How Do Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy & Coaching Work?

If you’ve never experienced hypnosis or hypnotherapy before, you may imagine it as something that’s simply done to you — where you sit back while the hypnotist somehow “hypnotizes” the changes into you.

That’s not really how the process works.

Hypnosis is a powerful part of creating change, but it’s not JUST being in a hypnotic trance that creates the results. The process is much more active and collaborative.

Depending on what you’re working on, I may combine hypnosis with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), coaching, and other practical techniques to help you change the thoughts, feelings, habits, and automatic responses that may be getting in your way.

For most issues — especially anxiety, insomnia, stress, and certain unwanted habits — I will also teach you specific hypnotic or mental techniques to practice on your own. That way, you’re not simply relying on what happens during our sessions; you’re developing tools you can continue using in your everyday life.

Before getting into more of what happens during a session, let’s clear up a few of the most common misconceptions people have about hypnosis.

First, Hypnosis Is NOT Sleep

One of the biggest misconceptions about hypnosis is that you’re asleep or unconscious.

During your sessions, you’ll usually be awake and aware of what’s happening the entire time. Your attention may wander occasionally, much like daydreaming, and some people become so deeply relaxed that they may drift off for a moment. But being asleep is neither the goal nor a requirement for hypnosis.

Hypnosis Does NOT Mean Losing Control

Another common misconception is that a hypnotist somehow takes control of your mind.

You are always in control.

Hypnosis cannot make you want something you don’t want or force you to make decisions that go against your own values. My role is to help guide your attention and use hypnosis, coaching, and other techniques to strengthen the changes and decisions that you want to make.

So, What IS Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can help you focus your mind, become more receptive to useful suggestions and mental imagery, and reinforce changes you’ve consciously decided you want to make.

But hypnosis is only one part of my approach.

One of the many reasons I’m able to help people make changes so quickly is that I don’t rely on hypnotic trance alone. Depending on your goals and what seems to be keeping the problem going, I may combine hypnosis with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), coaching, mental rehearsal, self-hypnosis, and other practical techniques designed to help you change unwanted patterns and respond differently.

People come to me for many different goals, including quitting smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, improving sleep, getting over a breakup, changing unwanted habits, improving confidence and performance, and much more.

What Does Hypnosis FEEL Like?

Have you ever become so absorbed in a really good movie, book, conversation, or something online that you temporarily lost track of what was happening around you — or suddenly realized much more time had passed than you thought?

Hypnosis can feel somewhat similar to that kind of focused attention — only we’re intentionally directing that focus toward helping you create the changes you want.

Some people feel deeply relaxed during hypnosis. Others feel extremely focused. Some notice physical sensations such as heaviness or lightness, while others simply feel comfortable and attentive.

There is no single way hypnosis is supposed to feel.

You remain aware of what’s happening and, if you need to move, speak, open your eyes, or stop for any reason, you can.

Again, You Are Always in Control During Hypnotherapy

The more you allow yourself to participate in the process, the easier it is to experience the hypnotic techniques and suggestions being used.

And just like learning almost any other mental skill, many people find that entering hypnosis becomes easier with practice.

That’s another reason I teach clients techniques to use between and after sessions. The goal isn’t simply for you to experience hypnosis while you’re sitting in my office. It’s to help you develop useful skills and changes that carry over into your everyday life.

Your Sessions Are Customized to YOU

Private sessions allow me to focus specifically on your goals, your patterns, your challenges, and what seems to work best for you.

Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all hypnosis script, I combine hypnosis, NLP, coaching, and other techniques based on what you’re working on and how you respond.

Certain programs, including my Quit Smoking Program, also include a Service Guarantee for qualifying clients following a Free Hypnosis Discovery Session.

Want to Find Out If Hypnosis Is Right for You?

To learn more about hypnosis, hypnotherapy, coaching, or how I may be able to help with your specific goal, call 702-626-4901 for your Free Hypnosis Discovery Session.

You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions, tell me what you’d like help with, and find out whether my approach seems like a good fit for you.