Question 1

What percentage of people respond to hypnotherapy?

Accepted Answer

71% of patients initially responded to therapy. Of these, 81% maintained their improvement over time while the majority of the remaining 19% claimed that deterioration of symptoms had only been slight. With respect to symptom scores, all items at follow up were significantly improved on pre-hypnotherapy levels (p

Question 2

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

I do not.

I'll be honest with you, I looked into it, briefly and it looked like a mountain of paperwork, especially with the changing insurance landscape these days. Maybe there's an easy way to do it and I will figure that out down the road. In most cases, the rates I charge would have to be dramatically increased so that the insurance companies could get their cut and I could cover the time for all the extra overhead. In one example, that increase would have been FIVE TIMES my normal rate. I just can't justify that.

For now, it's cash, check and pretty much every major credit/debit card you might carry.

A number of my clients have reported that they are able to submit reciepts from Hypnotechs to their insurance company for reimbursement under the "alternative medicine category". If you choose to try that, all the information you should need is on my credentials page, license number, location and so on.

Question 3

What is trance capacity?

Accepted Answer

"Trance Capacity" generally refers to the aptitude of an individual to achieve hypnosis or "trance".

For more information, search Hypnotechs.com for "Arons Scale", a way to measure hypnotic depth and the "The Spiegel Eye Roll Test for Hypnotizability". Both pages discuss the concept of hypnotic depth/trance capacity.

Question 4

What Does It Feel Like To Be Hypnotized?

Accepted Answer

Focus

Probably the most common element of hypnosis an intense level of focus. When James Braid coined the term "hypnosis" in 1841 he quickly realized that wasn't quite the right name, since hypnosis has very little to do with "hypno", or sleep. He tried to rename the state "monoideaism" or "single focus", but it was too late, "hypnosis" had caught on. People who have been hypnotized report having been able to concentate with singular effectiveness, often to the exclusion of everything else.

Open-mindedness

In the hypnotic state, we call it "trance" as a sort of shorthand, much of the critical factor of the conscious mind has been bypassed. That doesn't mean that that the hypnotized will fall for anything, they won't, but rather that a principle we call "trance logic" is in play. You won't fork over your deepest secrets, but you might be willing to connect the dots leading you down the path to beleive that going to the gym is going to be a fun adventure that you have actually been looking forward to experiencing for a long time.

Detachment

Hypnotized people have an easy time letting things go. It's easy to take a step back and watch a reply of something that got you really worked up, but do so as an observer and actually create a commentary on what might have been done differently. Imagine experiencing something very stressful. Now imagine watching that same thing on TV. That is the same sort of detachment that many people experience in hypnosis.

Sensory Changes

I LOVE this one. Synesthesia is common. Synesthesia is a mixing up of your senses. Some people can "see" sounds while in trance. Others experience smells as sounds. Synesthesia doesn't happen for everyone, but it's pretty common and even if you don't experience it, sounds are often more intens, colors brighter, light often has "halos" around it and so on.

Relaxation

Okay, hypnosis is not relaxation and relaxation is not hypnosis. Hypnosis can occur in ways that would seem to preclude relaxtion, like onstage in front of hundreds of people. But, in a therapy environment, relaxation is the number one sensation that most people report feeling. Cares and troubles fade into the distance and just don't matter anymore.

Question 5

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 6

Altoids, what's with them? Why do you keep offering me one?

Accepted Answer

"Do I need one? Is my breath bad? Are you trying to tell me something subtly or not so subtly?"

Sorry... No, I don't mean anything by it. I like Altoids and almost always have a tin of them around my office. Usually, when I want one, I will offer one to whoever is with me in the office as well.

Please don't read anything more into it. When I offer, take one, don't take one, no matter to me. If you see them sitting out, you may have one, you don't even have to ask.

Question 7

How can I reach/contact you?

Accepted Answer

Your best bet is email. I try to respond to email messages within 24 hours. info@hypnotechs.com

I do not recommend phone calls. Because schedules are often tight, phone calls normally go to voicemail, where they wait until I get a chance to check them. Then, I need to find dedicated time in a quiet place to return the call, so there if often a signifcant delay. I want to hear from you and email works best.

Full contact details are on the Hypnotechs.com Contact Page.

Question 8

What types of hypnosis do you use?

Accepted Answer

I tend to use Kappasinian ""Emotional/Analytical & Physical" assessments as well as inductions, especially for the first session. Beyond that, I lean heavily into Ericksonian methods, but I am happy to choose, a la carte, as needed to ensure you respond as well as is possible.

The right kind of hypnosis is the kind that works

Question 9

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 10

What's this I hear about twins?

Accepted Answer

A few years back, I had the chance to have a pair of twins in my office who where interested in exploring their bond using hypnosis.

I was hooked.

I have had many couples in my office exploring hypnosis together, but I am fascinated by the bond shared by twins. I have now had many pairs in, "identical" and fraternal and while each person has left no doubt that they are unique, the connection between them, especially the identical twins is astounding.

Know some twins who would like to try something new? Have them reach out to me. Please! :)

And to that orginal pair, who were so brave as to come try it out the first time, I am in your debt.