Hypnosis is a safe, effective way to make positive changes in your life at a very deep level of being.  In hypnosis, you are guided to a deep state of relaxation where your mind is open to suggestion and change.  You are fully aware of all that is happening, and you are completely in control.  In fact, it is you who is doing the healing – I am just the guide.  Hypnotherapy is essentially another term for guided imagery (although not all people "see" during hypnosis). 

For centuries hypnosis was seen as a mysterious process.  It is now known that the brain is very flexible (plastic) and highly adaptive (see the recent book “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge).  The brain is particularly plastic during REM (dream) sleep.  In hypnosis, you enter into the REM state while conscious, allowing rapid learning through guided imagery and incorporation of suggestions.   

During hypnotherapy we are in dialogue as I guide you through healing of emotional wounds, letting go of old patterns of behavior, resolving trauma or phobia, or improving an existing skill.  Most people are amazed at how quickly healing occurs compared to traditional talk therapy.

Hypnotherapy is effective for the following:

• Severe trauma (PTSD) and Phobias
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional blocks
• Smoking and other addictive behaviors, including over-eating
• Pain, including Migraines
• Tooth grinding and jaw clenching
• Depression
• Anger

 Fear, Anxiety, and Phobia

When we feel anxious or scared, as well as when we feel  strong anger, the fight-or-flight response is activated.  Fight-or-flight is a powerful reaction involving rapid breathing, racing heartbeat, cold and clammy hands, and narrowing of focus.  In addition, rational thinking is impaired as the more primitive parts of the brain take over to prepare us to flee or defend ourselves from the threat of death or injury  (this is why it is so difficult to take a test while anxious). The fight-or-flight response is usually a false alarm -- we are rarely in immediate danger of death!   Phobias and panic attacks are examples of when the fight-or-flight response is highly activated.

Why is the fight-or-flight response triggered when there is actually no real threat of death?  The limbic system of the primitive part of the brain is always scanning the environment (including our thoughts), looking for a match to traumatic memories -- times when we perceived we were in danger.  If there is anything even similar to the memory, or even a part of the memory, fight-or-flight is activated.  This process occurs without our awareness, which is why we sometimes don't know why we are anxious or angry. 

Traumatic memories can be readily changed to normal memories with hypnotherapy (the rewind technique) and with Meridian Tapping Therapy.  It is easy to see the change -- when you tune into the memory (or are exposed to the stimulus that was once scary) you remain calm and relaxed.  You retain the content of the memory, but it doesn't trigger the fight-or-flight response.  Similarly, for phobias you remain calm when exposed to what was once fearful. 

Hypnotherapy and Health

Even the conservative Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 85% of illness is related to emotions, especially stress.  It is well known that the stress (fight-or-flight) response compromises the immune system, so chronic stress can result in ill health.  So one of the best ways to preserve and improve your health is to reduce negative emotions.  As these negative emotions are resolved, the natural state of joy and health is allowed to flow freely within you.

Hypnotherapy and Meridian Tapping Therapy also can help with sleep -- not only getting the right amount of sleep, but the the right kind of sleep.  Too much dreaming (REM) sleep, for example, is exhausting and can lead to depression. Excessive dreaming has been linked to chronic stress, so relaxing as well as resolving traumatic memories can greatly aid in getting the right kind of sleep.


Smoking and Addictive Behaviors