FAQs/Myths Dispelled

Can anyone be hypnotized?

It is a common misconception that only weak-willed, “suggestible” people can be hypnotized. Just about anyone can be hypnotized—if they want to be. This is an important factor because hypnosis requires full participation and consent. The only other exceptions are people who have an IQ below 70 or are suffering from psychological disorders such as schizophrenia or clinical paranoia. Experiencing trance requires trust, relaxation, concentration, and the ability to follow instructions.

What does it feel like to be in trance?

A trance state is a normal state that we experience every day. Have you ever been so engaged in a good book or television show that you didn’t hear your name being called? Or have you ever been so wrapped up in your thoughts that you flew right by your freeway exit? Then you have been in a trance state! In a hypnotherapy session, when you enter into trance, everything seems to dissolve and your attention is fixed on what you want to accomplish.

Again, this means that you won’t be asleep—a common misconception. You will be fully alert and aware of everything going on around you, even those annoying or mundane noises, like a car alarm, the hum of a heater, or the tick-tock of a clock. You will also remember everything you so choose about your session. More than likely you will continue to make discoveries about it days later.

Am I giving over my control? Can a hypnotherapist make me do something I don’t want to do?

It is so unfortunate that most people are introduced to hypnosis through stage shows, where the hypnotist appears to control his or her subjects, making them do silly things such as barking like dogs or clucking like chickens. The fact is that hypnosis requires consent. The audience members who participate in those shows choose to follow the hypnotist’s suggestions.

You can be assured that if a hypnotherapist ever suggested that you do something that you felt uncomfortable with, you would either simply ignore the suggestion or you would come right out of trance. While in a trance, you will never do anything that is against your morals. Nor will you blurt out your deep dark secrets. You will decide whether or not you want to share your insights and discoveries and with whom.

Can I get stuck in a trance?

No! If you were in trance and the hypnotherapist walked away and never came back, you would come out of hypnosis on your own. If a fire alarm went off, you would pop right up and evacuate without a moment lost. While in the trance state, it might feel like your conscious mind has taken off on a holiday, but it’s really close by. It would notice if your hypnotherapist walked away or if there were some sort of emergency.

How is hypnotherapy different from psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy works from the conscious mind and tends to be a long-term therapy. Hypnotherapy works from the subconscious mind and is short term.

What happens in a session?

We will spend part of the first session addressing any questions, anxieties, or misconceptions that you still may have about hypnosis. We want your mind to be at ease so that you can effectively focus on your goals. We will also do a couple exercises that will show you how hypnosis works.

Next we will discuss what you want to achieve through hypnosis, the history of your problem and what you feel has prevented you from making the change you desire, or from finding the answers you seek. This will help me determine the best techniques to use. It will also help me personalize the suggestions I will give while you are in trance.

Once all of your questions have been answered and your issue and goals have been discussed, I will help you enter the trance state, where the therapy begins.

How can I prepare for my first session?

Wear comfortable clothes and use the restroom just before your appointment. You want your full attention on the session!
Don’t be shy about asking questions or expressing anxiety. We want to clear up any misconceptions.
Have confidence that hypnotherapy will work for you! If you come in with doubts, or you come in only hoping that it will work, your reservations will most certainly stand in the way of your success. Remember, reservations activate the conscious mind, which will make it hard for you to go into an effective trance state.
Read the Client Rights Form, and if you can, print and fill out the Client History Form to bring to your session.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies depending on your individual goals and issues. One to five sessions are the norm.

How long is a session, and how much does it cost?

Please see the Fees page.

How long has hypnosis been around?

Hypnosis can be traced back to the “sleep temples” of ancient Egypt and the “healing shrines” of ancient Greece. The word, hypnosis comes from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.

What is the difference between a hypnotherapist and a hypnotist?

Essentially, there is no difference. A practitioner who uses hypnosis for therapeutic work may choose to call his or herself either a hypnotist or a hypnotherapist, while an entertainer who uses hypnosis will call his or herself a stage hypnotist.

What does it mean to be “certified” as a hypnotherapist?

Hypnotism is a self-regulating profession and its practitioners are not licensed by state governments. There are, however, many professional organizations and non-accredited schools that are devoted to promoting and advancing the ethical practice of hypnotherapy. To be certified as a hypnotherapist means that a practitioner has undergone the minimum intensive training required by the particular school of hypnotism or professional organization that he or she has chosen. Many of these institutions offer—and sometimes require—continuing education.