AHA Hall of Fame
Onsy Mattar
In 1972, I was a practicing psychologist in Macquarie Street, Sydney.
In the room next to me was a Hypnotherapist called Jim Valentine who was
Secretary of the AHA at that time. We used to talk about
hypnotherapy and Jim gave me some tapes to listen to.
Then I
became very interested in hypnotherapy and I wanted learn hypnosis. Jim
said, “O.K.” I will teach you. Through Jim, I also got to know Warwick
Batman. Then I saw a school advertising the teaching of hypnosis and I
did a course.
At the
time I was the only Arabic speaking psychologist and Hypnotherapist in
Sydney and all the Doctors were sending people to me in Macquarie
Street. I met a Syrian Doctor who suggested I come to Bankstown one day
a week. I then met another specialist surgeon in Fairfield Heights that
I met at a party who also asked me to give him one day a week. After 11
years I was so busy that I dropped the Fairfield Heights day and
concentrated at the Macquarie and Bankstown practices. Jim became sick
and he gave me his practice as well. I divided my time between
psychology and hypnosis.
When
the building in Macquarie Street was sold, I closed my practice in
Sydney and solely concentrated since then at Bankstown. I have now been
here 30 years. Other Doctors approached me and I do some work every
second Friday at Hassal Grove and every Wednesday at Marrickville.
After
33 years I am still working. (However, I have cut my hours down – I now
don’t start till 10:00am and finish approximately between 6:00 to
8:00pm.)
In my
early days, psychologists did not need to be registered and I was one of
the first psychologist’s to be registered in March 1991.
Footnote:
Onsy
has been a member of the AHA, since 1975.
He has
been a member of The Australian College of Private Consulting
Psychologists, since 1980, a member of The Australian Society of
Clinical Hypnotherapists since 1980, and a member of the International
Academy of Eclectic Psychotherapists since 1983.
He has
been awarded the honorary title of Doctor.
He is
also the current President of The Institute of Australian Egyptian
Culture.
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