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Many clients have long-term goals,  a busy schedule of events, performances, business projects etc.and they want an ongoing program to support their well-being and help them achieve their goals. Our Ongoing Hypnotherapy and Coaching program provides this service. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION ONGOING COACHING INSIGHT, INSPIRATION, SUPPORT Many people think of hypnotherapy as something that's applied to a specific issue or problem as a short term intervention. And of course, this is a huge part of what we do and clients get great resuts. But that's only one facet of modern change work. You don't need to have a "problem" in order to get tremendous benefit from hypnosis, coaching and cognitive skill-building. Many clients have long-term goals, a busy schedule of events, performances, business projects etc.and they want a different kind of interaction. They want an ongoing program to support their their well-being and help them achieve their goals STAY ON TRACK UNCONSCIOUS RESOURCES FEEDBACK & SUPPORT Here are some real-life client examples: A real estate agent who works for a large company wants to maintain a powerful mindset as she promotes herself within the company and expands her listings in the community. A pickleball star who has transitioned from amateur play to pro-level competition likes to book sessions periodically to refresh her mindset and maintain peak performance. An entrepeneur who has been working as a personal trainer in a big commercial gym now has an opportunity to open his own gym. He creates powerful visualizations of his future during our sessions that propel him forward. A busy contractor who originally sought my help to stop smoking comes in periodically to relax and get what he calls a "reset." If you're interested in this kind of ongoing help and support, why not go ahead and book a free evaluation so we can discuss your situation and how I can help you reach your goals. An ongoing program to support you and help you achieve your goals. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION BOOK NOW "Sincerely appreciate for the great session today. The communication part made so much sense and so inspiring. You guided in various approaches in such a natural, smooth and inspiring manner, I felt very relaxing, much more confident and came out w very positive attitude. I honestly felt beneficial from every minute of the session. Thanks again for laying out such a great one." -Calvin W. << Back to Services

Hypnotherapy audio, hypnotherapy videos, hypnosis articles and research. Learn more about hypnosis and what it can do for you. TAKE THE NEXT STEP BOOK A FREE EVALUATION FREE HYPNOSIS RESOURCES Free Hypnotherapy Audio: The Power of Hypnosis This hypnotic recording is designed to help you enter a state where you can find creative solutions for any issue you may be facing or an area you'd like to improve IMPORTANT! Do not play this recording when in a moving vehicle, operating machinery or while doing anything that requires your complete attention. Play audio: The Power of Hypnosis Gary Schwantes 00:00 / 15:47 Hypnotherapy Videos HYPNOTHERAPY VIDEOS Blog What Does Hypnosis Feel Like? The Answer May Surprise You. What does hypnosis feel like? So many people are curious about this, and there are many misconceptions about it. For me, "hypnosis"... Procrastinating? Stop Pretending and Set Goals That You Really Want. Are you feeling stuck? Perhaps you have some goals but you're having trouble getting started on them. You brain keeps finding a million... Afraid of Public Speaking? Read This. Many people feel extremely uncomfortable when they are asked to speak in front of a group. Sometimes to the point where it interferes... Hypnosis Research HYPNOSIS RESEARCH BUSINESSES AND GROUPS LEARN MORE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR

Participants in our workshops have the opportunity to experience, learn and practice powerful tools for ethical influence and personal development. INTERESTED IN PRIVATE SESSIONS? BOOK A FREE EVALUATION CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR OFFICE, BUSINESSES, OR GROUPS Therapeutic Langauge for Medical Professionals On-site or Online Effective therapeutic communication is a form of hypnotic language. As a medical professional, you are viewed as an authority figure by your patients and as such you are in a position to deliver suggestions that can have a powerful therapeutic effect. Effective languaging can lead to better outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and increased referrals. Classes conducted on-site or online. The format is entertaining and engaging and participants will come away with skills and knowledge they can use immediately. Contact Gary to discuss and arrange times. LEARN MORE WORDS THAT WORK Effective language and messaging for sales, non-profits, groups On-site or Online Learn skills that not only improve business performance but also promote greater personal satisfaction for employees and better relationships with customers. A few simple changes to the language you use, your non-verbal communication and the sequencing of the customer experience can help you avoid alienating and losing customers needlessly. Instead, you'll create customer satisfaction and loyalty that is real. If you have a great product or service that offers real value to others, you owe it to yourself, your customers, and your team to let the world easily understand it and easily buy it if they want it. I can teach you some powerful communication techniques that will positively transform your business interactions and the results you get. And you can start using them right away. This is soft skills technology that works. Empower your team with the soft skills they need to succeed. LEARN MORE

