Frequently Asked Questions

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 The American Psychiatric Association estimates that about 15% of the population suffers from "emotional or mental disorders." 

What about the other 85% who just want to overcome their fear of public speaking, or improve their sports performance? What if their goal is to motivate themselves to prepare for a big exam, or to be more successful in their career? 

 Hypnosis is a state of relaxed focus. Hypnosis -- or hypnotherapy -- uses (talk) guided relaxation to focus the attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused while in this state that any daily noises etc going on around the person are temporarily ignored. This allows the subconscious to listen with crystal clarity to the hypnotherapist. It feels SO natural that some people leave their first hypnotherapy session saying, "I wasn't hypnotized - I knew what was going on the whole time!" Well of course you did! (thats the whole point). In fact , The focussed state/trance is a very natural state. Each of us enters such a state - sometimes called a trance state - firstly, when we are falling asleep, and waking up. That kind of fuzzy, timeless state between dreaming and awake is a trance state. Then, there are many other times that people enter a natural state of trance… Driving, watching TV, listening to music, working on a favorite hobby when you cut out the world and just focus on what you are doing. Trance is normal, natural and common. It is considered a safe and gentle form of therapy

 In this naturally occurring state that hypnosis takes you to, a person may choose to focus his or her attention on specific thoughts or tasks, with the help of the hypnotherapist who will be talking the whole time - using this state of mind to interact with the subconscious mind in an open-reflective process to create positive change in your life. There are many techniques/styles, Plus, many applications of hypnotherapy.  

They all have in common: (1) a strong desire to change, (2) a state of deeply relaxed FOCUS, and (3) using language and/of visualization in relationship to emotions.

 Hypnosis the hypnotic state suggestion to you allows you to explore thoughts, feelings, and memories you might have consciously forgotten or hidden. In addition, NLP and hypnosis enable you to perceive ideal states, some things differently - for example to feel how good a change will make you feel and /or to remember a new Habit you have decided to incorporate into your life to reach a positive goal.

 Beforehand there will be a discussion of what you want to achieve, your hypnotherapist will describe how it feels/does not feel. You sit in a comfy chair and as you are talked into a relaxed hypnosis and will simply hear the hypnotherapist talk as you feel more relaxed. At the end you will cbe ounted out (usually 5 to 1) and open your eyes to feel relaxed. Then the hypnotherapist will ask you a few questions. Typically, how long you thought you were in hypnosis, what you remember, pictured, how you felt, etc to keep some record of your progress.

 Hypnosis is not be appropriate for a person who has psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations. Serious psychiatric or mental health problems should be referred to a qualified psychotherapist or psychiatrist. should not be used on someone who is using drugs or alcohol. 

It should only be used for pain control only AFTER a doctor has evaluated the person for any physical disorder that might require medical or surgical treatment. Otherwise the hypnotherapy could hide a pain disorder, Then at doctors discretion, hypnotherapy may be prescribed for pain control or relaxation.
Drug addiction, family dynamics disorders, clinical depression and other such problems should to be treated by medically/clinically trained doctors and psychiatrists, who can, at their discretion, prescribe hypnotherapy as a supplementary treatment.

 The stage hypnotist is totally entertainment - Subjects are selected carefully (watch how many volunteers he has sit down), He chooses people he knows are happy to entertain because, people that love to be entertaining will do it because, deep down inside, they don't believe there is anything wrong with barking like a dog to get a laugh. 

The key is - Hypnosis cannot make you do something that is against your morals or ethics. All hypnosis is in actuality self-hypnosis, and no hypnotist can make you do something that you really don't want to do. That's why some people can be hypnotized to stop smoking and yet they still smoke. You have to want the change, agree with the change, then, hypnosis is a helpful tool for making that change better, faster, and permanent.

 This is Movie myth - where the person turns into a zombie - its great entertainment but in actuality, You always have control, and you can always hear everything the hypnotist is saying - in fact thats the whole point. Hypnosis is NEVER a state of amnesia or of no awareness. Just the opposite true. Hypnosis is nothing but a state of relaxed deep focus. It is a natural state that you enter many times per day. If at any time you are in trance and you decided you wish to be fully awake, you can just open your eyes. But typically you cannot be bothered because you are so happily relaxed.

Remember being hypnotized cannot make you do something you do NOT want to do. But the hypnotist can add a preliminary first step of helping the smoker embrace this valuable change when it finally fits his/her deep value system. For hypnosis to work the person must first want the change. Everyone is different - so, before the hypnotherapy session, along with other things, we'll thoroughly discuss options of how to best go about removing the smoking, because the actual stop smoking Hypnosis session will be used to help flip the subconscious over to the new, non smoker healthy habits. So, in short the hypnosis session could fail to work if this initial first step of ensuring the smoker is fully invested and committed is skipped over. 

 The cost will vary in different parts of the nation. The length of treatment will vary with different hynosis session/styles. Plus, Hypnosis is one tool and may be used to great affect alone, but also can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.  

The average can be anywhere between $75 and $350 per session, with one session commonly being between an 40 mins and an 1.5 hrs long. Cost will be dependent on 1/location, 2/time, 3/experience. Also, Some Hypnotherapists offer pay-one-price programs - for smoking cessation, for example, where you pay $300 or $400 for all the sessions in the program. This can be a good approach to ensure that effective follow-up sessions are not dropped by the client before the treatment is completed. (often due to people stopping quickly - its always good to make sure theres follow ups to ensure the new habits are instilled)

in addition some people once in session have much deeper issues than they let on at first. some hypnotherapist make allowances for that in their pricing. others may ignore it. 

