Frequently asked questions

Have questions about our clinical hypnotherapy training and advanced coaching methods?

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about becoming a certified hypnotherapist, our subconscious coaching techniques, and how these proven methods can transform your practice and your clients’ lives.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact us—we’re happy to help.

About our trainings

How are we different from other hypnotherapy, NLP, and coaching trainings?

Most training programs teach techniques. We do too, but we don’t stop there.

We develop the perception, judgment, flexibility, and real-world competence required to know when, why, and how to use what you’ve learned.

Rather than training you to fit every person into one model, we teach you how to understand the individual in front of you and draw intelligently from multiple approaches.

Are our trainings online or in-person?
We offer both online (live) and in-person trainings.

Check out our schedule of upcoming events to see which are online (live) and which are in-person.

(Our in-person trainings are held in the Greater Los Angeles area.)

Do you offer payment plans or financing?
Yes, flexible monthly payment options are available.
How is our immersive training different from traditional learning methods?
In general, most standard education consists largely of a lot of “what”. Simply memorize and regurgitate the info and you pass the course. That is most definitely NOT the way to learn the art and science of hypnotherapy and subconscious coaching.

In contrast, we consider your unique learning style and provide you with a good balance of “what”, “how”, “why” and “what if”.

Learning with us is a unique opportunity to receive maximum one-on-one interaction with top-level instructors (similar to the renowned “Tutorial Method”, pioneered at the University of Oxford), enrich your mind in new and engaging ways, and experience a huge, positive shift!

Research shows that adults learn best in real-world, immersive settings with immediate feedback.

Experiential learning is a well-known model in education. It builds skills, confidence, and gives you the opportunity to practice. It also develops attitudes such as curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and self-direction.

Being hands-on is crucial when learning hypnotherapy and subconscious coaching because it allows you to engage in kinesthetic learning while also having access to real-time coaching and feedback as you learn.


OTHER IMMERSIVE LEARNING BENEFITS:

It Enhances Your Learning and Retention

Immersive learning offers significantly higher retention rates. Imagine remembering up to 75% of what you learn compared to just 10% with traditional methods. Our immersive training deeply engages you with the material, making it stick much better through real-world simulations. You get to engage in hands-on practice, make decisions, and receive immediate feedback. This helps you build momentum and retain information more effectively.

It Boosts Your Engagement and Motivation

Our training is interactive and engaging, keeping you motivated and focused. Learning is made fun and memorable, enhancing your involvement and ensuring lasting impressions. You get to practice in a controlled, risk-free setting, allowing you to learn from mistakes without real-world consequences. This boosts your confidence and competence, turning errors into valuable learning moments.

It Speeds Up Your Skill Building

Instead of spreading your learning over many months, our immersive format helps you pick up and refine new skills quickly. Regular, intensive practice sessions reinforce new skills and habits more effectively than occasional sessions spread out over time. This hands-on approach bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring you’re ready to apply what you’ve learned in no time.

Overall, our immersive training program supercharges your growth and makes learning exciting. It’s the ultimate way to boost your skills and reach your goals faster and more effectively than you ever thought possible.

Get ready to see transformative results in weeks, not months or years!

How does our training schedule compare to traditional schedules?

Our clear, condensed schedule requires a short-term, intensive commitment with several dedicated blocks of no more 3–4 days each week. Each of those days consists of four 90-minute sessions.

This approach minimizes long-term disruptions (see comparisons below) to your personal and professional routines, helping you achieve your goals up to 7 times faster and more effectively than a year-long course with weekly classes.

It’s a big time-saver, so you can fully dedicate your energy and attention to the training, making the most of your time.

A MORE DETAILED COMPARISON

Our Immersive, Intensive Trainings:

  • Clinical Hypnotherapy: 9 days within a three-week period, plus our eight-week mindfulness course completed as mentor-assisted self-study.
  • Subconscious Coaching: 13 days within a four-week period
  • Total Duration (of both trainings together): 22 days of intensive training spread over eight weeks
  • Total Hours (of both trainings together): 225 hours (includes practice/review time) over two months

Traditional College Semesters:

  • Typically meet for about 3 hours per week.
  • A single course over a 15-week semester provides 45 hours of instruction.
  • To achieve comparable hours, you would need to take approximately four courses.
  • Total Duration: 15 weeks per course x 4 courses = 60 weeks
  • Total Time Commitment: Over a year, assuming no overlap in courses.

Conventional Once-a-Week Trainings:

  • Typically meet once a week for 3 hours.
  • To achieve comparable hours, the program would need to run for 52 weeks.
  • Total Duration: 52 weeks (one year).
  • Total Time Commitment: 12 months of once-a-week sessions.
What are the learning preferences of the typical person we train?