Learn language patterns that can increase treatment effectiveness, lead to greater patient satisfaction and generate more referrals. LEARN MORE CONTACT GARY THERAPEUTIC LANGUAGE FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONALS Learn language patterns that can increase treatment effectiveness, lead to greater patient satisfaction and generate more referrals. Doctors, dentists, office staff and other medical professionals can increase their effectiveness and patient satisfaction through the skillful use of therapeutic language. As a medical professional, you are viewed as an authority figure by your patients and as such you are in a position to deliver suggestions that can have a powerful effect. The language you use with your patients has a tremendous impact. Every day is busy in the medical world and after repeating the same materials many times over, office staff and even doctors often take it for granted that patients will understand the good intentions behind their words. Unfortunately these brief exchanges are sometimes misinterpreted and may have an effect that actually makes your job harder and more stressful and your work less effective. Research shows that the mindset of a patient can have a huge impact on the outcome of any medical treatment. More and more medical professionals are becoming aware of the tremendous benefits good therapeutic communication provides. It can provide more patient comfort, less need for supplementary medications, and a feeling of empowerment and participation. It can also have a major positive impact on outcome and recovery time which leads to greater patient satisfaction, more referrals and fewer problems. The mindset of a patient can have a huge impact on the outcome of any medical treatment. Here's how I can help you develop powerful therapeutic language skills: Options for a Medical Office 1. Introduction to Therapeutic Language Concepts Therapeutic Communication Concepts is a 60-90 min. online or onsite introductory class for medical staff conducted at lunch break or another available time. The format is entertaining and engaging and participants will come away with skills and knowledge they can use immediately. Contact Gary to discuss and arrange times. 2. Therapeutic Language Intensive Workshop Therapeutic Communication Intensive is a 3.5 hr online or onsite intensive workshop on therapeutic communication for medical staff. Time and location will be as arranged by the medical practice. The class can be done online or in-person. The class combines break out practice of each hypnotic language pattern in an entertaining and engaging format. This is a more in-depth training that allows the skills to be drilled and internalized. Participants will come away with skills and knowledge they can use immediately. This is soft-skills technology that works. << Back to Services LEARN MORE PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONALS

Getting into a "flow" state is the key to both excellence and enjoyment of your performances. Entering and maintaining this state is very much like practicing a martial art.  It's a balance beween effort and letting go, between relaxation and power. Hypnotherapy can help you achieve this balance and allow your performances to soar. to new heights. BOOK A FREE EVALUATION GET STARTED NOW PERFORMING ARTS MAGIC PERFORM AT YOUR BEST Participating in any of the performing arts can be a thrill. When things are really working, we feel an amazing connection with others. A great performance can evoke inspiration, insight, and cathartic release. The audience and the performer become completely immersed in the experience. Of course all of this doesn't happen by just snapping your fingers! We start by learning the basic skills like instrumental technique, vocal delivery, or acting technique. We practice and practice, and practice. Eventually, the techniques become somewhat automatic which allows us to put our attention on higher-level considerations like interpretation and expression. And that's when we can take things to the next level. The technique begins to flow naturally in whatever way is needed to deliver the artistic result we want. The performances start to become artistic expression rather than merely execution. AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION FLOW STATE BULLETPROOF STRATEGIES Maintaining this "flow" is the key to both excellence and enjoyment of your performances. Entering and maintaining it is very much like practicing a martial art. We need a balance beween effort and letting go. Between focus and letting the imagination roam, between