Too smart, focused, intelligent, imaginative, in control, skeptical, and so on... We ALL think that. Trust me, it wasn't true for me, it hasn't been true in any of the hundreds of times I've heard it and it's not true for you either.

Too smart, focused, intelligent, imaginative, in control, skeptical, and so on... We ALL think that. Trust me, it wasn't true for me, it hasn't been true in any of the hundreds of times I've heard it and it's not true for you either.

No. Washington prohibits diagnosis and psychotherapy by hypnotherapists. As a hypnotherapist, I am NOT credentialed to diagnose mental disorders or to conduct psychotherapy as defined in [WAC 246-810-010](http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-810-010). "Psychotherapy" means the practice of counseling using diagnosis of mental disorders according to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and the development of treatment plans for counseling based on diagnosis of mental disorders in accordance with established practice standards." I can refer you out if needed, but these things are not particularly useful in the practice of Subconscious Behaviorism or Hypnotherapy anyway.

No. Washington prohibits diagnosis and psychotherapy by hypnotherapists. As a hypnotherapist, I am NOT credentialed to diagnose mental disorders or to conduct psychotherapy as defined in [WAC 246-810-010](http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-810-010). "Psychotherapy" means the practice of counseling using diagnosis of mental disorders according to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and the development of treatment plans for counseling based on diagnosis of mental disorders in accordance with established practice standards." I can refer you out if needed, but these things are not particularly useful in the practice of Subconscious Behaviorism or Hypnotherapy anyway.

No. In fact, you have probably seen someone during a stage show who simply didn't react to some skit, so the hypnotist moved on to others. That person might not have felt like doing what was suggested, might have objected to the content or might simply have been feeling really good at the moment and chose to ignore the hypnotist. What you see during a stage show is a group of people playing "make-believe" with an intensity that you would not understand unless you had experienced it. If you have seen children playing and seen the intensity with which they can visualize the environment and components of what they are doing, you might realize it's been a while since you have imagined something that vividly. As adults, we forget how much fun it was to imagine that the ground beneath the monkey bars is "lava" and to do so with such focus that there's no way we are going to be the first to drop. The people on stage have rediscovered how much imagination and play can be.

No. In fact, you have probably seen someone during a stage show who simply didn't react to some skit, so the hypnotist moved on to others. That person might not have felt like doing what was suggested, might have objected to the content or might simply have been feeling really good at the moment and chose to ignore the hypnotist. What you see during a stage show is a group of people playing "make-believe" with an intensity that you would not understand unless you had experienced it. If you have seen children playing and seen the intensity with which they can visualize the environment and components of what they are doing, you might realize it's been a while since you have imagined something that vividly. As adults, we forget how much fun it was to imagine that the ground beneath the monkey bars is "lava" and to do so with such focus that there's no way we are going to be the first to drop. The people on stage have rediscovered how much imagination and play can be.

Hypnosis has been around for thousands of years (that we have a record of). For much of that time, it was only practiced in a very formal, ritualized fashion. In the past 100 years, it started out as a medical treatment, then diverged from that. From there it split into hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis, both of which were pretty rigidly defined and predictable. But over the last decade or so, a new generation of hypnotists has broken out of those boxes and taken hypnosis to a new and completely uncontrolled environment, the "street". In much the same way you might see a magician performing in a park, these practitioners of street hypnosis perform with no stage and no rehearsal. It's new, fresh and often unpredictable.

Hypnosis has been around for thousands of years (that we have a record of). For much of that time, it was only practiced in a very formal, ritualized fashion. In the past 100 years, it started out as a medical treatment, then diverged from that. From there it split into hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis, both of which were pretty rigidly defined and predictable. But over the last decade or so, a new generation of hypnotists has broken out of those boxes and taken hypnosis to a new and completely uncontrolled environment, the "street". In much the same way you might see a magician performing in a park, these practitioners of street hypnosis perform with no stage and no rehearsal. It's new, fresh and often unpredictable.

No. Most change work can be done at even the preliminary levels of hypnosis. As long as the subconscious is open to suggestion, work can proceed and that happens in even the lightest trances. You can see one system for measuring trance depth on my "[Arons Scale](https://hypnotechs.com/resources/arons-scale/)" page.

No. Most change work can be done at even the preliminary levels of hypnosis. As long as the subconscious is open to suggestion, work can proceed and that happens in even the lightest trances. You can see one system for measuring trance depth on my "[Arons Scale](https://hypnotechs.com/resources/arons-scale/)" page.

Never! This is one of the most common misconceptions about hypnosis and it's not too surprising, considering the way hypnosis is presented in movies and on stage. Maybe you have seen a stage show where one person just didn't respond to a particular skit. In many cases, that is because that skit wasn't "congruent" with who they are. That is, they didn't like the idea, couldn't visualize it, or even found that it conflicted with some value they hold. When you are hypnotized, every word the hypnotist says still gets analyzed. If it sets off any alarm bells, you will either disregard it like that person on stage or even come out of "state" and "awaken". You might choose to imagine yourself as an ex-smoker, because you don't object to that, but with certainty, you are not going to tell me the P.I.N. for your debit card or do anything you would object to.