Individuals who come to our training are, typically, fast learners who enjoy:

  • Learning “what works” intensively and in the shortest possible time (instead of material being spread out over a long period of time with unnecessary, often incongruent and dated “filler” material).
  • A fun, modern, relaxed environment (instead of a traditional classroom environment).
  • A smaller class size with greater interaction with instructors (instead of a larger class size with less interaction).
  • Flexibility—learning more than one way to do something (instead of being boxed in by authoritarian, “only one way to do it” systems).
  • Lots of “hands-on” direct experience (instead of lots of boring lectures).
  • An environment that builds on their strengths as an individual (instead of a “one size fits all” cookie-cutter approach).

Training structure and certifications

What certifications are earned in our trainings?

Upon completing each respective training through the Center for Advanced Life Skills (CALS), participants will earn certifications and credentials as outlined below. Certifications are awarded by CALS and affiliated international boards, reflecting demonstrated competency in key disciplines.


Certifications Earned in Our Clinical Hypnotherapy Training:

Certified Hypnotherapist

  • Issued by the American Board of Hypnotherapy (ABH), an internationally recognized Certification Board established in 1984.
  • Upon demonstrating competency in Hypnotherapy, CALS will forward your Certificate of Completion to the ABH and cover your first year’s certification fee.
  • Note: Your certification will be mailed to you by the ABH shortly after training. Certification is renewable annually through the ABH for $110.

Certified Guided Imagery Specialist

  • Issued exclusively by CALS. This certification reflects demonstrated proficiency in applying Guided Imagery techniques effectively.

Certified Mindfulness Practitioner

  • Awarded by CALS, this certification highlights your proficiency in science-based mindfulness practices.

Certifications Earned in Our Subconscious Coaching Training:

Certified Subconscious Coach

  • Awarded by CALS upon demonstrating your ability to guide meaningful shifts by working with the subconscious mind to support personal insight and behavioral change.

Certified NLP Coach & Practitioner

  • Dual certification issued by CALS under the authority of the American Board of NLP (ABNLP), an internationally recognized Certification Board established in 1995.
  • Recognizes competency in Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques for both coaching and practitioner applications.
  • Note: Graduates may join the ABNLP as members, if desired, with additional benefits such as directory listing. Membership is renewable annually for $105.

Time Line Therapy® Practitioner

  • Issued by the Time Line Therapy™ Association (TLTA), an internationally recognized association established in 1991.
  • Upon successful completion of the Time Line Therapy® Practitioner Training, CALS will forward your Certificate of Completion to the TLTA and cover your first year’s membership fee to the TLTA ($105).
  • Note: Your certification will be mailed to you by the TLTA shortly after training. Membership is renewable annually through the TLTA for $105.

Certification Earned Upon Completing Both Trainings:

Certified Holistic Breakthrough Practitioner™


  • The signature certification awarded by CALS upon completing our Clinical Hypnotherapy and Subconscious Coaching trainings and demonstrating mastery of their principles and techniques.
Can you take Clinical Hypnotherapy now, and Subconscious Coaching later?

Yes.

However, keep in mind that while our Clinical Hypnotherapy training certifies you in foundational techniques, it’s only part of our comprehensive Holistic Breakthrough Approach™.

Clinical Hypnotherapy gives you a deep understanding of the subconscious mind’s profound creative powers. It equips you with essential skills to begin helping others through hypnotherapy, guided imagery, and science-based mindfulness, but it’s only half of the full scope of our unique approach.

Our other training, Subconscious Coaching, focuses on advanced, solution-based coaching techniques that work synergistically with the subconscious mind.

This comprehensive and integrative approach provides a rare, holistic perspective, setting our trainings apart from conventional programs.

By completing both trainings, you’ll earn 6 highly-specialized certifications—each reflecting a key area of transformation—and ultimately receive the title of Holistic Breakthrough Practitioner™, recognizing your full integration of our approach.

Our trainings are not just about acquiring skills in hypnotherapy, NLP, or other techniques—they’re about mastering our unique way of integrating these disciplines, developed from decades of experience, to achieve transformative results.

Our approach combines cutting-edge techniques with a results-oriented understanding of personal development. It emphasizes a deeper insight of your client’s unique issues, customizing your approach to each client, and genuinely asking the right questions—skills rarely covered in other coaching programs. This holistic perspective is essential for facilitating deep, lasting change.

Additionally, completing both trainings will not only enhance your professional qualifications but also support your personal growth, helping you achieve a deeper understanding of yourself and others.

Please visit our Subconscious Coaching page to learn more about the importance of the remainder of your training, or refer to the FAQ “How are the coaches we train different from other coaches?” below.

