FAQ

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that works by guiding you into a deeply relaxed, focused state of awareness, sometimes called a trance state. In this state, your busy, analytical mind softens, allowing greater access to the subconscious; the part of the mind that stores patterns, habits, emotions, and memories.

When the subconscious is more open and receptive, you can explore the root causes of challenges, release limiting beliefs, and reframe old patterns that no longer serve you. Guided suggestions and imagery help strengthen new, healthier responses—whether that’s reducing stress, overcoming fears, managing pain, or building confidence.

Unlike stage hypnosis, therapeutic hypnosis is collaborative and empowering. You remain in control at all times and can choose what suggestions to accept. Many people describe it as similar to the relaxed focus you feel when absorbed in a book or daydream.

Because the subconscious drives so much of our behavior and emotional responses, working at this level allows hypnotherapy to create shifts that feel natural and lasting. It’s not about “giving up control”—it’s about gaining more choice and freedom in how you think, feel, and respond to life.

No—you remain fully aware and in control throughout the session. Hypnosis is not sleep, and it is not mind control. Instead, it’s a natural state of focused attention and relaxation—similar to being absorbed in a good book or a movie—where your mind becomes more receptive to helpful suggestions.

During hypnotherapy, you can hear everything that’s said, and you are free to accept or reject any suggestion. You cannot be made to act against your values, beliefs, or will. In fact, most people find themselves more engaged and more able to choose how they want to respond, because the usual mental chatter and distractions quiet down.

It is a collaborative process. The hypnotherapist serves as a guide, but you are the one steering the experience. Your subconscious only accepts what feels safe, right, and useful for you. This is why people often leave sessions feeling not only calmer but also more empowered—because they realize that the resources for change have been within them all along.

In short, hypnotherapy doesn’t take control away from you—it actually gives you more control by opening up new choices and freeing you from automatic habits and reactions.

Anxiety, Stress, Fears & Phobias

• What changes: Calmer baseline, reduced reactivity, steadier focus.

• How: Relaxation + imagery + suggestion reduce arousal; anchors install “on-cue calm”; gradual desensitization rewires triggers.

Performance & Learning (students, public speaking, creatives, athletes)

• Test anxiety / study & class focus: Build “exam-day state” (calm + clarity), strengthen recall cues, rehearse success, use “alert trance” for focused study.

• Public speaking: Desensitize the spotlight, anchor confidence, rehearse delivery with vivid sensory imagery.

Habits & Addictions (smoking, overeating, alcohol moderation, repetitive patterns)

• What changes: Break cue-routine-reward loops; install new responses.

• How: Parts work, aversive/attractive reframing, future pacing, identity-level suggestions, craving-surfing protocols.

Chronic Pain & Symptom Relief (including oncology support)

• What changes: Lower pain intensity/interference; more comfort; improved sleep.

• How: Analgesia suggestions, dissociation/re-association techniques, reframing, time distortion, nausea control, comfort imagery—all alongside medical care.

Oncology (integrative support)

• Helps with: Anxiety, procedure stress, pain, nausea, sleep, treatment adherence, healing imagery, meaning-making.

• How: Calming the nervous system, guided imagery aligned with treatment, “from relief to (sometimes) full release” language for symptoms, coping skills—all in coordination with your team.

Grief & Trauma

• What changes: Safety in the body, capacity to feel/process, gentler triggers.

• How: Titrated processing, resource installation, compassionate reframes, somatic calm; honoring waves of grief while restoring choice.

ADHD & Focus

• What changes: On-demand focus, task initiation, follow-through, emotional regulation.

• How: “Alert trance” state training, environmental cues, implementation intentions, anchoring, motivation imagery—complements coaching and clinical care.

Sleep & Insomnia

• What changes: Faster sleep onset, fewer awakenings, calmer pre-sleep mind.

• How: Pre-sleep self-hypnosis routine, worry-offloading, body scanning, suggestion for restorative sleep.

Weight, Body Relationship, and Disordered Eating (supportive/adjunct)

• What changes: Reduced compulsive urges, kinder self-talk, aligned choices.

• How: Belief/identity work, urge-delay and craving protocols, values-based future pacing. (Always within scope and alongside appropriate care; not for acute ED treatment alone.) Why Hypnotherapy Helps Across So Many Issues

Hypnotherapy works at the level where patterns actually live—automatic thoughts, learned responses, emotions, and body states. In a calm, focused state (trance), the brain is more receptive to new associations, imagery, and suggestions, allowing you to:

• Down-regulate the stress response (shift from fight/flight to rest/digest), which eases anxiety, improves sleep, digestion, immunity, and pain tolerance.

• Reframe meaning and expectation (what a sensation or situation means to you), which changes the experience itself (e.g., pain → manageable sensation; test → solvable task).

• Update subconscious patterns (habits, beliefs, self-talk) via memory reconsolidation, cognitive rehearsal, and future pacing.

• Engage top-down modulation of the body (attention, imagery, and suggestion alter perception and physiology—useful for pain, nausea, fatigue).

• Install skills (breath, anchors, self-hypnosis) you can trigger on demand—before a test, procedure, presentation, or bedtime.

