Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Certification $1,800

[Questioninggeller]

Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Certification:

April 16-26, 2007 Hypnosis Certification Class

$1800 Grand Opening Tuition Special Extended to April Class!!

About the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center

World Renowned Psychic, Spiritual Teacher and pioneer in the art of Hypnosis, Sylvia Browne has been using Hypnosis as spiritual tool to help people heal for over 45 years.

Now her ministers will train YOU to use her time proven hypnosis techniques

We’re very excited to announce the opening of the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center! Hypnosis is a powerful tool that has been used by healers, priests and shamans since antiquity, to aid in physical, emotional and spiritual healing. By bridging the gap between body, mind and spirit, hypnotists assist the subject in making positive life changes. Now YOU can learn to use this incredible spiritual tool!

The Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center will teach you to hypnotize yourself and others using the methods as taught to her ministers by Sylvia Browne.

...
Training includes a minimum of 100 hours of classroom training, and practical application. Training begins with two weeks of intensive classroom instruction, which will take place at our headquarters in Campbell California.
...


From: http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/

$1,800!?!

From the Skeptic's Dictionary:

...
The hypnotist and subject learn what is expected of their roles and reinforce each other by their performances. The hypnotist provides the suggestions and the subject responds to the suggestions. The rest of the behavior--the hypnotist’s repetition of sounds or gestures, his soft, relaxing voice, etc., and the trance-like pose or sleep-like repose of the subject, etc.--are just window dressing, part of the drama that makes hypnosis seem mysterious. When one strips away these dramatic dressings what is left is something quite ordinary, even if extraordinarily useful: a self-induced, “psyched-up” state of suggestibility.
...


From: http://skepdic.com/hypnosis.html
Or Penn and Teller: http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/prevepisodes.do?episodeid=s2/hyp
Or Randi: http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/hypnotism_hypnosis.html

[Slimething]

The hypnotist provides the suggestions and the subject responds to the suggestions.


Since I'm doing half the work, maybe I can attend for only $900. What a bargain! :biggrin:

[T'ai Chi]

$1,800!?!


And? If you don't like the price or the product, don't buy it.

Or are you inventing a new logical fallacy, that $$$$$$$$$ = false

?

[CFLarsen]

And? If you don't like the price or the product, don't buy it.

Or are you inventing a new logical fallacy, that $$$$$$$$$ = false

?

The problem is that the "product" is phony. Note the weasel words:

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that has been used by healers, priests and shamans since antiquity, to aid in physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

"Aid" in physical healing? Does that mean a cure? Of course it doesn't, but that's what believers think. Precisely the way psychics "aid" the police in finding missing bodies and killers.

It's exactly the same ruse, designed to flay believers. And you fully support it.

[Questioninggeller]

Or are you inventing a new logical fallacy, that $$$$$$$$$ = false

?

What?

[Questioninggeller]

July 16-26, 2007 Hypnosis Certification Class

$1800 Grand Opening Tuition Special Extended to July Class!!

About the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center
...


http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/

How many grand opening specials do they have in one year?

[JonWhite]

http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/

How many grand opening specials do they have in one year?


None would be too many! :)

[PastBrowneFan]

You have as many grand opening specials as you need to fill the seats.

This is just another spin-off company SB created, and another one of her "church ministers" is the Director of this company. And, all three instructors are Cardinals of NS, SB's "church", with 2 of the three on the Board of Directors of NS. Looks like it really pay$ to be on the Board of that church.

For this special rate, you get to go to Campbell CA (you pay your way there), you get to pay for a hotel room for the week (again, out of your pocket), you get to learn how to perform hypnosis, then you have the privelage of being listed on their website.

Now, once you are listed, then people must call SBHTC to book their appointment, then they send the payment to the SBHTC, who then take out their take, and then they claim they will send the balance to the hypnotist.

By doing this, they can then claim these payments as a tax-deductable expense, and they guarantee that they will get the required percentage upfront for referring people.

It's all just another money making scam. Since they have such a high turn over rate in the Study Group program, since they have failed at conning people into opening "churches", since they have failed in their minister training programs, hypnosis was one of the few things left that they could milk the dollars out of.

Plus, once some sucker goes through this class, pays the money, then SBHTC still retains the right to revoke their certification for any reasons, thus guaranting that they keep utter and absolute control over everyone and everything.

SB cares about money, and this is just another tool to get money, and to gain control over people.

[PastBrowneFan]

The original game plan was to use ministers of NS to do hypnosis, which is why all three Cardinals (or Cardinal-Elect in Vera's case) were originally certified through NS. As you had more people pay to become ministers, then you not only got the money for the Minister Training Program, but you also got a fixed percentage of all of the hypnosis work that they did.

