Clinical hypnosis is a form of focused attention in which a trance state is elicited in order to work on pre-identified goals through suggestion and strengthening. This is done by accessing the subconscious mind. Hypnosis utilizes focused absorption in order to be open to change.

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. You will be in control the entire time and will not (can not) be forced to see or do anything that you do not want to..

During hypnosis, Alex will elicit a trance state to invite you to work toward goals and/or behavior or thought changes using suggestion. You are not sleeping during trance, rather your inner awareness is intensified, paving the way for subconscious work.

Trance can be very similar to meditative states, as well as mindfulness practices. More emphasis is on the subconscious rather than the conscious. Most of us have experienced a form of hypnosis in our day-to-day lives. Driving and not remembering how you got from Point A to Point B, becoming completely immersed in an activity, daydreaming, etc. A trance is an intense focus state, opening the subconscious mind and allowing it to come forward for change and growth.

The reason why hypnosis is so effective is because we bypass the conscious mind and speak directly to the subconscious. In a hypnotic trance, we are in theta brain waves. Theta brain waves are the brain waves we are in when we are between sleep and awake. Theta brain waves are at a lower frequency because our bodies are inactive and they provide a direct link to the subconscious mind. 

Starting in the 1950’s, researchers began to conduct experiments involving brain waves and discovered that Buddhist monks are in theta brain wave state when meditating. Often, children before the age of 6 are in theta brain wave state (perhaps justifying the belief that kids are like “sponges” because their brains are literally open to taking everything in and internalizing it). It is because of this that we often need this brain wave state to reprogram the mind. With hypnosis, we return to the original brain wave state that the lesson was integrated in. We cannot talk ourselves out of it because the wounding occurred in theta, thus, we need to return to theta to reprogram. 

Through theta brain waves, we are relaxed, receptive, creative, and connections are firing with neural pathways being formed more quickly than in our active state. Theta brain state puts us on autopilot. Often during waking waking day we are in a theta brain wave state. If you’ve ever experienced driving down the road and then realizing you cannot remember how you drove the last couple of miles, it is because you were in a trance. It is through this trance that we use hypnosis to access our inner landscape more deeply and can reprogram thoughts, beliefs, reactions, and behaviors for change.

Hypnosis can be used for a wide variety of concerns and can be used to treat any issue you would bring to therapy including physical, emotional, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive concerns. This lists includes, but is not limited to: smoking cessation, worry, habit changes, increased self-esteem, performance enhancement, fears and phobias, behavior change, thought change, anxiety, eating disorders, sexual functioning, healing, pain management, gain understanding of core beliefs and/or issues, anesthesia, migraines, sleep disturbances, sensitivities, test anxiety, diet change, medical anxiety, restless legs, medical issues, stress reduction, motivation, healthier living, unwanted behaviors, unwanted thoughts, etc.

Hypnosis has been used since the 1700s, though the hypnosis we use has been revolutionized since 1958. Essentially, yes it works. To what degree may differ from person to person. Most people can experience some benefit from hypnosis. See the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis at www.asch.net for further exploration.

It can and is often the goal. Hypnosis is not intended, however, and may not work on symptoms that are currently serving a purpose. You may need to first learn additional healthy skills before using hypnosis to remove a symptom.

Memories are malleable and we have the ability to “alter” memories. Rather than focusing on identifying memories, often hypnosis is beneficial because it emphasizes the belief in the subconscious to achieve or stop something. If you are specifically searching for trauma healing, Dr. Alexandria recommends Shakti Medicine, which can utilize deeper healing work.

Often, hypnosis can provide results much quicker than traditional psychotherapy, though some issues, including weight loss and trauma, can take longer than a few sessions. Each session varies. Sometimes a person can complete goals in a few sessions of 5 minutes of hypnosis, though it can typically take longer. The typical range of trance time is 10-40 minutes. Each person and individual goals vary, so there is no way of knowing how long it will take to reprogram, though the more you listen and practice self-hypnosis, the more likely shifting happens. Ultimately, a 21 day practice is a good rule of thumb to begin. Some things, like smoking cessation or stopping a behavior, such as nail-biting, may take just a couple of sessions. As a professional, Dr. Alexandria wants you to experience results as quickly as possible for you, but it does differ for each person.

Yes, Alex will teach you self-hypnosis techniques to enhance the process and offer skills for change following the session. Hypnosis sessions will be recorded for further use on your own.

See my About page to discover how I freed myself from the medical model of treatment and why I transitioned to a private pay investment.

Clinical hypnosis sessions are 60 minutes in length and the exchange is $250 per session.