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Hypnotist's show in Logan sends girl to the hospital

When I was being supervised as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I was informed that hypnotism is a serious matter, one that really needed to be accomplished by someone well trained in hypnotism. My superision recalled having to provide therapy to a number of client who had severe adverse reactions to being hypnotized by individuals claiming to being hypnotists at fairs and other events. True hypnotism is no laughing matter.

that must be one good hypnotist or one evil hypnotist.

Okay, can someone please explain WHY the only people who had trouble coming out of this guy's hypnosis were "young women"??? Did he only hypnotize young women, and none of the young men in attendance? Something smells fishy...

Sounds like this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.

Impossible! They were hysteric females.

sounds like the young woman has other problems which led to this ambulance trip...give me a break. A poorly written article to boot.

You do nothing under hypnosis that you would not do awake. Attention seems to be the motivator here. Lonely kids looking for attention or peer recognition. Kids will be kids. You cannot hurt someone when you put them under, if that was the case I'd be out of a job.......you are feeling sleepy....relax...close your eyes...

Whoops! Hypnotism is serious business, but can be fun...I turned off the fun years ago when the prophet counselled against the fun part...

i dont believe that teenagers under 18 should be part of a show like that with out their parents present the school should not have approved of an activity like that

We'll see if all the girls end up sneaking out tonight and going to the hypnotist's house.

Why dont we give this guy his greatest challenge yet??? Turn Bush into an effective President!!! No, I cant believe that this guy is THAT good.

Thousands of great high school administrators and these jokers allow something like this to happen on a high school campus. Wonder where there thought processes where. Apparently don't know much about hypnotism. There are probably just waiting for the parents lawsuit. Stupid is as stupid does.

What an embarrassment to good high school administrators.

this is crazy. I am a hypnotherapist and this could not happen. You can not get stuck in hypnosis. You are always aware of what is going on and you won't do something you don't want to do. i think this story is a hoax.

And yet again we see things like this being blown into "won't somebody please think of the children!?". I am definitely not the only person who thinks that this state ludicrously blows things like these way out of proportion (see "Anonymous" above.)

I've been a clinical Hypnotherapist for over 20 years and believe this story lacks credibility. This story has no real facts...such as even the name of the stage hypnotist. There really hasn't been an instance of harm that has come to anyone from the use of hypnosis. That's why unlicensed practitioners can work with people in all 50 states. A person while undergoing hypnosis is fully aware of their surroundings and in control and will not do something against their moral code. I believe a follow up story is in order to set the record straight.

Alan, great political plug. I'd love to see you be an effective president. After you've tried, maybe then you can criticize Bush.

Weird article. Why so few details?

I've been out of high school over 20 years; and we used to have hypnosis shows during assemblies. We loved them! To find it repulsive that this could be in a school assembly is sort of silly. It's not a new concept by any means.

I am familiar with hypnobirthing, and yes, you are completely aware of your surroundings. Your mind is in control during labor and birth but you don't need drugs to birth. Not sure what's up with the girls in this high school. Wouldn't happen in a private school I'd say - vote for vouchers!

I am a Board Certified Hypnotherapist and a priest and I've been using hypnosis to treat clients for almost 50 years. With so little information given in the article, it is impossible to create a altered state in a public forum that would have caused an aberration briefly described. This article has to be a hoax because the actions of the 17 yo girl is impossible under any kind of hypnosis. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis in a group situation. I am also a Certified Hypno-Anesthesiologist using hypnosis when the patient is allergic to chemical anesthetics and I train doctors in the modality. I would put the problem with the young lady up to imagination and since it is impossible to know what actually happened from the article, that's where I'd leave it!
What this reminds me of is the Salem Witch trials when mob hysteria had people being bewitched to get attention or the brainwashing in some religious cults.
I would caution the first commentor 'Tab' a LCSW to be careful about heresay. There is nothing in literature to support that hypnosis is dangerous under any condition.

1) If the hypnotist had properly informed his audience that it is NOT POSSIBLE to get "stuck" in hypnosis anymore than it is NOT POSSIBLE to get stuck in your own DAY DREAM or stuck in SLEEP.. it would have prevented this hysteria.

2) Realize that people who "get stuck" in hypnosis shows generally are seeking attention from others, such as parents, peers, the hypnotist etc., and would do well to seek qualified therapy assistance, but by no means was it the "HYPNOSIS" that caused it, but only pointed out and highlighted the need. Much like a kid who listens to too much ROCK AND ROLL and then goes on a shooting spree. It was not the music that CAUSED the problem, it was a much deeper underlying cause.

3) As long as there are sensational articles about this kind of thing happing, there will always be this kind of thing happinging, be it rock and roll, video games, dungeons and dragons or hypnosis.

4) The psychological profession will say whatever it needs to say to either STOP hypnotists from practicing or get hypnosis under THEIR control because of the competition it causes their profession.