CLEARING UP THE MYTHS
What Hypnotherapy Is and Isn't
There’s a lot of misinformation about hypnosis. Here’s the plain-language version of how hypnotherapy helps.
- Hypnotherapy IS
- A natural state of focused attention
- Collaborative: you stay aware and in control
- A way to work with thoughts, beliefs, and habits
- Tailored to your goals, not a script
- Hypnotherapy is NOT
- Mind control or loss of free will
- Sleep or unconsciousness
- A substitute for medical or mental health care
- A guaranteed or instant fix
You can’t be made to do or say anything against your will, and you can open your eyes and end a session at any time.
If you’re in crisis or need medical or psychiatric care, please contact a licensed professional or your local emergency services.
What is hypnotherapy?
Understanding the therapy
Hypnotherapy is a one-on-one process that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help you work with thoughts, beliefs, and habits that run on autopilot. Hypnosis is an experience most people already know from everyday life, like getting absorbed in a good book or a daydream. You are awake and aware throughout. People often explore it for:
This is how hypnotherapy helps in practice. In a session, we work together to understand what keeps a pattern in place, then use suggestion and practical tools to help you respond differently. Some people notice a shift within the first session; others build change gradually. Either way, you leave with techniques you can keep using on your own.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hypnotherapy works with the habits of thought and emotion that run on autopilot. In a 2019 meta-analysis of hypnosis for anxiety, people who received hypnosis scored better on average than about 79% of comparison participants right after treatment, and about 84% at follow-up.† Results vary from person to person, and hypnotherapy works best alongside your own willingness to change.
Calmer mind and body
Deep relaxation helps your nervous system settle, so stress and constant worry can loosen their grip.
Shift the patterns beneath the surface
Build confidence and follow-through
Tools you keep
FIND YOUR REASON
What Can Hypnotherapy Help With?
Most people come for more than one reason, and most reasons overlap.
Look through the list below. If you don’t see yours, that’s okay.
Hypnotherapy covers a lot of ground, and a free discovery call is the place to ask.
Stress Reduction & Relaxation
- Stress
- Anxiety, worry and nervousness
- Overthinking and racing thoughts
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Anger and frustration
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Relaxation and calm breathing
Habit Change & Self-Control
- Unwanted habits
- Nail biting
- Cravings and temptation
- Quitting smoking (support)
- Emotional eating
- Impulse control
- Self-control
- Breaking old routines
Focus & Motivation
- Procrastination
- Motivation
- Concentration and focus
- Reaching your goals
- Follow-through
- Lack of direction
- Lack of initiative
- Decision making and problem solving
Restful Sleep & Sleep Habits
- Winding down at night
- Racing thoughts at bedtime
- Restless nights
- Building a bedtime routine
- Night-time worry
Weight Management Support
- Healthy eating habits
- Emotional eating
- Cravings
- Motivation to exercise
- Body image
- Staying on track with your goals
Confidence & Peak Performance
- Self-confidence
- Self-esteem
- Self-image
- Public speaking
- Stage fright and performance nerves
- Test and exam nerves
- Study habits
- Sports performance
- Career success
- Assertiveness
- Perfectionism
- Creativity and writer’s block
Fear Release & Courage Building
- Fear of failure
- Fear of success
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of flying
- Fear of heights
- Fear of animals
- Fear of water
- Social nervousness
- Comfort before medical or dental visits
- Fear of change
Personal Growth & Life Enhancement
- Self-awareness
- Self-forgiveness
- Purpose and direction
- Life transitions
- Grief and loss
- Career change and identity
- Spiritual growth
- Understanding your dreams
- Resistance to change
- A more positive outlook
Comfort & Mind-Body Wellness
- Mind-body relaxation
- Easing physical tension from stress
- Feeling more at ease in your body
- Self-hypnosis tools you can use on your own
Relationship Enhancement & Emotional Wellness
- Communication
- Relationship patterns
- Jealousy
- Trust
- Forgiveness
- Letting go of guilt and shame
- Self-criticism and self-blame
- Feeling discouraged
- Sadness over loss
Don’t see yours? Ask about it on a free discovery call.
Methods tailored to you
MY APPROACH
- Hypnotherapy: focused relaxation and positive suggestions
- Guided imagery: using vivid mental pictures to rehearse change
- Ericksonian Hypnosis: gentle, indirect, story-based language
- NLP: reframing how you think and respond
- EFT (tapping): calming stress responses through touch and focus
- Dream Therapy: exploring dreams for insight and meaning
No two sessions look the same. Every session is tailored to your needs.
Questions
you might have
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Will I lose control or be made to do something I don't want to?
No. Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, not mind control. You stay aware throughout; you can’t be made to say or do anything against your will, and you can open your eyes and stop at any time.
Q2: Will I be asleep or unconscious?
No. Most people describe it as deeply relaxed but awake, a bit like being absorbed in a book or daydreaming. You’ll hear and remember what happens in the session. If you fall asleep, I will bring you up anyway.
Q3: Does it work for everyone?
People respond differently. Most people can experience hypnosis, and it tends to work best when you’re open to it and actively engaged. Hypnotherapy isn’t a guaranteed or instant fix, and I will tell you honestly if I think another kind of support would serve you better.
Q4: Is online hypnotherapy as effective as in person?
Online sessions over Zoom let you work from the comfort and privacy of your own space, which many people find helps them relax. I work with clients worldwide this way. If you’d prefer to meet in person, ask about availability in the Bay Area.
Q5: Is hypnotherapy a replacement for therapy or medical care?
No. Hypnotherapy is a complementary, self-improvement approach. I do not diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions, and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist. If you’re already in treatment, I encourage you to tell your provider you’re exploring hypnotherapy.