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A Tribute to Charles Tebbetts:
20th Century Pioneer of Client-Centered Hypnosis
by C. Roy Hunter, PhD, FAPHP
As the dawn of the 21st
Century closed the history book on 20th Century hypnotherapy,
therapists around the world looked back at the 20th Century pioneers
who forever changed the course of hypnotherapy. One name shines brilliantly as
a pioneer of client centered hypnosis: Charles Tebbetts.
More popularly known for
his profound work with parts therapy, Charlie (as his friends called him)
became a leader among hypnotherapy instructors. During the latter years of his
life, he trained thousands of students in the art of hypnosis. Dr. John Hughes
of the National Guild of Hypnotists respectfully referred to Charles as one of
the Grand Masters among hypnotherapy instructors…but WHO WAS this man who
inspired two major hypnosis associations to give awards in his name?
Charles Tebbetts
was already in his teens at the close of World War One. Before attaining
today's drinking age, he played saxophone in a band at a night club that also
employed a stage hypnotist. Fascinated with the nightly show even after a
period of several months, Charlie also noticed that the stage hypnotist seemed
to have a problem with alcohol. One night when the hypnotist failed to show up,
Charlie convinced the manager that he could do the show instead…and thus began
the career of Charles Tebbetts!
During the next few
decades, Charlie remained involved with hypnosis even though he also pursued a
career in advertising and song writing. Though never receiving a college
degree, he studied the work of every major pioneer involved with hypnosis (past
and contemporary), including Dave Ellman and Milton
Erickson. Eventually he met and befriended Gil Boyne, and studied at Gil's
school. Charlie incorporated many techniques taught by Gil, yet he continued to
practice his own unique style of therapy. He eventually joined the National
Guild of Hypnotists.
When I was privileged to
study personally at his school in
To look at him, one would
never know that Charles Tebbetts once suffered a
totally immobilizing stroke. While lying in bed, unable to move anything except
his eyes, he had lots of time to utilize self-hypnosis to regain his mobility.
He told me that he started with one finger at a time, until he could move both
hands; and then he worked on his toes and feet. Over the following weeks he
gradually increased his mobility and ability to talk, becoming living proof of
the power of the mind!
My late mentor spent the
latter years of his life emphasizing the need for comprehensive training. He
felt strongly that 3-day and 5-day programs would hurt both the profession and
the clients who saw graduates of short programs. Charlie also taught the
importance of fitting the technique to the client rather than vice versa, which
today I call Diversified Client-Centered Hypnosis. His primary goal was to
empower the client, and he insisted that his students use the philosophy that
all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. While people may still debate whether that is
true, my own experience demonstrated the wisdom of Charlie's belief. Some years
back I brought myself out of a very deep trance when I did not like the
suggestions given to me. Might there have been a different result if my belief
were different?
Charles Tebbetts
practiced and taught hypnotherapy with a passion to the day of his death. In
the fall of 1992, while attending the annual convention of the National Guild
of Hypnotists, he was struck down by a heart attack. Just hours before his
passing, he asked me to teach his parts therapy workshop in his behalf. His
wife, sitting in on the workshop, suddenly left the room…and minutes later an
NGH official informed us of his passing. Joyce Tebbetts,
who did not normally believe in "psychic stuff"
told me that she left the workshop suddenly because she had seen her husband
standing beside me waving goodbye. Whether or not one believes in what she saw,
I was moved to tears when she told me.
My two books, The Art of Hypnosis and The Art of Hypnotherapy (Crown House Publishing) were written to preserve the important teachings of the late great Charles Tebbetts. When I consider the many hundreds of students whom he personally trained, it is indeed a privilege that he asked me to carry on his work. While I certainly realize that my mentor taught a comprehensive training program that was almost before its time, he is best remembered for evolving parts therapy into such a powerful tool. I believe Parts Therapy as taught by Charles Tebbetts to be one of the most profoundly beneficial contributions to hypnotherapy in the 20th Century. Others may have borrowed variations of parts therapy, and even may call it by different names; but the true pioneer of parts therapy in the hypnotherapy profession is the man whom I believe deserves to be considered the grandfather of client-centered hypnotherapy: Charles Tebbetts.
To obtain more information about these books, click here.
***
Roy
Hunter practices hypnotherapy near Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest region of
the USA. He also worked part time for the Franciscan Hospice facilitating
hypnotherapy for terminal patients for seven years, and teaches a 9-month
professional hypnotherapy training course based on the teachings of Charles Tebbetts. Roy is the recipient of numerous awards, including
awards from three different organizations for lifetime achievement in the
hypnosis profession. You may see Roy’s numerous awards at: http://www.royhunter.com/hunter.htm
Roy
is available for mentoring and coaching.
For more info, visit: http://www.royhunter.com/consulting.htm
You
may purchase
http://www.royhunter.com/hypnosis_books.htm
Last
updated: February 9, 2011
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Originally posted: January 2, 2002.