The Transparent Hypnotist

Location: Chicago, IL
Cyber Location: www.hypnosischicago.com

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

I have had a full-time private practice for over five years. The business started slowly in 2001 but then gained momentum as people saw tangible results and word-of-mouth spread. By 2004, I was in business full-time, and feel very fortunate to make a living doing work that I love. 

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

Although I have worked with a wide range of issues, I primarily see clients for weight loss, smoking cessation, test anxiety and stage fright. Sleeping better is the number one side effect or benefit of the work that I do, regardless of what issue we work on. I have also hypnotized people for stress reduction, procrastination, study habits, self-confidence and a variety of other issues.  

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

I do not do HypnoBirthing(tm), forensic hypnosis, or much work that would fall into medical categories such as pain management. I am not trained or certified to do HypnoBirthing(tm) or forensic hypnosis, and although I did receive some training in pain management, I normally refer these cases out to specialists.  

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

Yes. I use self-hypnosis daily. I find it necessary to maintain my weight, stay on an even keel, and keep my life balanced. I also use it before I do any public speaking so that I do my best. I must also confess that I find hypnosis to be an excellent tool for manifesting prosperity and abundance.  

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

My office is located in downtown Chicago across the street from Northwestern University. There is a private reception area, and once in my office, you’ll relax in a lazy-boy recliner. After the intake, you’ll put on a pair of headphones, soothing music is played while my voice is piped in through the headphones, and your session is recorded. You will receive a CD recording of each session that you can use to reinforce the results. 

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

Normally my day is a mixture of seeing clients, and returning phone calls and emails. In the morning I might see a client who wants to get off of sweets, another who wants to quit smoking, then I might break for lunch and to answer phone calls and emails. The afternoon might be a student who wants to pass an important test, an executive who wants to be better at public speaking, or a doctor who wants to get off Oreos and exercise regularly. My day is often full of people from all walks of life who want to stop bad habits, overcome fears and improve the quality of their lives. 

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

I hold two national certifications in hypnosis, one from the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) , which was rated number one by Congress in 1993, and also by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE). I trained in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Hypnotherapy Academy of American for ACHE certification, and at the Leidecker Institute for NGH certification. I also hold a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, and have been a lifelong student of the human mind and potential, psychology, spirituality, metaphysics and the principals made popular by The Secret.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use? 

I use many great techniques, but one of my favorites is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming technique called “Godiva Chocolate.” It is a technique that is often used to overcome procrastination and/or reframe how you think about something. For instance, say you find biology boring but need to study to pass the class, and your favorite sport is downhill skiing. In this case, I’d have you get in touch with your love of downhill skiing, the thrill of it, and so forth. Then by tapping you on the arm, I’d anchor your love of skiing. Then I’d tap you on the wrist to get in touch with how you feel about biology, and then transfer your love of skiing to biology, so you now feel the same way about studying biology as you do downhill skiing. And many people feel the energy literally shift, so they no longer dread or put off what it is they know they need to do. Many clients find they actually look forward to the activity they once abhorred. I would of course verbally tie the two in as much as possible. 

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

This had to be a nine year-old girl; I’ll call her Sarah. Sarah’s mother brought her to see me to quit sucking her thumb. She had been sucking her thumb since she was a baby, and they had tried everything and nothing worked. After the hypnosis session, Sarah started fretting that it didn’t work for her, that she wasn’t hypnotized, and she wondered what she was going to do, as the kids at school were making fun of her, and so on. Her fretting soon turned into outright sobbing in my office.  Her tears were falling as I tried to explain to her that we really didn’t know what happened, that she needed to listen to her CD, and that more than one session was recommended. After talking with her mother, Sarah agreed to return, even though she was highly skeptical. The following week she returned, and reported  “I haven’t sucked my thumb all week and I’m just here for back-up.” Sarah and her mother were thrilled. So that taught me that the conscious mind is often the last to know how effective hypnosis is, and I tell this story to clients when they think nothing happened or that it didn’t work for them. 

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

 
Make sure your hypnotherapist has worked successfully with your issue, and is certified. You might also look for someone who has training from several different schools or in different techniques. These hypnotists will have more “tools in their toolbox” to help you than others who take just one training or are versed in only one modality. 

For fellow hypnotherapists: Invest in the best training you can afford, and keep on learning throughout your life. Do the best work you are capable of with each client, really listening to them. And remember, a full-time practice takes some time to build. So keep at it. Hypnotize yourself for success. Believe that you can make a living doing this. Have faith. If you’re good at what you do, word will get around, and you’ll get referrals. And once you do find yourself with a thriving practice, make sure you do your own self-hypnosis so that you stay balanced and refreshed. In other words, make sure you take as good of care of yourself as you do your clients.

Tags: Rebecca Laurer

This entry was posted on Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 7:08 am and is filed under 10 Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.