Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy

I was certified as a hypnotherapist in 1995 by the Wellness Institute.  Hypnotherapy is most useful when you are stuck in a pattern of maladaptive emotional response but are not sure why.  In a 90 minute session, we can often discover the past experience(s) that source the problem, release some energy from the past trauma, provide healing for the wounded "inner child," and let go of negative beliefs that sabotage effective action in life.

A typical session would begin with an induction that facilitates a very relaxed, but alert, state of consciousness.  We might then use an ego strengthening process to develop your "adult" part.   I would then ask you to tune into the difficult situation from your current life that is problematic.  Typical examples would be the last time you lost your temper, the moment your romantic partner said it was over, the feeling you have just before you eat (even though you're not hungry), or the anxiety you feel when speaking in public or socializing at a party.  After doing some processes to hone in on the relevant feeling, we use it as a bridge to one or more past events in an age regression.

Once you have connected with an earlier experience, you have the opportunity to express the source feelings.  Going through trauma in childhood tends to lock in the feelings of powerlessness that we had as a small being, resulting in a lack of power as an adult.  Regressing to the traumatic events and finally expressing the blocked emotions reconnects us to the power in our bodies, often leading to a natural increase in assertiveness.

If indicated, we would extinguish dysfunctional feelings by working with the inner child and anchoring a positive resource state.  Any negative beliefs taken on from another person can be returned through visualization.  Finally, we use inner child work to resolve and complete the session.

I tape the induction and the inner child process so that you can repeat the healing portions of the session on your own.

If the age regression does not connect you to events from your past, we can set up a dialogue between the problematic feeling and the "executive" self, or part you identify with.  Sometimes other parts of the personality can get involved.  When the part of the personality that you are trying to ignore or get rid of finally has a chance to express itself, we are likely to find that it is trying to serve a beneficial purpose.  For example, the part that makes you overeat may have the mission of making sure you have enough enjoyment in life.  By recognizing and appreciating the positive (if misguided) motivation of the part, we can often work out an agreement where the needs of all aspects of the personality are met.

Read some Questions and Answers about Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis

For more information on Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, visit the Wellness Institute website.