Whole Person Counseling and Therapy

Introducing my Portland hypnosis / hypnotherapy focus

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a proven method of working with conditions and symptoms that involve a mental or emotional component. If a person's attitude, expectations, beliefs, feelings, needs, or self-image factor in a way that his or her particular problem is experienced, then that problem can benefit from hypnosis.

As a clinical hypnotherapist certified by the 12,000 member National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), I have a private practice in downtown Portland, Oregon . I practice hypnotherapy for the short-term specific and immediate therapeutic relief that it can provide my clients for conditions and symptoms including those listed below.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a profound state of relaxation and single-pointed attention in which the mind's critical thinking faculty is relaxed so as to allow direct communication with the unconscious for the purpose of benefiting the client. It is a very

useful state. In a hypnotherapy trance, the mind's magnificent powers can be elicited, motivated, and directed to bring healing and relief to the client's specific conditions and symptoms.

Being in a trance is an everyday phenomenon that we each experience. When we watch TV, become absorbed in a book, or when driving on a freeway and missing our exit, we are in trance. Hypnosis differs from these everyday trances in that in hypnosis you are intentionally guided into trance by the hypnotherapist for a beneficial purpose.

Common myths about hypnosis

Will I lose control without knowing it? No. A hypnotist does not possess the power to control other persons' minds. All the hypnotist does is guide you to a profound state of relaxation that you, the client, allow. That's it. If you don't want to reveal something that is private, you won't. Moreover, in fact all of your senses are heightened when in the hypnotic state.

Will I lose consciousness? Television and Hollywood have promoted this misunderstanding of hypnosis. No you will not lose consciousness. In fact you will be even more awake during hypnosis than before. You will be aware of everything I say.

Can I be made to do something against my will? Hollywood films like The Manchurian Candidate perpetuate the myth that a hypnotized person can be made to do something against her will. This is nonsense. In hypnosis, the hypnotherapist cannot make you to do anything against your will or your values. If the hypnotherapist were to give you a suggestion that was against your will or your values, then you would simply ignore the hypnotherapist or waken yourself out of the hypnotic state.

What about those performers on stage? A hypnotist who perform on stage making audience members do comic things practices stage hypnotism. The hypnotist who practice stage hypnotism is very different from the hypnotherapist who practices clinical hypnotherapy. Before the act, the stage hypnotist will "smooze" with the audience, determining which persons are suggestible and likely to be the life of the party. Later on stage, the hypnotist will select these audience members. In hypnosis, these audience members will like attention they get; they will like being 'on stage.' Whatever they may do on stage doesn't go against their innate values. Rather it complements their wanting to be the center of attention.

Can I be stuck in hypnosis? No one has ever been stuck in hypnosis. You can't be stuck in hypnosis any more than you can get stuck in a daydream. Were a person to not be emerged from hypnosis by the hypnotist, then all that would happen is that the person would fall asleep and awaken naturally.

Will I reveal my secrets? Some people believe incorrectly that under hypnosis they can be forced to reveal secrets about themselves and others. This is not true. As a client you are aware of everything while you are being hypnotized, and so this surely could not happen. You can talk in hypnosis, if necessary. You can fib in hypnosis just as easily.

What are some of the conditions for which hypnosis can be helpful?

As described by the Oregon Hypnotherapy Association, clinical hypnotherapy has been found to be effective complementary health therapy in alleviating the following health, performance, and personal conditions.

 

Please note that the services which I provide are not a substitute for the assessment, or diagnosis, or treatment of mental and medical illness when such is needed, desired, or required. I do not assess, diagnose, treat, or prescribe any illness whether mental disorder or physical. Instead my work intends to promote the optimal functioning and personal growth of my clients.

What happens in a hypnotherapy session with Michael?

In a typical first hypnotherapy session, I will first take your case history. Then I will then take as much time as you need to explain hypnosis to you, so that you feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed. In order to alleviate your curiosity, I also will explain the different steps that we will take during your hypnosis experience.

I then will hypnotize you. In our first session, usually this may take less than 10 minutes. Different visualizations such as a walk in a garden, a trip to the beach, or walking down a staircase may be used to deepen your hypnotic relaxation. When you are sufficiently hypnotized, then I will give therapeutic post-hypnotic suggestions that are suitable to your complaint. To make better use of your time, I also will teach you a method whereby in following sessions you can quickly enter the hypnotic state. Finally I will emerge you out of trance with suggestions that you feel wonderfully relaxed and energized.

Presuming that you give your permission, our hypnosis session will be recorded onto CD or tape as requested by you. At the end of the session, I will give you a copy of the recording for you to take home and use in self-hypnosis as a way of furthering the effectiveness of your hypnotherapy.

Special Hypnotherapy Topic Discussions

For the topics that were asterisked (*) in the above table of complaints for which hypnotherapy is beneficial, I have created special extensive discussions about how hypnotherapy may be applied to benefit you. Please click below on the special topic discussion of your choice:

Portland Stop Smoking Hypnosis Program

Portland Weight Loss Hypnosis Program

Portland Public Speaking Confidence Program

Portland Stress Management Program

How long is a typical course of hypnotherapy?

Typically, a course of hypnotherapy will average three sessions. Some conditions are successfully worked with in one session. Others conditions slightly longer - perhaps up to 6 sessions. Rarely does the client require more than 6 sessions.

As a hypnotist who wants his clients to benefit the most from each hypnotherapy session, I try to enhance my clients' hypnotherapy experiences by providing them with CD recordings of their hypnotherapy sessions. That way you can continue to benefit from and reinforce your hypnotherapy work in the convenience of your own home and on your own time.

What distinguishes my practice from other hypnotherapists?

There is an old saying, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you'll treat everything like a nail." Most fellow hypnotists and hypnotherapists have no training in other helping modalities. They presume to treat everything as a nail.

My hypnotherapy practice is distinguished from the majority of my fellow hypnotists in several important respects: 1) my expertise in hypnosis has been recognized by NGH as qualifying me to teach and train hypnotists for certification; 2) unlike the vast majority of hypnotists, my educational background includes not only a bachelor degree and a master degree in psychology, and trainings in additional counseling modalities including training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming by the founder of NLP, somatic therapy, Focusing, and other practices. I am able to bring to my work the added value of a toolkit of modalities.

Consider a free consultation

Counseling is a transformative relationship shared by two persons. So, it is important that you take the time to check out counselor with whom you might work. Is the chemistry right for you? Does the therapist's background and abilities meet your needs? Would a referral be appropriate? Because I believe that it is important that you explore such questions at no cost to you before beginning work, I offer prospective clients the opportunity to meet with me for a free 50-minute consultation.

How do I arrange a complimentary consultation or a hypnotherapy session?

The easiest way to arrange a consultation or an appointment is to use the "Online Appointment Booking" link at the top of the page. There you can book a consultation (or any appointment) at a day and time of your convenience. Of course this can be done by phone (503.226.2771) or email, but my busy practice may result in my not replying to you in a timely manner.

My counseling and hypnotherapy office is located in Portland, Oregon. Directions to my Portland office and maps may be found using the "Directions to My Office" link in the "About Michael" menu selection above.

 

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