What is clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy?

✓ Hypnotherapy is the use of clinical hypnosis by a trained, certified and experienced practitioner. Hypnotherapy is a safe and practical method of helping young people manage physical and psychological challenges through the therapeutic power of imagination and self mastery. It is a non-pharmaceutical intervention approved by the American Medical Association in 1959 as a treatment modality and is particularly effective with children and teens. Once learned, self-hypnosis is a valuable, life-long skill that can be utilized for coping, healing, and overcoming detrimental attitudes, habits, and actions as well as goal setting and achievement.

✓ Clinical hypnosis is the use of positive suggestions in a deeply relaxed state to eliminate habits, attitudes or behaviors that are detrimental to the client’s well being. It allows the client to bypass defense mechanisms and our analytical ability to rationalize any behavior. New associations, through positive suggestion, are established. Clinical hypnosis is the opposite of anxiety in that anxiety is negative messaging and sensation and is uncontrolled. Clinical hypnosis is positive messaging in a controlled environment for the purpose of establishing new patterns and associations.

What should I look for in a hypnotherapist?

✓ Training Credentials from an accredited program
✓ At least 300 hours in training
✓ Willingness to share progress summary with client physician or pediatrician
✓ Positive feedback from child, teen or adult after the initial session

Can I get stuck in hypnosis?

✓ It the hypnotherapist were to suddenly leave in the middle of a session you would do one of two things, either fall asleep and wake up when ready, just like a nap OR after a few moments of silence, you may get bored and open your eyes. You are in a restful but alert state and hear everything.

Am I giving up all control?

✓ On the contrary, the hypnotherapist teaches the client how to take control.   We view what we do as helping someone “de-hypnotize” from messaging or experiences that became part of an unconscious association and is an automatic response that does not serve one’s best interests.

How many sessions are required and is clinical hypnosis covered by insurance?

✓ Generally speaking, changes are noticed within the first few days. Depreciation differs for everyone. Weekly sessions 2-3 weeks in a row are suggested, (though some areas need more and some need less) followed by every other week for a month and then as desired. This helps reinforce the new associations and repetition strengthens the neural brain pathways of learning. Many adults continue to come monthly for the release of overload and general sense of well being. Unfortunately most insurance companies to do not reimburse for hypnotherapy unless one can submit under a flex plan.