relaxation and power, Sometimes rigorous training and other pressures can complicate our ability to achieve and maintain this balance. Habits of overthinking, anxiety, and muscular tension can creep in, especially if you've gone through many auditions, had a bad performing experience, or spent a lot of time in environments that are extremely competitive. And it's not only professional performers that can experience this loss of flow. Performers of any age and any level of experience can put a lot of pressure on themselves and it can interfere with their enjoyment as well as their performance. It's a common issue. You're not alone. I've been performing music professionally for many years, and believe me, I've been there. Performance anxiety sucks. But there's good news! There's no need to suffer with it any longer. You can turn this around faster than you think. In our hypnosis sessions we'll use many innovative techniques that can free you from blocks and uncomfortable feelings. Through targeted hypnosis, coaching and cognitive skill-building you'll gain the ability to access a flow state with just the right balance of relaxation, excitement, power. and focus. By aligning your unconscious and conscious responses, you’ll feel so much more relaxed and confident in these situations, and your performances will soar. You'll feel so much more relaxed and confident and your performances will soar. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION BOOK NOW "I'm very fortunate to be able to work with Gary on a deep-rooted issue which I've attempted to address for many years. I had two sessions with him. Before a session being scheduled, we had a chance to discuss on why hypnosis helps on removing un-wanted habit/behavior. His explanation let me have a better understanding, thus had even higher confidence level before having my first session.... There's obvious improvement after two visits...Highly recommend Gary to those who intend to change their life for the better." - Calvin W. << Back to Services

Almost everyone needs to take an exam at some point in their life. But most people never learn effective strategies for exam taking and preparation. If you want to supercharge your performance on an upcoming exam, hypnotherapy and coaching can be your secret weapons. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION EXAMS AND LEARNING SUPERCHARGE YOUR STUDIES AND EXAM PERFORMANCE Almost everyone needs to take an exam at some point in their life. And while the teaching or training you received may have thoroughly covered the subject matter, most people never learn effective strategies for exam taking and preparation. Learning in a classroom is one thing but remembering the information in a pressurized situation is another. There are certain strategies you can use during your exam prep and on exam day that will give you a big advantage. If you want to supercharge your performance on an upcoming exam, you're in the right place! Hypnotherapy, coaching and cognitive skill building are your secret weapons. Modern humans are born with a tremendous ability to learn. We learn to walk, talk, drive, compare prices, find the shortest route to a destination, or count cash. We can remember the name of an attractive person, our address, PIN codes, etc. We routinely learn these things and then easily recall the information or sequences of behavior when they are needed. Your conscious and unconscious processes work together perfectly to make this happen. Our hypnotherapy sessions will allow you to harness this natural ability to learn and recall. We can amplify it and focus it to optimize your exam preparation and performance. You'll excel on exam day, and as a bonus, you'll learn techniques that can be used in many other areas of your life. TARGETED STUDY TIME PROVEN EXAM STRATEGIES OPTIMAL LEARNING STATE The exam program is a combination of coaching, targeted hypnosis and cognitive skill building. You'll discover and learn how to leverage your sensory and cognitive strengths and preferences, You'll experience techniques for relaxation and focused alertness and identify your optimal learning state. We'll also deploy techniques for recall and comprehension and sharpen the ability to mentally organize information for easy access. OK, that's a lot of fancy jargon but to sum it up... it works! Why not book a free evaluation so we can have a chat about your goals and how I can help you achieve them. You'll excel on exam day and as a bonus, you'll learn techniques that can be used in many other areas of your life. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION BOOK NOW Hi Gary, "We worked together a few years ago, the hypnosis I believed helped me quit smoking and graduate college. Hopefully you can help me with weightloss and stress relief. Thank you, " -Kevin S. << Back to Services

