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