Q: What is your cancellation/reschedule policy?

We understand that things happen. However, we must request at least 24-hours notice that you need to cancel or reschedule. If you cancel with less than 24-hours notice and we unable to rebook your timeslot, we reserve the right to charge you for the session. We also request that you be on time for your sessions. If you arrive late, there may not be enough time for your session and we may be forced to apply the cancellation policy.

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 many sessions should I expect to need?

Accepted Answer

That's a completely fair question, and I hate having to answer this way; "It depends."

Okay, now we have that out of the way, let's explore what that means. First, let's acknowledge that there are no "hypno-miracles."" With some issues, with some people, there is dramatic reduction and even elimination of the complaint during the first session. But I ALWAYS recommend at least one follow-up session, even in those cases. Some issues, like phobias, tend to see results in fewer sessions than others. From there, "it depends."

I would love to be able to say with precision; "this will be resolved in x sessions," but in most cases that is not practical. You need to know how long/how much and I don't have enough information to get there.

So, in an attempt to resolve this dilemma, here's our best bet:

Let's discuss the details around what you are facing and what you want to accomplish. Email is fine, or we can talk on the phone. Between what you offer and the answer to questions I will ask, I can usually get to the point where I can say; "At least x sessions..."

I want to give you an exact number just as much as you want that number, but anyone who quoted a number for me without knowing the specifics about me would immediately raise my suspicions.

Question 3

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 4

Do you offer sessions by phone or online with Skype or something similar?

Accepted Answer

I do not.

I know that many now offer an online version of hypnotherapy, but I find that I have the greatest success with old-fashioned person-to-person contact.

I'm trained in body language, micro-expressions and more and I find that having my client right there in the room with me provides the best experience and results. Online is not the hypnotherapy experience I would want to receive, so I don't offer it to my clients either.

On top of that, I worry about poor connection quality and getting disconnected as well.

Recently questions about what the rules are in various jurisdictions and whether the jurisdiction I am in or the one the distant client is in is the one that matters have arisen, that make me even more skeptical of online hypnotherapy.

Question 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

What is your cancellation/reschedule policy?

Accepted Answer

We understand that things happen. However, we must request at least 24-hours notice that you need to cancel or reschedule. If you cancel with less than 24-hours notice and we unable to rebook your timeslot, we reserve the right to charge you for the session.

We also request that you be on time for your sessions. If you arrive late, there may not be enough time for your session and we may be forced to apply the cancellation policy.

Question 9

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 10

Does everyone respond to hypnotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Anyone with even average intelligence and a bit of imagination can be hypnotized to one degree or another. Once hypnotized, if the therapist knows what they are doing, therapy can be conducted in a way that works best for the client.

There is a range of susceptibility to both hypnosis and hypnotherapy, but in general, "yes", virtually everyone will respond. In some cases, a person may be only capable of only light levels of hypnotic trance, but the good news is that most therapies can be conducted at even Stage 1 on Arons Scale of Hypnotic Depth.

Hypnosis almost always requires a willing participant. If you actively resist or work to prevent trance, then you would be the exception to this. You can actively resist being hypnotized and there is virtually nothing I could do about it.