relatively well, no longer suited. Options seemed limited. I knew that I

wanted to do something different, and a generous redundancy package

Janet Openshaw

allowed me time to reflect. The ideas that came ranged from the fanciful

to the ridiculous and as time passed the only certainty was that funds

My journey of discovery began in 1997

were diminishing.

when I trained as a healer with the

College  of  Healing  in  Malvern,

As winter approached, while driving in busy traffic one wet and

Worcestershire. Part of the course

miserable day, I heard a programme on Radio 4 - OK I admit it,

involved the use of counselling skills,

it was Woman's Hour, where a hypnotherapist described how,

an area that I decided to develop

during her training, she had come to the aid of a heart attack

further.  I  then  attended  several

victim while on board an aircraft, mid flight. No doctors were

counselling  courses  at  Worcester

available to assist so she offered her services. By inducing a

College of Technology and eventually

state of trance, providing relaxation and removing the patient's

graduated  with  a  Diploma  in

anxiety, she prevented the attack from escalating. The

Counselling in 2002. During this training

paramedics waiting at the airport were amazed, thinking that

I began working as a volunteer for Worcester Rape and Sexual

the time it had taken to divert and land had been too long for the

Abuse Support Centre (WRSASC) and was offered part-time

patient to survive. How fantastic to be able to help people in

employment as the Training Co-ordinator and Supervisor for

such a way.

the volunteers. I also trained with Cruse Bereavement as a

volunteer counsellor. While I was attending a course run by

Bills still had to be paid so it was with some disappointment that

Cruse I met a really wonderful lady called Kay Bodenham-Yates

I returned to automotive manufacturing in the New Year, but the

who had been working with Cruse for some years. Kay

seed that had been sown had begun to germinate.

informed me of a really excellent hypnotherapy course run by

the LCCH which she was attending at UCE and thought that I

There is a lot of information on the therapeutic use of hypnosis

might be interested in. Well, the rest is history and here I am

on the internet and I was quite appalled at the nature of some

now in 2003 thoroughly enjoying the Practitioner Course.

of the training on offer. The LCCH struck me as providing a

structured and ethical approach to training and being asked to

It has been a struggle as a mature student, trying to juggle my

attend an interview was the final piece of evidence I required.

own successful interior design business, family and study but it

has been well worth it. To keep up with the studying, I began to

Of all the milestones on route to becoming a full time therapist,

read as much as I could about Hypnotherapy from the very

the first patient was probably the most significant. I may yet be

beginning of the course. My advice would be DO IT `NOWwww'

surprised by something else, but it was with a feeling of

I have had the support of an excellent supervisor during the

immense satisfaction that, at the end of the final session, I was

course who has always been ready to answer any queries and

told that it had really made a difference.

keep me `on track'. One of my fellow students set up a hypno-

support group linked to a website where files and messages

Trying to practise while remaining in full time employment has

can be accessed. This proved to be really useful, especially

been challenging; but one by one, the obstacles to full time

when we were unsure as to the answers to some of the

practice are falling away.

questions. I also got together with fellow students to practise

and revise for the Certificate and Diploma exams between

Three years on, it is with some excitement that I prepare for the

LCCH weekends. Initially I didn't particularly like the idea of

Practitioner's Diploma. I am particularly looking forward to

doing written assignments but soon realized that they provided

seeing some old, and some not so old faces. I don't wish to

an opportunity to explore information, enabling me to gain a

appear cynical, but I feel sure that the LCCH have kept the best

much greater depth of learning which in turn has increased my

bit `till last.

confidence. How's that for a reframe!

Selling my business has enabled me to continue my work with

WRSASC and Cruse and build my counselling and

hynotherapy client base. Since designing my new brochure and

website I am encouraged by the number of clients that contact

me. Instead of creating interiors to please the individual on a

superficial level, I am helping individuals to create a whole new

existence - far more rewarding!

I have really enjoyed every minute of my journey and the

changes that it has made to my life. `Every day, in every way it

has got better'. If we expect our patients to make changes then

we must be prepared to make those changes ourselves...

George Houguez

In the spring of 1999 I found myself

living in Munich, away from family and

friends, in a job, which though it paid