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Most people don’t know that there are many types of hypnosis. They go by all sorts of interesting names and equally interesting claims, “past life regression”, “ericksonian”, “authoritarian”, “deep trance”, “core transformation”, even “demonic de-possession”. Because hypnosis works so intensely with the human mind and imagination people have taken the study of hypnosis into some very interesting (perhaps “weird”) directions. Many hypnotists are proud to advertise their style hypnosis, so it’s natural to ask ‘which type of hypnosis is best?’ The answer is simple: the one that gets the result. Since 1998, when I started helping people with hypnosis I [...]

Being a professional hypnotist for two decades has taught me a lot. It’s taught me that people can change in dramatic and positive ways given all the right reasons. I’ve seen people quit smoking and never go back after one session. I’ve seen people overcome paralyzing PTSD and phobias, change behaviors and start making healthy life sustaining decisions in what seems like minutes. To my surprise what I’ve learned late in my career is that hypnosis doesn’t really matter. Let me explain. “Hypnosis” is the name given to a very natural process. It seems mysterious and magical but, in fact, [...]

Because hypnosis has a sense of mystery about it a common question I get is “what’s it like to be hypnotized?” A lot of people think hypnosis is like sleep because what they have seen are people completely relaxed and appearing to be asleep and unconscious. The truth is they are very much aware what is being told to them. Everyone has a slightly different experience but what hypnotized people have in common is that hypnosis is a highly focused state of concentration. With that in mind, imagine being both completely relaxed and comfortable and focusing intensely on something that [...]

Hypnosis has the ability to change deep unconscious habits that seem outside of your conscious control. But there is a way to bring many habits under our control without resorting to fatigue producing “will power”. The process is called Mindfulness. I often encourage my hypnosis clients to practice a simple exercise in mindfulness. Mindfulness does not mean sitting cross-legged in meditating for hours. Instead, it is the very simple and intentional Act of paying attention. Putting all of your attention to what you are doing without judgement and without emotion. Mindfulness is the act of observing what you are experiencing [...]

I would like to describe my experience with hypnosis and serious drug abuse, specifically heroin and methamphetamine (meth). I’ve had experience working with drug addiction and want to share my insights with those who know someone suffering from addiction. Addiction is a profoundly painful condition. Withdraws from heroin can be extremely painful. For some people hypnosis can eliminate or reduce the discomfort of withdraw but it is not something I, as a hypnotist, want to deal with. There is a detox period of up to a week a heroin addict must go through to get over the physical withdraws. At [...]

“Giving up smoking is easy…I’ve done it hundreds of times.” ~Mark Twain It’s true. For a majority of my career as a hypnotist, while I was helping people quit smoking, I also smoked. I know that makes me seem like a hypocrite and I would agree. I started smoking a few years before I started my career in hypnosis. Smoking made be feel independent and rebellious. I also knew no good would come of smoking but, like every smoker, I suppressed that thought with a double dose of justification and denial. Also like many smokers, I quit smoking many times. [...]

Are you shopping for a hypnotist? Are you wondering what you should pay for hypnosis? Let me offer a perspective that comes from 20 years as a professional hypnotist. It’s understandable that you be shopping for the best deal. What you’ll find in terms of payment for hypnosis services will vary widely. Here is what you may find: $50-$100 a session and recommend 5 sessions. One session $200-$500. Period. Often referred to as the “One Session Wonder”. Multiple sessions over weeks costing $1200-$5000. For a moment put aside any thought of what you’ll be paying. Consider what you want instead. [...]

I was recently working with a client for drug addiction. Anyone who recognizes they’re stuck in a problem starts working to get out of it. As you might guess, he spent much of his time and mental energy working to avoid using drugs and alcohol. This avoidance became a huge preoccupation. Of course doing this can work but such vigilance can make an exhausting amount of stress. A turning point happened in our work when he realized that it is easier and more enjoyable to focus on the things that he appreciates in life as opposed to trying to avoid [...]

I love that quote. Everyone I work with wants to do common sense things that should be easy to do. They want to stop smoking, eat right, control anxiety, focus on important areas of life and avoid distractions. All of these things are just common sense. It’s common sense to not smoke tobacco. It’s common sense to eat healthy foods. It’s common sense to get physical activity. It’s common sense that speaking to groups of people should be easy. These things should be easy … but they are not. If gaining this level of control were easy people wouldn’t [...]