It depends on your goals and the nature of the issue. With highly specific, single-target goals—like easing test anxiety before an exam, preparing for a medical procedure, or addressing a particular fear or habit—many people experience noticeable relief in just one to three sessions. Hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious, where patterns are stored, so change can often happen more quickly than with purely conscious approaches.

That said, issues that are more complex, layered, or tied to longstanding experiences—such as chronic pain, trauma, disordered eating, or persistent patterns of anxiety—often benefit from a series of sessions. A multi-session packageallows us to not only address immediate symptoms but also explore root causes, strengthen new patterns, and integrate tools for long-term resilience.

In short:

• Single or short-term goals → rapid results are common (1–3 sessions).

• Deeper or multifaceted concerns → ongoing work offers greater transformation and stability.

Hypnotherapy is designed to be efficient: it helps you access your natural capacity for change quickly, while giving you skills you can continue using long after the session ends.

Hypnotherapy is a natural, drug-free approach that works by engaging the power of your own mind. You remain fully aware, alert, and in control throughout the process—hypnosis is not sleep, unconsciousness, or mind control. Instead, it’s a state of focused relaxation where your attention is directed inward, allowing you to work with the subconscious patterns that shape habits, emotions, and perceptions.

Because there are no medications, invasive procedures, or physical side effects, hypnotherapy carries virtually no risk when practiced by a trained professional. You cannot get “stuck” in hypnosis, and you cannot be made to do anything against your will. It is always a collaborative process, guided by your goals and comfort level. A Safer Alternative in Sensitive Areas

• Pain Management: Hypnotherapy has been shown to help with acute and chronic pain, providing comfort and control without the risks of opioids or narcotics. Unlike pharmaceutical pain management, hypnosis carries no danger of addiction, overdose, or unwanted side effects. It can be used alongside medical care, offering a safer first step or complementary tool before turning to stronger interventions.

• Stress & Anxiety Relief: Many people turn to alcohol, sedatives, or other coping mechanisms to calm stress. Hypnotherapy provides a healthier alternative by teaching the mind and body how to shift into states of calm and balance naturally.

• Sleep Issues: Instead of relying on sleeping pills, which can cause dependency or grogginess, hypnosis helps retrain the subconscious to access rest and relaxation on its own—often with long-lasting benefits.

• Habits & Compulsions: For smoking, overeating, or compulsive behaviors, hypnosis offers change at the subconscious level without the chemical risks of medication or the rollercoaster of “willpower only” approaches.

• Emotional Healing: When facing grief, trauma, or overwhelm, people sometimes numb themselves with substances or distractions. Hypnosis offers a safe, structured way to process and release emotions without avoidance or suppression.

Most people describe hypnotherapy as a state of deep relaxation and calm focus — very similar to guided meditation or mindfulness practice, but with a clear purpose. Your body often feels lighter or heavier, your breathing slows, and your mind becomes more centered and open.

It’s not sleep, and you don’t lose awareness — instead, you enter a state where the “noise” of everyday thoughts quiets down, and your subconscious becomes more accessible. This is why many people find hypnosis so effective: in this state, your mind is more receptive to suggestions, insights, and new ways of thinking that support positive change.

Rather than feeling out of control, you may actually feel more in control than ever before — calmly focused, aware of everything happening, yet free from the usual tension or self-criticism that gets in the way of growth.

People often say sessions feel like a reset for the mind and body:

• You leave feeling refreshed, like you’ve had a deep rest.

• You may notice more clarity in your thoughts.

• Stress and anxiety often feel lighter, more manageable.

• Insights can arise naturally, as if your inner wisdom finally has space to be heard.

Each person’s experience is unique, but the common thread is that hypnotherapy feels safe, comfortable, and empowering. It’s a collaborative process where you’re supported and guided, but ultimately you remain in the driver’s seat.

Most people can enter a hypnotic state if they are open, willing, and able to follow simple instructions. You don’t need to be “highly suggestible” or believe in hypnosis for it to work — you simply need a willingness to participate in the process. Hypnosis is not about control or manipulation; it’s about focus and cooperation.

That said, not everyone experiences hypnosis in the same way, and a small percentage of people may be less responsive to hypnotic techniques. Responsiveness can depend on factors like comfort level, trust with the practitioner, ability to focus attention, and even how motivated a person is to make change.

In an initial consultation, a hypnotherapist can do simple hypnotizability tests to gauge how easily someone responds to suggestions and enters trance. These aren’t pass/fail tests — they simply provide information about your unique style of responding. Common examples include:

• Eye Roll Test (Herbert Spiegel, M.D.) – A quick measure of hypnotic capacity based on how the eyes move when looking upward.

• Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS) – One of the most widely used research tools for measuring depth and responsiveness to hypnosis.

• Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS) – Often used in group or research settings to evaluate responsiveness.

These tools help tailor the approach — some people go very deep very quickly, while others benefit from more gradual, lighter levels of trance work. The good news is that meaningful change does not require “deep” hypnosis. Even light-to-moderate trance states can be highly effective for pain control, stress reduction, habit change, and many therapeutic goals.