Can you take Subconscious Coaching before taking Clinical Hypnotherapy?
Yes.

However, keep in mind that Subconscious Coaching is only part of our comprehensive Holistic Breakthrough Approach™.

Subconscious Coaching focuses on advanced, solution-based coaching techniques that work synergistically with the subconscious mind. It provides rare and essential coaching skills for working deeply with clients, but it’s only half of the full scope of our unique approach.

Clinical Hypnotherapy gives you a deep understanding of the subconscious mind’s profound creative powers. It equips you with essential skills to begin helping others through hypnotherapy, guided imagery, and science-based mindfulness, which are critical for a complete understanding of our methodology.

(We highly recommend, for those who have no prior experience in working with the subconscious mind, to complete the Clinical Hypnotherapy training before taking Subconscious Coaching.)

This comprehensive and integrative approach provides a rare, holistic perspective, distinguishing our training from conventional programs.

By completing both trainings, you’ll earn 6 highly-specialized certifications—each reflecting a key area of transformation—and ultimately receive the title of Holistic Breakthrough Practitioner™, recognizing your full integration of our approach.

Our trainings go beyond just acquiring skills in hypnotherapy, NLP, or other techniques—they’re about mastering our unique way of integrating these disciplines, developed from decades of experience, to achieve transformative results.

Our approach combines cutting-edge techniques with a results-oriented understanding of personal development. It emphasizes a deeper insight of your client’s unique issues, customizing your approach to each client, and genuinely asking the right questions—skills rarely covered in other coaching programs. This holistic perspective is essential for facilitating deep, lasting change.

Additionally, completing both trainings will not only enhance your professional qualifications but also support your personal growth, helping you achieve a deeper understanding of yourself and others.

Please visit our Clinical Hypnotherapy page to learn more about the importance of the remainder of your training, or refer to the FAQ “What is hypnotherapy and how can it help?” below.

Do you teach past life regression?

Many people ask if our training includes past life regression, often expecting a simple technique they can learn quickly. While the skills we teach—like non-directive guided imagery—form the foundation of what past life regression truly is, our course isn’t focused on it in the way some might assume, and here’s why.

Many programs claim to teach it (basically by providing scripts to read) but leave practitioners feeling unprepared because they still lack the foundational skills to induce trance effectively.

That’s not our approach. Instead, our comprehensive training focuses on the essentials of hypnotherapy, including mastering trance induction and non-directive guided imagery—where the client’s imagination leads the way, rather than being steered by the practitioner. These skills equip you to guide clients into trance states where they can explore vivid imagery, whether framed as a past life or otherwise.

That said, there are key considerations to understand. First, achieving the deep trance needed for rich imagery often requires multiple sessions. Some who market “past life regression” as a single-session experience overlook this, which can lead to disappointing results. We emphasize preparation—ensuring clients are ready for deep trance before diving into complex imagery work.

Second, past life regression isn’t just about the experience—it’s about integrating meaningful insights. If a client explores a past life (for example, as a “witch hunter” in the 1600s) but doesn’t process the lessons, they might unconsciously act out those unresolved patterns in their current life, leading to compulsive behaviors. Our training ensures you know how to guide clients toward resolution and understanding, not just spectacle.

While we don’t focus on past life regression as a standalone technique, our program gives you the foundation to incorporate it responsibly into your practice, should you choose to. You’ll learn to induce trance, guide imagery, and help clients process their experiences ethically and effectively. It’s about mastering the essentials first, then adding your own extras with confidence and skill.

Think of it like building a house: the essentials give you a solid structure—only then can you add the decorative touches like past life regression as one of your own extras.

Professional development

Which types of professionals can benefit from our training?

Our training is for anyone interested in achieving excellence in their life.

Whether you’re already succeeding in your profession, are in a transition period, or experiencing some difficulties; our training can help you achieve and maintain the best that you can be.

While many invest in our training for their own personal growth and development, it’s also of utmost value to the working professional, including:

Mental Health Professionals will learn powerful new results-oriented skills and techniques that supplement their existing ones, and gain multiple insights into helping patients make the changes that support their own process of healing. (Note: A good percentage of our students are licensed mental health professionals.)

Business Executives, Managers, Consultants, and Entrepreneurs will use what they learn to develop strong teamwork and relationships, and to foster life-long positive interpersonal skills. Negotiations and problem solving sessions will be greatly enhanced to create solution-oriented, win-win approaches.

Teachers, Trainers and Educators will discover new paradigms for inspiring and engaging their students, as well as effective techniques for dealing with challenging learning environments.