Even though NS states they do not believe in a tithe, ministers must send a percentage of their donations to NS, and those who are certified must send a percentage of their income through hypnosis to NS.

Since they could not draw as many people as they thought to the minister program, which was $1000 a person, they dropped that and came up with the SBHTC scheme instead.

Screw spirituality, they go where the money is.

[PastBrowneFan]

If you go to the NS site, and click on Spiritual Services, you will see why they had to create the SBHTC.

Out of 5 "churches", only Campbell and Renton hold "services" weekly, with the other 3 "churches" only meeting once a month.

With attendance like that, you have to find other means of getting money, so why not create a Hypnosis center?

[Questioninggeller]

PastBrowneFan, how many people attend this?

[articulett]

And? If you don't like the price or the product, don't buy it.

Or are you inventing a new logical fallacy, that $$$$$$$$$ = false

?

Nope--we already have more than enough evidence for this claim: Sylvia Browne is a lying scam artist.

Cons should be arrested for fraud. It's wrong to abuse the trusting. Man, you are really slow on the uptake...

I suppose you have the same argument for heroin dealers, "psychic surgeons", witch doctors, faux contractors, gypsies who tell people they've been cursed and the like. Were you dropped on your head as a child? Or have you always been an immoral simpleton?

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Hey, at least heroin dealers are selling their clients a product they want. At first, anyhow.

The sad thing about hypnotherapy is that people who aren't even psychics use it.

I know a fully accredited psychiatrist who does it for a very heavy price. And a doctor who's referred people to her.

Even in my senior Health class, when we were learning about mental illnesses, psychiatry and psychology and the like, the gym teacher/ health instructor presented hypnotherapy as completely legitimate. She talked about it in the same breath as psychology.

Thank God no one in my school took anything from that class anyhow.

[Minarvia]

Even in my senior Health class, when we were learning about mental illnesses, psychiatry and psychology and the like, the gym teacher/ health instructor presented hypnotherapy as completely legitimate. She talked about it in the same breath as psychology.



Yeah, I hear you. I was once referred by my physician to a hypnotherapist for a muscle problem. He acted as if hypnosis was legitimate. To be fair, maybe it can be, sometimes, but it did nothing for me at all, and I really tried to "go under." It just didn't work.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

High five, Minarvia.

I don't get why physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, teachers, physical therapists and other educated people who should know better steer their patients to parlor games.

The only explanation I can think of is that psychologists feed on their patient's superstitions to get information out of them, the same reason why they sometimes practise cold reading.

[Questioninggeller]

The biographies of the people involved:


Please Note: Sylvia will not be attending or teaching classes!

Director / Instructor
Vera Espana is the Director of the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center. Vera has been studying and practicing hypnosis and trained by Sylvia Browne since 1993 and became certified in Hypnosis 1996 with Novus Spiritus and now with the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center (SBHTC.) Vera is also certified with the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) and the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH.) Vera is a member in good standing with the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists. Vera has been teaching the art of hypnosis, past life regression/cell memory utilizing Sylvia Browne's techniques for over 6 years and has been traveling throughout the United States and Internationally specializing in past life regression/cell memory since 2000. Vera Espana is also a Cardinal-Elect with Society of Novus Spiritus, which Sylvia Browne founded and serves on the Novus Board of Directors.

Assistant Director / Instructor
John Ammon is the Assistant Director to the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center and is retired from East Side U.H.S.D where he taught High School for 37 years. John has a BA in Education and a Life Time General Secondary Credential. John has been trained by Sylvia Browne and studying hypnosis and for over 20 years with the emphasis in cell memory and healing. John has taught classes and is a certified hypnotist for over 10 years with Novus Spiritus and now with Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center. John is a Cardinal with the Society of Novus Spiritus and serves on the Board of Directors.

Instructor
Darren English is certified as a hypnotherapist through; American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), Society of Novus Spiritus and Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center. Darren has been practicing hypnosis as a spiritual tool since 2002, and specializes in past life regressions and cell memory with a focus on healing for those living with HIV/AIDS and has been traveling throughout the United States and Internationally specializing in past life regression/cell memory. Darren is a Cardinal with the Society of Novus Spiritus and serves on the Novus Board of Directors and is President of the Board of Directors of the Native American AIDS Project (www.naap-ca.org).


Source: http://sylviabrownehypnosis.com/CATALOGPRESTATE.pdf (page 13)

Anyone have further information about these people?

[Tumblehome]

...it did nothing for me at all, and I really tried to "go under." It just didn't work.