Never! This is one of the most common misconceptions about hypnosis and it's not too surprising, considering the way hypnosis is presented in movies and on stage. Maybe you have seen a stage show where one person just didn't respond to a particular skit. In many cases, that is because that skit wasn't "congruent" with who they are. That is, they didn't like the idea, couldn't visualize it, or even found that it conflicted with some value they hold. When you are hypnotized, every word the hypnotist says still gets analyzed. If it sets off any alarm bells, you will either disregard it like that person on stage or even come out of "state" and "awaken". You might choose to imagine yourself as an ex-smoker, because you don't object to that, but with certainty, you are not going to tell me the P.I.N. for your debit card or do anything you would object to.

Stage hypnosis can encompass several types of performances. The most obvious is probably the stage shows you see at the fair, in a club, at a corporate event or even at a graduation party. The hypnotist tests the suggestibility of the audience members then brings those who most likely to put on a good show up onto the stage. From there the comedy begins, with routines that demonstrate hypnotic phenomenon in a humorous way. At it's best it's hilarious, fresh and a fun experience for all. At it's worst, it's demeaning, predictable, not funny and even dangerous. Another type of stage hypnosis is the hypnosis demonstration. In this type of performance, the purpose is to educate, rather than to entertain. Hypnotic phenomenon takes front stage and the comedy takes a back seat. In this type of show, the purpose is for you to walk out with a better understanding of what hypnosis is and more importantly, what it is not. The final category is the seminar presentation. The purpose of this type of performance is once again educational, but in this case, hypnosis is only used to prove a point about some other topic. A classic example is a performance given before a group of salespeople, where hypnosis is used to show illustrate how a mindset can have a large impact on the success or failure of a sale.

Stage hypnosis can encompass several types of performances. The most obvious is probably the stage shows you see at the fair, in a club, at a corporate event or even at a graduation party. The hypnotist tests the suggestibility of the audience members then brings those who most likely to put on a good show up onto the stage. From there the comedy begins, with routines that demonstrate hypnotic phenomenon in a humorous way. At it's best it's hilarious, fresh and a fun experience for all. At it's worst, it's demeaning, predictable, not funny and even dangerous. Another type of stage hypnosis is the hypnosis demonstration. In this type of performance, the purpose is to educate, rather than to entertain. Hypnotic phenomenon takes front stage and the comedy takes a back seat. In this type of show, the purpose is for you to walk out with a better understanding of what hypnosis is and more importantly, what it is not. The final category is the seminar presentation. The purpose of this type of performance is once again educational, but in this case, hypnosis is only used to prove a point about some other topic. A classic example is a performance given before a group of salespeople, where hypnosis is used to show illustrate how a mindset can have a large impact on the success or failure of a sale.

"[Occam's Razor](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor)" states that the simplest explanation is the most likely. Which is most likely? The hypnotist tours with a bus full of people and pays them to sit in the audience and "volunteer". The hypnotist has dozens of employees in each city and only calls them up on stage. Hypnosis is real. Yeah, it is. Try it some time. Those folks are playing the most vivid and real game of ""make believe"" of their entire adult lives. Not since being children on the playground has imagination been so real. It's fun, refreshing and it feels really good. Why isn't everybody doing this?

"[Occam's Razor](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor)" states that the simplest explanation is the most likely. Which is most likely? The hypnotist tours with a bus full of people and pays them to sit in the audience and "volunteer". The hypnotist has dozens of employees in each city and only calls them up on stage. Hypnosis is real. Yeah, it is. Try it some time. Those folks are playing the most vivid and real game of ""make believe"" of their entire adult lives. Not since being children on the playground has imagination been so real. It's fun, refreshing and it feels really good. Why isn't everybody doing this?

"Non sum qualis eram", it has become sort of a tag line for Hypnotechs. It's taken from [Horace's Odes, Book 4, 1](http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/horace/carm4.shtml): > Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae Which means: "I am not as I was in the reign of good Cinara." Shortened to "Non sum qualis eram", it translates to "I am not what I once was." It's fitting on several levels, I am not who I used to be, I've changed a lot over the years. But it also applies to anyone seeking to use hypnosis for change. Once you try hypnosis to change something you have been wanting to change, you will no longer be who you used to be either.

"Non sum qualis eram", it has become sort of a tag line for Hypnotechs. It's taken from [Horace's Odes, Book 4, 1](http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/horace/carm4.shtml): > Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae Which means: "I am not as I was in the reign of good Cinara." Shortened to "Non sum qualis eram", it translates to "I am not what I once was." It's fitting on several levels, I am not who I used to be, I've changed a lot over the years. But it also applies to anyone seeking to use hypnosis for change. Once you try hypnosis to change something you have been wanting to change, you will no longer be who you used to be either.

Home - Hypnotechs Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the first session going to be like?

I'm too _______ to be hypnotized. Right?

I'm too _______ to be hypnotized. Right?

Submit a Question

Can you diagnose my mental health or conduct psychotherapy?

Are the people on stage under the control of the hypnotist?

What is "Street Hypnosis"?

Is "deep" hypnosis required for therapy to work?

Will I be under the "control" of the hypnotist?

What do you mean by "Stage Hypnosis"?

Those people on stage are faking it or are friends with the hypnotist, right?

Okay, "Non sum qualis eram", what does it mean?

What's the first session going to be like?

I'm too _______ to be hypnotized. Right?

Submit a Question

Visit the Blog