The Transparent Hypnotist

Location: Somersworth, NH
Cyber Location: www.paulramsay.com

1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

I work as a hypnotist full-time, splitting my time between stage hypnotism and consulting hypnotism. I’ve been practicing full-time for about five years, now.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

I don’t promote my practice through any specialty, but I have done specialized training with Ron Eslinger in pain management, and I am also a Certified Instructor with the National Guild of Hypnotists, so I can teach people who want to get certified in hypnotism.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

Since I am a lay hypnotist I don’t do any clinical disorders like depression. I leave that to folks with the proper clinical background. I also do not do past-lives regression. I’m open to the idea of past lives, but don’t have a passion for it that would lead me to specializing in it.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

Absolutely! I’m using self-hypnosis for weight reduction right now, and I also use it occasionally to help me sleep better.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

I have a home office, which I wouldn’t say is ideal, but because I travel a few days a week to perform I can’t have a full-time public office. When I have had enough of the traveling, I will definitely open a full-time office. It’s much more professional and definitely has an impact on how your clients perceive the level of service that they’re receiving.

But, for now, my little home office is quite nice. I have an Apple computer that I run my entire business with, from scheduling to bookkeeping to recording and editing of audio and video files. I have a 1-to-3 CD/DVD burner so that I can duplicate DVDs and CDs for my ecommerce site. My “library” consists of a five shelf bookshelf where I keep all my resources on hypnotism. I think it’s really important to build your own library and use it regularly.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

I get up at 7:30 a.m. and spend the first couple hours of the day doing emails, writing my blog, and reading articles that come to me through Google Alerts. I take a break mid-morning and practice tai-chi. Then I might work on a new recording or another project on my To-Do list. I try to do some reading every day about hypnotism or a related topic that will help me develop my skills and practice. I also spend some time every day doing some kind of promotion, whether it’s direct mailing, changes to my website, or outreach to different media folks. Work in a client here and there, and travel to different venues for my performances, and the schedule fills out quite nicely.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

I trained with Jerry Valley for my initial certification through the National Guild of Hypnotists. I trained with Ron Eslinger to become a Certified Instructor.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

Unlike many other hypnotists, I don’t use the hand clasp technique as a test; I use it as an induction. One day I figured, “Hey, if they pass the test then really they’ve got catalepsy, right? So why am I testing with this? Why don’t I just deepen right from that point?” It knocked three minutes off my induction time and it impresses people when I do a show or give a demonstration.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

I watched a demonstration once in which the hypnotist told the volunteer that she would see her dead husband and be able to talk to him. I believe the hypnotist was acting from a well-intended place, trying to help her get closure, but he treated the whole situation as if her “third eye” had opened and she was actually communicating with her husband. He was creating a hallucination! I was mortified to think that this woman would leave that session and go back to family and friends and possibly tell them that she had somehow had a cross-over experience with her husband. I didn’t speak up that day and voice my concerns, but I learned from that experience and I know that in the future I will do a better job of asserting myself when I think someone is being misled, even if the intentions of the hypnotic facilitator are good.

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotists.

This is a golden time for hypnotism. If you’re an aspiring hypnotist, take advantage of the opportunity! More and more people are opening their minds to holistic wellness. More research dollars are being spent on alternative modalities. Do your homework, keep training and learning all the time, and you could reap the benefit of this exciting time in our profession. You have to hustle, though! There are thousands and thousands of certified hypnotists out there, yet the majority of them don’t have dedicated practices. With over 300 million people in American alone, there is enough work out there for all of us. If we do a better job of educating the public and representing our profession, the opportunities will only grow and grow for us.

Tags: Paul Ramsay

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