Marketing people will understand how to build deep levels of rapport, elicit and fulfill the values of their clients, and develop effective methods for ensuring long-term and mutually satisfying business relationships.

Medical Professionals will learn remarkable techniques to better elicit information from patients, and to help them be more comfortable with and receptive to treatment, thus supporting them to heal in a more responsive fashion.

Regardless of profession, the majority of people attending our training are searching for—and finding—better and more effective ways to increase their performance and improve their effectiveness!

How do graduates typically integrate these certifications into their practice?

Our graduates apply their skills in diverse ways based on their professional goals and existing practice.

For example:

  • Mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, social workers) typically integrate these tools to enhance their existing therapeutic approaches, often seeing faster and more profound results with clients.
  • Coaches and consultants use these skills to offer deeper transformation for their clients, differentiating themselves in the marketplace with science-based, subconscious-level change work.
  • Wellness practitioners (including yoga instructors, meditation teachers, etc.) expand their services to include powerful mind-body techniques that complement their current offerings.
  • Some graduates choose to focus exclusively on hypnotherapy and the Holistic Breakthrough Approach™, building successful private practices centered on transformation and breakthrough work.

The key is that our training provides versatile tools that can either enhance an existing practice or form the foundation of a new one.

What kind of support is available for me after graduation?

We believe ongoing support is crucial for your success. After completing your certification, you’ll have access to our Professional Mastermind Group where you can:

  • Share experiences and best practices
  • Get feedback on challenging cases
  • Stay updated on advanced techniques
  • Network with fellow practitioners

It includes:

  • Regular group coaching sessions
  • Case consultations
  • Business development guidance
  • Continued professional development opportunities

And it provides:

  • Peer support and collaboration
  • Resource sharing
  • Ongoing learning opportunities

This support system ensures you’re never alone as you build your practice and continue developing your skills.

About our approach

What is the Holistic Breakthrough Approach?

The Holistic Breakthrough Approach™ is the framework underlying our certification training programs in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Subconscious Coaching.

It is not separate from the tools used in the work—it is the foundation that determines how they are applied, beginning with understanding the client’s subjective experience and how their problems are being created.

The Holistic Breakthrough Approach — The philosophy and overview

How This Work Transforms Lives — What the process feels like from the client’s side

What Practitioners Actually Learn — What’s taught in our certification trainings

The core principles of the Holistic Breakthrough Approach™ are mapped out visually in our interactive mind map.:

Explore the Core Principles in the Interactive Mind Map

Click the circle at the end of any branch to open/close it; zoom and fit are in the lower right.

What’s unique about our approach?

People already have all the resources within that they need in order to achieve their desired outcome. We help them to tap into those often dormant resources.

Rather than force our “model of the world” onto our clients, or limit them (and their results) by putting them “in a box” (or theory), we work within our client’s “model of the world” and help them to discover the solutions that are there, under the surface.

THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE:

You have a conscious mind, and you have a subconscious mind. We work with both, to encourage whole brain thinking; thereby maximizing our client’s strengths, flexibility, and resourcefulness.

There’s a big difference between one’s intellect (their conscious mind) and their behavior (their subconscious, or habitual mind).  It’s the difference between “talking the talk” (desired behavior) and “walking the walk” (actual behavior). The difference that makes the difference.

The simple fact is many in the helping professions are not trained to work with their client’s subconscious mind.

We train you in how to effectively do so.

If you’re not trained in how to work with the subconscious mind, you can be quite limited in dealing with your client’s emotional/behavioral issues and unresolved inner conflicts. And these are the very elements that, more often than not, stand in the way of a client’s success!

WHY THAT’S IMPORTANT:

There is no better improvement a person can make than to gain more control over their internal, mental, and emotional processes.

Our approach puts emphasis on helping clients gain greater control of these processes because that’s directly related to their ability to be productive, resourceful, and effective.

Another problem sometimes with being helped by someone with little to no understanding of the subconscious mind, is they can often sound like they’re just giving advice or talking a lot of platitudes without any precise method to increase your motivation and get the desired results.

Many will offer a whole lot of WHAT—but not a lot of HOW. So, their clients get a lot of conscious concepts that appeal to their intellect, or conscious mind (about 10% of your mind, the “tip of the iceberg”). However, most significant behavioral change occurs with the involvement and cooperation of the subconscious, or habitual mind (the other 90%).

HOW THAT BENEFITS YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS:

This is why being trained by us makes you a greater resource to a client seeking solid help with a problem or goal in their life because you’ll simply be better equipped to guide that client toward a successful outcome and an enhanced quality of life.

