by Tim Brunson, PhD

In 1957, Harvard professor, Samuel P. Huntington wrestled with the role of a professional military in relationship with their civilian masters. He defined professionalism as an association bound together by a common code of ethics. Even though his views have been occasionally referenced as authoritative by others, the elusiveness of the meaning still ranges from the extremes of elitism to almost humorous banality. At one end it refers to the most educated among us and at the other includes anyone who performs services for remuneration. Yet somewhere between the most skilled surgeon and members of the world's oldest "profession," there must be an appropriate place for competent clinical hypnotherapists. My intention here is to explore the definition of the term "professional" and to discuss its relevance to our practices.

Dictionaries tend to be just a tad more specific than common usage. According to one explanation, the word professional could reasonably describe anyone engaged in a similar trade or occupation. Furthermore, while a lack of a formal dues collecting association of pick pockets would eliminate them from Huntington's criteria, my experience working in the criminal justice system has revealed that even these crooks tend to have minimal ethical standards. Hence, as they are in a common "trade," they too could claim professional status.

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