"Hypnosis is an inwardly focused state of consciousness.

Hypnosis is natural. It is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. You may have had the experience of drifting off to sleep and having someone come into the room to ask you a question. Since you are not asleep yet, you can still respond coherently from a relaxed, inwardly-focused state. So, if you can go to sleep, you can be hypnotized. The question is: Do you want to allow yourself to be hypnotized?

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Contrary to what most people believe, hypnosis involves the use of your free will. You choose to respond to the suggestions given in hypnosis. The "inner hypnotist" is the part of you that says to yourself, " I can and will allow myself to let go and relax." Because your own free will is engaged, you will only respond when you want to respond. Being able to be hypnotized is not the same as being gullible. As a matter of fact, being able to be hypnotized points to a higher than normal ability to be creative and be the "captain of your own ship" of your body, mind and emotions. When you are in hypnosis you are behind the wheel and driving your own life and in more control. The control, however, comes from a more expanded and integrated state of awareness".

Holly Holmes-Meredith, Founder of HCH Institute

Plus: Wikipedia definition of Hypnosis.

Nope. That's called "stage hypnosis". It's what's got clinical hypnosis a bad rep. The differences are: 1) purpose; 2) ethics; 3) privacy. What we do here serves the purpose of creating a more profound impact, living a more fulfilling life, being in the "flow". We're ethically bound by the American board for hypnotherapy. We are obliged (and honored) to respect the client's goals, needs, wishes, and privacy.

Fun fact: in stage hypnosis the hypnotists test the audience for "suggestability". They then pick the most suggestible people. Hence the wow effect. So, even if you were to go on that stage, the chances are you would have not felt like a chicken. I mean, unless you wanted to play along and goof around on stage.

"You experience the hypnotic state many times during the day. Have you driven while daydreaming and forgotten that you crossed a familiar bridge or gone through a tunnel and not been consciously aware of it? If so, you have spontaneously experienced the inwardly focused state of consciousness called hypnosis.

Hypnosis is natural. It is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. You may have had the experience of drifting off to sleep and having someone come into the room to ask you a question. Since you are not asleep yet, you can still respond coherently from a relaxed, inwardly-focused state. So, if you can go to sleep, you can be hypnotized. The question is: Do you want to allow yourself to be hypnotized?

Holly Holmes-Meredith, Founder of HCH Institute

Do you want to be the best at what you do? Then you might want to try everything, including this. If Olympic athletes are not above it, why would you limit yourself?

According to Holly Holmes-Meredith, Founder of HCH Institute, when you are in hypnosis you are in more control:

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Contrary to what most people believe, hypnosis involves the use of your free will. You choose to respond to the suggestions given in hypnosis. The "inner hypnotist" is the part of you that says to yourself, " I can and will allow myself to let go and relax." Because your own free will is engaged, you will only respond when you want to respond. Being able to be hypnotized is not the same as being gullible. As a matter of fact, being able to be hypnotized points to a higher than normal ability to be creative and be the "captain of your own ship" of your body, mind and emotions. When you are in hypnosis you are behind the wheel and driving your own life and in more control. The control, however, comes from a more expanded and integrated state of awareness.

If you are physically strong, does it mean that a personal trainer cannot take your game to the next level? Same here. This is not "who is mentally stronger" competition. Hypnotist guides you to access those parts of your brain that can you give you an extra boost. You leverage that boost to find more creative, elegant solutions.

If you are too skeptical, then you should not take advantage of this tool, because it would be a "tag of war" rather than teamwork. A waste of time.

In movies, yes... in reality it's not even possible. You retain 100% consciousness. I mean, you are your regular self, just a bit relaxed from taking a few deep breaths. Maybe if you combine hypnosis with drugs and torture over prolonged time periods, like in that show about the "cicadas" where KGB and CIA brainwashed agents into assassins... but that's not what we're offering. THAT would've cost you a lot more, and it wouldn't fly with the American hypnotherapy board lol :)

Bottom line, you stay 100% conscious throughout the process, you do NOT lose your identity, who you are as a person, your judgement. It's a process based entirely on free will.

What hypnosis does is that it helps you "reach" for those brain resources that we don't routinely use in our daily lives. And then YOU leverage those brain resources of yours to find solutions, shift perspective.

Hypnosis is a 100% safe, because you remain fully conscious. You control the process.

Trance is essentially a synonym for hypnosis. Trance is safe for the same reasons as hypnosis.

