Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

"Non sum qualis eram", it has become sort of a tag line for Hypnotechs. It's taken from Horace's Odes, Book 4, 1:

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.

Question 2

How much do sessions cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost per session may vary with the length of the session, the number of sessions needed and the nature of the material to be covered.

Current pricing is provided on my booking page.

All ongoing costs will be discussed with you on an individual basis, up front, in your first session.

Payment is due at the time of each session unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Question 3

How do I pay you?

Accepted Answer

Most of my clients pay in advance using my booking system to get the best possible price. It accepts all major credit cards using processing by Square.

Otherwise:

With special arrangements, payment is due at the time of service. This works best with packages, like a pre-paid package deal for a fixed number of sessions. I do that from time to time for things like smoking cessation or weight loss where I know that several sessions are going to be required, but in most cases, it's payment at the time of service before each session.

I accept cash, check and pretty much every major credit card you may have.

Question 4

How do I know you are qualified to help me?

Accepted Answer

That is a great question and probably the most important one in this FAQ.

There are a lot of people out there claiming to be "hypnotherapists". In Washington, the Department of Health has some very specific rules about who can use that title, but in most states, it's completely unregulated.

I recommend you view two pages on this site:

Choosing a Hypnotherapist and Education and Credentials while you are researching this subject.

Question 5

Do you offer a guarantee?

Accepted Answer

No. Neither do most other healthcare providers. Your trainer won't, your weight loss advisor won't and so on.

In hypnosis, I play a navigator role. I call out directions and if you want to get where we are going, you follow them. I'm good at giving directions that follow a route that you will approve of. But if you choose not to follow my directions, I simply can't guarantee where you are going to end up.

This doesn't apply so much to session work, done while we are together, but virtually every type of hypnotherapy comes with homework. For example; If I recommend that you keep a regular bedtime to assist with sleep improvement and stress reduction, then you work on your laptop in bed until the wee hours of the morning, I can't promise results.

With that said, I have really good success rates and the odds are that if I accept you as a client, it's because I am confident I can help you meet your goals and I believe you are going to do the work. I generally have a client waiting list and can't take clients I don't expect to succeed.

I WANT you to succeed and I will work with you to make it happen. I will even fire you as a client if I sense that you aren't doing your part. But I can't offer a "money back guarantee" like a retail store.

The one exception would be if for some reason I could not get you to go into trance during our first session. I would, of course, refund your money, since I had not done my part. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

Question 6

What should I look for in a hypnotherapist?

Accepted Answer

That's a question that is so important that I dedicated an entire page to it.

Please see the Choosing a Hypnotherapist page.

Question 7

Can you diagnose my mental health or conduct psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

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.

"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.

Question 8

Will I give away all my secrets?

Accepted Answer

In many sessions, the client doesn't even speak. In those where the client speaks, they won't tell me anything they wouldn't have told me before the session.

The military actually invested a ton of money to see if hypnosis could be used in interrogation. As it turns out, it's useless for that application. The "client" can come out of it any time they want and they won't reveal anything. Not a single thing.

You family secrets, the skeletons in the closet and the access code for your debit card will remain in your head, safely out of reach.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

What if I want the hypnosis to be over?

Accepted Answer

At any time, you can simply open your eyes and be done. Simply tell me that you don't think hypnosis is for you and I will count you out of it to make sure you are fully awake. That is your call and I won't be offended.

You can also say to yourself, out loud or in your head "One, Two, Three, Four, Five! Eyes Open! Wide Awake!" and you will end the session. I can do very little to keep you hypnotized if you don't want to be and I wouldn't anyway. If you are done, I will help you wake up.