GPSCH HypNews


Newsletter of The Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis
Volume 6 | Number 2-3 | Winter 2010

FROM THE PRESIDENT –Adrienne Mendell, M.A.

It was, wasn’t it, just a moment ago that I began my tenure as GPSCH President? Now, suddenly, it is two years later and I am writing my last President’s Message. Perhaps I should devote this column to time distortion. But I won’t. I really want to devote it to thanking you all for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President.

As President, I was blessed with a competent, devoted and caring Board of Governors and an effective and efficient Administrative Director. They are the engine that helped our organization grow and thrive in a difficult environment. GPSCH has always been a special Society whose members are far more friendly and welcoming than most. Our members, from the newbies just learning hypnosis to our most seasoned long-timers, all value learning and are devoted to bettering their skills. It really has been a privilege to hold a leadership position in such a special organization.

And I am very proud to be part of a professional organization that brings the benefits of clinical hypnosis to more and more people. I’m sure many of you have enjoyed the moment when a patient comes out of trance and describes new insights and understandings that will change the way he or she approaches the world from now on. When properly used, what a potent resource clinical hypnosis is.

On a parting note, I urge all of you to become as involved in GPSCH as you can. Your involvement might take the form of filling out our recent member survey, making a suggestion for a new program, or giving some time to helping us spread the word and expand our skills. At whatever level you choose to become involved, you will find personal rewards that you never expected. I know I did. Thank you all.

Adrienne Mendell, M.A., President

MEMBER NEWS

Welcome New Members

Joseph C. O’Rourke, MSW – Full Member
Susan B. Sacks, MSN – Full Member
Regina M. Ward, BSN – Student Affiliate

Congratulations to Karen Clark-Schock, PsyD on achieving ASCH Approved Consultant status. Also an art therapist, Karen was the featured interview in Liver Health Today, April-June, 2010,Vol. 12, No. 2, pp 14-17 talking about her use of art therapy with individuals having physical health issues.

Congratulations to Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, PsyD,LMFT on her being appointed Chair, ASCH Component Sections Committee.

Congratulations to Edward F. Mackey, PhD on the publication of his article, Effects of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Intravenous Sedation for Third Molar Extraction: A Randomized Controlled Study, in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 58(1):21-38 2010.

GPSCH Members served as Faculty Presenters at the 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting and Workshops of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis in March, 2010: Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, PsyD,LMFT; Bruce Eimer, PhD; Richard P. Kluft, MD; Julie H. Linden, PhD.

This section is for you. Let us know what you are doing or have written, presented, taught, or if you have been honored in some way. Share the good news! Please submit Member News and items of interest for You’ve Got Mail to Stephen.Glass@crozer.org

"You've Got Mail"

Ed. Note - GPSCH Immediate Past President Judith Berman, M. A. has frequently provided her delicious baked goods at our monthly meetings. Members have asked for her recipes. Judith has kindly responded to your requests.

As I went in search of a recipe or two I began to get a bit philosophical, thinking about how my cooking/baking has evolved over the years, as well as how I "do" therapy. So, bear with me a bit, or just skip to the recipe … I do believe in choices for all.

Sometimes, yes, even now, I will start with a new patient in a fairly "cookbook" way … either because I am tired, distracted, not feeling well, etc., or because I am faced with a new patient who is puzzling me, not forthcoming, I have no "gut" sensing, etc. Other times I move quickly and confidently, utilizing a wide range of therapeutic modalities and technique, and it flows in a uniquely individualized way.

When I come across a new recipe, I usually follow it to a "T" the first time, unless … I think you get the idea. Think of Brownies. Do you like them more cake-like or fudge-like, with or without nuts or frosting? Here is the recipe for the:

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD.

2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup ( 2 sticks ) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ( never use the imitation )
1 cup unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped *
1 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
* I sometimes use almonds or walnuts instead of pistachios

In a large bowl whisk the flour with the salt. In the bowl of a mixer cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy
( about 3 minutes ). Beat in the vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Fold in the chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. Make sure that the nuts and cranberries are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Divide the dough in half. Place each half on the center of a 14 inch length of parchment or wax paper. Smooth and shape the dough into an evenly shaped rectangle that is about 10 inches long and 2 inches wide ( or you can just shape individual cookies using about 2 teaspoons of dough per cookie ). Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees with rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice logs in ¼ to ½ inch thick cookies. Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the cookies are just beginning to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Makes about 48 shortbread cookie.
ENJOY – Judith Berman

 

BRIEF REPORT – ASCH Annual Meeting, March 14, 2010, Nashville, TN

GPSCH’s own Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, PsyD,LMFT did an outstanding job as Moderator, keeping the agenda moving and adjourning at a reasonable hour. Several GPSCH/ASCH Past Presidents were in attendance, including Richard P. Kluft, MD and Julie H. Linden, PhD. Although much was covered during this meeting, we report here only highlights that may be of interest to GPSCH Members.

An announcement was made that Reinhild was appointed Chair of Component Sections. In this role, she hopes to increase the flow of information and service between ASCH and the affiliate groups. Several individuals at the meeting offered to serve on the committee. Identifying what ASCH Component Section Members would like from ASCH was one of the goals noted.

There was discussion about the various professional hypnosis societies (ASCH, SCEH, ISH) joining efforts to work collaboratively on projects. One example is that ASCH and SCEH will be working together on the production of Ethical Guidelines for Clinical Hypnosis.

