At Hypnosis For Healing we strive to answer your questions and to provide as much information as possible. The following F.A.Q. is designed to address questions that many clients have before undertaking the hypnotherapeutic process.

Can anyone be hypnotized?
The short answer is “Yes.” Some people find it easier than others to relax. Others may go into various levels of hypnosis faster or more deeply, but almost all individuals are easily capable of reaching the light to medium states of relaxation and receptivity. Modern hypnosis has many tools available, and a good hypnotherapist will be able to tailor a session to your needs and personality.

What is a typical session like?
Our first session will be ninety minutes and will be primarily spent learning more about you and the issues you would like to manage or change. I have several intake forms that we fill out. These help me to get a better understanding of how you will best function and learn while in a hypnotic state. Based on the information I gather, I am better able to tailor a program to meet your needs.

We will take all the time necessary to answer any questions you may have.

Depending on the nature of the work, we may end this session with a short hypnosis session, a quick pain relief technique, breath work or a guided visualization. If it would be beneficial, I may also provide instructions or an audiotape that you can use between sessions covering the basics of self-hypnosis.

Our second and subsequent sessions will also be ninety minutes in length and will continue to focus on your personal issue. Occasionally, sessions are longer or shorter depending on need and availability. Frequently I induce a medium level of relaxation within a few minutes so that we can get to a place where hypnotic suggestions are readily accepted by your subconscious mind.

Inductions take many forms and all of them lead to a wonderful feeling of calm and contentment.

Will I go to sleep?
Not likely. Some clients who are physically tired may fade in and out of a light sleep state. Unlike awakening from sleep, as you are guided out of a state of relaxation, you open your eyes and feel refreshed, relaxed and wide awake.

Will I remember everything?
You will remember everything that you want to remember. Much as in our day-to-day lives, we remember the significant events. While in hypnosis and upon returning to normal waking consciousness, you will be easily able to remember anything about the session that you want to remember, and I will provide suggestions to the subconscious mind so that this happens.

Many clients are surprised at how quickly time passes while in deep relaxation, but most are able to remember everything about a session.

How long does it take to see results?
This is a hard question to answer. Most hypnotherapists agree that motivation is the key to getting good, rapid results. Experienced hypnotherapists all have case histories with results that may appear to be almost miraculous.

In the context of issues for which hypnosis has been proven to be effective, such as pain management, stress reduction, smoking cessation, weight control and other medical issues, it is common for results to be seen very quickly; for some clients within minutes, for others within days.

How many sessions will we have?
Medical hypnotherapy is designed to be rapid and effective. It is typical to work with a client for four to eight sessions, sometimes more. This would include our initial session, perhaps four to six in-depth sessions, a thorough grounding in a personal practice of self-hypnosis and finally a follow-up session. In between sessions clients will be encouraged to work on a daily self-hypnosis practice, possibly guided by custom-made audiocassette tape(s), and reinforced with our ongoing sessions.

How long is a session?
A standard session is an hour and a half. On occasion, our work may take longer or shorter than this time.

Will I lose control?
No. A hypnotherapist cannot make you do anything against your ethics, values or beliefs. In a hypnotic state you cannot be made to do anything against your will.

Rather than experiencing a lack or loss of consciousness, you will quickly discover that, while in a relaxed state, all of your senses operate in a heightened state of awareness. A sense of calm, equanimity and balance permeates your mind. All or most of the daily “chatter” of your conscious mind disappears and is replaced with an expansive, centered awareness in your mind and body. For anyone that has ever daydreamed, lost themselves in a good book or movie, experienced a pleasant lucid dream or simply “zoned out,” a light to medium hypnotic state will feel very familiar and comfortable.

How is hypnotherapy different from psychotherapy?
Psychotherapists are trained to diagnose, test and treat individuals with mental disorders, whereas hypnotherapists are trained to work with functional individuals who want to change behaviors and improve the quality of their lives and relationships.

Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Hypnosis is about developing inner abilities and our incredible capacity to change.