Hypnosis FAQ: the questions people ask before they book.

Hypnosis is a focused state where the critical, second-guessing part of your mind steps back, and the subconscious (the part that runs your habits and reactions) becomes easier to work with.

You've already been there. Ever woken up relaxed and peaceful, but still half in a dream? Maybe you hit the snooze button, and 10 minutes goes by, but it felt like 30 seconds. That's a natural trance.

Hypnosis uses that same state on purpose. Instead of letting old programs run on autopilot, we update them where they live. More on how it works.

No. The word comes from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, and it's been confusing people ever since.

You'll be relaxed, but you'll hear me, hear the room, and could open your eyes any time you wanted. Some people drift and don't remember every word afterward. That's normal, and it doesn't make the session work any less.

No. That's the stage show, and it isn't what happens in a private session.

Stage hypnotists pick the most eager volunteers out of a crowd, people who already want to bark like a dog in front of their friends. In a private session you're aware the whole time. I can't make you do anything you don't want to do, and I can't make you tell me anything you don't want to share.

If anything, you walk out with more control than you came in with.

If you can get absorbed in a movie or drive home on autopilot, you can do this.

The people who struggle are usually the ones who don't want the change, or who are there because someone else wants it for them. Hypnosis works when you want the change and just haven't been able to make it on your own.

Less dramatic than you'd expect. Most people expect to feel "under," and they're surprised that they feel like themselves, just heavier and quieter.

Your body relaxes and your mind slows down. Time gets strange, too, and forty minutes can feel like ten.

Yes. It's a state your mind drops into on its own every day: falling asleep, waking up, getting lost in a good book. You stay aware and in charge the whole time.

Two caveats. Never listen to a hypnosis recording while driving or running machinery. And hypnosis isn't a substitute for medical care. If you're dealing with a diagnosed medical or psychiatric condition, keep your doctor in the loop.

It can be, and it's nothing to worry about. Some people come out feeling refreshed, like they've woken from a good nap. Others feel relaxed and a little slow for a few minutes, the way you do when the lights come up after a long movie.

The experience of hypnosis varies from person to person, and that's perfectly fine. We finish by talking through what you noticed, which gives you time to come all the way back before you head out.

For the most part, they're two words for the same thing. People search for both, and both describe the same process: using hypnosis to change a habit or an automatic reaction.

What matters more is the training behind it. I'm certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists and the International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy. I'm not a licensed physician or mental health therapist, and I don't diagnose anything. If what you're dealing with needs that kind of care, I'll tell you, and hypnosis can work alongside it.

Fewer than most people expect. My programs are short by design: a few focused sessions, plus self-hypnosis tools you keep using on your own.

One client had smoked for forty years and quit in two sessions. Not everyone moves that fast, and some issues have more layers than others. We'll map out what you need on the discovery session.

For smoking, sessions are usually about a week apart. For most other things, it's about every two weeks.

Sessions are scheduled for 90 minutes. The hypnosis itself usually runs 30 to 45 minutes. The rest is talking through what's going on and setting up the work.

In the first session, I'll also teach you techniques you can use anytime, anywhere, and no one will know you're doing anything.

Yes. I see clients in person at the Lancaster office (1821 Oregon Pike #208) and online over Zoom.

The eyes-closed part of an online session is nearly identical to being in the room. All you need is a quiet space where nobody will interrupt you for an hour and a half. Some clients do their sessions from a parked car, because it's the one place nobody comes knocking.

Yes, and you'll learn how. Self-hypnosis techniques and recordings are part of the program, so you have tools that work between sessions and long after.

To get a feel for it now, try heart breathing or the free 25-Minute Reset audio. Heart breathing is fine anywhere, even behind the wheel with your eyes open. Save the recordings and self-hypnosis for when you're not driving.

It depends on what you're working on and how many sessions it takes, so I don't quote a number before I understand the problem. That's part of what the free discovery session is for. You'll leave the call knowing what the program looks like and what it costs, with no pressure either way. Payment plans are available.

One more thing: a program to stop smoking can count as a deductible medical expense. Check with your tax advisor.

It's a 30-minute phone call. I'll ask what's going on, what you've tried, and what's been getting in the way. Then you ask me anything you want.

If it's a fit, I'll show you what the program looks like. If it isn't, I'll say that too.

No. It's a conversation about you and what you want to change. You'll get your questions answered, an honest read on whether hypnosis is right for your situation, and the pricing laid out plainly.

If it isn't a fit, I'll point you toward something that fits better. Nobody gets talked into anything.