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Find out if our hypnosis or other services are right for you.
Briefly describe the problem/s you are having, and what you want to experience
instead. We will clarify which of our services might be helpful, and what that entails.
We will answer any of your questions to see if it is a good fit for both of us. Please note that the free consultation is NOT intended to be a therapy session, but rather offered to see if you want one.
Scroll down to the section "What is Hypnosis?" as it will probably answer a lot of questions for you.
TYPICAL REASONS WHY PEOPLE COME TO US
We see many people for stress, or to stop smoking or other bad habits, and to deal with a host of negative thoughts, emotions and unresolved traumas of the past. Mental and emotional issues, and stress in general, are involved with all health issues, addictions, overeating, work and relationship issues, under achievement and self-sabotage. So we see people dealing with those problems. We also see people that just want to be more focused and successful in reaching their goals.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Hypnosis and the other modalities that we offer are considered Brief Therapy. We typically see clients for only 3-4 sessions to focus on a particular problem and goal. Then, we may see them on an as needed or occasional basis, usually to focus on something else. At the first session we spend considerable time asking questions to know as much about you, the issue/s, and what you want.
In addition to employing hypnosis and various hypnotic interventions at each session, we also provide you with appropriate information, tips, strategies, and teach you multiple self-help tools as are appropriate for you. Our goal is to empower you in the most effective way. For a list of such self-help methods such as self-hypnosis, see here. You will be expected to practice at home. This is a partnership--we have our part to play in session, and you will have yours at home.
BOOK A PRIVATE SESSION IN PERSON or BY PHONE
The initial session is roughly 90 minutes as we need longer time for the intake interview ($125).
Follow-up sessions are usually 60 minutes ($100), to 90 minutes ($150).
Shorter phone follow up sessions are 30 - 60 minutes ($50 - $100).
All sessions are followed by an email summary of our work together along with homework assignments for you to integrate any new habits/skills that we have taught you. Such follow-up is included in the session fee.
Scope of Practice for Hypnotherapists
Hypnosis Organizations - Largest Annual Conference at https://ngh.net/
COPHO: The Council of Professional Hypnosis Organizations at http://www.copho.com
Association of Hypnosis Professionals
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?
While the hypnotic state occurs spontaneously several times daily, what is termed "hypnosis" is a deliberate switch-over to the subconscious mind to achieve a specific result by implanting or removing an idea there with specially worded ideas called suggestions. Once you know what it feels like, you can deliberately create it yourself to communicate with your own inner mind. I help clients focus their inner mind to assist them with behavioral issues such as smoking cessation.
- Hypnosis is a natural, normal, daily experience.
- Hypnosis is useful for all areas of your life to experience more of a flow rather than a battle within yourself.
- What is the subconscious mind?
- What is the function of the subconscious?
- What does hypnosis feel like?
- Can I be hypnotized against my will?
- No one has been able to hypnotize me. Why?
- Does the hypnotist control me? Will I do or say things I don't want?
- What about brainwashing?
- Will I come out of hypnosis?
- Who can be hypnotized?
- Who are the best subjects?
- Is hypnosis a talent or a skill that can be learned?
- Do I have to be a deep subject to achieve results?
- What if it doesn't work?
- I seem to drift in and out of hypnosis, and up and down in depth. Is this normal?
- What if I fall asleep?
- What about sleep tapes?
- What about subliminal tapes?
- Is hypnosis different from meditation?
- Can I believe all the information that comes out of hypnosis?
- Why should I learn self-hypnosis?
- How much time do I need to commit to hypnotizing myself?
- What do I need to do this?
- Is it going to take a lot of time to learn hypnosis?
- How do I choose a hypnotist to work with me?
- How can make sure that I am only a positive influence for good with using hypnosis on others?
