Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxed focus. We all go in and out of hypnotic trance states all the time without realizing it, such as while we are going in and out of sleep, watching TV, driving, and doing any activity that puts you in a flow state. Contrary to the way hypnosis is portrayed in movies and TV, a hypnotized person isn’t a mindless zombie, they are aware and awake the whole time. The difference between the trances you go in and out of during the day and the trance you experience during a hypnosis session is mainly in how we use it.

Probably not, unless you really want to. Hypnosis stage shows tend to make people think that hypnosis makes people lose control and have no choice but to cluck like a chicken on command. The reality is that all of those things happen because of the context. People attending a stage show know that they are going for entertainment purposes, and the participants all volunteer to be part of the show with that in mind, so everyone on stage has the motivation, consciously and unconsciously, to be entertaining. In the context of hypnotherapy, I would never ask you to cluck like a chicken, but even if I did, you would probably refuse, because you are in control the whole time and have no motivation to be entertaining in that setting.

No, hypnosis actually gives you more control over your life, since the changes we make in hypnosis involve accessing unconscious programming that you have been unable to change from a conscious state. During the actual process, you are awake and aware the entire time, and able to reject any suggestion, and come out of hypnosis at any time. You are unlikely to want to reject the suggestions however, because the session is carefully designed with your input in order to empower you to achieve the changes that are important to you.

Everyone goes in and out of trance states every day, so as long as you want to be hypnotized, you can definitely go into hypnosis. Different people respond differently to specific methods of trance induction, which is why you may have heard claims that some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others, but as a hypnotist with training in the latest client-centered techniques, I have a variety of flexible approaches that I can adapt to the individual needs of each client.

No, you won’t do anything under hypnosis that you wouldn’t do otherwise. Hypnosis can’t be used to make you tell secrets, either. There is always a part of your mind that is aware of what is going on and is protecting you, even in the deepest trance states.

No, that has never happened to anyone. Hypnosis is a natural trance state that you go in and out of on your own all the time, such as when you are driving or falling asleep at night. Unlike the portrayals on TV, you are awake and aware of your surroundings the entire time, not some sort of checked-out zombie. If you’ve ever seen someone take a long time to come out of a hypnotic state, it is probably because they are really enjoying it and don’t want the experience to end.

We will start by discussing the issue you came in for, so I have the specific details about your goals and issues to make sure that the hypnotic work is targeted to your unique situation. Then, I will lead you into hypnosis, where I will guide you in communicating with your unconscious mind to make the changes you desire. I will then bring you out of trance so you will be fully alert when you leave. Depending on your issue, we may also use tools from EFT or NLP outside of a formal trance to give you a method to use at home, or I may teach you self hypnosis as part of the process.

There is no one specific hypnotized feeling, since hypnosis is a mental state. What does thinking feel like? Everyone’s experience is different, so yours may include feeling heavy and relaxed, feeling like you’re floating, or maybe feeling nothing unusual at all. You will be aware and able to hear everything. You might be hyper focused on what I’m saying, or your mind may wander, either is fine since I’m speaking to your unconscious mind. Time tends to distort in hypnosis, so you may feel like you’ve only been there a few minutes when it’s actually been a half hour. You may have some interesting hypnotic experiences, such as feeling your body respond to my instructions without you consciously compelling it to, such as moving your fingers in response to a question. Rest assured that the protective part of your mind is always monitoring this process, so you won’t say or do anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with consciously. An interesting thing to notice is that the more you intentionally experience hypnosis, whether through a formal session or through self-hypnosis, the better you get at it: which means you will go deeper, go there faster, and feel effects more strongly.

There is no definitive list, since hypnosis is a field where people are constantly making new discoveries. Basically, any pattern in your life that has roots in your mind, involving thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, can be shifted through hypnosis. There are also many issues that seem purely physical that have been shown to respond well to hypnosis, thanks to our mind-body connection.
A general list of issues includes: changing unwanted habits, unlearning limiting beliefs or negative thought and feeling patterns, managing and reducing pain and other chronic physical symptoms, improving skills, enhancing positive qualities such as creativity and resourcefulness, achieving goals, and much more. If you're curious about something specific, feel free to ask, I'm happy to let you know if I think I can help or not.

The answer varies depending on the issue and the person, but I see most people four times or less for a single issue. There are some issues that can be resolved or vastly improved in only one session, and some issues with multiple factors where it is beneficial to address each aspect separately. I make specific recommendations for this based on the information from our consultation.

Yes! Working online is actually very similar to working together in person, and is obviously much more convenient for most people, and is even the preference for many local clients. As long as you have a reasonably good internet connection, a private space with a comfortable chair, and the ability to position your webcam and lighting facing towards you in that chair, we can do many of the same things online that happen in an in person session.