Why do so many people professing to be simply sceptics in fact have the mindset of a witchfinder general and a desire to bring everyone down to the level of miserable lumps of flesh with no other dimension?

I refer to John Crocker's insulting letter about my motives in acquiring my aura video computer program (Evening Press, October 22).

No one who knows me would agree with your view that I am in it for the money. It is ludicrous, as well as defamatory of someone who has herself criticised the tendency of the new age at times to charge like a wounded bull.

The computer aura reading is not a therapy, and I did not describe it at such. It allows you to see how other therapies are working, however.

My actual therapy is hypnosis. Again, I charge £30 a session (I am told of others who charge £300), and I throw in a free relax tape I made.

Lots of people in York and Leeds are happy non-smokers because of me, and have saved my fee plus more. I have not put my prices up since 1998.

If I were mercenary, I would have chosen a cheaper method than the aura video station or a higher charge. To get back my investment of £5,000 (and I saved up for four years for it), plus running costs, I should sensibly have charge a lot more than £30 a session.

I spend three days a week in the law in order to pay my mortgage, and have two days for me, with hypnotherapy and writing bringing in far less than two more days as a lawyer.

Carole Chui,

Old Moor Lane,

Dringhouses, York

Updated: 10:16 Monday, October 25, 2004