| You're probably aware of hypnosis to stop | | | | encouraged to ask all the questions you need |
| smoking. Or for losing pounds. Maybe you've | | | | to ask. As a consumer and potential client, |
| heard how hypnosis can help explore past | | | | you have that right. |
| lives, but there are some things hypnosis can | | | | |
| help you do that might surprise or amaze you: | | | | Two good questions are: "How long have you |
| | | | been in practice? And what are your |
| 1. Locate lost objects. If you were the one | | | | specialties?? (Mine are smoking cessation and |
| who put it away, or you witnessed it being | | | | women's issues including love and |
| put away, hypnosis might help. Even if the | | | | relationship.) You may also want to ask, "Do |
| incident was years ago. Try it and see what | | | | you work with ______(your issue)?" And "How |
| happens. | | | | often?" |
| | | | |
| 2. Enjoy foods you've avoided. Brussel | | | | What Can Hypnosis Be Used For |
| sprouts are healthy, and whole-grain bread is | | | | |
| better for you than white, nutritionists tell | | | | Hypnosis, in a clinical setting-as opposed to |
| us. But what if you just don't like the | | | | stage hypnosis for entertainment-is usually |
| taste? A little hypnosis and you might change | | | | used to create or break habits. These are |
| all that, though if your resistance persists, | | | | habits of thought or action. Grabbing the |
| check for an allergy. Sometimes your body | | | | next potato chip, and the next, and the next, |
| just "knows." | | | | without even noticing you're doing it, is a |
| | | | habit of action. But that action may have |
| 3. End cravings. The reverse of #2, this | | | | been due to a habit of thought. Perhaps you |
| helps you turn down brownies, stop | | | | were focusing on a painful, sad, or angry |
| uncontrolled shopping, or even give up the | | | | thought or an unfulfilled desire and wanted |
| boyfriend who keeps doin' ya wrong. | | | | to distract yourself. And you found that a |
| | | | tasty food could do that for you temporarily. |
| 4. Enjoy public speaking. They call it a | | | | |
| greater fear than death. Too bad. Being an | | | | A conscious motive? Maybe. But it's often |
| effective speaker can boost your career in | | | | unconscious. You may not realize why you're |
| your company, your industry, and beyond. | | | | reaching for the chip. You'd probably say "I |
| Once-reticent clients gasp at the changes in | | | | like the taste" or "I'm just hungry and I |
| themselves-and the benefits they reap. If | | | | can't take a break now." |
| stopping smoking stops draining money, | | | | |
| becoming a good speaker puts money in the | | | | Hypnosis is ideal for working for working |
| bank. | | | | with the subconscious mind. |
| | | | |
| 5. Exercise longer, stronger and more | | | | The Power of Self Hypnosis |
| efficiently. Hypnosis can help your turn | | | | |
| distaste for working out into a craving. Ask | | | | Self-hypnosis is an empowering tool because |
| yourself: "What would exercising give me? | | | | once you've tested the waters, you may want |
| What would it make possible in my life?" A | | | | to continue the work on your own, with only |
| talented hypnotherapist spins a powerful | | | | occasional visits to the hypnotist of your |
| motivational story for your subconscious, | | | | choice for tougher issues or to upgrade your |
| making it all so desirable that you can't | | | | skills. |
| wait to shop for running shoes. | | | | |
| | | | Self-hypnosis allows you to work with |
| 6. Attract your life partner. You think | | | | yourself, whenever you choose, on simple |
| finding the person of your dreams is about | | | | things, reserving another office visit for |
| mesmerizing her or her? Nope. Start with | | | | times when you need an outside perspective or |
| yourself. Hypnosis for confidence, sex | | | | when self-hypnosis doesn't seem to be |
| appeal, or immediate rapport gives you a | | | | working. Smoking cessation, initial weigh |
| feeling you've never had before. And that | | | | loss work, and relationship issues seem to |
| sense of self is very appealing to others. | | | | work best with outside help, at least at |
| Try it out. | | | | first. |
| | | | |
