Worldwide IMDHA members in healthcare facilities.

Bill Hershey--Las Vegas, NV "As of the first of July 2004 I am full time into hypnosis because of the part time work I did for two years (3-nights and Saturdays). I now have a contract with St. Rose Hospital (A Catholic Healthcare West Institution) in Henderson. I have been conducting group classes at the hospital for weight, smoking, gambling, irritable bowel syndrome and self-esteem. In August I began working with an eating disorders support group that meets at the hospital. Prior to moving here from Ohio I only had worked with groups several times. We ask for evaluations alter each class and they have been excellent. When working with a group it is very difficult to obtain reliable feedback but former students keep recommending the classes to others so someone is happy. I have had students as far away as New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and California. I guess somebody is always visiting friends and relatives in Vegas and when they see the success they want to try the experience also. The hospital provides me with a timeshare office at the St. Rose WomensCare Center for private sessions. Last year slightly over 30,000 individuals went through some sort of program at the WomensCare Center and about 1,000 were mine. The Center offers hundreds of classes each year covering a multitude of subjects. The bad news is that I can't call myself a Hypnotherapist because I don't have a state certificate in counseling. I go by Bill Hershey. Specializing in Hypnosis. St. Rose currently has two hospitals and has broken ground for another, which will be completed in 2 years. The hospital is run by the Adrian Dominican Sisters from Michigan. They are certainly progressive and open-minded.

I have the conference on my calendar. Life is good! [e-mail]

Del Layton C.Ht. P.C.--Australia is a Certified Medical Clinical Hypnotherapist & Professional Counselor since 1996 when she graduated with a Diploma of Medical Clinical Hypnotherapy from the Infinity Institute of Australia & Diploma of Professional Counseling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counselors.

Del has always been passionate about helping people with medical challenges in their lives, due to her own personal experience of living with a debilitating arthritic condition since her early teens. Now admitting to be 50 last year, having recovered from over 20 operations including two major joint replacements (and another scheduled for later this year), Del considers herself an expert when it comes to understanding & recovering from illness & pain! It seems entirely natural then that her "late life" career path has guided her into the medical area of hypnosis. She has the privilege of being the very first non-medically trained Clinical Hypnotherapist to be accredited to work within the hospital system in Australia! She is a pain & stress management consultant at one of Sydney's largest & most respected private health facilities--St. Vincent's Private Clinic & Private Hospital.

In December 1999, she was recognized by International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association[R] for this wonderful achievement by being presented with the "Distinguished Service Award".

According to their own mission statement, "St Vincent's Clinic is a multi-disciplinary Clinic of excellence, providing a comprehensive range of investigative & diagnostic services for patients referred for health assessment." Doctors who are specialists in their field occupy the rooms within the Clinic & refer their patients to Del for hypnotherapy & counselling. Areas of specialty from which patients are referred include rheumatology, gastroenterology, oncology, neurology, orthopedic, plastic & reconstructive surgery, cardiology, thoracic medicine & others. Del has now established Clinical Hypnotherapy as an integral part of the referral system within the Clinic. Del has also been granted visiting privileges to in-patients at the Private Hospital, when referred by a doctor from the Clinic.

By aiding patients to cope with their particular challenge at the time it is happening to them & providing ongoing management for those patients who may suffer with chronic illness, Del is complementing the specialist doctor's treatment, thereby maintaining the principles of the IMDHA. She hopes that this account of her achievements will highlight & hopefully inspire other Hypnotherapists to consider entering into this rewarding area of hypnosis & indeed fulfill the IMDHA determination to have a door marked "Hypnotherapist" in every medical & health care facility in the world! Del Layton [e-mail]

Patsy Hays--TX wrote--I would like to be a part of University of Texas here. I even went to 26 weeks of classes & became a lay chaplain volunteer to increase my exposure. But I am not allowed to use my skills, other than prayer in the hospital. Too bad. If you have suggestions for me, I am certainly open.

Response by Dr. Anne a former chaplain in a Detroit hospital: Prayer can be very powerful in helping a child/adult/go through the hospital experience--they are often scared, worried, angry, resentful, etc. You can do a GREAT work with prayer.

Please find out the Faith Tradition of the patient and then use that in the imagery of the prayer--Ask, who do you pray to when you pray?

Imagine Jesus is standing next to you and you have your head on his shoulder, he is comforting you with gentle words, listen ... If you have a question ask / seek / knock he will answer you ... Now in thanksgiving for all He has given to you let's say the Lord's Prayer together.....

Jesus is walking beside you as you go through this surgery. You and he are now part of the surgical team ... Feeling his peace, breathing normally as we say the Our Father together ...

For Catholics who love Mary--Imagine the Blessed Virgin has you in her arms, you feel very peaceful there, all anxiety is washed away as you take a deep breath and we say the Hail Mary together--Hail Mary full of grace ...

Close your eyes as we pray together. Relax and notice that God the creator is extending his hand to you--notice how strong he is and he is sharing that strength with you while you are healing here in the hospital.

Say the prayer that the patient desires to pray or if they have none--make one up. Prayer is talking with; it is not a prescribed text!

Remember to always look at the patients' forehead and send a message of Love as the two of you are together. Love heals! Holding the hand of the patient often was the key to communication--communion with their God.

Hope this helps everyone in this situation. Contact Patsy: [e-mail]

If you are working in a medical facility, please let us know so we can share your experiences with IMDHA members. Email [e-mail].