When I was 14, a friend and I, along with about 30 others, tried to get hypnotized on stage by a performing hypnotist named Reveen (anyone remember him?). We had to pass two tests to see if we were "suitable" for hypnotizing. My friend didn't make it past the second test; I didn't even pass the first test, as much as I wanted to be hypnotized.

I think the tests were designed to see how open we were to suggestion, or how well we blindly obeyed commands. At the time, we were so disappointed--we had gone there specifically to be hypnotized--but now I like the fact that we couldn't be.

I'm afraid Mz. Browne won't be getting $1,800 from me, as much as I'd like to contribute to her worthy organisation. :rolleyes:

[angrybeliever]

This is in response to QG's post on the hypno teachers.



Interesting. Not entirely accurate, but interesting. Oh, but how one of them, at least, needs to embellish and make up dates when they think no one is around that remembers.

[Minarvia]

I'm relying on memory here so I could be mistaken; but I seem to recall seeing Sylvia on Montel several years ago "regress" someone back stage. She just kept saying, "the first thing that pops into your head."
Now, earlier on the show, she said how people sometimes say that they don't want to have to pretend to go under when someone tries to hypnotize them. Sylvia said something like, "I know and I understand that. I wouldn't want someone to pretend to go under if they really aren't."
Sooo...just prodding people to say the first thing that comes to mind isn't forcing them to pretend? I can't personally recall any of my own hypnosis session when my doctor said something like that to me and I had to keep saying, "I'm sorry, I'm not under! I can't come up with anything that isn't just me making it up!"
I would really like for some people that Sylvia has "regressed" to talk to Robert or post here and tell us their experience, whether good or bad. I never hear any follow up on such things with Sylvia and her "ministers."

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

What still disturbs me is how psychologists and psychiatrists "use" hypnotherapy.

Are they really that bad at their job or are they just extracting information from their patients?

[Questioninggeller]

Interesting. Not entirely accurate, but interesting. Oh, but how one of them, at least, needs to embellish and make up dates when they think no one is around that remembers.

Who is Vera Espana and what's her role in Browne business?

Randi mentioned her here in Feb 2007 (http://www.randi.org/jr/2007-02/020209morebrowne.html#i1).

[Questioninggeller]

From her website:

SELF HYPNOSIS AND SELF HEALING FOR HIV /AIDS

World renowned psychic, spiritual teacher and best selling author, Sylvia Browne has taught her ministers the art of hypnosis and healing. They want to pass this knowledge along to people living with HIV and AIDS to facilitate healing the body, mind and soul.
...
Cost:
The cost of the class is free, but there is a suggested donation of $25. Any contributions above $25 are greatly appreciated and will allow us to offer more classes to people living with HIV and AIDS. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
...


Source: http://www.novus.org/home/hivaids_reg.cfm

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I saw the item about AIDS!

Some time ago, I was thinking of maybe going to her church services or her spiritual salons or other events so I dug around for something I could go to for free and that was, as you know, nothing.

Except the Montel tapings and the stuff for people with AIDS. :mad:

[-Fran-]

Or are you inventing a new logical fallacy, that $$$$$$$$$ = false
?

No, but, false usually = $$$$$$$$$

[PastBrowneFan]

From what I recall, the Right Rev. Cardinal Member of the Board Darren English wasn't practicing hypnosis in 2002, and really didn't get into hypnosis until sometime in 2005.

[Questioninggeller]

So Browne's latest "hyponsis session" is over, but:


SPECIAL!!!

October 15-25, 2007 Hypnosis Certification Class

$1800 Grand Opening Tuition Special Extended to October Class!!

About the Sylvia Browne Hypnosis Training Center

World Renowned Psychic, Spiritual Teacher and pioneer in the art of Hypnosis, Sylvia Browne has been using Hypnosis as spiritual tool to help people heal for over 45 years.
...

http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/


I know I asked this a few months back, but how many times in one year can you have a "Grand Opening."

[Tipush]

after reading the SBHTC thing, i decided that starting next month, every month on the 16th I will celebrate my birthday.

Please don't forget birthday gifts, I get easily offended by people who forget to give them to me.

P.S.
I prefer jewelry, daimonds are always welcome.

[Locknar]

Looking back over this thread; a cancer cure for only $25 dollars?

RSL - I know you are a busy guy, but this has all the markings as a HEADLINE story for your site.

Questioninggeller - Anything else wrt your 28 MAY post on the cure for AIDS?

Off the topic, but....wonder what Montel thinks on this; after all he has MS...I don't see where this "self healing" crap has helped him any....

[RSLancastr]

Looking back over this thread; a cancer cure for only $25 dollars?

RSL - I know you are a busy guy, but this has all the markings as a HEADLINE story for your site.