Read about how hypnotherapy has helped our clients and discover what hypnotherapy can do for you. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION TESTIMONIALS MAKE REAL CHANGE WITH HYPNOSIS I have used Gary’s services several times and each time I was able to overcome my mental obstacles. The most recent session was done via “ Zoom “ due to covid concerns. I then played in a tournament with nothing clouding my mind during my play. I owe a lot of my success to Gary’s techniques Poko P. "I'd say I smoke for a good 25 years. I was a pack and a half a day smoker, I've tried so many times to quit but only last a couple days a couple weeks and then back to smoking again. As I hit my mid 40s I decided to quit again,a friend of mine told me about hypotherapy !!! I told my buddy that shit would not work for me, but I will give it try !! Mind you I've been trying to quit many of times my health started going downhill so that's why I made my appointment with rising star I was ready to quit.!!!! Three months later I have not smoked!! My wife is also a pack a day smoker and she still smokes till this day I have no problem or urge to smoke !! You have to be mentally ready to stop smoking for this to work!!!!!!!" Hawaiian B. Today's online event was Awesome! Gary provided us with 3 very practical Power Tool techniques that we are able to use immediately to during these challenging and uncertain times. Tom H. As a licensed Acupuncturist I have referred several clients to Gary to help them overcome anxiety or phobias, prepare for childbirth, quit smoking, lose weight and other issues. Gary is easy to work with, very professional, and consistently gets great results. Eva Kwong Eva Kwong Acupuncture Gary, it was a true pleasure to host you the other evening. Your presentation was fantastic and I know attendees were very engaged--that's a wonderful thing to see. I believe nearly everyone provided their info on your signup sheet and gobbled up the business cards. I also found your talk personally helpful, which is a bonus for me!Thanks again for sharing your expertise with the library. Keep us in mind-- Michelle B. San Mateo Public Library Sincerely appreciate for the great session today. The communication part made so much sense and so inspiring. You guided in various approaches in such a natural, smooth and inspiring manner, I felt very relaxing, much more confident and came out w very positive attitude. I honestly felt beneficial from every minute of the session. Thanks again for laying out such a great one. Calvin W. Gary is a fantastic hypnotherapist. I had my hyponosis session with him several days before my due date. I felt super relaxing and had wonderful sleep that night. Gary recorded a part of our session and forwarded it to me. So it's very convenient for me to listen to it every day. The recorded session helped me tremendously reduce my pain during labor. I did reach my goal of complete natural birth without any interventions. I would like to encourage anyone who want to have natural birth or like to train your mind to better handle pain to try hyponosis. Highly recommended to have the session down with Gary! Kun L. We worked together a few years ago, the hypnosis I believed helped me quit smoking and graduate college. Hopefully you can help me with weightloss and stress relief. Thank you, Kevin S Gary did an excellent job of covering the material he was presenting. I really enjoyed it. This meeting had really good value for me. Paul H. My life has really improved since going to Gary. Without getting into specifics, it has really changed my life and I'm forever grateful. I like that you see immediate changes and I'm a very practical person so I like that it's changes that people notice right away. He's very caring but most importantly effective. Nhieu W. There's obvious improvement after two visits. I'm very optimistic on continuous positive changes. Highly recommend Gary to those who intend to change their life for the better. Chien C. I've had 3 sessions with Gary - With my sleeping problem, the techniques and tools Gary gave me resulted in helping me sleep better. My sleep cycle has now dramatically changed for the better. I highly recommend Gary. Andrea R. I am very appreciative of the work you have done with me in our first two sessions. I feel like it is working well. My compliments to you on your expertise and thoughtful, personalized interventions, it is really touching and resonating with me. Don P. We had Gary come and give a presentation on hypnotherapy. His presentation itself proved to be powerful and engaging, and seems to have given the audience some great focus techniques to use in their life. I would have Gary do another presentation again here anytime. Kajah R. Millbrae Public Library "I went to see Gary because I was drinking alcohol and smoking weed every day. I had been this way for about 10 years and was ready to stop but I couldn't find the "drive" myself to do it. I was able to find Gary and after my first hypnotherapy session I felt much better. I saw that it wouldn't be as difficult as I thought it would be. I had 2 more sessions left and by the second session I was indeed on a clean and sober path. On that sober path I went in for the 3rd, and final session, as a celebratory session. I saw him in Mid December and today is 6 weeks of me being clean and sober. I have no struggles with either substances, rather I understand now that choosing a different path in life can benefit me way more than the path I was on so I have the "drive" to stay clean and sober and see what life has to offer me. If you