| 7. Get more done in less time. It's not all | | | | But once you've sampled the powerful results |
| about organizing your files or upgrading your | | | | of hypnosis, you might want to make it part |
| technology. Productivity, effectiveness, and | | | | of your life. So ask up front if your |
| enjoying what you do all start in the mind. | | | | hypnotherapist teaches self-hypnosis. Many of |
| And specifically, in your subconscious mind. | | | | us do. For example, I teach self-hypnosis |
| Uh-huh. | | | | one-on-one, in a group workshop, or with a CD |
| | | | I have created for that purpose. When |
| 8. Relieve an itch. Yeah, really. When is an | | | | choosing your practitioner, find out what |
| itch not an itch? When it's a habit. Keep | | | | choices she offers. |
| scratching it and it feels itchier. And | | | | |
| irritated. Irritated skin often itches (not | | | | Hypnotherapy is not psychotherapy |
| to mention bleeds) so you've created a cycle. | | | | |
| But you can tell your subconscious to | | | | If you suspect you need psychotherapy, don't |
| disengage that phantom itching, allow your | | | | expect the "certified hypnotherapist" or |
| healing, and get back that healthy | | | | hypnotist to do that. She is not licensed for |
| smoothness. | | | | that work. Instead, either look for a |
| | | | psychotherapist who is also trained in |
| Finding Your Hypnotherapist | | | | hypnosis and uses it commonly in her |
| | | | practice, or go to two different people. |
| Once interested in hypnosis, people ask me | | | | |
| how they can find a good hypnotist in their | | | | In my practice, I have relationships with |
| area. If you live in or near a metropolitan | | | | manypsychotherapists. When the situation |
| area, it shouldn't be too difficult. | | | | calls for both skills, we share a client, and |
| | | | with her expressed written permission, we |
| But people trained in hypnosis can sometimes | | | | exchange progress reports to maximize the |
| be found in rural areas too. | | | | impact of our work to benefit that client. |
| | | | Generally I see the client a specified number |
| You may see the title "certified | | | | of times, while the psychotherapist's care |
| hypnotherapist" or "certified hypnotist," and | | | | isongoing. |
| more recently "consulting hypnotist." Ask | | | | |
| which organization(s) certified him or her. | | | | Clients generally say the combination made a |
| For hypnotists who are not licensed as | | | | difference in speed, effectiveness, and |
| psychotherapists or psychologists (and yet | | | | enjoyment. |
| are extremely effective and trustworthy), the | | | | |
| National Guild of Hypnotists is nationally | | | | Hypnosis is pleasant |
| known and deemed trustworthy. The American | | | | |
| Board of Hypnotherapy is also a respected | | | | The process of being hypnotized is usually a |
| organization. | | | | pleasant one. So many of my clients have |
| | | | described as a "mental massage," that I now |
| When you call a hypnotherapist, found through | | | | teach a corporate workshop called That |
| referral or simply by Googling "hypnosis", | | | | Marvelous Mental Massage. (TM) |
| notice how comfortable you feel during the | | | | |
| conversation. Great skills are crucial, but | | | | Clients often say they feel healthier, more |
| so is the rapport between you. If you want to | | | | alive and committed to their lives after |
| test the waters, arrange for a single | | | | walking out of a session. They can't believe |
| appointment, and then decide whether you want | | | | they could alter their minds to be so rested |
| to continue. | | | | and optimistic, after merely sitting on a |
| | | | sofa for an hour, listening to someone say |
| A hypnotherapeutic relationship can be | | | | some words to them. |
| ongoing, especially if there's a coaching | | | | |
| aspect to it, but it is often short term: one | | | | If you have an issue you think can be |
| appointment, three appointments, perhaps six, | | | | addressed by hypnosis, call some |
| depending on the issue or the habit you want | | | | practitioners near you, describe the issue, |
| to break-or create. | | | | what you'd like to have happen, and sample |
| | | | this ancient art and science for what it can |
| In your phone conversation, you should be | | | | do for you. |