Hypnosis is a natural, normal, daily experience
Everyone experiences the hypnotic state many times daily as they go into &come out of sleep, when doing anything boring or routine, when staring, or concentrating intently. Daydreaming is an example of the hypnotic state. It happens naturally when you are bored, relaxed, confused, startled, stressed out or overloaded, staring, concentrating intently, focusing on inner awareness. Strong emotions can also bring it on. So can regular breathing, movement, sound, light, tactile patterns. Whatever you are thinking or listening to at that time becomes hypnotic programming. Rap music creates a trance state, so does dancing at a disco with the flashing lights, regular beat of the music, and steady dance steps. Understanding and practicing self-hypnosis can protect you from being your own worst enemy by inadvertently programming your own mind in a negative way or allowing someone else to do so.
Hypnosis is peak concentration
In hypnosis you are: completely aware, hear everything, your senses become more acute, your concentration increases & the mind sharply focuses. You become very relaxed but you are NOT asleep.
Hypnosis deals with your creativity, memories, habits, emotions, body functions (i.e., healing abilities/metabolism/digestion/ circulation/ more), & automatic pilot. Anyone can be hypnotized who wants to be. Being hypnotized is only a matter of wanting to &allowing it to happen.
You are always in control. In fact, you gain greater control over your own mind, emotions & life by learning how to communicate with your own inner self.
Hypnosis requires consent, trust & cooperation. It cannot force you to do anything. A hypnotist only assists your own power, never overrules it. Hypnosis empowers you to do what you have already decided that you want to do, be what you want to be. Hypnosis is the tool that allows you to be master of your fate, captain of your own soul. Hypnosis allows you to create your own reality. You can learn to move from being a victim to victor of your circumstances, & create your own luck.
Hypnosis is useful for all areas of your life to experience more of a flow rather than a battle within yourself.
- Learn new habits such as sales/sports/performance/ study skills
- Develop creativity &ideas
- Break old habits such as compulsive eating, smoking, addictions & all self-defeating behavior
- Strengthen the immune system; speed up healing
- Remove pain/phobias/blocks
- Manage goals & stress
- Strengthen self-esteem
- Maximize your potential
- Understand & heal present & past life trauma.
What is the subconscious mind?
The subconscious is one of four normal states of mind. The other ones are the conscious mind which censors, reasons and analyzes, the superconscious which receives information (inspiration) from outside the self (accessed through the subconscious), and sleep.
What is the function of the subconscious?
The subconscious mind is the seat of memory, emotions, imagination, creativity, autonomic body functions, and habits. It directs use of energy and fulfills your goals. It stores and acts upon your beliefs and judgments.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis is a very relaxed feeling. It feels normal because the state is part of your everyday experience. You hear everything and are completely aware of your surroundings. Your body may feel heavy, light, numb, tingling. You may experience body or time distortion. Some people think of it as a very real daydream. Excluding traumatic material, it is a natural good feeling.
Can I be hypnotized against my will?
No. A good hypnotist can probably hypnotize anyone, but if you don't want to be there, you will spontaneously come out of it. Sometimes a person resists hypnosis because he is afraid, he doesn't know what to expect or he is full of uncomfortable misconceptions. He may not like or trust the hypnotist, the suggestions, or the conditions. Sometimes too a person resists being hypnotized because he is afraid of losing control. Such a person can do very well with self-hypnosis or with an understanding hypnotist.
This does applies only to a normal setting, but if you remain in contact once you know that someone is trying to influence you against your will, such as in a brainwashing situation, you can effected even though you don't want to be. As every politician, salesman, and t.v. evangelist knows, you don't need to close your eyes to be hypnotized and influenced.
No one has been able to hypnotize me. Why?
Besides the above, you may be trying too hard, analyzing it too much and not allowing it to happen. Analyzing keeps you in the conscious mind.
Does the hypnotist control me? Will I do or say things I don't want?
