Is Hypnosis Right for You?

If you’ve been wondering whether hypnosis could help with what you’re going through, here’s how to know if it’s a good fit.

You’ve heard about hypnosis. Maybe you’ve seen it work for someone you know. Maybe you’ve been curious for years but weren’t sure if it was “real” or if it would work for your specific situation.

Here’s the truth: hypnosis helps with a wide range of issues – but it’s not for everyone, and it doesn’t work the same way for every problem.

Let’s answer the questions you’re probably wondering about.

What Kind of Issues Does Hypnosis Help With?

Hypnosis works best when you know what you should be doing, but can’t seem to follow through on your own.

This is the key distinction. Hypnosis isn’t about giving you information you don’t have. It’s about helping you bridge the gap between what you know and what you actually do.

Common issues people work on with hypnosis:

Anxiety and Stress
When you know logically there’s nothing to worry about, but your body reacts like there is. When worry loops in your mind and you can’t shut it off.
Learn more about anxiety relief →

Weight and Eating Patterns
When you know what healthy eating looks like, but you eat anyway – even when you’re not hungry. When emotional eating overrides your intentions.
Learn more about weight loss with hypnosis →

Smoking Cessation
When you want to quit but the habit feels stronger than your willpower. When you’ve tried patches, gum, and everything else without lasting success.
Learn more about freedom from smoking →

Sleep Issues
When your body is tired but your mind won’t quiet. When you dread bedtime because you know you’ll be staring at the ceiling for hours.
Learn more about healthy sleep →

Pain Management
When you’re working alongside your medical provider and want to reduce your body’s pain response. When chronic discomfort affects your quality of life.
Learn more about pain relief →

Past Experiences and Relationships
When something that happened years ago still affects you today. When you know you “should” be over it, but you’re not.
Learn more about healing from past experiences →

Motivation and Confidence
When you feel stuck, unmotivated, or like you’re going through the motions. When you want to feel more capable and confident in your daily life.

Substance Use
When you want to change your relationship with alcohol or other substances. When moderation hasn’t worked and you’re ready for something different.
Learn more about hypnosis for substance use →

We also work with kids and teens – helping them with anxiety, focus, confidence, and behavioral patterns that aren’t serving them.

Is Hypnosis Safe?

Yes. Hypnosis is safe when practiced by a trained professional.

Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention. You go in and out of light hypnotic states multiple times every day – when you’re absorbed in a movie, driving on autopilot, or deeply focused on a task.

In a professional setting, we’re simply guiding you into that focused state intentionally and using it for positive change.

A few important points about safety:

You’re aware the entire time. You’re not asleep, not unconscious, not under anyone’s control. You can open your eyes and end the session whenever you want.

Your values stay intact. Hypnosis doesn’t override your moral compass or make you do things against your will. If I suggested something that didn’t align with your values, you’d simply ignore it or open your eyes.

We work alongside your medical care. If you’re dealing with health-related issues, we work with a referral from your medical provider. Hypnosis is a complement to medical care, not a replacement for it.

How Does Hypnosis Actually Work?

Hypnosis works directly with your subconscious mind – where your habits, emotions, and automatic behaviors live.

Think of your mind in two parts:

Your conscious mind is the part that thinks, plans, analyzes, and makes decisions. It’s what you’re using right now to read this article.

Your subconscious mind runs automatically beneath your awareness. It manages your habits, stores your emotions, and drives most of your daily behaviors.

Here’s the challenge: your conscious mind might want to change, but if your subconscious hasn’t gotten the message, you’ll keep doing the same thing.

That’s why willpower often fails. You’re using your conscious mind to fight patterns that live in your subconscious.

Hypnosis creates a conversation between these two parts of your mind. We help them align instead of fighting each other. When your conscious intentions and subconscious patterns work together, change becomes easier – often surprisingly so.

Let’s Debunk Some Common Myths

Myth #1: Hypnosis is mind control

No. Your hypnotist has no control over you during hypnosis. You’re an active participant, not a passive subject. If I suggested something you didn’t want to do, you’d simply ignore it.

The hypnotist serves as a guide – helping you access your own inner resources and make changes you’ve already decided you want to make.

Myth #2: Hypnosis is like what you see in movies or stage shows

Entertainment hypnosis (movies, stage shows) and therapeutic hypnosis are completely different experiences.

Stage hypnotists choose volunteers who want to perform and have fun. They’re looking for extroverts who enjoy being the center of attention.

In a therapeutic session, we’re working on your goals in a private, professional setting. No barking like a dog. No doing embarrassing things. Just you, becoming more capable and comfortable in your own life.

Myth #3: Only weak-minded people can be hypnotized

Actually, the opposite is true. Hypnosis requires focused attention, which means intelligent, creative people who can concentrate well tend to be excellent candidates.

If you’ve ever been deeply absorbed in a book or lost track of time during a good movie, you’ve already experienced a hypnotic state. It’s natural and normal.

Myth #4: You might get stuck in hypnosis

This doesn’t happen. If a session ended abruptly (say, a fire alarm went off), you’d simply open your eyes and respond normally. Your brain knows how to return to regular awareness on its own.

The only way you’d “stay” in hypnosis is if you were so relaxed you decided to take a nap – and that’s just sleep, not being stuck.

How Do You Know If Hypnosis Is Right for YOU?

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you know what you should be doing, but can’t seem to follow through?
If yes, hypnosis might help. The gap between knowing and doing is where hypnosis works best.

Have you tried other approaches without lasting success?
If you’ve tried therapy, self-help books, willpower, medication, or other methods and they haven’t created the change you want, hypnosis offers a different approach.

Are you willing to participate actively in the process?
Hypnosis isn’t something done to you – it’s something we do together. You need to show up, engage with the process, and be willing to let change happen.

Do you want to change?
This might sound obvious, but it’s crucial. If part of you wants to change and part of you doesn’t, that’s okay – we can work with that. But if you don’t actually want to change, hypnosis won’t force you to.

Are you looking for a quick fix with no effort?
Then hypnosis probably isn’t right for you. While changes often happen more easily than people expect, you still need to show up for sessions, engage with the work, and sometimes practice techniques between sessions.

What Happens Next?

If you’re curious whether hypnosis could help with your specific situation, let’s have a conversation.

The best way to know if hypnosis is right for you is to talk about your goals, your history, and what you’ve already tried. We’ll discuss whether hypnosis is a good fit – and if it’s not, I’ll tell you that too.

Schedule your initial consultation – we’ll spend about an hour discussing your specific situation. The consultation is $95, and if you decide to move forward with a program, that fee is credited toward your package.

Or call me directly at 360-392-8723. I’m happy to answer your questions.

Still Have Questions?

That’s normal. Hypnosis is probably different from anything else you’ve tried.

Here are some other articles that might help:

• 16 Answers to Your Most Awkward Hypnosis Questions (link to the article we just wrote)
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know Hypnosis Could Do (link to the article we just wrote)
• 10 Quick Tips About Hypnosis (link to the article we just wrote)

Or just give me a call. Sometimes the best way to know if something’s right for you is to ask.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s talk.