No. Not only would that be impossible, as you remain conscious throughout the process, but also highly unethical. I am bound by the ethical requirements of HCH Institute and the Board, where I am certified. My fiduciary duty is to you.

Yes! Hypnosis can be done remotely with the same efficiency. I usually use zoom, because it's easy to make a recording and transcribe your session to get the precious tidbits of insight that comes to you during the session. I also take prolific notes, which you receive after your session.

It typically takes an hour. For the "strategy session", "getting into the genius zone" one hour is a perfect amount of time. We reserve 15 minutes before the next call, should you need an extra time.

When you are working through a block like a bad trade/deal or a personal issue that maybe adversely affecting your performance, it is more appropriate to reserve a 1.5 hour time slot. Typically your work is complete within that one session.

Sometimes however it takes two or three sessions. It depends on the issue. We have not encountered cases, when it took more than three sessions per issue. It's still pretty amazing to have worked through an issue like let's say a failed deal or a divorce in three sessions, i.e. three weeks. Therapy takes a lot longer.

To book a longer session, give us heads up it's an "overcome a block" session at booking.

Is a really amazing workout session with the best personal trainer enough?

It should be regular to have the best effect. For fitness you must work out 5-6 times a week to stay fit. For mental clarity/flow, one session per week is optimal, in our experience.

When you are working with a self-hypnosis tape, it's recommended to play those 2x daily for at least a month (depending on your desired outcome). Those are usually 6 - 15 minutes long.

You maintain clarity and focus. You process stress and work-related issues in a timely manner. You make sure that your mind is sharp, and your judgement is on point.

No side effects, unless in presence of psychiatric issues. In that case, hypnosis is not advised. Psychiatric help should be sought immediately.

If you do, good for you. When you remember a suppressed memory, it gets released. It's like unloading a sac of stones. It's painful in the short term, but liberating in the long term. The only way out is through.

Many people share this concern. They are scared of opening the "Pandora's box" of suppressed memories. It's understandable, because those memories were suppressed for a reason: they were painful. On the flip side, once you do, you are free. You heal, you move on. It's kind of what the "hypnotherapy regression" type of hypnosis is based around. Remembering the "original" pain, going through a cathartic moment, and moving forward. But if you'd rather not go there, it is your prerogative, it will be absolutely accommodated.

I will suggest an alternative course of action, or your money back.

1. An alternative strategy session, our flagship product. You strategize while in trance. It's a strategy session on steroids in terms of clarity you achieve.

2. Overcoming a bad trade. Bad trades, bad deals happen. It can be traumatizing - not because you are weak, but because it always finds your blindspot, and that's jarring. It is crucial to address those experiences before it becomes damaging.

3. Resourcing. Sometimes you just need to pump up your energy level. Hypnosis empowers you to increase your energy level, which takes care of everything else.

4. Custom hypnosis. I can create a custom hypnosis tape for you, which you can play twice daily until your specific issue is taken care of.

You don't have to. I will help you choose.

You don't have to prepare. But if you'd like to, here's some ideas for you.

First of all, set an intention. What do you want to achieve?

What is most important to you right now? What questions do you want answers to? What do you want clarity around? What do you want to move forward from? How can you cut through uncertainty? What can you do to hedge? How do you protect your downside? What is your best move? Write down your questions.

Do you have a personal hero, a role model, a person you admire? If you could talk to anybody, from Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Chengiz Khan, or Winston Churchill, who would you pick?

If your session is to get into your genius zone, brainstorm about activities you enjoy, the things you liked to do when you were little, things that you are naturally good at, the places that take your breath away and never get tired of.

If you are working through a bad trade or an adverse event in your life, ask yourself how it makes you feel. Sit with that feeling, notice where you feel it in your body. Observe without judgment. Journal.

You go back to work. Or play. Drink lots of water - hypnosis is a powerful detox. Be gentle with yourself. If there're any special instructions, you'll receive those at the end of your session.

Yes of course, I do it all the time. It's like working out in the gym on your own versus with a trainer. It just takes a little practice. Let me know if it's important to you, I'll assist in transitioning you to self-hypnosis.

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. So, the quality is up to you: how open you are, and how determined you are to succeed. My commitment to you is to provide the best support possible. My intention is to maximize the impact of your session. It helps that I can relate, understand the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself. Otherwise, you be the judge of it.

Yes. I am a certified personal transformation/hypnotherapist by HCH Institute, accredited by the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists and the Professional Board of Hypnotherapy. HCH Institute is in turn accredited by the International Board for Regression Therapy for the training of Hypnotherapists and Regression Therapists.