As I write this, the world is in more turmoil than usual – the economy is unstable ( at best ), and flash points around the globe are exploding.  With so much going wrong, it is important to consider what is going right and what there is to be grateful for.  Perhaps you can take a moment and ask yourself what you are most grateful for right now.

For me, now, community comes to mind.

The Holiday Season has just ended and I am about to go back to work.  The last few weeks have been filled with wonderful experiences with family and friends.  My first thought was about how important community is to us all on a personal level.  But, then I realized how important being part of a professional community is to us as well.

It is too easy to take our gifts for granted.  We in Philadelphia are very fortunate to be part of a vibrant, varied and knowledgeable hypnosis community.  I don’t always remember to be thankful for GPSCH.  But for those of us in the Philadelphia area, GPSCH not only brings us educational programming, but also affords us the opportunity to interact with and learn from the enormous pool of talented people who just happen to live in this geographical area. 

Every one of you reading this is part of that community.  Thank you for being there.  If you regularly come to GPSCH meetings, thank you doubly.  Your participation is a big part of what makes GPSCH a treat.  If you haven’t been around for awhile, please try to get a meeting on your schedule.  I can guarantee that the intellectual stimulation and warmth of the community will keep you coming back for more.

A community is made up of the people in it.  Your input and participation are what this is all about.  Whether we are old hands or new to hypnosis, we all learn from each other.  The more you participate, the more you and the community gain.  So, thank you for making GPSCH the wonderful organization that it is, and thank you in advance for all the things it will grow to be.

MEMBER NEWS

In October, 2008 Karen Clark-Schock, Psy.D.,ATR-BC exhibited some of her recent works in clay at The All Clay Show, a by-invitation-only show sponsored by Eco Design of West Chester, PA. 

Welcome New Member:  Howard Adelman, Ph.D.
Welcome to Renewing Members: Anita B. Goldenberg, M.S.S., MLSP; James Gould, Ph.D.; Sally Weinstock, L.C.S.W.  
                              
GPSCH Members served as Faculty/Presenters at SCEH - 59th Annual Workshops and Scientific Program Conference, October 22 through October 26, 2008: Judith S. Berman, M.A.;  Peter B. Bloom, M.D.;  Eileen M. Casaccio, Psy.D.;  Karen Clark-Schock, Psy.D., ATR-BC; Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, Psy.D., L.M.F.T.;  Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D.; Catherine G. Fine, Ph.D.;  Scott M. Fried, D.O.; Richard P. Kluft, M.D.; V. Krishna Kumar, Ph.D.;  Julie H. Linden, Ph.D.;  Michele Lyons-Fadel, M.S.S., L.C.S.W.;  Edward F. Mackey, C.R.N.A., M.S.N., Ph.D.;
Ronald L. Maurer, M.A.; Adrienne Mendell, M.A.; Maximillian Muenke, M.D.;  Ronald J. Pekala, Ph.D.; Linda M. Young, M.D.     

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"

Wednesday, September 16, 2009:  GPSCH Workshop Meeting: Adaptive and Integrative Human Development presented by Bernardo A. Merizalde, M.D.
~ Previously scheduled Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Friday, March 6 – Tuesday, March 10, 2009:  2009 American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Annual Scientific Meeting and Workshops in Boston, MA.  For additional information/registration:  www.asch.net.  

Saturday, May 9, 2009, 1:00-5:00 PM: Hope, Humor and the Art of Healing:      
 ½ Day Workshop presented by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.  Sponsored by
Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine (APA CE Credit).
Thomas Jefferson University – Jefferson Alumni Hall.  1020 Locust Street,
Philadelphia, PA.  Register:  1-800-JEFF-NOW.  For additional information:
Donna Smith @ 215-955-3014.

GPSCH Immediate Past President Judith Berman writes:  While training others in the use of hypnosis, I am often reminded of how literal and concrete the unconscious mind can be.  At times, the training is mine.  I recently was scheduled to have a bone graft with screw implant for an eventual dental implant.  I spent a bit of time daily in preparation with self-hypnosis, giving myself suggestions to be comfortable, divert the blood flow from the surgical site, reduce swelling and to promote healing.  I was focusing attention on the immediate area involved, expecting that reduced blood flow would control bruising.  And so I went to the appointment and was amazed at how quickly it went.  The procedure and the days following were fine.  I had no swelling at all and virtually no pain.  I had expected some discomfort and was telling myself that it would be the 5 # Thanksgiving weight loss plan since the surgery was the day before the holiday.  Alas, I was so comfortable on Thanksgiving Day that that did not happen…I’ll say no more.  However, three days later I was surprised to see a black eye above the surgical area….  A few days later I did also develop minor bruising below the area while the black eye was a full blown shiner.  When the stitches were removed a week later, the orthodontist remarked at the level of healing.  -  Judith S. Berman, M.A.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

 A Personal Communication:
Lobsters Shed What They No Longer Need