 This varies by state and country. In Caiifornia you should certainly choose someone who is certified.  Many hyonotherapists make it an ongoing aim to develop many extra skills all the year through, taking workshops and studying. So its not unusual to find a hynotherapist that has not only hypnosis skills but also nlp, plus many techniques. You may ask not only what else they do, but what they do not do. (ie the types of people they will refer on)

Do always keep in mind that hypnosis is NOT a treatment or cure for mental illness, and people suffering from psychosis, suicidal depression, or that are on medications for psychological stability. Some psychologists, social workers and marital/family therapists are also utilize some hypnosis techniques. 

 Hypnosis has been used for a long as records have been kept. Modern clinical hypnosis is dated from the late 1700s, and the use of hypnosis has grown by leaps and bounds since 1958 often driven forward in popular by an successful/famous practitioner. 

 I would recommend talking with them over the phone, and asking any questions you have. Any questions at all ! 

All in all, you should be comfortable with the hypnotherapists demeanor, voice, and instructional style. Of course, you will want to choose a hypnotherapist that is certified and that is trustworthy. Overall Select one that gives you confidence.

A good hypnotherapist should be able to answer any questions you have in a friendly, informative, and understandable manner. Also, that way you learn whether you are 'compatible'. Plus, you get all your questions answered. Your hypnotherapist of choice should seem warm and friendly, and is easy to for you to understand/follow. It may be important for you to choose someone who's voice is pleasing to you, especially since you will probably be listening to cassette tapes with their voice on them many times.. however some hypnotists have odd voices which attract your focus and  this can be very effective.

Typically, the first twenty minutes of your first session with a hypnotherapist will be an introduction to hypnosis and some chat about the changes you would like to make. At this point you can see how well they are grasping your particular GOAL.. If you ever meet a hypnotherapist that says they'll be using negative phrases such as, "don't smoke" as a direct suggestion for your hypnosis, choose a different hypnotherapist. As any suggestions should always be expressed in the A/ present tense, and B/ always in the positive.

some hypnotists belong to guilds - but this does not add to their qualifications. A non- member may choose to spend their money on training and workshops instead of memberships. 

 Self Hypnosis is a powerful life skill, so your hypnotherapist may suggest you learn so that you can accomplish further goals without needing to pay for more sessions. It has many uses: Self-hypnosis, at the most basic level, is wonderful for de-stressing, calming, and restoring a healthful energy to your body. It is always expressed in the present/positive tense - this keeps you very centered and gives a sense of control and connectedness to your mind and body that supports confidence,success and make clear decisions. It may be described as flip side of meditation (similar but with a set goal). It can take quite a while to become accomplished and some analytical people may never manage it and therefor choose to pay for sessions.

 Hypnotherapy has the advantage of being able to communicate with the subconscious in a two-way fashion. Affirmations don't facilitate direct responses from the subconscious; they only seek to speak to the subconscious.
A post-hypnotic suggestion is also different than an affirmation: effects tend to be more direct, more specific, and more immediate when using post-hypnotic suggestions. Also, in hypnosis, anchors can be suggested that help you remember your new healthier direction instead of your old path or habit. Other than that, the language of hypnosis and of affirmations is 'similar'. Both are ALWAYS expressed in the present tense, and always in the positive.

Myths about hypnosis, perpetuated by melodrama on TV and in the movies, urban legends and fiction books lead people to think all kinds of things about hypnosis, including that it is somehow dangerous. Some religions have spun quite fantastic tales against hypnosis as stirring up spirits. Some people have heard that you can go into trance and never ever wake up. Or that the hypnotist can make you into their slave to steal for them, which ordinarily you would never choose to do. All These things are untrue. You are always in control, always able to "came back" to full alert state at anytime if you wanted or needed to

 The facts are that You will not become unconscious and you will be aware of everything at all times. Your will is not weakened in any way. You are in control and cannot be made to do anything against your will. You will not begin to reveal information you wish to keep secret. 

Hypnosis is not sleep.

One common misconsception is that a hypnotized person loses their will and is partially or completely under the command of the hypnotist. Nothing could be further from the truth. This unfortunate belief is reinforced by movies and stage performances. You are in control of yourself, and cannot be made to do anything that is against your will.

Hypnosis, particularly the deeper forms, can appear to be like sleep because the person's body is typically very relaxed, still and quiet. There is usually a great deal of mental activity, and measurements of brain activity during hypnosis show a significant level of neurological activity.

 Self-esteem/ego strengthening, memory/concentration improvement. control of fear/anxiety for surgery or dental treatments. teeth grinding, good sleep. stress and anxiety that are deeply ingrained, lifestyle coping mechanisms. fear of bridges, nervous driving. phobias, anxiety, sexual problems, smoking control, habit control, speech disorders, weight control, pain, to improve public speaking. Visualizing for goal setting. 

and much, much, more

In medicine... it's uses include anesthesia and surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, control of bleeding, pain control, burn therapy, dermatology 

For Dentistry - to control fear, dental surgery, saliva control, gagging, bruxism, control of bleeding, tongue biting.