are ready to move forward in your life but need some extra help, Gary can help." Jeffrey D. My whole life I get very nervous whenever I have to draw blood. I fainted every time I sat on that chair. I literally blacked out and nurses had to lay me down and prepare me juices. One time I even fainted after I cut my finger with a knife. It was only a tiny cut and wasn't even that bad. But I just couldn't control my body and mind. I started to sweat and blacked out eventually. Gary was my life saver. After seeing him, blood drawing was a piece of cake. I never knew I would put on a smile after sitting on that chair. I was able to walk in and out that lab within 5 minutes. I highly recommend Gary. My dad has this same issue as me. I may just bring in my dad to see Gary one day. Oh, I heard he is great if you want to quit smoking too." Chloris W.

Hypno-coaching for kids and teens is a unique combination of coaching, tutoring, and imagination exercises that can help your child improve their performance at school and their behavior at home. It can be applied to academics, sports, musical performance, making friends, behavioral and emotional issues, and many other areas. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION KIDS AND TEENS HYPNO-COACHING FOR KIDS AND TEENS During my years of experience as a credentialed teacher, I developed and refined a way of working with students of all ages that I call hypno-coaching. Hypno-coaching for kids and teens is a unique combination of coaching, tutoring, and imagination exercises that can help your child improve their performance at school and their behavior at home. It can be applied to academics, sports, musical performance, making friends, behavioral and emotional issues, and many other areas. Young people have a wonderful ability to use their imagination and they really enjoy this approach. STUDY & EXAM STRATEGIES FIRE THE IMAGINATION BUILD CONFIDENCE Hypno-coaching includes practical skill building (for example, test-taking strategies) as well as discovering what excites your child's imagination and using that excitement to inspire and motivate. We'll also address and transform any unhelpful habits that might be holding your child back. With practical strategies for success in place and release of emotional pressures, important activities in your child's life will become much easier and a lot more fun. As a result, behavior and attitude at school and at home can move in a very positive direction. Young people have a wonderful ability to use their imagination and they really enjoy this approach. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION BOOK NOW Hi Gary ! My daughter is doing better I think your treatment help her a lot! Thank you very much! -Theresa .O. << Back to Services

Relax and enjoy the healing mindset. Achieve the best possible outcome from dental appointments, surgery and other medical procedures through the use of hypnotherapy, targeted imagination and powerful mindset tools. SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS LEARN MORE GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION RELAX FOR DENTAL & MEDICAL APPTS THE HEALING MINDSET You can achieve the best possible outcome from your dental appointments, surgery and other medical procedures through the use of hypnotherapy, targeted imagination and powerful mindset tools. If you have a medical procedure coming up like surgery, childbirth, dental work, MRI, blood draw, etc., our hypnotherapy sessions can help you prepare so that you get the best possible outcome. The body and mind are really one system and research shows that the mindset of a patient can have a huge impact on the outcome of any medical treatment. More and more medical professionals are becoming aware of the tremendous benefits hypnotherapy can offer patients, including less need for supplementary medications, more patient comfort, and a feeling of empowerment and participation experienced by the patient. And very importantly, studies have shown that hypnotherapy can have a major positive impact on outcome and recovery time. SPEEDY RECOVERY POSITIVE FOCUS HEALING MINDSET Many people experience unnecessary fears, doubts, and stress regarding medical procedures. This can lead to a situation where "part" of you wants to do the procedure and knows it will be helpful while another "part" of you resists the process. This type of conflict can make the procedure more difficult and can slow your recovery. The negative feelings may be based on a past experience, something you heard, or even well intentioned but unhelpful statements made by healthcare professionals. Hypnosis will allow you to have a much easier procedure and a quicker recovery. Many studies have shown that hypnotherapy is an extremely effective enhancement for many medical treatments. We welcome the opportunity to work with your doctor to allow you to have the best possible outcome. The mindset of a patient can have a huge impact on the outcome of any medical treatment. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION BOOK NOW Gary was my life saver. After seeing him, blood drawing was a piece of cake. I never knew I would put on a smile after sitting on that chair. I was able to walk in and out that lab within 5 minutes. I highly recommend Gary. - Chloris W. Gary is a fantastic hypnotherapist...I did reach my goal of complete natural birth without any interventions.... Highly recommended to have the session down with Gary! - Kun L. << Back to Services