We instill a thorough understanding of behavior modification, as well as expertise in proven systems that facilitate deeper levels of long-term change so you can quickly help clients gain profound insight, resolve old patterns, and let go of the negativity, limiting beliefs, and inner conflicts that are blocking happiness, prosperity and success from their lives. This leads to increased wholeness and more options in life for your clients.

So, not only are your clients issues resolved—your clients experience significant personal breakthroughs as well. 

YOUR TRAINING WITH US:

During your training with us, you’ll benefit from lots of “hands-on” direct experience utilizing what you’re learning. In other words, our training will enhance both your intelligence (“talking the talk”) and your behavior (“walking the walk”). It’s specifically designed to teach both your conscious and unconscious mind—so that real, whole brain learning can occur.

Those we train learn how to: facilitate change, ask meaningful questions, motivate, create insight, challenge, support and encourage the growth of their client’s individual self-expression.

They simply get results.

HOW OUR APPROACH TRANFORMS LIVES:

Our approach brings together clinical hypnotherapy, subconscious coaching, practical NLP, science-based mindfulness and more into one integrated model of transformation.

It’s a complete system that helps people move from inner limitation to authentic freedom—the same framework that underpins every training we offer.

The core principles behind these differences are mapped out in our interactive mind map:

Explore the Core Principles in the Interactive Mind Map

Click the circle at the end of any branch to open/close it; zoom and fit are in the lower right.

How does our approach integrate different methods?

Our approach isn’t just a collection of techniques—it’s a comprehensive system that strategically integrates multiple modalities for maximum effectiveness.

Here’s how it works:

  • Clinical Hypnotherapy establishes your foundation in working with the subconscious mind through modern hypnotherapy, while building practical mindfulness skills and guided imagery techniques.
  • Subconscious Coaching adds advanced subconscious coaching methods, practical NLP, and Creating Your Future® Processes that allow you to create even deeper transformation.

Together, these create a powerful toolset that lets you:

  • Access and work with both conscious and subconscious aspects of change
  • Address challenges from multiple angles
  • Customize your approach based on each client’s unique needs
  • Create faster, more lasting transformations than using any single method alone

Think of it like having a complete toolkit rather than just one tool—you’ll know exactly when and how to use each approach for optimal results.

See how the core principles of the Holistic Breakthrough Approach™ work together in our interactive mind map:

Explore the Core Principles in the Interactive Mind Map

Click the circle at the end of any branch to open/close it; zoom and fit are in the lower right.

How are those we train different from traditional therapists?

Those we train don’t treat you like a problem to fix. They help you see how your experience is being created, and what changes once that is seen.

The Short Version

A lot of therapy stays with the past, the label, and the talking.

We focus on how patterns are operating now—consciously and subconsciously—and how those patterns can be changed.

What Traditional Therapy Often Looks Like:

  • You are treated as a patient with a diagnosis, not a capable individual with untapped potential
  • You spend months (or years) analyzing your past instead of changing what the past is still creating
  • Progress is often slow, open-ended, and emotionally draining
  • The focus is on understanding why you feel stuck—not how to actually move forward
  • Your therapist is the “expert,” and you are expected to fit their model
  • Emotions are treated as symptoms to manage, not signals to decode
  • There is often no clear method for resolution—just more talking

What Our Approach Looks Like:

  • We treat you as a client and partner in the process—not as something “broken” that needs “fixing”
  • We start from the assumption that you are capable and healthy, just not yet aligned
  • We work directly with the subconscious patterns driving your behavior, emotions, and decisions
  • We focus on actionable insight and rewiring—not endless loops of analysis
  • We guide, you steer—you stay in charge of the direction and the result
  • You learn practical tools to shift how you think, feel, and respond (even under pressure)
  • Emotions aren’t “bad”—they’re information we decode and integrate quickly
  • We get to the root fast and help you replace what’s not working with what works better

So What Does That Actually Mean for You?

It means we don’t waste time on venting.

You’ll learn how your mind really works—both conscious and subconscious—and use that insight to create changes that last.

You won’t be stuffed into a diagnostic box or spend years circling the same problems.

Instead, we’ll work with your unique wiring to create meaningful change in weeks—not years.

This isn’t theory. It’s what works.

You can explore the core principles underlying this approach in our interactive mind map:

Explore the Core Principles in the Interactive Mind Map

Click the circle at the end of any branch to open/close it; zoom and fit are in the lower right.

Why do people usually hire a coach?

Every world champion has had a coach.
—Jay Conrad Levinson

Sometimes a person doesn’t always know exactly what to do to make the change and improvement they need in their lives. Deep down, they know they can do it, but they stumble around a bit, trying this and that.

Then, they reach their “enough is enough” point and are finally willing to do whatever it takes to learn how to achieve their goal.

