root cause of the problem they are experiencing, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, anger, reactions to sudden or loud noises, memories of traumatic experiences encountered previously, including during wartime. The key is re-experiencing the emotions of the event(s), and releasing those emotions. And going back through the key elements of the experience 3-4-5 times (within 20-30 minutes), letting go of remaining emotions.

The "thread" or connection is broken by letting go of the emotions while hypnotized. Then, once awakened (well, not "awakened", since they weren't asleep, but you know what I mean), most clients will react or behave differently, more peacefully, without the former emotional attachment to the traumatic event.

Regression hypnotherapy doesn't involve multiple sessions over extended periods of time. Very often, one session is sufficient for significant improvement. If a client wants to return for another session, fine.

For information, contact me at gus@gusphilpott.com or at 815.338.2666 or via Skype (gus.philpott).

To read today's Northwest Herald article, go to www.nwherald.com/2011/01/03/invisible-scars/aitvom8/

For information about a South Carolina organization serving returning veterans with PTSD who are suicidal, contact www.hiddenwounds.org/

Hypnosis vs. Hypnotherapy

I am frequently asked what the difference is between hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Over the years I've come up with this explanation. See how you like it.

Hypnosis is a state of relaxation. You can be guided into it in several ways. My way is to talk to you and suggest that you allow all the nerves and muscles in your body to relax. There is nothing to "do"; just do your best to allow yourself to accept the suggestions.

In a deep state of relaxation your senses are often heightened. You'll hear my voice; you'll hear the phone ring, the dog bark, voices of family members in the home, etc., and those sounds just won't matter.

I always tell a client that she can accept the suggestions I give, or not. This puts the client in control. And I tell the client that, should there be any reason or cause of alarm or danger, she will be wide away, mind sharp, body strong, able to take care of herself and give assistance to anyone or anything in need.

With hypnosis, the hypnotist does all the talking, and the client does all the listening.

Hypnotherapy? This is different. Hypnosis is used to help a client into the state of relaxation. Then the client and I have a conversation - while the client is hypnotized.

Sessions often involve regression; i.e., going back to the cause of whatever is of interest to the client or causing any type of problem. I don't tell the client where to go. My training with the late Dr. Irene Hickman allows me to "keep up with" the client, wherever he or she goes.

Sometimes clients experience something that never happened to them; i.e., never happened to the physical body that they have (in this lifetime). Briefly, if they have a fear of water and, under hypnosis, regress to a lifetime that ended when they drowned, if they release all the emotion connected with that drowning, they may no longer experience a fear of water in this lifetime.

For more information, or to arrange a hypnotherapy session, please contact me at gus@gusphilpott.com

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