From the Desk of the President

It was great starting my term as president during such a successful Annual Scientific Meeting and Workshops (ASMW). While the theme of the meeting involved artificial intelligence, there was an abundance of human intelligence on display. The presentations evidenced the knowledge, creativity, and dedication of those who took the time and effort to share their work with us. I give my thanks to them for their hard work. Also apparent was the broad range of applications of hypnosis in healthcare by various professional disciplines and the diversity of approaches used. I want to thank the members of the planning committee who helped to make the meeting possible: David Gaffney, LMSW; Karen Slaton, PhD; John Hall, LIMHP, LADC, CCTP; Louis Damis, PhD, ABPP, FASCH; Anita Jung, LPC-S; Eva Szigethy, MD; Dov Glazer, DDS, ABHD; and Ran Anbar, MD, FAAP. 

While the meeting was done virtually and most participated from the comfort of their home or office, we also had the option to get together with colleagues in the DC meeting rooms of our managing agency, Kellen. It was wonderful being with colleagues, and I want to thank Ran Anbar for his efforts in planning the in-person gathering. I want to thank Kellen staff, especially the tireless, painstaking, patient work of ASCH Education Manager Charlie Healy, PhD. Additionally, I want to recognize the ongoing commitment JerrieLynn Kind has displayed to ASCH, who is transitioning from being our executive director, and to Matthew Clark, our new executive director, both of whom were there to assist throughout the meeting.   

An additional benefit of our new ASMW format is that all of the presentations were recorded and will be available to those who registered for the program. This enables registrants to view all of the ASMW presentations, not only one of the four alternatives available at each session. Presentations will be available in the near future for purchase for those who were unable to attend, and I encourage all to review the richness of the presentations.  

It was suggested by a number of colleagues that I share my presidential address in this newsletter, and I am humbly doing so: 

Presidential Address: 

As many of you may experience, I often struggle with ambivalence. This ambivalence is often influenced by voices I admire from the past. In one ear, I hear Groucho Marx saying, “I would not want to belong to any club that would have me as a member” (nevertheless, one that wants me to be its president). In the other ear, I hear Albert Einstein saying, “Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” Being here, I’m going with Einstein — at least for now. 

I am humbled by those who have served ASCH in this role in the past, and grateful to those willing to currently serve on the board, and those doing the real work in committees, teaching ASCH courses, presenting workshops, and supervising those going for certification.   

Hypnosis has suffered in recent years in the marketplace of ideas, resulting in ASCH’s decline in membership and financial well-being. We need to find creative ways to reach out to all licensed health professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists, who have, to date, not had much exposure to hypnosis and hypnotic communication, unaware of how it can enhance their work. 

Relatedly, we also need to find innovative ways to get the word out that training in hypnosis can enhance any healing activity or approach, whether or not you ever do formal hypnosis. Just as a start to a long list: through enhanced sensitivity to verbal and nonverbal communication, improved ability to connect with patients on multiple levels, and to use therapeutic language far more effectively. 

To do this we need to find creative ways to expand our cadre of dedicated teachers and let trainees know there is a pathway to teaching.   

Our new President-Elect Dana Lebo, with whom I look forward to serving, exemplified such a creative and innovative response to this challenge. When we could not meet in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dana spearheaded and continues to lead the virtual Hypnotic Idea Exchange, a highly successful monthly event. 

Groucho remains in my ear, reminding me that humor is often a response to pain and suffering. What seemed like a humorous, self-deprecating remark about club membership actually reflected a reaction to the pain of being excluded from most desirable clubs due to antisemitism and other forms of discrimination experienced throughout most of his life. 

I don’t have to tell anyone listening that these are dark times, with many people, us included, suffering in one way or another, often with a sense of moral injury. 

Another voice I admire, Leonard Cohen’s, comes to help me through the opening words of his song “Anthem.” “Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect harmony. There is a crack in everything. That’s what lets the light get in.” 

I think that for many of us, the appeal of hypnosis is that it enables us to connect with the uniqueness of individuals and help them find the resources within themselves to creatively heal the cracks caused by pain and suffering, thereby becoming stronger from the cracks, and letting the light shine in and from within. We need to better shine a light on ASCH and illuminate the richness of hypnotic approaches. 

When asked towards the end of his life about suffering and creativity Leonard Cohen said, “Creativity is victory over suffering.” When asked what he learned about enlightenment from his years of study and practice as a Buddhist monk, he said, “Enlightenment means you’ve lightened up.” 

I think it is now time to call it a day. Go enjoy some good company and beverages. For those of you not here, family and friends. And “Lighten up!” 

Thank you!