It is at this point that they’ll hire a coach to help ensure they achieve a successful outcome. Coaching can better your ability to create the future you desire in your personal and professional life.

Coaching is the process of helping people and teams to perform at the peak of their abilities. It involves drawing out people’s strengths, helping them to bypass personal barriers and limits in order to achieve their personal best.
—Robert Dilts

One of the many ways coaching can help you is in developing greater communication within yourself and with others.

And an excellent coach—trained by us—will use a variety of proven skills, solution-oriented strategies, and transformative subconscious techniques—all uniquely designed to get results.

And the results are: better performance in life!

Understanding therapeutic methods

What is hypnotherapy and how does it facilitate change?

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique.

It’s been approved by the American Medical Association since 1958. And it’s long been known as an effective, evidence-based solution for stress, habit control and self-improvement.

The purpose of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique is to help you understand and gain more control over your behavior, emotions or physical well-being.
—The Mayo Clinic

You have a “treasure chest” hidden deep within your mind that can allow you to create some very effective changes in your life within a relatively short period of time.

It’s called your subconscious (or unconscious) mind. And it’s considered to be the source of your motivation, habits, behaviors, attitudes, emotions, and self-talk.

I believe hypnosis has profound powers to help you stop sabotaging yourself.
—Dr. Oz

How’d you know to be you when you got up this morning? Your subconscious (or habitual) mind is a lot like a database that runs patterns of behavior—largely independent of your conscious mind—based on your programming from your past.

In other words, you’re “on auto-pilot” the majority of your day.

Hypnotherapy accesses and unlocks this powerful part of the mind in order to help you quickly and easily change (or “re-write”) your old programming and patterns of behavior.

Hypnosis is a heightened sense of suggestibility for accessing the subconscious mind which is responsible for up to 90 to 95 percent of our thoughts and actions.
—The Washington Times

When you want to make a change or improvement in your life, the logic of your conscious mind alone—without the cooperation of the motivation from your subconscious mind—is often ineffective. (In other words, you “say it”, but you don’t “do it”.)

Hypnotherapy can help you to effectively change habits of an entire lifetime and to create a healthier reality for yourself.

Hypnosis is the epitome of mind-body medicine. It can enable the mind to tell the body how to react, and modify the messages that the body sends to the mind.
—The New York Times

Hypnotherapy provides an ideal environment for learning new things (re-programming the database).

In a review of psychotherapy research, psychologist Alfred A. Barrios compared reported outcomes from earlier studies of psychoanalysis, behavior therapy, and hypnotherapy. His analysis estimated:

  • Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after approximately 600 sessions
  • Behavioral Therapy: 72% recovery after an average of 22 sessions
  • Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after an average of 6 sessions

Hypnotherapy is an impressive choice in terms of (1) the cost, (2) the short duration of therapy, and (3) the results.

I think it should be much more widely used. It’s safe, it’s inexpensive and it can produce dramatic results.
—Dr. Andrew Weil

What does hypnotherapy feel like? Is it safe?

Hypnotherapy is completely safe, relaxing, enjoyable and surprisingly effective.

Because of the often ridiculous way it’s often been portrayed in movies and TV, some mistakenly think it isn’t safe. However, the fact is: Therapeutic hypnosis has helped millions of people to create healthy change in their lives for the past 60 years.

Hypnosis is not mind control. It’s a naturally occurring state of concentration; It’s actually a means of enhancing your control over both your mind and your body—over perceptions such as pain, anxiety, habits, stress.
—Dr. David Spiegel, Stanford University School of Medicine

Therapeutic hypnosis isn’t the same as “stage” hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is performed solely for the purpose of entertaining an audience. Therapeutic hypnosis is performed in a clinical setting—with your best interests in mind—by a hypnotherapist, solely for the purpose of helping you meet your desired outcome.

Even though stage hypnotists and TV shows have damaged the public image of hypnosis, a growing body of scientific research supports its benefits in treating a wide range of conditions, including pain, depression, anxiety and phobias.
—American Psychological Association

The state of hypnosis is a very natural, very real, very normal state of mind. In essence, it’s a receptive learning state. And it’s not so different from the state you’re in when you’re watching a good movie, daydreaming, enjoying an interesting book, being overwhelmed by the beauty of nature, or listening to song that moves you.

Contrary to how hypnosis is sometimes portrayed, you don’t lose control over your behavior while under hypnosis. You generally remain aware of and remember what happens under hypnosis.
—The Mayo Clinic

It’s basically paying attention, while feeling increasing levels of relaxation. During hypnotherapy, you’ll remain completely aware of everything that’s going on, as you’re guided through some beneficial imaginative processes; so:

  • Don’t expect to feel “hypnotized”.
  • Do expect to feel relaxed.
  • You won’t say or do anything you don’t want to.
  • You’re in total control.

