What You Need to Know About Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a natural, drug-free therapeutic method that gives you access to your subconscious mind — where long-standing thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors live — so you can shift what has been standing in your way. A hypnotic state is the calm place between full wakefulness and sleep, where the subconscious is most open to new ideas and suggestions. Hypnosis has been used as a healing tool across cultures for centuries.

Hypnotherapy can support a wide range of emotional, behavioral, physical, and psychological concerns — from anxiety and stress to trauma, grief, self-esteem, and unwanted habits. For a broader overview, the Hypnosis Motivation Institute's guide to what hypnosis helps is a helpful reference, and you can browse the areas I specialize in on my Services page.

Most people genuinely enjoy it. Hypnosis feels deeply relaxing, peaceful, and calming — like a massage for the mind and spirit, and nourishment for the body. Afterward, clients often describe feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, clearer, and even more purposeful. As your therapist, I watch for any sign of discomfort during your sessions and respond right away.

Stage and television hypnotists use specific techniques to find the most suggestible volunteers and “shock” them into a deep trance for entertainment. Most movie depictions are false — you cannot use hypnosis to make anyone do something they would not normally consent to. Therapeutic hypnosis gently guides you into trance for personal growth and positive change, the intentions are benevolent and healing, and you stay in control the entire time.

Yes. In fact, everyone enters a light natural trance at least twice a day — first thing in the morning as you wake, and again as you drift off to sleep. Another everyday example: being so absorbed in thought that you drive past your exit without noticing. That absorbed state is a form of natural hypnosis.

I have mastered many techniques to help clients enter hypnosis easily and comfortably. Even the busiest minds can settle into trance quickly, and because the subconscious recognizes hypnosis as a state of relaxation and comfort, most clients enter a light trance without effort. It is possible to block hypnosis — if you do not genuinely want to be hypnotized, you will not be; resistance keeps you in your conscious mind. But if you genuinely want change and are willing to trust the process, success with this modality is very high. My advice: do not “try” to do anything. Just sit back, relax, and let it happen.

No. I may use the words “sleep” or “deep sleep” to deepen your relaxation, but you remain conscious and in complete control. People in hypnosis are typically more aware of their surroundings, not less — with heightened perception of sound, smell, and sight. You can bring yourself out at any moment by opening your eyes, stretching, or standing up.

No. I cannot make you say or do anything you do not want to. If a suggestion or technique does not feel right, your subconscious will reject it — it simply will not take. If anything feels uncomfortable, we work through it together, and every session is shaped around your preferences, your suggestibility, and your comfort.

You will usually remember some details as soon as you come out of hypnosis, though recall varies from person to person and with the depth of your trance. Your subconscious will remember the suggestions it receives even when your conscious mind does not. I also record each client session and give you a copy — listening to the recording between sessions deepens your results.

Yes — virtual sessions work very well and are just as effective as in-person. Many clients prefer them because there is no commute, you save time, and you stay in the comfort of your own space. For some concerns — like agoraphobia, fear of driving, or social anxiety — being at home can actually make the session more comfortable and more effective. I offer both virtual and in-person sessions, so you can choose what suits you.

Every person’s plan is unique to them. Some clients see significant improvement — or complete resolution — in just a few sessions, while other goals call for a more comprehensive plan. The best way to answer this is to talk it through together. I offer a complimentary consultation so we can discuss your goals and map out an approach that fits.

In general, no — I will not ask you to divulge anything that is not relevant to your goal. That said, much of our subconscious wiring forms in childhood, so it can sometimes be useful context for your current thoughts and behaviors. You are always in control of what you would like to discuss and what you would prefer to keep private.

Often, yes. Hypnotherapy can complement the care you are already receiving, especially for easing the symptoms and side effects of medical and mental health conditions. If you are seeking hypnotherapy for a diagnosed condition (such as chronic pain, or symptoms of anxiety or depression), I will ask for a brief referral from your provider — and I will help you get it quickly and easily.