Hypnosis is, simply put, intensely focused imagination work.  If I ask you to imagine what it would feel like for your hand to feel warm and so heavy you couldn’t lift it, and you focus intensely enough on that feeling and what it would feeling like if it were true, you can make your hand feel exactly that. 

No.  You remain firmly in control during the entire process and are able to “snap out of it” at any point.  In fact, you’re aware of everything being said and done.

No.  Movies like Office Space are hilarious, but they’re fictional.  Hypnosis is a natural state we all enter into without necessarily realizing it on a daily basis – and we exit the state much in the same way.  If a hypnotist leaves you in a trance, you’ll either fall asleep and wake up on your own -or- you’ll bring yourself back to full orientation gradually over the course of minutes, not days or weeks.

It varies, but on average I’ve seen it take anywhere from 2-4 sessions before noticing real, lasting change.  Of course, this will depend on the individual and how seriously they take the process as well.  For some, they’re so committed to change, it only takes a single session.  And for others who only seek change because someone else told them to, we almost never see lasting change.  Hypnosis is not magic.  It simply makes difficult changes easier.

Yes, although they’re not common.  People who have a strong imagination and the ability to focus well are great candidates for hypnosis.  And those who struggle to focus or have a harder time accessing their imagination?  They struggle with it and often cannot go into this state.

There are several ways to know if you’re a good candidate for hypnosis.  Do you get lost in fictional books easily?  When you see a picture of a painful looking injury, can you almost feel it (and shudder at the thought!)?  If I ask you to picture a vibrant red apple in your mind, can you see it?  These are some of the ways we can tell if you’re able to be hypnotized quickly and effectively.

Most hypnotherapists charge per session in the range of $150-200.  These sessions can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more depending on the work that needs to be done and how easily you enter into a deep trance state.  Others sell hypnotherapy packages where a client pays once for several sessions.  These are effective because it implies regular follow ups and people who go this route tend to see great results.

If you’re in a comedy hypnosis show, maybe!  Hypnotherapists treat sessions with care and provide only suggestions that will benefit the client.  Comedy Hypnosis can also have therapeutic effects, but its primary objective is to entertain a group rather than solve their problems.

Many venues require performers to carry and insurance policy for the safety of those in attendance as well as the venue itself.  Tommy is insured through Simply Business and can present policy information upon request.  He is trained in handling abreactions (abnormal reactions to hypnosis) and repeatedly checks for consent from volunteers to be active participants in each show.  Safety is his number one concern and he takes every precaution necessary to ensure shows will not be interrupted by emergency situations.

Learn from Tommy the skills and information you need to be a successful hypnotist both on the stage and in clinical settings.  Three courses available for certification:

1. Comedy (Stage) Hypnosis Certification – Focusing on crowd engagement, rapid hypnosis, and building a show that is safe and entertaining.
2. Clinical Hypnosis Certification – Focusing on techniques for improving psychological and behavioral issues and maintaining ethical and effective practices.
3. General Hypnosis Certification – Combines Clinical and Comedy hypnosis certifications as well as includes methods for Street hypnosis and Impromptu hypnosis.

Each training is hands-on and includes a written, verbal, and demonstration exam which must be passed before certification is granted.