Your natural ability to go into relaxed states of focused awareness is utilized and enhanced through hypnotherapy for the purpose of helping you access, unlock, and reprogram the deeper, motivating areas of your mind. And the results are: welcome changes in your behavior.

Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking, hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon with a variety of therapeutic uses…
—Scientific American

Anyone can experience therapeutic hypnosis if they’re willing to, and can follow simple instructions. Those who claim they “can’t be hypnotized” usually (1) have yet to be informed about what therapeutic hypnosis actually is, and/or (2) are just unwilling to “be hypnotized”.

It’s a “do with” process, not a “do to” process.

What do researchers and healthcare professionals say about hypnotherapy?

The following quotes serve to highlight the many applications that hypnotherapy has.

You can also visit The National Library of Medicine and view thousands of scientific studies on hypnosis!

If hypnosis was a drug, it would be standard of care.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

Studies show that hypnosis can be effective in treating everything from chronic pain to poor study habits. Chances are it can work for you.
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Hypnosis often is used to modify behavior and overcome phobias and bad habits—it can help you make changes that you’ve been unable to make otherwise.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER

Hypnosis can actually help you lose weight.
DR. JEAN FAIN, Harvard Medical School

The purpose of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique is to help you understand and gain more control over your behavior, emotions or physical well-being.
THE MAYO CLINIC

With weight loss the evidence is conclusive…hypnosis does help people reduce.
SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE

I think it should be much more widely used. It’s safe, it’s inexpensive and it can produce dramatic results.
DR. ANDREW WEIL

Hypnosis is the epitome of mind-body medicine. It can enable the mind to tell the body how to react, and modify the messages that the body sends to the mind.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

Studies show that people who combine diet and exercise with hypnosis lose more weight than they do with diet and exercise alone.
ALLURE

Even though stage hypnotists and TV shows have damaged the public image of hypnosis, a growing body of scientific research supports its benefits in treating a wide range of conditions, including pain, depression, anxiety and phobias.
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

It’s a tool that can help you change your eating behavior so that certain patterns become easier to undo or resist.
SHAPE MAGAZINE

I believe hypnosis has profound powers to help you stop sabotaging yourself.
DR. OZ

Hypnosis seems helpful in treating addictions, and the depression and anxiety associated with them…
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit.
NEW SCIENTIST

New findings are leading major hospitals to try hypnosis to help relieve pain and speed recovery on a variety of illnesses.
WALL STREET JOURNAL

Hypnosis is a heightened sense of suggestibility for accessing the subconscious mind which is responsible for up to 90 to 95 percent of our thoughts and actions.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Hypnosis: A safe and potent pain reliever. Hypnosis can help adult patients control other forms of pain, relieve gastrointestinal problems, stimulate weight loss, clear up skin problems, and accelerate the healing of bone fractures and surgical wounds.
CONSUMER REPORTS

Hypnosis is not mind control. It’s a naturally occurring state of concentration; It’s actually a means of enhancing your control over both your mind and your body—over perceptions such as pain, anxiety, habits, stress.
DR. DAVID SPIEGEL, Stanford University School of Medicine

Approved as a valid treatment by the American Medical Association in 1958, hypnotism has become increasingly accepted by the medical community. Its use for chronic pain was approved in 1996 by the National Institutes of Health.
THE CAPITAL

Hypnosis can help. A growing body of research supports the ancient practice as an effective tool in the treatment of a variety of problems, from anxiety to chronic pain.
NEWSWEEK

In [hypnosis], you can attain significant psycho-physiologic changes.
DR. DANIEL HANDEL, National Institute of Health

[Hypnosis] can also be applied to improving study habits, stress reduction and raising self-esteem…If you are having difficulty controlling your appetite, sleeping or just need to relax, hypnosis might help you toward your goal.
FORBES

Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking, hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon with a variety of therapeutic uses…
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

[Hypnosis] has been used to counter the nausea of pregnancy and chemotherapy; dental and test-taking anxiety; pain associated with surgery, root canal treatment and childbirth; fear of flying and public speaking; compulsive hair-pulling; and intractable hiccups, among many other troublesome health problems.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

There’s entrancing news about hypnosis; it’s gaining credibility as a treatment for a multitude of troubles, from nicotine addiction to post-traumatic stress disorder. Hypnosis has gained credibility in the past five years because of research using the latest brain-imaging technology…Studies show hypnosis can help treat a multitude of disorders…
BUSINESS WEEK

It’s hard to find a field that hasn’t used hypnosis successfully, everything from quitting smoking to IBS.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Contrary to how hypnosis is sometimes portrayed, you don’t lose control over your behavior while under hypnosis. You generally remain aware of and remember what happens under hypnosis.
THE MAYO CLINIC

What types of challenges can you help clients overcome?

