In most states hypnosis is not a regulated profession which means that anyone could take a weekend seminar and call themselves a Hypnotist, so it is a good idea to go into the selection process with a game plan. The first step would be to find someone who is also a licensed healthcare provider such as a physician, registered nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist or a social worker. These individuals are educated and certified in their field and are more able and likely to offer professional quality care.
Although most doctors know very little about hypnosis you might ask your primary care physician for a referral. Another resource is holistic health centers, where there are usually several modalities of holistic practitioners under one roof. In such settings there is more likely to be a collective professional atmosphere.
There are several reputable organizations such as the National Guild of Hypnotists and the International Association of Councilors and Therapists. You can also do an Internet search of your area. From there you can research practitioner’s websites for office rates, qualifications and also get a feel for their level of professionalism.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to speak to the Hypnotist on your initial phone call you can gauge if they are generally interested in your concerns, how long they have been in business and what their qualifications are. You can also inquire if they are affiliated with any national organizations, if the session(s) will be specific to your needs, whether they teach self-hypnosis and if you will be receiving a recording of the session for home reinforcement.
There are many in this field who do very little in terms of preparing you for long term success as they prefer to have you keep coming back for costly office visits. Also ask how many sessions are required and you should also ask for references. I have a long list of satisfied clients who make themselves available to offer references.
If you get all the right answers to these questions and you feel good about the person you are speaking with, the last thing is to make sure their rates are in line with the area they practice in. This varies greatly from one part of the country to the next. If you feel good about how they describe their services and they seem to respect you and your concerns don’t let a few dollars get in the way of a positive experience. The average cost per session in most metropolitan areas is about $125-$150.
Once you have chosen a hypnotist the last step is to evaluate their office. If they got passing grades so far the chances are pretty good that the office experience will pass as well. A hypnotist can practice in a professional building or out of a home office. You will know right away if it is clean and professional in appearance. The hypnotist should make you feel welcome and cared for. There should also be a comfortable place for you to relax during your session. If everything meets your approval relax and enjoy the experience.
Life is a long string of choices and how we imagine ourselves strongly influences the choices we make. The only limitations are those we self-impose. A phrase from the popular DVD The Secret sums it up perfectly, “thoughts become things.” If our most predominant thoughts are based in stress, frustration, disappointment and failure then that is what we should expect in our lives. How we think and what we think shapes our world.
Hypnosis is a simple tool enabling you to powerfully harness your thoughts and accomplish dramatic positive change. By constantly imagining what you want, how it is going to look and imaging how the joy will feel you are programming your subconscious to initiate the inner changes supporting your goal.
I had a client who became fearful of driving. Over a period of three years she drove less and less. She constantly focused on the irrational fear and began to see herself not being able to drive, which is exactly what happened. Over time she became more adept envisioning and feeling her fear. During our initial conversation she went into explicit detail about her problem and became emotional in the process.
During the hypnosis session I guided her along an imaginary drive in the country, something she used to enjoy. Then her drive led her home which was in the city. During hypnosis she was able to reconnect with what she used to enjoy about driving, the independence, control and the destinations she chose.
At the conclusion of the hypnosis session she was surprised to say that the thought of driving home that day seemed okay to her. Intellectually she remembered the problem of the past but for that moment in time she had a new vision. She saw herself as a confident driver. In twenty minutes she re framed her view of the situation to the point she felt ready to drive again.
Most of problems people encounter are the result of unproductive repetition of thought. Like anything else, if we do it enough it gets easy and automatic. This is true in athletics, academics, auto repair and fishing. We are creatures of habit, if we habitually consider positive situations and experiences that’s what we should expect.
Hypnosis is a great personal tool of empowerment. It is the gateway to the ever powerful subconscious mind which is the control center for all bodily function and can be used to maximize the physical and emotional response to a speedy recovery.
With extensive experience in acute care facilities as a Registered Nurse and through many years in private practice as a Clinical Hypnotherapist I can clearly see the many positive applications of hypnosis in the hospital setting:
Intensive Care: Clients can block out distractions and increase their level of comfort which improves their ability to get quality rest and speed up recovery time. Hypnosis reduces stress; safely balances blood pressure and heart rate which helps minimize complications. It can also be used to reduce secretions, bleeding, optimize immune response and also make procedures more tolerable.
Oncology: Hypnosis lessens anxiety, pain, nausea, vomiting and reduces respiratory distress. It increases confidence and self-image and also eases the acceptance of physical restrictions and managing end of life transition. A study of women with metastatic breast cancer showed that those receiving hypnosis over a one year period were able to reduce their pain experience by 50% and in a 10 year follow-up the treatment group had a survival rate of 36.6 months compared to 18.9 months for those who did not receive hypnosis. (Speigel and Bloom 1983)
Pediatrics: What better gift to give a frightened child than control during a time of crisis. Children have active imaginations and respond very quickly and positively to hypnosis. It melts away fear; increases relaxation and focus making it easier for them to understand instructions, procedures and treatments.
Mental Health: Hypnosis relieves symptoms of sadness, fear, phobias and addictions. It puts the client in control. They get to play an active role in their own recovery, which adds to an increased sense of involvement and ability to establish positive change. Everyone feels better about themselves after hypnosis.
Surgical: Pre-surgical hypnosis reduces anxiety, pain, stress and bleeding. It promotes rapid healing and improved immune response. These clients can better manage post-op pain and nausea, use less medication and avoid the side effects that go with it. Those who are positive and relaxed going into anesthesia are positive and relaxed coming out of it. (more)
A Boston area Hypnotherapist, with 10 years of medical experience as an RN, Paul has been helping clients since 2001 to overcome everyday challenges. Read more
Stay in Touch
Press | Media
Paul’s Book
Healthy Hypnosis: The Simple Truth and Practical Use Paul explains the A-B-C’s of clinical hypnosis and offers case studies and examples of actual client sessions. This is a must read for anyone interested in this fascinating technique.