In short: most people are hypnotizable to some degree, and with the right techniques and rapport, nearly everyone can experience benefit. An initial consult helps clarify your responsiveness so sessions can be adapted to work best for you.

No. Hypnotherapy cannot override your values or free will. A person in hypnosis cannot be made to do anything against their core beliefs or moral code. This is one of the biggest misunderstandings created by stage shows and movies.

Here’s why:

• Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and heightened receptivity, not unconsciousness. You are aware of what is happening and can choose to accept or reject any suggestion.

• The subconscious mind — where hypnotherapy does its work — is not an “open door” that allows anything in. It’s a protective system designed to filter out suggestions that conflict with your safety, values, or identity.

• In therapeutic hypnosis, the process is collaborative. You’re not a passive subject; you’re an active participant. Suggestions only take root if they align with your goals and are accepted by you.

• If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can open your eyes, speak, or stop the session. You are in charge.

Stage hypnosis looks very different because it’s entertainment — volunteers are often carefully selected for their willingness to go along with instructions, their desire to perform, and their suggestibility in a public setting. In a therapeutic environment, the intent is healing and growth, not performance, and your autonomy is always respected.

In short: Hypnotherapy is not about giving up control — it’s about learning to use the power of your own mind more effectively. You remain fully conscious of your choices, and the only changes that occur are the ones you genuinely want to make.

Most people can enter a hypnotic state, as long as they are open, willing, and able to follow simple instructions. Hypnosis is a natural state we all experience every day — like when you daydream, become absorbed in a good book, or drive somewhere on “autopilot.” It’s not about “going under”; it’s about tuning in more deeply to your own inner world.

That said, there is a small group of individuals who are not easily hypnotizable. This is usually due to certain neurological differences, difficulty with focus, high resistance, or a lack of interest in the process. Hypnotizability can be assessed in an initial consultation with brief and well-established tests (such as the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale or the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility).

Here’s the reassuring part: Even if hypnosis isn’t the right fit, the other techniques I use — such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), mindfulness strategies, breathwork, and coaching methods — are still highly effective on their own. These tools can help shift patterns of thought, reduce stress, build resilience, and create meaningful changes in behavior and mindset.

So while most people can benefit directly from hypnotherapy, even those who are less hypnotizable still gain powerful results through a customized approach designed for their needs.

That’s one of the most common misconceptions about hypnotherapy. While it has become well known for helping people quit smoking or lose weight — and with good reason, since hypnosis can directly target the subconscious habits, triggers, and beliefs that drive those behaviors — its uses go far beyond those two issues.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool because it works with the subconscious mind, where our patterns, beliefs, and emotional associations are stored. This means it can be applied to almost any area where thought patterns, stress responses, or ingrained habits play a role.

Beyond smoking and weight loss, hypnotherapy can help with:

• Anxiety and stress – calming the nervous system, building resilience, and creating healthier coping strategies.

• Sleep issues – retraining the mind and body for deeper, restorative rest.

• Trauma and grief – gently processing emotions and shifting painful associations.

• Chronic pain – activating the mind’s natural analgesic responses and reducing suffering without reliance on narcotics.

• Fears and phobias – reprogramming the subconscious triggers that keep fear responses alive.

• ADHD and focus challenges – strengthening concentration, reducing overwhelm, and building self-regulation skills.

• Academic or performance enhancement – in sports, music, or public speaking, building confidence and accessing peak states.

• Compulsions and unwanted habits – from nail biting to emotional eating, replacing old behaviors with healthier choices.

• Self-esteem and confidence – building new internal narratives and beliefs that support growth and empowerment.

Because it works at the level of subconscious programming, hypnotherapy can create change faster than traditional willpower-based approaches. This is why it’s effective not just for behaviors like smoking and weight loss, but for such a wide range of emotional, physical, and performance concerns.

Yes. Most people remember everything from their session. Hypnotherapy is not about erasing memory — it’s about accessing deeper layers of your subconscious in a relaxed, focused state where change can happen more easily.

From a neuroscience perspective, hypnosis does not shut down memory systems — instead, it shifts how the brain processes information. Research shows that during hypnosis, the Default Mode Network (DMN) — the brain system responsible for self-talk, rumination, and mental “chatter” — becomes quieted. At the same time, areas like the anterior cingulate cortex (attention control) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (executive function and regulation) show stronger connectivity. This means you’re less caught up in overthinking and more open to focus, insight, and positive suggestion.

Importantly, the hippocampus, which supports memory formation and recall, remains active. That’s why most people remember everything that happens in hypnosis. You’re not unconscious or “under” — you’re in a state of heightened awareness with reduced mental noise, which allows suggestions and new perspectives to land more effectively.

Many clients describe it as similar to daydreaming: you feel deeply relaxed and inwardly focused, but you can still hear every word, remember every detail, and even choose to come out of it at any time. Remembering is actually an essential part of the process, because the insights and new connections you create during hypnosis need to be integrated into your daily life.

In short: hypnosis enhances focus, reduces background chatter, and strengthens new pathways — all while you stay present, aware, and able to remember.