Dear Colleagues,

Greetings to all.  This is my last “bit” as President and I am pretty much at a loss for words.  It was with enthusiasm and trepidation that I undertook the position two years ago.  Enthusiasm, because of the tremendous team with me on the Board of Governors as well as the wonderful members of GPSCH.  In all my years of attending meetings and training for several organizations, this group is the best – the most fun and an amazing source of professional camaraderie.  Trepidation, because we were in the midst of many challenges and changes and being President carries a responsibility.  It has been quite a ride and I didn’t always have my seat belt fastened.

We have weathered a transition to a functional web site, a difficult decision to get liability insurance for Board Members ( in keeping with these litigious times ), and a way to hold Board of Governors’ meetings via teleconference.  It is important to have a diversity of viewpoints and opinions on the Board and that, of course, makes some decisions cumbersome and time consuming.  It can be difficult to communicate clearly when face to face and certainly is more so via teleconference or email.  The trade-off is still being evaluated and there will be a learning curve that will continue for quite some time.

The past two years have gone by quickly though it didn’t always seem so at times.  And so, looking back, I need to say that I’m most proud of the training program that is now firmly in place.  The twenty-hour programs involve tremendous effort, largely from a few people.  I believe this will be an important resource for the future new members and for information about hypnosis to be disseminated throughout the professional community.  Some who take training do not go on to fully incorporate it into their practices, but they do remember us and make referrals.

My wishes for the future of GPSCH are many, and include:  Continuation of GPSCH HypNews with contributions from more members – Stephen has been carrying this pretty much by himself; the addition of a three-hour course on Hypnosis and Ethics to be offered every other year; and the continued growth of GPSCH with more diversity in all ways.

I hope to see each and every one of you at our Annual Dinner Meeting.

Judith S. Berman, President 

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to GPSCH Past President Richard P. Kluft, M.D., Ph.D. on being elected President of The Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis ( SCEH ).  Rick is also Past President of ASCH.  Our local hypnosis trifecta winner is truly a winner.

Congratulations to the following Members who have been selected by the Nominations and Election Committee as the Slate of Candidates for Officers, 2008-2010 GPSCH Board of Governors:

President – Adrienne Mendell, M.A.
Vice President – Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, Psy.D., L.M.F.T.
Secretary – Eileen M. Casaccio, Psy.D.
Treasurer – Michele Lyons-Fadel, M.S.S., L.C.S.W.
Member–at–Large – Bernardo A. Merizalde, M.D.
Member-at-Large – Scott M. Fried, D.O.  

Congratulations and Welcome to our New Members

"You've Got Mail"

Wednesday evening, October 22 through Sunday, October 26, 2008:   
SCEH – 59th Annual Workshops and Scientific Program Conference at the Sheraton Park Ridge Hotel & Conference Center, King of Prussia, PA. Workshop Chairs – Max Shapiro, Ph.D. and Claire Frederick, M.D.
Scientific Chairs – Edward Frischholz, Ph.D. and Ron Pekala, Ph.D.
Contacts for overall matters:  SCEH Executive Director Dean Abby
( dabby@MSPP.EDU ) or SCEH President Rick Kluft ( rpkluft@aol.com ).

Perhaps you have an interesting idea, induction, suggestion, therapeutic technique or experience that you would like to share with members.

This section is reserved for you.
Please submit items of interest to Stephen.Glass@crozer.org.

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

 Spring and Summer

Ah, Spring and Summer.  A time of Rejuvenation and Revival.  How fitting that April is National Poetry Month.  This celebration should include those healers trained in clinical hypnosis.  For who other than hypnofolks are the astute observers and communicators on levels not readily apparent to most people.

Engaged in the commerce of human interpersonal relationships, the healer may ply the trade and currency of one’s personal narrative, culture specific idiom and humorous anecdote.  Master of metaphor, hint, suggestion, innuendo and deep understanding, with facile delivery of meaning as skipping stones thrown across the lake surface before sinking into the depths of the unconscious, only to resurface when ready to utilize the utilization  –  a mutual, reciprocal, isomeric, creative process.  

“Take as long as you need in the next minute or two….” ( Parsons-Fein ).   “… marvel at cacti that can survive three years without water, without rain. And do a lot of thinking….” ( Erickson ).    “Now, as every word travels from my lips to your ears to reach your brain, your body progressively enjoys more and more complete relaxation in every muscle and cell; and your mind delights in calm, clear, peaceful serenity….” ( Sacerdote ).    And in a symphonic approach to healing:  “… feel the wonderful rhythms of your body pulsing softly to their own special beat within you, and harmony being restored.” ( Hunter ).

And so, as summer you are planning your plants and planting your plans for restorative summer activities, consider demurely inviting daffodils, petite petunias, voluptuous tulips, romantic roses and healing peonies.  Annual and perennials, you may find or reawaken a growing spirit of oneness with all living things, our temporality, and the lasting gift of life’s pleasures we have at hand.

And for those who may allow the noise and press of the day to delay self-care or full appreciation of loved ones near and far while treating others, in the spirit of “Healer, Heal Thyself,” I would offer: “I shall pass through this life but once.  Any good, therefore, that I do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.” ( de Grellet ).

I would suggest, my fellow creatures, that we have seen them, and they are us.  Enjoy your Spring and Summer.  Fall is not too far behind.