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

" Occam's Razor " states that the simplest explanation is the most likely. Which is most likely? 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?

Q: Are there people who should not be hypnotized?

Medical doctors and mental health professionals may indicate that hypnosis is contraindicated for a number of conditions, including: Although hypnosis has seen some amazing results over a wide spectrum of conditions, hypnotherapy is generally an adjunct therapy and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care.

Question 1

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.

Question 2

Will you need to talk to my doctor or mental health professional?

Accepted Answer

Depending upon the subject matter of your hypnotherapy, we may ask to coordinate with your doctor or mental health professional.

For some types of hypnotherapy, you may be asked to allow Hypnotechs to contact your medical doctor, mental health professional, personal trainer, nutritionist, dietician or other providers to coordinate services. This request will be made in writing and will list specifically who is covered by the agreement. You may decline this request or revoke it in writing at any time.

Question 3

Is it okay for a Christian to be Hypnotized?

Accepted Answer

I hear this question frequently and I cannot answer for you. It depends on your own beliefs and the teachings of the church you belong to. My best advice is for you to talk it over with your spiritual advisor.

I know of no prohibition against hypnosis in the Bible. Deuteronomy is commonly cited, but it refers to sorcery, witchcraft, and spells, none of which have anything to do with hypnosis. I do know that there are many examples of trances being described in the Bible and they always seem to involve greater spiritual awareness.

Here's a version of the Deuteronomy passage:

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 ESV

When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

I will state with no ambiguity that there are no dark forces at work in anything I do. Hypnosis is a force for good. Hypnosis has no burnt offerings, is not divination, fortune telling, interpretation of omens, sorcery or charming. Hypnotists are not psychic and don't commune with or raise the dead.

This passage seems to encourage exploring your mind:

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The best summary I have found, by someone far, far, more qualified to speak on this subject is from Dr. Roger Barrier of ""Preach It, Teach It"" fame. It is quoted below and you can find the article in its entirety: HERE

***Is it Okay for a Christian to be Hypnotized? by Dr. Roger Barrier - Preach It, Teach It

Is there any passage in the Bible that forbids hypnosis?

Opponents focus on the Hebrew term cast spells as being the same as hypnosis. Their interpretation is really a stretch.

What Christian groups approve the use of hypnosis? Are there any Christians groups that expressly forbid it?

What are the benefits of hypnosis?

Let me recommend to you the book "Experiencing The Depths Of Jesus Christ", by a 15th century, fourteen-year-old French girl named Madam Guyon. Catholic Leaders of her time demanded that she recant the teachings of the book because her basic premise was that anyone, at any time, could come into contact with the living God, without having to go through a Catholic priest. She teaches us how to quiet our minds and move into deep meditation focusing on a Bible story, event, person, verse or phrase. What she's really doing is teaching us how we can experience Christ through the art of deep meditation, or what might be described as self-hypnosis.

Can hypnosis open the door of my mind to a satanic attack?

On the other hand, Satan desires to take control of our minds. That's why Paul warns us to take every thought captive: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul says that we must be careful to guard what goes into our minds lest we open up an unprotected area where Satan can gain control.

So the question is, Can hypnosis open my mind in any way that might allow Satan to get control of my thinking?

Unexpectedly for many of us, the truth is that during hypnosis, we often have more control over our minds than ever before. Just because we may be more susceptible to suggestions in no way means that we lose control of our minds and do things that we never intended to do.

-- Dr. Roger Barrier, A retired as senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide. Casas Church, where Roger served throughout his thirty-five-year career, is a megachurch known for a well-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value of including new generations is deeply ingrained throughout Casas to help the church move strongly right through the twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier holds degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care.

Additionally,

In 1847, the Roman Catholic Church recognized hypnosis as a natural part of our own ability, and NOT the work of the devil! The decree from the Sacred Congregation of The Holy Office states;

Having removed all misconceptions, foretelling of the future, explicit or implicit invocation of the devil, the use hypnosis is indeed merely an act of making use of physical media that are otherwise licit and hence it is not morally forbidden provided it does not tend toward an illicit end or toward anything depraved.

Question 4

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 5

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

Accepted Answer

"Occam's Razor" states that the simplest explanation is the most likely.

Which is most likely?

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?

Question 6

What do you mean by "Stage Hypnosis"?

Accepted Answer

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.

In stage hypnosis, the hypnosis is real, or at least it should be. It's highly unethical to plant "shills" in the audience, but it does happen.

Question 7

Where can I experience "street" hypnosis?

Accepted Answer

In person, it's like running across a musician or a street magician. Fairs and festivals, boardwalks, events, beaches, malls and other public places are becoming regular haunts for street hypnotists.

Barring running across a street hypnotist in person, YouTube has a lot of videos. As with anything on YouTube, some are great, some are interesting, some are fake and some are completely inexplicable.

Question 8

Are there people who should not be hypnotized?

Accepted Answer

Medical doctors and mental health professionals may indicate that hypnosis is contraindicated for a number of conditions, including:

Although hypnosis has seen some amazing results over a wide spectrum of conditions, hypnotherapy is generally an adjunct therapy and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care.

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

Are you accepting new clients?

Accepted Answer

If new client introductory appointments are available for you to book, then we are glad to have you!

Click HERE to visit the booking page.