Paul Kincade has a fascinating job. He works with crime victims and witnesses
to retrieve repressed information. He has worked with the FBI and the U.S.
Marshal's Office.
"In 1973, I was told I'd have to have open heart surgery. I went to
an ex-navy doctor who uses hypnosis with his cancer patients. I had him hypnotize
me to get rid of my apprehension -- I believed I wouldn't survive. After
a session with him, I had the angiogram and told jokes during the process!
I was so impressed with what I was able to achieve with such little exposure
to hypnosis that I wanted to learn it so I could help other people."
After getting a master's degree in human services management, Kincade
took training in clinical hypnotherapy before going to work as the assistant
to the chief of police in Chula Vista, California.
"One day, an officer sought my help with a man whose niece was killed when
his motorcycle was struck by a hit and run driver. It worked so well that
other officers then came to me with their unsolved cases. Soon word spread
to other agencies and they requested my assistance. These included the FBI
and the Mexican State Judicial Police.
"The latter used me in six homicides and robberies. It was interesting
in that none of the six Mexicans I hypnotized spoke a word of English, so
I had to do a non-verbal trance induction and then question them through an
interpreter I took with me," Kincade explains.
Is there a difference between clinical hypnosis and forensic hypnosis?
Yes, says Kincade. "The induction techniques are much the same, but the questioning
is radically different. Clinical hypnotherapists are trained to use fantasy,
guided imagery and leading questions, any of which will contaminate evidence
and get the case thrown out. That's why my bill requires those eligible
be trained specifically in forensic techniques."
In 1997, Kincade was instrumental in getting legislation passed in the
state of Nevada that made post-hypnotic testimony legal. In August 1998, that
bill met its first test in court.
"A young lady in Yerington was sexually assaulted and, due to the trauma,
was unable to pick her attacker out of a photo lineup. The investigating sheriff's
sergeant was about to drop the case, due to his inability to get sufficient
evidence to make an arrest, although he had a viable suspect.
"As a last resort, he called me to hypnotize the victim. As a result, he
got new evidence and she was able to pick the man out of the photo lineup
without hesitation. The trial was held, starting with a motion by the defense
to suppress all hypnosis evidence. So, I had to testify on the motion, which
the judge denied, and the trial started with a jury present."
Kincade continues: "The jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts....
The sentence is automatic life, subject to appeal. This'll become a landmark
case in Nevada."
Georgina Cannon is a registered hypnotist.
Why did Cannon choose hypnosis as a career? "Because it enables the client.
The client has to choose to change. It isn't something you 'do'
to them. It's something you help them do. And once they've learned
the process, they can carry it throughout their life to solve all sorts of
problems and make change."
Cannon works with clients who want to make changes in their lives -- often
tobacco addiction or weight loss. She also works with clients to overcome
writer's block, fears, sleep deprivation and pain control for arthritis
and fibromyalgia.
Like most hypnotists, Al Rollison believes that the public is misinformed
about his career. Rollison blames television and movies, and also "stage hypnotists"
that travel around putting on shows.
"It's a real misconception -- hypnosis is nothing like that. The people
look like they're being controlled and they aren't. They are fully
aware of what they're doing, and the hypnotists pick people who want
to get up on stage. If there was something they didn't want to do, they'd
stop right away."
What really happens in a hypnosis session? "I tell them the main points
about hypnosis. There's no control involved. It's a self-induced
state. All hypnosis is really self-hypnosis."
"The purpose of hypnosis is going into the subconscious and trying to figure
out the root of whatever problem you're experiencing," says Rollison.
"You do that by relaxing the conscious mind out of the way. Once you get it
relaxed and off to the side, that person has to give up control
and let the conscious mind relax. Then you're able to go in and talk
directly to the subconscious mind."