Hypnosis is commonly described as a state of focused attention in which competing distractions become less important and a person may become more responsive to imagery, suggestion, mental rehearsal, and other experiences. It does not require you to become unconscious or lose awareness of your surroundings.

Usually, no. Some people become deeply relaxed and may feel somewhat dreamy, while others simply feel calm and focused. You may hear everything that is being said and remain aware of the room around you. The effectiveness of hypnosis does not depend on feeling as though you have “gone under.”

No. Hypnosis does not remove your judgment, values, or ability to make choices. You retain the ability to accept, reject, question, or respond to suggestions. In my sessions, the goals and language used during hypnosis are discussed collaboratively beforehand rather than being imposed on you.

Hypnosis is not a truth serum and does not compel you to disclose information. You remain capable of choosing what you do or do not discuss during the session.

People vary in how naturally and strongly they respond to hypnosis. Most people can engage with hypnotic techniques to some degree, but the experience is not identical for everyone. Responsiveness can also vary depending on comfort, expectations, motivation, the technique being used, and the goal of the session.

You do not need to see vivid mental pictures in order to participate in hypnosis. Some people respond more naturally to words, physical sensations, emotions, memories, sounds, or simply a sense of imagining or knowing. I adapt the process to the way you naturally focus and process information.

No. Hypnosis is not a state that traps you. If a session were interrupted, you would ordinarily either return to normal alertness on your own or drift into ordinary sleep and later wake normally.

Most people remember the session much as they would remember any other focused or relaxing experience. Memory can vary, however, and hypnosis should not be treated as a tool for proving whether a past event occurred. Hypnosis can influence the way memories are experienced and how confident someone feels about them, so memory work should be approached carefully.

The first session is usually longer than follow-up appointments because we spend time understanding what you would like to change, relevant history, triggers, recurring patterns, and what may be maintaining the problem. We also discuss how hypnosis may apply to your particular goal, answer questions, and—when appropriate—begin a first hypnosis experience.

Follow-up sessions build on what we are learning about your individual patterns and responses. The techniques may change as the work progresses. Depending on your goals, sessions may include hypnosis, guided imagery, mental rehearsal, self-hypnosis training, practical skills, discussion of triggers and patterns, or personalized audio resources to reinforce the work between sessions.

There is no responsible way to guarantee a specific number of sessions. Some focused goals may respond relatively quickly, while longstanding or more complex patterns may benefit from repetition and continued work. The goal, your history with the problem, hypnotic responsiveness, motivation, environmental factors, and what is maintaining the pattern can all affect the pace of change.

No. Many people know exactly what they want to change without understanding where the pattern came from. We can begin with what is happening now—when it occurs, what triggers it, what your automatic response looks like, and what appears to keep it going. Understanding the pattern can become part of the work rather than something you need to figure out beforehand.

The core process is very similar. During an online session we still talk first, clarify the goal, and then use hypnosis or other techniques as appropriate. Many people actually appreciate being able to do the hypnosis portion from a familiar environment where they can sit or recline comfortably.

Yes. Headphones or comfortable earbuds are often helpful because they make my voice easier to hear and reduce outside distractions. They are recommended when convenient, but they are not required if your device speakers provide clear audio and you are in a quiet environment.

People seek hypnotherapy for many different goals, including fears and phobias, stress and overthinking, unwanted habits, smoking cessation, motivation, procrastination, confidence, performance, relaxation, sleep-related routines, relationship patterns, and deeper personal exploration. Whether hypnosis is appropriate depends on the individual situation, and not every concern should be addressed through hypnotherapy alone.

It may be helpful when sexual difficulties have a significant anxiety-related or psychological component. For some people, intimacy gradually becomes associated with pressure, self-monitoring, or worries such as “Will I be able to perform?” or “What if I disappoint my partner?” That anticipatory anxiety can make it harder to remain relaxed, present, and connected to the experience itself.

Hypnotherapy may be used to reduce performance pressure, strengthen associations with relaxation and sexual confidence, rehearse more comfortable responses, and explore patterns related to intimacy, vulnerability, body image, shame, or fear of rejection when relevant.

Erectile dysfunction can also have medical causes. Persistent, unexplained, or newly developing erectile difficulties should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional, since vascular, hormonal, neurological, medication-related, substance-related, sleep-related, and other physiological factors may contribute. Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment.

Learn more about Sexual Confidence, Intimacy & Performance Concerns.

Often, yes. Hypnotherapy can be complementary to other forms of care. When appropriate, I can work collaboratively with your licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physician, or other healthcare professional. I do not recommend stopping prescribed medication or replacing necessary medical or mental-health treatment with hypnotherapy.

No. My private hypnotherapy practice is separate from my work as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. Hypnotherapy sessions in this practice are not psychotherapy and do not include diagnosis or treatment of mental-health disorders.

Yes, when hypnotherapy is developmentally appropriate and the young person is personally motivated to participate. For minors, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent. I generally find that hypnosis is most useful when the child or teenager has a goal of their own rather than participating only because an adult wants them to change.

Yes. Sessions are available in English or Spanish.