Well, for all you folks out there who may (or may not!) have been wondering what I’ve been up to over the last few months, well, here’s the answer: I’m no longer in Scotland, in fact I’m not even in the UK.

Yep, I’ve emigrated, permanently.

In a few short days  this site will appear under its new domain of www.alandbell.com.au.  I’m in Australia. For the time being based in Perth WA, but there’s a distinct possibility of us moving to Melbourne in about 5 months time – Perth is somewhat on the hot side for me.

Now, before any of my detractors say,well, Australia *is* hot, what did you expect? In my defense, Perth is having its hottest summer for over 70 years, and besides which I have a particular affinity with Melbourne anyway. Anyone who’s ever been there will appreciate the more ‘bohemian’ nature of the city.

So, it’s onwards and upwards (strictly it’s downwards if you’re flying from the UK…), but I think you all know what I mean. Just got to figure out my next step. The hypnotherapy scene here seems less ‘developed’ than in the UK, perhaps not quite got the slick edge that a lot of European and US practitioners have – but don’t hold me too that, it’s really only a first impression, though if my site is anything to go by then I think I can see some, ‘how to succeed on the web lectures coming up’!

So, what about hypnotherapy?  Well, I think there’s going to be some interesting developments on the horizon, in particular with the use of electronics and EMDR. Yes, yes, I know, the likes of Bill Frost have been working in that area for many years, but I think there’s now scope to re-visit EMDR and the use of technology, in particular some recent developments on the hardware side – stay tuned.

There is of-course still great interest in the old school techniques and I’m thinking here of Mesmer and Erickson. Now, anyone who knows my work will know that I’m actually not a great fan of Erickson, I love his ability to tell a story, but as for his hypnotic technique, hmmm, personally, I am convinced, but in an agnostic kind of way. You may say I’m sitting on the fence, I may agree with you.

I have to say though, that the more I try to convince myself that I’m not a fan of Milton Erickson, the more I see of his compositional technique in my own style. How very annoying! Maybe all roads really do lead back to MH…

Until the next time.