Hypnotherapy Training

A comprehensive investigation into the development of hypnotherapy, written by one of the foremost experts in the field. It provides an in-depth review of the development of the profession outlining all the issues which are faced by the modern hypnotherapist.

A must read for therapeutic organisations, trainers, serious therapists, and anyone interested in the profession. The HRS had no hesitation in awarding this work the 1998 Special Award For Contribution to the Profession of Hypnotherapy.

Dr Chris ForesterEditor, HRS Journal

I was particularly pleased to receive this book to review because it fills a space that has long need filling. I have been tantalised by the possibilities of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) for many years, but as a lay hypnotherapist I have found myself excluded from training on several occasions through not having the ''right background''. Similarly specific details are omitted from texts. Even books by its originator, Francine Shapiro, extol its virtues but deny you the information needed to utilise it. Very frustrating, but not uncommon. So often new techniques have a fence erected around them to either enable the originator to make money from it, or to limit the knowledge to whomever the originator deems the ''right people'' to use it.

That is one of the things I love about NLP. It is a magpie that collects anything new and sparkly, makes a model of it and then (usually) makes it available to the outside world. Something similar has happened in this case. EMI has its origins in the work of top NLP innovator Steve Andreas and, while sharing many similarities with EMDR, also has several things which distinguish it.

EMI is based on the idea, long accepted within NLP, that eye movements are a key part of the process of thinking. As a client accesses a memory connected to their problem, their eyes will move in certain specific directions as part of the means by which that memory is retrieved. Further, the meaning of that memory will also be connected to the areas of the client''s visual field that they access during the recollection of the memory; in part we know whether we like spaghetti bolognese by where our eyes go when we visualise a plate of it.

EMI works by having the client access a memory that is key to the client''s problem, and as they recall it they follow the finger of the therapist as it traces patterns in their visual field. These patterns are precisely determined and vary as the treatment develops. As this process develops clients often experience a profound transformation of their problem.

Danie Beaulieu has done an excellent job in presenting the theory and practice of EMI. It is thorough, well-researched, and provides everything a book can provide in preparing you to use this powerful technique safely.

The book begins with a history of EMI''s origins, and how some interesting cases the author had led her to realise the range of EMI''s applications. It then goes on to cover the neurological theories that support it, the primary differences between EMI and EMDR and possible links with the function of REM sleep.

In detail the author considers client evaluation and treatment planning - including a useful client assessment questionnaire in the appendix before going onto setting up the client session.

Chapters 6-8, clearly describe the method - the range of movements, the questions to ask, how the session may progress. There is a wealth of information clearly described.

The book concludes with a ''troubleshooting'' guide that covers the most common variations of client experience.

While a book can never replace fully the benefits to be gained from face-to-face training, this book deserves to become the major reference for this technique. There is much to be learned here that is worthwhile, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to extend their range of options.

Trevor Silvester

This is the first book on this subject and represents a timely re-write translation form the original French. Eye Movement Integration therapy, is a new neuro-therapeutic approach to the treatment of intrusive memories, phobias, post-traumatic-stress-disorder etc. Although it has obvious overlaps with EMDR, Beaulieu seeks to identify EMI as a separate discipline. There are, indeed, a few subtle but important differences. EMI uses the longer smooth-pursuit eye movements and encourages conscious connection with the toxic'' psychic material. Perhaps most tellingly the eye-movements themselves have been found to be a necessary component for success in EMI whereas studies with EMDR have found them to be sufficient.

Beaulieu begins by laying down the paradigm within which we can conceptualise the action of EMI, how indications actually manifest at the cognitive level and accordingly what we can expect, or aspire to, in the form of treatment.

Chapter three comprises an exhaustive and extremely convincing case for the efficacy and aetiology behind EMI therapy, at the cognitive, affective and neurological levels. It is already beyond doubt that eye-movement anomalies are correlated with the majority of psychological disorders, to the point that these anomalies can be used as part of the diagnostic procedure itself. The conviction that this is, to some degree, a two-way street (and this seems to be the case) is all that is needed then to justify the science behind the practice.

The general idea is that various portions of the visual field will access different modalities with regard to the memory. A systematic journey through all the areas with periodic verbal feedback whilst remaining connected to the memory will help to integrate the memory thereby combining various fragmented sensations into a multi-modal Gestalt. It''s very specialised anchor-collapsing.

The rest of the book is devoted to clinical practice. The care and precision given to chapters dealing with assessing and preparing the client is comprehensively lengthy, but obviously useful.

After completing 70 percent of the book we are finally introduced to the eye-movements themselves. Here is a facet of the book I found perplexing, despite it''s highly academic style and seemingly comprehensive nature, I had the impression that just around the next corner I would be let in on the secrets that would finally bring together all I had learnt so far. I believe a few more pages of general introduction as to the nature of the actual techniques themselves are needed towards the beginning of the book. My advice to you would be to read Chapter 7 Eye Movement Integration first then read the whole book through from the start.

A transcript of a sample session, and an index will be worthy additions to the next edition. This aside I believe I will find this work very useful in my own practice. Beaulieu insists that this is a reference work and not a manual for practising, apparently it''s no substitute for an actual training course. I like to think of this insistence as some sort of nudge-wink legal disclaimer.

Paul Jones

Those of us who have been in the field for many years are pleased to know that all this carefully researched information is now available for reference. Hypnotherapy is only now being accepted as a discrete profession. Congratulations, Dr Brookhouse, on your most timely accomplishment.

Ray Keedy, Director, National School of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy

Shaun Brookhouse is an award winning hypnotherapist and trainer (in both in the UK and US). He earned Graduateship (First Degree Equivalent) in Counselling and Hypnotherapy, a Masters Degree in Education Studies (Researching the development of training in Hypnotherapy 1971-1998) and Doctorates in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Education & Health Services, a CertEd (Teaching Credential) which the assessment was based in part on the course he designed in clinical hypnosis and Licenciateship in Training and Development. It should be noted that Shaun Brookhouse's Doctoral Qualifications are academic and professional, they are NOT medical qualifications.Shaun is a Certified Instructor with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the oldest and largest hypnotherapy society in the world. Shaun is also the past Chairman of the National Council for Hypnotherapy. Additionally, he is a UKCP Registered Hypno-Psychotherapist and an NLP Master

''Dr Brookhouse's work represents a major step forward for hypnotherapy, providing a comprehensive overview of the development of the profession, and outlining all the issues which are faced by the modern hypnotherapist. A must-read for therapeutic organizations, trainers, serious therapists, and anyone interested in the profession.''-Dr Chris Forester, Editor HRS Journal

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