All is well here in Albany, New York.  I've been doing more groups / demos/ lectures on the topics of hypnosis for Weight Management, Golf Improvement, and Smoking Cessation.  More and more people are expressing interest and experiencing success using hypnosis as the word gets out.  I love every minute of it!

As I use the word 'Hypnosis' I know that many people in my community are excited by it while some others are scared of it.  The word does carry a lot of baggage. When those who express trepidation about using 'Hypnosis' to improve their lot in life express this to me, I can't help but wonder if some other way of stating what I do would be more univerally accepted and relevant in the 2000's.  I'd like to throw this out for discussion:

Since the definition of hypnosis is to 'By-pass the critical factor of the conscious mind' what if we were to identify what we do as practicing CFB / critical factor by-pass.  "I practice CFB"  "We practice CFB"  "Come to the CFB office"  "My doctor recommends that I use CFB to solve my problem"  Hypnosis = CFB .

This could establish a clean slate for the practice of hypnosis in the 2000s and position us as practicing a set of skills and techniques that are known as CFB.  It sounds credible and established, positive and friendly.  A school teacher could certainly suggest to a parent that their child would do well to use CFB to improve the childs study skills rather than suggesting they use hypnosis.  It would even go a long way in addressing the religious objections to using 'hypnosis' since the old word would not have to come up at all.

Don't get me wrong, I am proud to state that I am a Hypnotist and that I practice hypnosis - but for the advancement of the profession and to help take it to a new acceptable level, I propose that hypnotists state they practice CFB .

I'd like to know what others think about this.   George Guarino, CH 

Jerome Pindell, Ann Lanoue, Hank Linett, Barbara Davison, George Guarino 

The temp was a crisp 24 degrees. the soup was abundant and hot, and the atmosphere was brimming with interest for hypnosis and art.  The Capital Region Chapter of the National Guild of Hypnotists presented demonstrations and answered questions and generally talked up hypnosis and its benefits.  The Albany Lark Street BID was very generous in providing us with a multi-room space side by side with an art exhibit and live music.  Albany's First Friday Art crowd drifted in and around our space, inquisitive and excited.  Many had stories to tell and questions to ask. Others just enjoyed our soup (Barbara provided 3 types along with hot apple cider, yum.)  Everything went better than we could have even hoped... people are very interested in hypnosis.  World Hypnotism Day in Albany NY was a wonderful success.