No. Because the conscious mind is still present, the subject can refuse to accept any understood suggestion (as long as it is not subliminal and not disguised). Therefore, a hypnotist cannot force a subject to do or believe anything without the subject's consent. If a suggestion is upsetting or too objectionable in any way, the subject will probably come out of hypnosis; some may go to sleep to block out suggestions.
What about brainwashing?
While brainwashing uses hypnotic principles, it also uses severe and repeated force, ridicule and pressure rather than consent to bypass the censoring ability of the conscious mind. It has nothing to do with hypnosis as practiced by hypnotherapists in the office setting. Understanding hypnosis can actually act as a defense against brainwashing by making you aware of what is going on if you get up and leave the room immediately upon detecting unwanted influence. Hypnosis, can also get you out of the negative trance you are already in and undo the effects of any destructive programming that has already occurred from your upbringing, culture, and social milieu.
Will I come out of hypnosis?
Always. You either wake up or fall asleep naturally. If you are very tired before hypnosis, the further relaxation may be enough to put you to sleep. This is no problem in someone's office. They'll always wake you up. In self-hypnosis you program yourself ahead of time how long you want the process to take and you come out at that time. A simple kitchen timer makes a handy backup until you master the procedure.
Who can be hypnotized?
Everyone is capable of being formally hypnotized except the very young, or people with mental retardation or deteriorated who cannot concentrate. All that is needed is the ability to understand language, an open mind, a desire, and a willingness to let it happen. However, the hypnotic state can be induced anyone, even babies, and those who speak another language through touch, rocking, eye fixation. Suggestions can be implanted by telepathy. What hypnosis can do for you depends largely on what you want it to do. Hypnosis is goal directed.
Who are the best subjects?
The most hypnotizable people are optimistic, enthusiastic, able to concentrate, receptive, and of normal or superior intelligence. They may have a hard core of beliefs and fixed attitudes such as a person of disciplined religious or military background, yet open to new ideas and reasonable suggestions. They are imaginative, probably a humanities major or social science as opposed to science or engineering person, may be involved in creative pursuits, adventure, religion, may relish sensory experiences or be able to project themselves into roles like actors.
The hypnotizable person is "capable of deep involvement in one or more imaginative-feeling areas of experience-reading a novel, listening to music, having an aesthetic experience of nature, or engaging in absorbing adventures of body or mind." Josephine R. Hilgard "Suspicious, withdrawn, and hostile people tend to resist hypnosis" (Bernhardt &Martin) while "normal subjects are more hypnotizable than neurotic." Ernest Hilgard.
Is hypnosis a talent or a skill that can be learned?
Both. Some people are naturally good at it, but hypnotic skills can be learned, improving a person's trance depth and speed.
Do I have to be a deep subject to achieve results?
No, deep trance is only necessary for surgery. While a deep state of hypnosis is thought to be best for straight suggestion work, actually benefit is received even in a light trance. For interactive work with the therapist, a medium state of trance is best.
What if it doesn't work?
Hypnosis works if you have a strong desire, relax, let it happen, and use a suggestion that makes sense to you. If you are using hypnosis to stop smoking to get your family off your back, forget it. Remember hypnosis cannot make you do anything that you do not want to do. Success in hypnosis requires strong motivation, the stronger the better. If you do not see results within a few weeks, examine your motivation or change your suggestion. If you are not succeeding with a suggestion, it indicates that your subconscious mind contains blocks or contrary ideas. Root them out. Go through releasing statements before instilling the positive suggestions.
I seem to drift in and out of hypnosis, and up and down in depth. Is this normal?
Yes,. Depth and concentration differ from time to time. Remember that important work can be accomplished even in light trance. Just bring your mind back to the suggestion you are using.
What if I fall asleep?
The stage just as a person is going into or coming out of sleep is very effective suggestive time. However, once you are asleep you no longer hear the suggestions or obtain the benefit from them.
What about sleep tapes?
Sleep tapes work as a person is going through the twilight sleep or hypnoidal stage (going into or out of sleep). As you sleep you may go through this stage several times. The tapes will only benefit the person during those twilight times.
