by Tim Brunson PhD

If you use hypnosis, hypnotherapy or NLP in your practice, there are people and organizations out there who want to permanently shut you down! Even if you're a coach or consultant and not a hypnotherapist, if you ask someone to visualize a certain state of accomplishment – especially if they become glassy-eyed or shed a tear or two – someone may complain that you are practicing hypnosis and find a law somewhere that will justify incessant criminal or civil prosecution. Imagine helping someone improve their golf swing and then finding out that you have tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and may lose your right to practice. And, if you already have a mental health or medical license, don't think you are immune from persecution. Many authorities in those fields routinely use their ignorance of hypnosis to ban its use and would like to see any of their colleagues who cross the line permanently banned from practicing. Licensees who so ardently study the ways of the late Milton Erickson, MD, need not to be reminded that the good doctor's license was once threatened because he dared to use any form of hypnosis in psychiatry.

Recently I was asked to make a statement as an expert in this field so that I could support the defense of Zoilita Grant, a friend and colleague for which I have great respect. She also asked for help from Michael Ellner and Tony De Marco, two practitioners who I rate as being among the best in the world. It appears that Zoilita has been unjustly targeted by the Colorado Mental Health Board. They incorrectly claim that all hypnosis is either stage hypnosis or psychotherapy. Somehow they also found an "expert" witness who was willing – probably for a fee – to support their claim. (Michael, Tony, and I were not compensated for our support.)

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