Hi, I'm Gary Schwantes and I'm a Certified Clinical  Hypnotherapist, Since 2010, I've been using Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Coaching and Cognitive Skill Building techniques to help my clients improve their performance and free themselves from unwanted emotional responses and unwanted behaviors. I've trained with the best in the field and I'm constantly learning, improving and refining my work. GET STARTED NOW BOOK A FREE EVALUATION ABOUT GARY Hi, I'm Gary Schwantes and I'm a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Since 2010, I've been using Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Coaching and Cognitive Skill Building techniques to help my clients improve their performance and free themselves from unwanted emotional responses and unwanted behaviors. I've trained with the best in the field and I'm constantly learning, improving and refining my work. I do online or in person hypnotherapy sessions with individuals as well as groups. My approach to hypnosis is practical and solution-oriented, utilizing powerful techniques that deliver great results. I use language that's easy to understand and you'll always be treated with respect. You’ll be an active participant in the hypnotic process and empowered with the tools you need to continue the positive transformation long after our hypnotherapy sessions are over. Not only have I helped numerous clients with hypnotherapy, but I have personally benefitted from these techniques as well. They are incredibly valuable and effective and I can’t imagine life without them. People have sought my services to help them achieve goals, to overcome performance anxiety as a musician, to prepare for and recover from major surgery, to change habits, for relief of chronic pain, to prepare for exams, to prepare for difficult life challenges, to get rid of disabling fear and anxiety, to overcome grief and loss, to get in the “flow” state for presentations and to improve performance in many areas. I have helped my clients in all of these areas and more. What area of your life would you like to improve? Find out how hypnotherapy can benefit you by booking a free evaluation or reaching out by phone, e-mail or text. I look forward to speaking with you! GARY SCHWANTES MFA, CCH CHt Clinical Hypnotherapist NLP Master Practioner California Teaching Credential TRAINING Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Palo Alto School of Hypnotherapy CCH 3211 Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma, Jacquin Hypnosis Academy Trance and Deep Changework Certification, Stephen Gilligan, Bill O'Hanlon, Tim Hallbom, NLP Institute of California (NLPCA) Psychological Illusion Model, Jorgen Rasmussen Impromtu Hypnosis, James Brown Mindscaping, Mike Mandel The Swan and Hypnotherapy Techniques, Bob Burns NLP Practitioner/Master Practitioner Certification-NLP Institute of California (NLPCA) Arrow Technique Certification, Jacquin Hypnosis Academy F.A.S.T. techniques training, Karl Smith, Kevin Laye Hypnosis Skills Training, James Tripp Mirroring Hands Certification, Richard Hill, Ernest L. Rossi The Bengston Energy Healing Method®, Bill Bengston Ericksonian Hypnotherapy for Pain Control, John Parke, HCH Institute Working with Cancer Patients and Caregivers, Don Mottin, National Guild of Hypnotists Stop Smoking Certification, Don Mottin, National Guild of Hypnotists Weight Loss Certification, Don Mottin, National Guild of Hypnotists Extensive Teaching experience, K-Adult, Reading Comprehension and Music California Teaching Credential, Music, K-Adult, San Francisco State University MFA, Music, Mills College, Oakland, CA Certified Member, National Guild of Hypnotists Certified Member Jacquin Professional Hypnotherapy Association

INTERESTED IN PRIVATE SESSIONS? BOOK A FREE EVALUATION ARTICLES AND UPDATES Here are some articles about hypnosis, hypnotherapy, personal development and the power of the mind. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions! What Does Hypnosis Feel Like? The Answer May Surprise You. What does hypnosis feel like? So many people are curious about this, and there are many misconceptions about it. For me, "hypnosis"... Procrastinating? Stop Pretending and Set Goals That You Really Want. Are you feeling stuck? Perhaps you have some goals but you're having trouble getting started on them. You brain keeps finding a million... Afraid of Public Speaking? Read This. Many people feel extremely uncomfortable when they are asked to speak in front of a group. Sometimes to the point where it interferes... Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss: Why Does it Work? Perhaps you've tried to lose weight in the past and found it difficult. You're not alone. Maybe you've struggled with special diets or... Break Free from Anxiety and Boost Self-Confidence Anxiety, worry, stress, self-doubt. These are words used to describe thoughts and feelings that all of us experience from time to time....