This work addresses far more than symptoms—it helps resolve the underlying patterns behind them.

While the list below includes common issues you can help clients overcome, it’s not exhaustive. If something a client is struggling with isn’t listed, don’t assume it can’t be addressed.

The real question is: What’s underneath it? That’s where we go.

A
Abandonment  •  Addictions  •  Anger  •  Aggression  •  Agoraphobia  •  Anxiety  •  Approval Seeking  •  Assertiveness  •  Athletic Skills  •  Attention Issues  •  Attitude

B
Body Image  •  Boundary Setting  •  Breathing  •  Building New Skills  •  Burnout

C
Career Success  •  Career Transitions  •  Child Birth  •  Chronic Pain  •  Clarity of Purpose  •  Co-Dependency  •  Communication  •  Comparison Traps  •  Confidence  •  Concentration  •  Control Issues  •  Cravings  •  Creativity

D
Death (or Loss)  •  Decision Paralysis  •  Digital Overuse  •  Disconnection •  Discouragement  •  Disorganization  •  Distraction Management

E
Emotional Numbness  •  Emotional Eating  •  Emotional Regulation  •  Empathy Burnout  •  Entrepreneurial Challenges  •  Exam Anxiety  •  Executive Function Challenges  •  Exercise

F
Fears  •  Finances  •  Flawed Strategies  •  Focus Difficulties  •  Forgiveness  •  Future Anxiety

G
Gambling  •  Goal Reaching  •  Guilt

H
Habit Control  •  Healing  •  Headaches  •  Health Improvement  •  Helplessness  •  Hopelessness  •  Hostility  •  Hurt Feelings  •  Hypochondria

I
Immune System  •  Imposter Syndrome  •  Indecision  •  Information Overload  •  Insecurity  •  Inhibition  •  Inner Conflict  •  Inner Critic Issues  •  Insomnia  •  Intimacy Issues  •  Irrational Thoughts  •  Irritability

J
Jealousy

K
Keyboard Confidence  •  Knowledge Overload

L
Lack of Direction  •  Lack of Enthusiasm  •  Lack of Initiative  •  Lack of Purpose  •  Leadership Presence  •  Life Balance  •  Life Transitions  •  Limiting Beliefs  •  Loss of Meaning

M
Meditation  •  Memory Improvement  •  Mental Fatigue  •  Mindset Blocks  •  Motivation

N
Nail Biting  •  Negative Emotions  •  Nightmares

O
Obsessions  •  Overeating  •  Overly Competitive  •  Overly Critical

P
Pain Management  •  Panic Attacks  •  Passive-Aggressive  •  Past Life Regression  •  Peak Performance  •  Perceived Powerlessness  •  Perfectionism  •  Performance Anxiety  •  Pessimism  •  Phobias  •  Pleasing Others  •  Pre-Surgery Anxiety  •  Problem Solving  •  Procrastination  •  Public Speaking

Q
Quick Temper  •  Quitting Habits  •  Questioning Self-Worth

R
Reactive Behavior  •  Rejection  •  Relationships  •  Relaxation  •  Resentment  •  Resistance  •  Responsibility  •  Restlessness  •  Risk Aversion  •  Rumination

S
Sadness  •  Sales Improvement  •  Screen Addiction  •  Self-Awareness  •  Self-Confidence  •  Self-Control  •  Self-Criticism  •  Self-Defeat  •  Self-Esteem  •  Self-Expression  •  Self-Hypnosis  •  Self-Image  •  Self-Love  •  Self-Mastery  •  Self-Sabotage  •  Self-Worth  •  Sensory Overwhelm  •  Sexual Problems  •  Shame  •  Sleep Disorders  •  Smoking  •  Social Withdrawal  •  Social Media Issues  •  Social Phobias  •  Sports Performance  •  Stage Fright  •  Strategic Thinking  •  Stress Management  •  Stuckness  •  Study Habits  •  Stuttering  •  Substance Abuse  •  Surgery Preparation  •  Surgical Recovery  •  Success Issues

T
Tardiness  •  Temptation  •  Time Management  •  Toxic Relationships  •  Trauma  •  Trust

U
Unwanted Thoughts  •  Unresolved Conflict  •  Unproductive Patterns

V
Victim Mentality

W
Weight Loss  •  Work/Life Imbalance  •  Worry  •  Writer’s Block

Y
Yearning for Direction

Z
Zoning Out  •  Zeal Without Focus