I would like to express my disappointment in the Feb. 14 article “How the hypnotists take over.” While spirited and passionate, the article and headline offer a disservice to our community in the form of misinformation about hypnosis, painting a dark picture using maladaptive comparisons that might distance people from a service that could otherwise benefit them.
Mistakenly referenced at several points in the article, a hypnotist does not take over a person’s mind. Therapeutic hypnosis is a service that offers a client the opportunity to access their own internal processing. The hypnotherapist doesn’t install thoughts, rather they offer the client guidance on how to better investigate and understand themselves. There is no exchange of control; the self-control of a person experiencing hypnotic work remains fully intact.
Hypnotherapy is frequently utilized to help people recover from anxiety and trauma, cancer-related fatigue, diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, and many other medical challenges, and advancements the techniques have created a further resurgence of hypnotherapy in modern medicine.
As a Catholic and a counselling hypnotherapist, I have shared hundreds of hours working with people, many of them people of faith. A lot of good work, good growth, and lasting relief (all found within themselves) has returned to people from many walks of life.
Ernest Willbourn
Counselling hypnotherapist (Cand.)
Vancouver
Thank you for Colleen Roy’s Feb. 14 column “How the hypnotists take over.” It’s so refreshing to see someone give some consideration of current issues outside the hegemony narrative, and I enjoyed the roundabout way she created parallels from easily recognizable and accepted situations to the murky ones some people are now struggling with.
I expect it took courage to write and publish the article, so kudos to you all for embracing that virtue. I hope you can handle the heat that will inevitably come for expressing an opinion counter to those who think they have all the answers, but my prayers will be with you that you persevere in these challenging times.
Mario Tancredi
North Vancouver
Colleen Roy’s article about mass formation psychosis was right on the money. As I listened to the endless summons on radio, TV, and newspapers to get the jab and to wear our masks, it reminded me of how cult groups are able to take highly intelligent people and get them to devote their affection and time to a charismatic leader while losing meaningful life for themselves.
There are cult groups everywhere that win people over to their cause by the same methodology that current world leaders and the mainstream media have been using – dividing family and friends, controlling people’s time and energies, repetition of doctrine, and gradually adding unreasonable restrictions. The leaders possess ultimate truth (e.g., “follow the science”), use fear, guilt, and shame, impose consequences for disobeying, and make the obedient followers feel superior.
Unfortunately, this methodology is highly successful in getting people to conform.
Peter Kingsland
Surrey
Thank you to Colleen Roy for describing how mass formation psychosis can make everyday people do cruel and evil things. I think we should consider this when thinking of the unvaccinated whom the government has slyly and illogically made to be the cause of our current mandates and health crisis.
Joan Davies
Coquitlam
I wish to commend Colleen Roy for her insightful article. Sadly, there are many who do not see the way they are following. As philosopher George Santayana, said, “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” I pray for our society’s awakening before it is too late and we find we do not have a say in the matters of our lives and this world.
Carol Gray
Chilliwack
I have always enjoyed reading The B.C. Catholic, but the Feb. 14 issue struck a deep chord in my being, physically, spiritually, and emotionally! I was so touched by “Reflections on the Synod” by Mark Pan and Venita Kwan and their account of their lives, especially in discerning their calling.
They are so inspiring in different ways as they arrived where they are now as disciples of Our Lord! I can easily relate to their experiences, as I was an immigrant in this country in the late ‘70s. Like them, I am now in my “comfort zone” physically and spiritually. “For every Lent, there is an Easter.”
In his letter to the editor on vaccines and the convoy, Bob Scott hit the nail on the head. It is truly refreshing and exhilarating to know that somebody can explain simply and fully the impact of following or meeting God halfway and getting vaccinated. “Be kind to others” should be our mantra during the pandemic. Others may disagree with him but many of my friends agree 100 per cent and disregard theories of hypnosis and psychosis and conspiracies that are fuelling division not only in our country but among our Catholic hierarchy.
Marie Junio-Gambioli
Vancouver
Bob Scott and Maria Dinunzio are to be commended for their thought-provoking letters on vaccines and convoys in the Feb. 14 issue. Canadian truckers upset with vaccination mandates made their way to Ottawa, parked their vehicles, and stated making noise – a lot of it – blasting their horns day and night, disturbing the repose of citizens.
A lawyer representing organizers of the convoy claimed the blasting of horns was merely “part of the democratic process.” Freedom of speech gives one the right to speak, but also calls for the right to listen. One cannot hear other voices if a disruptive minority, amplified by money and noise-making technology, have their hands on the horn.
Leslie Michael
Maple Ridge
As Catholics let us pray to the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts and minds of each member of the Freedom Convoy with the gift of understanding and knowledge. We are living in the best country of the world. I came from Vietnam, where the vaccine for COVID-19 is rare and people with money or higher rank in government have priority to be vaccinated over the elderly. It is a blessing to live in Canada.
Co Kien Ha
Vancouver
Thank you for clarifying to a reader about The B.C. Catholic’s position on vaccinations in the Feb. 7 issue. As a journalist, it is hard for me to speak about this to people, because if we try to give the other side of the argument we are branded as unsympathetic and even anti-vaccination, even if we are vaccinated.
I hope that message reaches many people because even in light of the Freedom Convoy, we can’t seem to present both sides without being called names.
Rosette Correa
Surrey
This is a shout out to Paul Schratz for his recent articles. We are all living in difficult times and looking for the truth – what really is going on behind the scenes – should concern us all. That’s why we need honest discussions and listen to all sides without any bias.
Bozena Szucs
Burnaby
When medical assistance in dying became legal in Canada, it was meant for extreme cases of suffering, when people were already dying. Now it has expanded to those living with disabilities, and in March 2023 it will expand to people suffering with mental illness. This creates a stigma around Canadians with mental health struggles and tells them their lives are worth less than those who do not struggle with mental illness.
I thought we were a country that valued suicide prevention and openness about mental health struggles. I don’t understand how we can balance suicide prevention efforts with allowing doctors to end the lives of those who struggle with mental illness.
If things don’t change before March 2023, suicide prevention efforts will be undermined. People with mental illness need love, not medical assistance in dying.
Dean Clark
Langley
Will you please ask Father Hawskwell to clarify his Jan. 17 comment about what Christ did in Cana? Father says: “What Christ did in Cana was to hasten and localize the processes involved,” meaning the process of fermentation of grapes. However, we believe Christ changed water into wine, not grape juice!
Tadeusz van Wollen
West Vancouver
Additional letters at bccatholic.ca/lettersonline. The B.C. Catholic welcomes letters to the editor on topics discussed in its pages. Letters should be no longer than 200 words and must include writer’s address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and length and do not represent the opinion of The B.C. Catholic or the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Letters can be emailed to letters@rcav.org or submitted online at bccatholic.ca/letters.
