How to Choose the Right Hypnotherapist For You

As part of my training to become a hypnotherapist, I had to choose a mentor.  All the teachers at HMI were available as mentors, it was part of their job as teachers.  I took a while to decide.   When I finally did, I chose Cheryl because she was the teacher I could most closely relate to.  We are about the same age, she had had another career before becoming a hypnotherapist and she genuinely liked helping others.  I liked how she treated her students, her calm, gentle manner was very inviting.

Personal transformation is a common goal these days.  Changing what you think and what you do can bring about transformation.  Sounds simple but it is not that easy to achieve.  A hypnotherapist can help by accessing your subconscious mind (80% of your mind) and helping you to focus it on your conscious goals.  This makes achieving those goals much easier.          

How do you choose the best hypnotherapist for you?  Here some items to consider:

• Where did they go to school? How long was the training?

There are many “hypnotherapy schools” some offering a certificate in as short a time as a weekend. Hypnosis Motivation Institute, where I went to school is a yearlong program with almost 800 instructional hours, including an internship program.  It includes classes on counselling as well as an introduction to many different modalities.

• What additional training do they have?

I am trained and certified in many different techniques and areas:  Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Therapeutic Imagery, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Weight Management, Coping with Loss, Hypnotherapy for Clients with Cancer, Preparing for Surgery, PTSD, Sports Performance, Fears and Anxieties, Smoking Cessation, and Hypnosis and the Special Needs Child.

• What is their certification? 

I am a certified hypnotherapist, certified by Hypnotherapist Union of the AFL/CIO #472.  I am on the board of the Union and we are very careful to only certify hypnotherapists who have extensive training.  We have a code of ethics and continuing education requirements.

• What is their specialty?

While I do see clients for a variety of issues, I specialize in weight management, anxiety, insomnia, test preparation and sports performance.

• How are they rated on Yelp, Google and LinkedIn? 

Ratings can be an important tool with objective ways to rate performance. 

• What is their website like? Does it include testimonials, areas of experience and a blog?

Again, one more tool to help you understand more about the person you are choosing.

• Do they offer a free consultation?

Choosing a hypnotherapist is a very personal decision.  Getting the chance to know, like and trust them before engaging with them is important.  You want to be able to relate to the person you will be working with.  Are they able to listen and really hear what you are saying?

If you would like to talk about working together, call now to arrange for a free, private, online video consultation - 818-929-4944.

Sleepless in Socal - Pandemic Insomnia

She was going to school full-time, working full-time and was a single mom to 2 toddlers. She very carefully trained herself to get by on 2-3 hours of sleep per night. She was constantly in a state of stress and anxiety.

Eventually, she finished her degree, got a better job, and met a great guy.  Now she had time to sleep, but she was so well trained, she could only sleep 2-3 hours a night.  She wanted to be more rested, calm and relaxed. We worked on her bedtime ritual, adjusted her sleep environment so she was sleeping in a dark, quiet place. Soon she began enjoying a peaceful, refreshing, full night’s sleep on the same schedule as her family.

We are all under a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety during this pandemic. One of the best ways to counteract all that negativity is to take care of yourself. That begins with getting a good night’s sleep. Ever notice how everything looks better in the morning? That’s because your body and mind are more rested. With a good night’s sleep, your individual cells get rejuvenated and your conscious mind gets cleared. This can be compared to a computer re-boot – a necessary task to help your computer run better
and faster.

So what can you do if you have trouble getting a good 8 hours of sleep
every night? 

• Be consistent – start your bedtime ritual at the same time every night, do the same things and get into bed at the same time.  Your mind and body can be trained to expect sleep at the same time every night and you will sleep better and easier.

• Sleep in a cool dark room.  Limit outside light and computer light.  An eye mask can be a lifesaver.

• Limit caffeine and alcohol to 2 hours before bed. Stop drinking caffeinated beverages 6-8 hours before bed. While alcohol appears to relax you for a while, it causes stimulation after the first hour and this can interfere with good sleep.

• Limit eating to 2 hours prior to bed. If your stomach is digesting food, it is not ready for good sleep. 

• Keep electronics out of the bedroom. TV and computers should be off or in a different room while you are sleeping. Your bed should be for sleeping (and related activities) only. It’s probably OK to be unplugged for 8 hours each night.

These suggestions may help you improve your sleep. Many clients are also helped through hypnotherapy. I am ready to work with you online. You can reach out today.