A listserve is available ( www.asch.org ) to ASCH Members and licensed physical/mental health care professionals. The historical account of the listserve’s conception and usage was recounted and why some monitoring of the listserve exists.

Rick Kluft proposed the establishment of a task force to address safety in trainings and workshops, with specific attention given to de-hypnosis. He further proposed that training regarding this topic be in place before the next Annual ASCH Meeting. A motion was made and voted upon affirmatively.

Although not formally mentioned at the ASCH Annual Meeting, the following could be considered a feather in GPSCH’s cap. In an appendix distributed at the meeting, GPSCH was listed as offering the most CEU’s in 2008 of any of the 24 component societies, with the closest second being 8 credits behind. And this in a year when the GPSCH Beginning Hypnosis Training was not offered, which would have put us at 22 hours more. Suffice it to say that GPSCH has a great deal to offer and wonderfully engaged members!

Respectfully submitted,

Eileen M. Casaccio, PsyD and Phyllis H. Goltra, PhD.
GPSCH Representatives, ASCH Annual Meeting

GPSCH ACADEMIC CALENDAR

2010
SUN SEP 26
Preferential REBT: Combining Rational Emotive Behavior
10-11:30 AM Therapy with Clinical Hypnosis
Susan B. Sacks, MSN, CS, APRN, BCETS

SUN OCT 17
Brainspotting and Hypnotherapy
10-11:30 AM Craig D. Weiss, PhD

SAT NOV 6
Complex Trauma, Autonomic Dysregulation and Physical
ALL DAY Disease: A Solution Focused Approach to Puzzling Medical
WRKSHP Disorders
Carol Low, PsyD

SUN DEC 5
Neurobiological Explanations of the Dynamic Unconscious:
11-1:00 PM Dissociative Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder
Heather Berlin, PhD

2011
SUN JAN 9
Success is a Conscious Choice
10-11:30 AM Jack M. Hartke, PhD

FEB
No Meeting Scheduled Due to Unpredictable Weather

SUN MAR --
Date, Topic and Presenter – TBA
AM

SAT APR –-
Date, Topic and Presenter - TBA
ALL DAY
WRKSHP

SUN MAY --
End of Year Brunch Meeting
AM Date, Topic and Presenter – TBA

GPSCH BEGINNING and INTERMEDIATE HYPNOSIS TRAINING will be offered in EARLY FALL 2010 and SPRING 2011, respectively, in a new format. Each training will occur on two consecutive Saturdays and Sundays for a total of 22 hours. Please contact GPSCH Administrative Director Subha Robinson at gpsch@verizon.net or 610-527-3710 to register your interest in being informed when the training dates are set.

Meetings are held at Roxborough Memorial Hospital GPSCH Training and Workshops are at Thomas Jefferson University



FROM THE EDITOR - Stephen G. Glass, ED.M.



FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Between Here and There, Nowhere and Someplace – Where Are You?

As health care professionals we have spent long hours in training and we live long days and short nights as healers in the service of others’ improved health and well-being. And time out of the office, the hospital and lecture room is frequently spent attending continuing professional education activities to enhance our knowledge and skills – to improve our professional selves. While this ever-perfecting quest is laudable for our professional practice, what about you as a person? You know, that human being in there that you deploy in complex ways to effect positive change in others. Good physical health is the sine qua non for psychological health and well-being. I am suggesting that your becoming a healthier person-person improves your professional-person and practice while taking care of your whole self.

Everyday is alive with opportunities to enrich ourselves, to take care of ourselves in ways that are meaningful, profound and long-lasting. Spring and Summer are particularly inspirational in soulful ways. I do not know exactly when this Spring or Summer it will come to you. Perhaps in a flash of blue or green … pink or amber … sandy or cream. Between not performing and self-expression … vacuous nothingness and flush perfusion. As you begin to feel more and more comfortable with yourself… for you to let yourself be … to enjoy the Here and Now for today … for what yesterday may have meant and for what tomorrow may promise … if you fulfill yourself Today … Here and Now … in the moment of Yes.

You owe it to yourself and to those who care for you to care for yourself, to be ever-perfecting your human qualities as that person inside of you may blossom for an inner and outer glowing smile. That’s right. How good it feels to flow with the beat of your steady pulse … of excited anticipation of fulfillment … of dreams and ideas floating on whispers of desire … freed to full behavioral expression … wonderfully afloat and aloft in the moment of Now.

In your internal self-dialog between your professional-person and your person-person you may allow yourself all the time you need … to do what you need to do … to just be … in the most relaxed human being you know … you are becoming better and better … at just being who you are as a person … and who you wish to become more of … in this wonderful way of being.

You may decide to leave your professional duties for another time and instead take a walk and notice the colors around you, the aromas that beckon, the sound of the birds in free flight, the feel of the warm sun and the cool breeze on your face, or the rhythm of the water at the shore. You may prepare a special meal for yourself, or select to be with a friend. As you spend more time engaged in these pleasurable activities, you shed the exoskeleton of your professional-person and embrace the human person-person that you are, appreciating more and more the fruit of your decision to enhance the quality of your life in this way.

So, continue your inner conversation, directing yourself in becoming a more fulfilled person-person, a more satisfied, fully functioning, whole person. As Flay would say, “So, to all you awesome healers out there keep doing what you do. But ask yourself this, ‘Are you ready for a throwdown?’” With Your Self.

 

SGG