Hypnotherapy is a proven method of treatment for conditions and symptoms that involve a mental or emotional component. If a person’s attitude, expectations, beliefs, feelings, needs, or self-image factor in a way that his or her particular problem is experienced, then that problem can benefit from hypnosis.
As a clinical hypnotherapist certified by the 12,000 member National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), I practice in downtown Portland Oregon. I practice hypnotherapy for the short-term specific and immediate therapeutic relief that it can provide my clients for conditions and symptoms including those listed below.
My hypnotherapy practice is distinguished from the majority of my fellow hypnotists in several important respects: 1) my expertise in hypnosis has been recogized by NGH as qualifying me to teach and train hypnotists for certification; 2) unlike most other hypnotists, I have an extensive eduational background in psychology including not only a bachelor degree and a master degree in psychology, but also trainings in additional counseling modalities including training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming by the founder of NLP.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a profound state of relaxation and single-pointed attention in which the mind’s critical thinking faculty is relaxed so as to allow direct communication with the unconscious for the purpose of benefiting the client. It is a very
Wondering what it’s like to be in a hypnosis trance? Nothing at all like in the movies! Check out the link on the left.
useful state. In a hypnotherapy trance, the mind’s magnificent powers can be elicited, motivated, and directed to bring healing and relief to the client’s specific conditions and symptoms.
Being in a trance is an everyday phenomenon that we each experience. When we watch TV, become absorbed in a book, or when driving on a freeway and missing our exit, we are in trance. Hypnosis differs from these everyday trances in that in hypnosis you are intentionally guided into trance by the hypnotherapist for a beneficial purpose.
Common myths about hypnosis
Will I lose control without knowing it? No. A hypnotist does not possess the power to control other persons’ minds. All the hypnotist does is guide you to a profound state of relaxation that you, the client, allow. That’s it. If you don’t want to reveal something that is private, you won’t. Moreover, in fact all of your senses are heightened when in the hypnotic state.
Will I lose consciousness? Television and Hollywood have promoted this misunderstanding of hypnosis. No you will not lose consciousness. In fact you will be even more awake during hypnosis than before. You will be aware of everything I say.
Can I be made to do something against my will? Hollywood films like The Manchurian Candidate perpetuate the myth that a hypnotized person can be made to do something against her will. This is nonsense. In hypnosis, the hypnotherapist cannot make you to do anything against your will or your values. If the hypnotherapist were to give you a suggestion that was against your will or your values, then you would simply ignore the hypnotherapist or waken yourself out of the hypnotic state.
What about those performers on stage? A hypnotist who perform on stage making audience members do comic things practices stage hypnotism. The hypnotist who practice stage hypnotism is very different from the hypnotherapist who practices clinical hypnotherapy. Before the act, the stage hypnotist will “smooze” with the audience, determining which persons are suggestible and likely to be the life of the party. Later on stage, the hypnotist will select these audience members. In hypnosis, these audience members will like attention they get; they will like being ‘on stage.’ Whatever they may do on stage doesn’t go against their innate values. Rather it complements their wanting to be the center of attention.
Can I be stuck in hypnosis? No one has ever been stuck in hypnosis. You can’t be stuck in hypnosis any more than you can get stuck in a daydream. Were a person to not be emerged from hypnosis by the hypnotist, then all that would happen is that the person would fall asleep and awaken naturally.
Will I reveal my secrets? Some people believe incorrectly that under hypnosis they can be forced to reveal secrets about themselves and others. This is not true. As a client you are aware of everything while you are bieng hypnotized, and so this surely could not happen. You can talk in hypnosis, if necessary. You can fib in hypnosis just as easily.
What are some of the conditions hypnotherapy is effective in treating?
As described by the Oregon Hypnotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy has been found to be effective complementary health therapy in treating the following health, performance, and personal conditions. In providing the following list, I want to emphasize that while hypnotherapy can be very effective in treating these conditions, hypnotherapy does not always treat the client’s character issues that often may be found to be the root psychosomatic cause of the conditions. Nevertheless, for very many of my clients, just healing or alleviating a distressing condition is all the relief for which they long