Question 1

Can I be hypnotized against my will?

Accepted Answer

In general, no. Hypnosis requires your participation and consent to work.

There are "shock" inductions that can be performed that startle the subject into hypnosis, but without participation and consent, the subject will pop right back out again in less than a second.

A very skilled hypnotist can make involuntary hypnosis last longer, but you would NEVER find that in a therapy environment where trust means everything.

Question 2

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 3

Can hypnosis help me remember something?

Accepted Answer

Memories are funny things. Sometimes they stick around forever, and other times they are gossamer and fade away quickly, seemingly without reason as to why one or the other happens. It's further complicated by the fact that every time you open a memory and examine it, then put it away, you get your "fingerprints" all over it, changing it slightly. Studies have shown that the more you revisit a memory, the more it drifts from the original.

Hypnosis can help you remember the password for your Bitcoin wallet or find your lost car keys if the conditions are right and it often works great! But if the memory has been corrupted, it's possible that it's gone forever.

If the information is still there and it's just buried, hypnosis is often your best bet for retrieving it.

Question 4

What are your qualifications for being a hypnotherapist?

Accepted Answer

I'm glad you asked.

You can see the complete list on the Credentials Page on Hypnotechs.com.

And, the About Section has even more information.

Question 5

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.

Question 6

Does hypnosis work best on someone with a "weak" mind?

Accepted Answer

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The more intelligent and imaginative you are, the better subject you are likely to make.

Question 7

Is hypnosis "mind control"?

Accepted Answer

This misconception comes from what people see happening during hypnosis stage shows. It looks for all the world like the subjects are doing whatever the hypnotist tells them, no matter how ridiculous. If you look closely, however, you might notice that with almost every skit, there's at least one person who ignores the hypnotist and just sits there. That person has chosen not to participate for some reason. Usually, it's because they can't picture or imagine what the hypnotist is describing, they think it's too silly or it conflicts with something they believeÂ so they just choose to sit that one out.

The rest of the people are having a great time using their imaginations in the world the hypnotist is describing for them. They are having a great time playing along because, let's face it, playing is fun and using your imagination feels good, especially as an adult when you have practically forgotten what it's like.

In hypnosis, you are hyper-focused. There are no "hypnozombies". If you are given a suggestion you don't like, you will ignore it or even bring yourself fully awake. As hypnotists, we have to tread very lightly to avoid that by keeping our words congruent with what the subject expects otherwise they come right out of trance. That makes "mind control" impossible."

Question 8

Do you do work with grief and loss?

Accepted Answer

I do. Grief and loss are intertwined with trauma and anxiety, both of which can be addressed with hypnosis.

The loss of a close friend, a child, spouse or another family member can one of the toughest things we will ever face. We may be well aware of the inevitability of death and to speak in terms of it ""being part of life"", but when it happens to someone close to us, there is just no way to be prepared.

Hypnosis can help to stop the spinning, falling, out of control feeling and to begin to restore some semblance of order to a mind on overload. From there, healing can begin.

Question 9

Will you teach me "Self-Hypnosis"?

Accepted Answer

As a rule, I teach my clients self-hypnosis after a couple of sessions. But that is just a timeline I have found to be particularly effective. If you don't need to work on anything specific and want to learn right away, I am completely okay with that.

Just to note; I depart from the company of some of my peers in this respect. Some hypnotherapists believe that by teaching self-hypnosis they cutting of their own revenue stream by teaching you to do what you used to need them for. I don't see it that way.

It's your mind, learn how to use it!

Question 10

Why do you record sessions?

Accepted Answer

I record sessions so that I can review the recordings as session notes.

All recordings are completely confidential and subject to the same confidentiality laws, rules, and regulations as all other client materials.