Does hypnotherapy seem a bit mysterious to you? You’re not alone! Thanks to the entertainment industry, many people incorrectly assume hypnosis is a brainwashing technique that can be used to make the most reserved individuals reveal secrets or give up control to perform humorous acts. Hypnotherapy is actually more like guided meditation. As my mind body awareness interest continues to grow, stemming from my passion for yoga, I was intrigued to learn more about hypnosis. So, I connected with Pittsburgh hypnotherapist Elizabeth Cessna, of Everyday Hypnotherapy, to get some more info.
Allyn Lewis: What sparked your interest in becoming a hypnotherapist?
Elizabeth Cessna: I enjoy practicing Clinical Hypnotherapy using the Ericksonian method because it is always positive and future oriented. Generally, we can deal with one issue in only three sessions. My area of specialization includes all forms of anxiety. I feel honored that a client will trust me to support him/her as they learn to control the anxiety that is interfering with their lives.
AL: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
EC: The most rewarding part of my job is the connection that the client and I make as we are working together on whatever issue that he/she wants to change. The behavior changes can occur very quickly and the client achieves a sense of empowerment. This is very rewarding to me as the clinical hypnotherapist.
AL: What differs between sessions for different habits? Say someone looking for hypnosis to help with stress verses someone seeking help for weight loss?
EC: Each session is personalized to the client, there is no “standard” treatment for any issue. I might include several modalities such as NPL (neurolinguistic programing) or EMDR (eye movement desensitization response) along with any one of a hundred techniques of Ericksonian hypnotherapy.
AL: How long do the results of hypnotherapy last? I know you recommend 3 sessions for most issues, but do clients need to come back months or years down the road for any ‘up keep’?
EC: Sometimes clients will come back for a refresher session, or to work on additional issues. However, I teach each client a personalized form of self-hypnosis so that she/he can constantly re-enforce the growth and change of behavior that she/he has made.
AL: What is your advice for someone who is skeptical about hypnosis?
EC: Hypnotherapy has been around for hundreds of years. Milton Erickson (a psychiatrist) created his form of hypnotherapy in 1930, a form that only uses “light trances” for the best results. Anyone who is skeptical can be reassured that it is a well respected form of treatment to help a person make a behavior change in a short amount of time. It is gentle, supportive and positive. It is also important to know that clients are always in control and aware of what is going on around them, they are just relaxed so that they can focus on their subconscious. This is important because all the answers to their issues and problems are found stored in their subconscious. It might also be of interest to know that I consider a “trance” to be nothing more than “intentionally focused daydreaming”. There is nothing scary or strange about the process.
If you’re suffering with anxiety, stress, depression, relationship issues, chronic pain, or feel stuck in your life; consider hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy works well for people who are future-focused, tired of re-living their past and want to achieve change in a short time. Elizabeth sees clients in her office located in North Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her office is located just off of McKnight Road. If you are not in Pittsburgh, call to find out if your situation may be resolved with mobile sessions via phone or Skype!