Hypnotherapy FAQ

This is an extremely important decision, so here are a few of the things you might want to consider when choosing your hypnotherapist.

a) What are the hypnotherapist’s background and qualifications? What levels of training in hypnosis have they achieved? There are 3 levels of general training and diplomas in hypnosis that are as follows: 1) Hypnotist 2) Master Hypnotist 3) Clinical Hypnotherapist. (keep in mind that there are many other courses the hypnotherapist may take in various areas of special interest).

b) Are they certified and do they belong to a reputable governing association such as the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapist Association or National Guild of Hypnotists? This is important. To be a member of such organizations, the hypnotherapist must have successfully demonstrated a level of expertise in the area of hypnotherapy, continually complete a required number of hours annually to upgrade their skills, and are governed by a strict code of ethics.

c) Where did they receive their training? If their training was on-line through distance education without practical experience, they will not qualify for membership in some governing associations such as the IMDHA. Of course, that depends on the particular association’s policies and regulations.

d) Your hypnotherapist will become your guide to achieving your goals, so like any other guide, you want to take the time to be comfortable that they know their “turf.” Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good hypnotherapist will welcome and encourage you to learn all the answers that you need to discover if this is the right person for you. You should take the time to get to know them since they will play an integral part in the success of you reaching your objectives.

e) A good hypnotherapist does not pass judgment. Their passion (as opposed to “job”) is to act as your guide in realizing your goals. You want to feel comfortable and find them approachable. Follow you gut instincts. Remember, it’s your journey and you are in charge.

There are many misconceptions surrounding what hypnosis really is. The actual definition of hypnosis is a process by which one bypasses the critical mind allowing access to the subconscious.

So, what the heck does that mean? It means that we are in a state of hypnosis naturally many times every day. It is not scary and is completely safe. During the hypnotic state, one is fully aware of what is going on around them, but they are in a deep state of relaxation. Think about how you feel at night right before you fall asleep, that moment when you are still aware of what is happening around you, but are completely and totally relaxed. That is the hypnotic state.

Hypnotherapy is the process of using the hypnotic state to establish selective thinking. In other words, using the hypnotic state to access the subconscious and make changes in the thinking process that result in a client achieving the desired objectives.

Absolutely. Your mind remains completely aware while your body is totally relaxed and calm.

Absolutely not. Your subconscious mind completely rejects anything that is against your morals or belief system.

Once again, absolutely not - for the same reasons as stated in the above answer.

If someone is not willing to be hypnotized, they won’t be. Beyond that, with a skilled, knowledgeable hypnotherapist, you can be hypnotized.

The only exceptions are people that are severely disabled, insane, or under 2 years of age. 95% of people can be hypnotized.

That will never happen. Your hypnotherapist will ensure you are fully emerged before you leave their office. While there is no reason your hypnotherapist would choose to do this, if the client was left in a hypnotic state, eventually they would just fall asleep and wake up normally.

Absolutely not. Change has nothing to do with a person’s age. It is the willingness or desire to change that is important.

Hypnosis is a recognized effective method used by mainstream medicine for years. The American (June 1958) and the Canadian (April 23, 1995) Medical Associations have accepted the therapeutic value of hypnotism when used by qualified skilled practitioners. It has been used in countless dentists’ offices to produce drugless anesthesia without suffering and anxiety to the patient. It is used by many surgeons for various types of surgery. In addition, many psychiatrists and psychologists use hypnosis regularly with their patients.

Yes, it does. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are extremely effective tools to access the subconscious mind. In the hypnotic state, the critical mind (which acts like a filter) “shifts over” and allows direct access to the subconscious. Without the interference of the critical mind filtering information, the hypnotherapist can guide you directly to the “root” cause of any issue you wish to address. Although the conscious mind has no idea where or what that is, the subconscious knows exactly where it needs to go. That is why hypnotherapy works so rapidly and effectively.

Yes, it can. It is normal to feel conflicted when dealing with any habit or addiction, including nicotine. After all, if a person “hated it,” they wouldn’t have developed the habit. Hypnotherapy really is the single most effective quit smoking program available and works equally effectively on any addiction issues. It is 100% safe and 95% effective.

There are many different schools of thought on past life regression.. Some argue that the person actually regresses into a past life experience, while others argue it is just prior information the person has buried in their subconscious mind during their current lifetime that is being accessed. Whatever school of thought one adopts, the fact remains that with the guidance of a skilled hypnotherapist, past life regression can be a very effective method to address and release issues buried in the subconscious mind. On the other hand, age regression, is a tool used by psychiatrists, psychologists and hypnotherapists to regress a client back to an earlier time in their life that is buried in the subconscious mind. It can be an equally effective tool to access the subconscious mind and reframe and release problematic issues.

This depends on what someone is trying to achieve. For example, ridding oneself of a smoking habit can be successfully achieved in only 1-2 sessions. Other issues can take longer. The average number of sessions required is 4-6. A session usually lasts 1 hour. Occasionally, it can last 1 ½ - 2 hours, but this is unusual. The exception to this is past life regression which is normally longer. That is why hypnotherapists charge more for past life regression than a regular session.

Changes can start as soon as a few hours, 24-48 hours, or “kick in” further down the road. Every person is unique, so results do vary.

Your hypnotherapist sets their own fees, so this does vary. The average cost of a session runs from $75-$250 and up depending on the hypnotherapist. I charge $100.00. I do not charge for the initial intake and 15 minute consultation; however, that is a decision made by the hypnotherapist, so you may want to ask. In addition, depending on what you are working on, there may be a flat rate eg. “quit smoking” or package prices of “x” number of sessions paid in advance. These tend to be more reasonable. Some extended health plans will cover hypnotherapy providing the hypnotherapist is licensed and registered with a governing association.

Again, this is decided by the hypnotherapist. For my clients, some sessions may go over by 10 minutes or so, and I do not charge extra for this time. If the session goes over by 30 minutes or more, there is an additional charge for the time. Your money is important, so make sure you know exactly what the fees are. This is something that you should discuss during your initial consultation.