June 2017: Successful Outcome in Oregon
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to inform you that the proposed “registering” amendment which had been added to a bill currently moving through the Oregon legislature, has now been withdrawn. This occurred after a very strong show of opposition. The proposed amendment would have imposed a state registration on hypnotherapists and other practitioners.
ACHE made written submissions to the Oregon Health Care Committee which was considering the amendment, and in response to our appeal to members, many informed us that they would make representations themselves, or ask others living in Oregon to do so. In addition, representatives from the ACHE membership in Oregon were able to attend at the Committee meeting. These efforts, in conjunction with the contributions from other organisations in the fields affected by this proposed amendment, were very effective in demonstrating the level of opposition.
While we are delighted at this successful outcome, there may be further legislation proposed in Oregon that could negatively affect our profession and we will engage with this when it occurs. In particular, a member of the Oregon Health Care Committee, appears to hold strongly to the view that state registration of any practitioner is automatically a desirable and necessary measure. We believe this is not the case in this instance, and we will be seeking to engage constructively on this issue.
ACHE is willing to cooperate with lawmakers regarding any fair and balanced legislation that relates to our professional practice. We will also remain vigilant in looking out for and contesting legislative proposals that are the products of over-reaching legislative bureaucracies that put excessive demands on therapists and ultimately reduce access to therapy for clients. We are especially focussed on contesting restrictive legislation that could be harmful to our work as hypnotherapists and to the general public in restricting their freedom of choice. Such legislation is often framed in terms of “protecting the public” but in reality benefits nobody, except, in some cases, some professional groups attempting to improve their own position by restricting or excluding others.
In the meantime, many thanks to all those who worked in Oregon to reach this successful outcome.
With my best wishes to you all,
Dr. John Butler
President
ACHE
Thank You, Dr. Butler! We are so fortunate to be members of ACHE! I appreciate all that You do for Hypnotherapists & ACHE. I value being a continuing member, and I appreciate all those who work specifically for ACHE, on a regular basis. Thank you for your continued focus & communication on this issue, and for informing us on how we can help (in our efforts to successfully continue to do our important work, in the best way possible, for all concerned). I am grateful to see such dedication, diligence, knowledge, inspiration, wisdom, & vigilance in protecting our rights to practice, in the way that is best. I greatly appreciate this process being carried out in a powerful, professional, & successful legal manner, with You at the Helm. Gil Boyne’s “spirit” lives on in ACHE, as we work to protect the rights, value & purpose of our work, through the continuing challenges we face.
Blessings, Brigitara Artemisis www.GoddessenceHealingArts.com
Dear Dr. Butler, Thank you for the update. I’m greatly relieved that this effort was successful. In addition, thank you for your original message. It contained such understanding of why the person (who proposed the registering requirement) presses this position that I have studied your insights both for their content and as a model of a deeply human point of view. As we used to say (and should remember to think this way as much as possible in these currently troubled times): you know where she’s coming from. Great admiration here. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Oregonians (if they will) and for your fine words with their healing power. You are much appreciated, in your many capacities as leader of ACHE.
Cynthia C. Davis, Ph.D., C.Ht. hypnosisindiana.com
May 2017: Pending Legislation in Oregon
We have become aware of the proposed introduction of legislation in Oregon that could have the effect of dramatically restricting the right of a hypnotist/ hypnotherapist/ coach to practice in that state unless he or she is a licensed health professional.
The proposed legislation takes the form of an amendment (A3) https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/11442 to House Bill 2303 http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2017/HB2303/ currently moving through the Oregon Legislature. The original bill related to relatively routine measures in healthcare administration in the state, however the amendment, which appears to have been proposed only on May 16, by Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, proposes that a state-controlled register be set up to register all practitioners in the state who are “Alternative Health Practitioners”, who are listed as including a) Hypnotherapist b) Sexologist c) Somatic Therapist d) Life coach e) Parenting Coach f) Wellness Coach.
The proposed amendment requires not only that such practitioners do not hold themselves out as licensed (with which we agree in the spirit of truthful advertising, and which is covered by our Code of Ethics in any case) but also must be registered by a state agency, whose expenses are to be covered by the registration fees charged to practitioners, and who will have authority to lay down conditions of practice. This could leave hypnotherapists “at the mercy” of a regulatory system principally under the control of state-appointed “experts” drawn from the licensed healthcare professions in which hypnotherapists and coaches have little power. Any assurances to the contrary from regulators, even if well-intentioned, could be worth very little as the system “evolved”, even in a short period of time.
We consider that this proposal is an unnecessary and burdensome expense and bureaucracy, and that self-regulation of standards and practice is working well for clients and practitioners and has been doing so for a long time. We are not aware of any incident or complaint that may have sparked such a proposal and we believe that consultation with the professional associations working in the field is the best way to proceed, rather than the imposition of an authority. We are currently working with ACHE members and hypnotists and coaches from other organizations in the state in strongly opposing the introduction of this legislation.
There is a meeting of the Senate Committee on Health Care on Tuesday May 30. If you are a resident, or know any residents, in Oregon, please contact, or ask them to contact, the office of
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (a former nurse and health educator)
Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health Care
Tel: 503-986-1725
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
and/or the other members of the committee
Vice chairman: Senator Jeff Kruse
Email address: Sen.JeffKruse@state.or.us
Office phone number 503 – 986 – 1701 direct phone number 541–580–3276
Member: Senator Lee Beyer
Email address: Sen.LeeBeyer@oregonlegislature.gov
Office phone number: 503–986–1706
Member: Senator Tim Knopp
Email address: SenTimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
Office phone number: 503–986–1727
Member: Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (the proposer of this amendment, she is a family physician who has stated she suffers from multiple sclerosis and major depression http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-mental-health-debate-personal-for-one-oregon-lawmaker/ – her personal statement says “I am committed to protecting Oregon families, creating jobs, supporting our schools, and taking care of our most vulnerable.”)
Email address: Sen.ElizabethSteinerHayward@state.or.us
Office phone number 503–986–1717 direct phone number: 503–547–3543
When contacting any member of the Senate, please be courteous and remember they no doubt believe/propose that their views are correct and in the public interest. In particular, the proposer of the amendment, Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, seems a person of strong ideals and convictions and being in a highly regulated profession herself (medicine), may not have experience of the self-regulated field and is likely to believe that regulation solves many problems. She may also, as a sufferer from a degenerative condition, have encountered “cult-like” therapies and proponents of “cures” who charge high prices, make unjustified claims and even advocate hazardous practices. We believe that existing consumer and criminal legislation, properly used, offers a reasonable level of protection of the public from these sorts of practices, and there is no need to burden reputable practitioners because of the unscrupulous behavior of others.
Our intention in contacting the members of the Committee is to provide information on the other side of the argument and to enable them to realize that there is another vital side of the argument that must not be ignored. Please state succinctly, for instance, if it is the case, that you personally or those close to you have benefited from the services of hypnotherapy practitioners, that their charges were reasonable, their interactions professional, and you don’t feel the proposed legislation is either necessary or desirable.
We are making a submission to the Committee, and will keep you updated on this matter.
With my best wishes to you all,
Dr. John Butler
President, American Council of Hypnotist Examiners