If you’ve been searching for hypnotherapy near you in South Orange County, chances are you have a few questions — and maybe a few doubts, too. Hypnotherapy has a reputation problem, mostly thanks to stage shows and movies that have nothing to do with what actually happens in a real session. Here are the most common questions I hear, answered honestly.
“Will I lose control of my mind?”
No. This is the single biggest myth about hypnotherapy. You remain fully aware during the entire session. You can hear everything, you can choose not to follow a suggestion you disagree with, and you can open your eyes and stop whenever you want. Hypnosis is a state of deep focus and relaxation, not unconsciousness.
“Can I get stuck in hypnosis?”
No. This one comes up a lot, usually from movies. Hypnosis is simply a relaxed, focused state your mind moves in and out of naturally — you experience something similar every time you get absorbed in a book or drift off while driving a familiar route. You always come back to full awareness on your own.
“Will you make me do embarrassing things, like on stage shows?”
No I will not! Stage hypnosis is a different practice altogether, built for entertainment with volunteers who want to perform. I have seen a lot of these shows in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and at the Orange County Fairgrounds. They always make me feel extremely uncomfortable because I think they give a really wrong idea of how wonderful and relaxing hypnotherapy sessions can be. Stage hypnosis looks like torture to me.
I believe the people who raise their hands to be a part of a stage show just want to get up in front of people no matter the cost. It also gets very competitive because each person does not want to be removed form the stage if they can’t perform and make people laugh. I had to learn stage hypnosis in both positions – participant and facilitator – during some of my advanced hypnosis training and I didn’t like it at all. Maybe because I really don’t like to be on stage, except for officiating weddings and facilitating past life parties which are part of my weddings and wellness business.
Clinical hypnotherapy is private, one-on-one, and entirely focused on what you came in to work on such as quitting smoking or other addictions – easing anxiety, phobias and insomnia – boosting sports abilities – weight management – increasing concentration and confidence – and other personal goals.
“Does hypnotherapy actually work, or is it just relaxation?”
Relaxation is part of it, but not the whole picture. The relaxed state simply softly disconnects your conscious mind to allow your subconscious mind remember the past more easily. Relaxation also allows your subconscious mind to be more receptive to new suggestions or re-frame old psychic wounds. The subconscious mind is where actual change takes place.
Many people compare it to the calm, focused state right before falling asleep, when the mind is still aware but far less guarded than usual. You can also experience this state when you first wake up and are still sleepy. If you stay in place you can recall your dreams easier before they fade away. This is also the time to say your affirmations if you are working with me to manifest what you want in life, called clinical hypnosis.
“How is this different from therapy?”
Talk therapy generally works with your conscious mind — thinking through a problem, discussing it, reasoning it out. I offer that on my Life Coach page in the menu above. Hypnotherapy works with the subconscious, where habits and automatic reactions actually live. The two aren’t competing approaches; many people use both, depending on what they’re working through. Sometimes seekers just need someone to talk to besides their friends and relatives. They desire to keep their personal problems private.
“Do I need multiple sessions?”
It depends on what you’re working on and how long the pattern has been in place. Some goals, like breaking a specific habit, can shift in just a few sessions. Others take longer. A good first session should give you a clear sense of what a realistic path looks like for your specific situation, without an inflated promise.
You can book a free consultation from the home page or any of the service pages. Just click on the button and choose free consultation. Or call the number on my contact page, I try to answer all calls, even spam, unlisted or private numbers. If the call does not go through, please leave a message and I will call you back just as soon as I can. You can view my hypnosis and hypnotherapy certificates here.
Finding the Right Hypnotherapist in South Orange County
Not every hypnotherapist trains the same way or works the same way, so it’s worth asking about credentials, experience with your specific concern, and what a session actually looks like before you book. You can learn more about what sessions involve here.