I don't follow you. What "cure for cancer for $25"?

Maybe I need some caffeine, but I don't see that in the thread.

[Locknar]

RSL - Maybe I'm reading Questioninggeller's 28 MAY 07 post wrong; from that post:

SELF HYPNOSIS AND SELF HEALING FOR HIV /AIDS

World renowned psychic, spiritual teacher and best selling author, Sylvia Browne has taught her ministers the art of hypnosis and healing. They want to pass this knowledge along to people living with HIV and AIDS to facilitate healing the body, mind and soul.
...
Cost:
The cost of the class is free, but there is a suggested donation of $25. Any contributions above $25 are greatly appreciated and will allow us to offer more classes to people living with HIV and AIDS. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

His souce is: Source: http://www.novus.org/home/hivaids_reg.cfm

Though I don't know if that link is still valid; I'm at work and would be best if I not visit NOVUS :)

If I have the wrong take on this, let me know.....

[RSLancastr]

Ah, that.

It mentions neither "cancer" nor "cure."

It mentions HIV/AIDS, and some vague talk about "healing."

It is on my list of things to look into, though.

[Locknar]

Ah, that.

It mentions neither "cancer" nor "cure."

It mentions HIV/AIDS, and some vague talk about "healing."

It is on my list of things to look into, though.


Well now don't I feel like a complete idiot *lol*; strike "cancer" and insert "AIDS" - totally NO IDEA how I got that mixed up; not like its not there in plain text.

My (hopefully) temporary lunacy aside...I'd equate "self healing" with cure, though that may be to literal a correlation.

I think I'll enroll in a local "Reading Comprehension for idiots" class :)

[Enlighten]

Interesting update, bolded:

October 15-25, 2007 Hypnosis Certification Class

$1800 Grand Opening Tuition Special Extended to October 2007 Class!! The regular tuition fee of $2000 will apply to all Hypnosis Certification Classes starting in 2008!


http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/

[Enlighten]

Now the http://www.sylviabrownehypnosis.com/ website is dead and has a bunch of random ads on it.

However on her main website:

Our next Hypnosis Training Class is scheduled for

Monday January 14- Wednesday January 23, 2008 Registration Fee: $2000


http://www.sylvia.org/extras/hypnosistraining/

An interesting claim on the website is:

World Renowned Psychic, Spiritual Teacher and pioneer in the art of Hypnosis, Sylvia Browne has been using Hypnosis as spiritual tool to help people heal for over 45 years.

Anyone have any documentation of Browne conducting hypnosis?

[ExMinister]

At one time Sylvia did conduct past life regressions. Not sure when she stopped doing them herself. Now they are done by the ministers who are trained in hypnosis.

[Apology]

High five, Minarvia.

I don't get why physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, teachers, physical therapists and other educated people who should know better steer their patients to parlor games.

The only explanation I can think of is that psychologists feed on their patient's superstitions to get information out of them, the same reason why they sometimes practise cold reading.

It's because hypnosis is not completely bunk. It can be used to control pain. Unfortunately it can also be used to implant suggestions and generally mess with a person's mind as well, if it's used improperly. I suggest cutting out the middle man and using self-hypnosis for safety reasons. Nobody can muck around in your mind if you're doing it yourself.

In addition, I learned about self-hypnosis for free. It kind of pisses me off that people like Sylvia Browne have hijacked hypnosis and are making claims about things that hypnosis can't possibly hope to accomplish. Nobody is ever "cured" through hypnosis. At best it can make people more comfortable.

[Questioninggeller]

It's because hypnosis is not completely bunk. It can be used to control pain.

Scientific proof?

[rjh01]

I just googled
hypnosis "pain relief"
and got heaps of answers. You can work out if any of the answers meant your standard of proof.

There is no such thing as Scientific proof.

Also Mythbusters tried to control a person using hypnosis. They failed. I do agree there is a load of nonsense related to hypnosis.

[Questioninggeller]

I just googled
hypnosis "pain relief"
and got heaps of answers. You can work out if any of the answers meant your standard of proof.

If you define hypnosis very broadly as "a focused state of concentration" it may be helpful in conjunction with therapy. But it is called hypnotherapy with effects no different than massages, relaxation training, or types of physical therapy. From what I gather it gets the person to focus on something else.

The methodology and purpose of hypnotherapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotherapy) is much different than hypnosis discussed here by Browne.


There is no such thing as Scientific proof.

Scientific proof, that is evidence aquired through the scientific method, including double-blinded tests and statistical analyses, can confirm medicines and activities that heal. That is how we know the difference between medicine and quackery.

What tests have shown the reliablity of hypnosis for, to quote Browne from above, "healing the body"?