The Passing of a Great Master

Gil Boyne, my mentor and friend, “graduated to Eternity”, as his daughter, Colleen so beautifully put it, on May 5, 2010.

Creator of the profession of hypnotherapy

Gil was instrumental in establishing the profession of hypnotherapy in the United States many other countries. He created a professional organization, the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, to create standards of training, be a source for information on hypnotherapy, and to support hypnotherapists. As many as 12,000 people are members of his organization.

A devout Christian

Gil Boyne was a devout Christian who referred to the method of hypnotherapy he developed as,”the act of assisting another to enter a state of grace.” He was a fervent believer in a person’s ability to “be transformed in the twinkling of an eye” with the proper support through the vehicle of hypnotherapy.  Gil believed hypnotherapy was most effective when invoking a Higher power to aid in the solutions to life’s conditions. As a result, he felt that hypnotherapy was best practiced by hypnotherapists who came from non-licensed and non-clinical backgrounds, who were spiritual and believed in a potential for immediate change for everyone. Over the years he trained ministers from every religion to do the work as part of their counseling services, as well as licensed health care workers and anyone else who felt the calling.

Deeply loving

I still remember after twenty years, the first time I saw Gil doing rapid inductions. He was putting people into hypnosis within a few seconds. While some others were shocked with the way he “manhandled” his subjects, I saw instead the care he took with each one, and the great permission they gave him. Gil gently cradled them in his arms as if they were his children. I couldn’t believe that anyone would not be able to see the incredible connection going on between Gil and his client. I saw all the little things he did to make them feel completely calm and safe in his presence. I watched people respond to Gil Boyne and entrust Gil with their welfare in a way that they maybe never had before in their lives- with anyone.

Incredibly gifted

The immediate bond I watched him establish with his subjects was touching to watch. The care and love I saw Gil give others created certain instant feelings within me for this amazing man. Gil never took anyone, anywhere they weren’t willing to go along with him. I wanted to achieve that same connection Gil had with my clients. I laugh today when other Hypnotherapists ask me (usually with horror in their voices) if I use rapid inductions. I’m always proud to say yes! To me, this has become a hallmark of my colleagues’ understanding of hypnotherapy: they may not use them, but if they can do so fearlessly and understand why they work, they understand hypnosis.

Thanking Gil

My love and admiration of Gil only deepened over the years I knew him. There was only one Gil Boyne!  I am happy to have thanked Gil publicly, privately, and regularly over the years for his single-handed creation of this fantastic career. I don’t know how I would have fulfilled my life purpose in another way. Gil was an evangelist of the highest magnitude for Hypnotherapy as a profession. I thank God that He sent a visionary like Gil –a lion- to lead us to help others and ourselves. Untold thousands have received a new lease on life from Hypnotherapy because of the training Gil established for others who, like him, got the “Hypnotism Fever” and wanted to help others rise above their own self-sabotaging behavior.

It is an honor to have taken that training and to be an instructor for wonderful people who also want to make the world a better place one person at a time.

Thanks again, Gil. I love you!