I have sent this email to all ICBCH members….

Dear ICBCH member:

Florida is one of the few states with a history of regulating hypnosis and the practice of hypnotherapy.   Currently licensed mental health professionals in Florida are required to take a 50 hour hypnosis training program approved by the board.   Peachtree Professional Education is a Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider.

Recently introduced legislation in Florida would restrict the practice of hypnosis to psychologists.  This proposed legislation (H.B. 4039) must be stopped.    Restrictions on the practice of hypnosis do not protect the consumer, but rather limit choice.  In addition this bill would create confusion, added expense to the state and could potentially be adapted by other states.  As we all know, there are many qualified hypnotists who are not psychologists.  This includes other mental health providers, professional hypnotists, sports trainers, nurses, entertainers, and even ministers.  Mental health professionals such as social workers, counselors and also registered nurses should be very concerned about the language in this bill.

Here is what you can do to help:

1.)    Direct other hypnotists who did not get this email to this information at http://www.hypnotherapyboard.org/florida-legislative-update/

2.)     If you live in Florida, or have friends and relatives in Florida, please contact your state representative.   You can find out who that is here by clicking the top right “Find Your Representative”:  http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail….

3.)    Ask your representative  to withdraw and/or oppose this legislation.

4.)    The bill is now in committee.   If you have the ability attend the committee meeting in Tallahassee.  It appears the next meeting is February 8^th.  Please attend in person at 9:00am if you can.  Also, you will need to fill out this request form to speak:  http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail….

5.)    Write a letter to the committee members, the majority of whom are republicans, to kill this legislation. Republicans claim to be the party of limited government.  This is the appeal of the Tea Party in Florida, which did well in Florida and these arguments carry political weight.  If you are writing democratic representatives, remind them that this is their chance to demonstrate commitment to those who are seeking cost effective solutions and that by defeating this legislation they will be supporting the democratic ideal of individual choice.

6.)    If you are not in Florida, get the word out to other friends in Florida who can write to their local representative.  You can also create a well written snail-mail letter to committee members in Florida, expressing your dislike of this bill, and its potential impact on other states.

Snail-mail is most effective in my opinion, but you may also write an email.  

I have been involved in many legislative efforts  in the past, and  I have found the following tips to be very useful:

1.)      Do not write in a partisan manor, simply identify core values and communicate these, regardless of your party affiliation.

2.)    Present yourself as a trained expert (or citizen who benefits from the unrestricted practice of hypnosis).

3.)    Provide your name and contact information, and your Florida address and email.

4.)    Provide a short letter stating you wish to see HB 4039 tabled, and that current Florida statues remain place.

5.)    Always be polite and professional.

6.)    List a reason or two why you believe this is best for Florida.   Here are some ideas:

a.)    Many hypnotists practice in the area of sports performance, fitness and health; not treating medical or psychological conditions, and there are many qualified hypnotists working as performance enhancement coaches.  Restricting the practice of hypnosis may impact these professions, and potentially even Florida’s ability to attract sports training programs.

b.)    Consumers have the right to determine who the best provider of services for them will be

c.)     At the current time, economic conditions do not permit Florida to allocate time and resources enforcing more regulation; especially in an area that has not demonstrated itself to be detrimental or problematic to the general public

d.)    No other state has implemented such draconian regulations on the practice of hypnosis, and the expense of constitutional challenges would be overwhelming to the state.

e.)    The current laws protect the public, provide for consumer choice and additional regulation is not what Floridians are asking for.

f.)     The potential impact and unintended consequences of this bill may affect entertainment venues, such as cruise ships who provide hypnotic entertainment, and the risk to the tourist industry of such restrictive legislation should not be risked

If I had I crystal ball, my guess is that this bill will die in committee.  However, this is not the first time it has been introduced in Florida.   I hope this information is helpful to you and to the people of Florida.

Please forward this email or direct others  who may have missed this email to our website for this information:

http://www.hypnotherapyboard.org/florida-legislative-update/

Sincerely,

Richard Nongard, President ICBCH and CEO of Peachtree Professional Education, Inc.

Peachtree Professional Education is a Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider.

Source: http://www.hypnothoughts.com/xn/detail/716892:Topic:614019