Is hypnotherapy right for me?

Hypnotherapy is right for anyone and EVERYONE pursuing their own personal exploration and growth. It is for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change.The most valuable knowledge a person can have, is knowledge of self. Working in collaboration with a hypnotherapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Many studies have shown that the best means of achieving sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being is with an integrative approach to wellness. It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, hypnotherapy addresses the cause of distress and the behavior patterns that curb progress. Hypnotherapy can help address many types of issues including bad habits such as smoking, overeating, nail biting, and the list continues. Other common treatments include stress management, body-image issues, life transitions, anxiety, pain management and weight loss. For a more extensive list of issues hypnotherapy can help with, click here.

Do I really need hypnotherapy?  I can usually handle my own problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, hypnotherapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation. In essence, you are  "beyong survival." Hypnotherapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you access to the resources within you to overcome triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and move beyond whatever challenges you face.

How can hypnotherapy help me?

Hypnotherapy provides a number of benefits. Some of theses benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your behaviors and emotions

• Developing skills for improving yourself and your relationships

• Finding resolution to personal issues or concerns

• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures

• Improving communication and listening skills

• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones

• Discovering new ways to solve personal problems, as well as problems in relationships, your family or marriage

• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

What is hypnotherapy like and what can I expect?

Every hypnotherapy session is unique and caters to the individual's specific needs and goals. It is important to understand that at no point does the hypnotherapist have control over a client's mind. Both entering and staying within the hypnotic state are completely under the control of the client. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative effort and the hypnotherapist acts only as a guide to the client. To achieve the trance state, a client must first consent to allowing the conscious portion of his/her mind to be guided into a relaxed, secondary position as a passive observer so that the hypnotherapist can communicate more directly with the subconscious mind. Consequently, the conscious mind is still present and maintains the capacity to reject any suggestions that are being offered by the hypnotherapist. A hypnotized person maintains free will and can readily exit the trance state at any time during the session.

It is standard for the hypnotherapist to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life prior to hypnosis. It is common to schedule a series of sessions, where each session lasts around sixty to ninety minutes. Hypnotherapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the sessions, such as practicing daily self-hypnosis, utilizing hypnotic techniques in daily life, or reading a relevant book. For hypnotherapy to be most effective you must be an active, motivated participant, both during and between sessions. People seeking hypnotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives. Here are some things you can expect out of hypnotherapy:

• Compassion, respect and understanding

• Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings

• Real strategies for enacting positive change

• Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
The short answer to this is: hypnotherapy is not yet covered by insurance companies in the state of MA. However, it is covered in most cases by flexible spending or health savings accounts.

Is hypnotherapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and hypnotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.

• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.