What about subliminal tapes?
Subliminal information gets into the subconscious mind directly, bypassing the censoring ability of the conscious mind because the information is below the level of awareness. They are effective providing blocks to the material are not present in the subconscious. If there exists material contrary to the subliminal information coming in, they will not work. I strongly suggest that a person only buy subliminal tapes that come with a complete transcript from an ethical source. Read through the script and only listen to the tape if you desire that material programmed into your mind. I believe that someone using subliminal tapes on you without your knowledge or permission is unethical.
Is hypnosis different from meditation?
All meditation is a particular kind of hypnosis. It uses a point of focus such as the breath, fixation on an object, or word, phrase or mantra to achieve altered awareness. Some forms of meditation are only interested in accessing the hypnotic state for relaxation and stilling the mind. Other forms listen for guidance. What you term hypnosis differs essentially from meditation in being specifically goal related, quickly mastered and effective in even a few minutes. Hypnosis implants an idea (suggestion) once the state is induced.
Can I believe all the information that comes out of hypnosis?
No. For example, the information received from a criminal witness under hypnosis has to be investigated as if it came from the waking state. Think of a dozen witnesses to anything. Each sees the event from his own perspective, assumptions, beliefs. These perspectives, assumptions, beliefs, which are operating in both conscious and hypnotized states, can make an eye witness testimony actually untrue. A hypnotized person like a consciously aware person can exaggerate, try to please the questioner, and lie. There can be a mix-up of time and elements of a story. Different facts might be confused as all happening at the same time, when actually they happened at different times. Sometimes past life scenarios are metaphors or symbolic of the problem rather than factual. For example, a past life scenario that someone stabbed you in the back may be a metaphor for a feeling betrayed now, or it may be a warning not to trust that person. The important thing is does it achieve the results desired? Does the information remove the problem? And does it do no harm?
Why should I learn self-hypnosis?
Hypnosis achieves internal agreement between the conscious and subconscious minds so that you are not fighting yourself. It gives you back control of your life and your destiny instead of being at the mercy of your upbringing and previous life experiences. It allows you to be master of yourself. Being an adult means being responsible yourself in every way. Hypnosis is the way to achieve this. It allows you to achieve your goals in the most efficient, stress-free way. Hypnosis is using your head. It is working smart.
How much time do I need to commit to hypnotizing myself?
Practice your suggestion 3 times daily in sessions a few minutes long. You will get an internal sense of when the information has sunk in. Repetition is the key. Hypnosis is a time saver, an investment. Work smart not hard. It may take a few weeks of using a suggestion for it to work. When it does, you can move onto a new suggestion or a new goal.
What do I need to do this?
Determine your goal, decide on the wording for a suggestion, make yourself physically comfortable as possible, take a few deep breaths, focus your eyes on a spot, perhaps count yourself down to calm the mind, and allow yourself to dwell on the suggestion in any way you want - words/feeling/images until you have a sense of getting the idea, then count yourself back up. Voila. Use a suggestion until you have a sense of "Aha." or "okay, I've got it."
Is it going to take a lot of time to learn hypnosis?
No. Once you experience hypnosis, you know by feeling where to go. One class is enough for that. From there you learn how to set goals and make effective suggestions, and practice.
How can make sure that I am only a positive influence for good with using hypnosis on others?Hold a clear intention of doing only good. Evaluate each session, possibly tape them. Make sure that your suggestions do not have another interpretation than the one you intend to be delivering. Get quality client supervision in the beginning. Find more experienced, skillful colleagues to turn to for advice. Communicate with your client. Listen. Continuously get feedback and correct accordingly. Keep reading and studying hypnosis with the best professionals you can find. Pray for divine guidance. Pray for your clients. Do everything you know how to heal yourself and your shadow issues, your self-esteem, and then pray for divine assistance to do the rest.