Search Results Blog Posts (5) Other Pages (41) 5 items found for "" Sort By: Best Match What Does Hypnosis Feel Like? The Answer May Surprise You. What does hypnosis feel like? So many people are curious about this, and there are many misconceptions about it. For me, "hypnosis" refers to a mental process. During the process different “feelings” can be suggested by ourselves or by a hypnotherapist. For this reason, the hypnosis experience is different for each person and even the same person can experience it differently in different situations. And yet there are some common characteristics. Most research indicates that hypnosis involves becoming absorbed in an idea to the point that other distractions are filtered out. Once this happens, your brain will notice things in your inner experience (internal dialog, images, thoughts) or input from outside ( words, events, environment) that support the idea and the idea gets reinforced. This creates a deeper level of absorption which is again reinforced and the hypnotic cycle continues. This "feedback loop" is essentially a combination of focus and imagination. It doesn't necessarily involve relaxation, but it can. I believe most people are already experiencing the hypnotic cycle pretty much every day in some form. But it’s typically just a random occurrence and not directed toward any specific purpose. Here are some examples of "everyday" hypnosis: With relaxation: When the mind relaxes but drifts to something specific and vividly imagines it. This can happen during: a boring lecture, during after lunch drowsiness, at bed just before you fall asleep, during a long drive or plane flight, waiting in line or on hold, during TV and other media commercials. Without relaxation: When the mind focuses on something and the brain goes to work without your conscious intervention: shopping for a highly desired product like a car, being a “diehard fan” of anything, obsessing over how many social media “likes” you’re getting, reacting to a hurtful comment, reacting to praise from someone you admire. As you can see there are different ways the mind can become absorbed. But the end result is an idea takes hold and the brain scans for things in your inner experience or your environment to confirm it. Some people are naturally able to achieve this absorption and focus better than others. They are good at “make believe” and they can easily make their imaginary world seem quite real. Others are extremely logical and analytical. Most people are somewhere in between. How does this work in Hypnotherapy? In hypnotherapy we use various techniques to introduce mental absorption in an idea intentionally. We can direct the power of this absorption toward a goal that the client wants to achieve, Typically, relaxation is an important part of the program. This is always beneficial and restorative. But many other techniques can be introduced that are more active and targeted to a specific area. Sports performance, confident public speaking, targeting a goal, getting rid of fears and anxiety and much more. I use various imagination exercises to help the more analytical clients develop their imaginative skills. I find the exercises work really well. It's possible that clients may find it easier to imagine in hypnotherapy than in stage hypnosis because the outcome is something they truly desire and the problems have sometimes already become hyper-real to them, even bigger than real. In any event, with the right techniques almost anyone can achieve the kind of imaginative focus needed to do effective hypnotic change work. Please feel free to leave any comments or reach out to me if you have any questions about hypnosis or hypnotherapy. Gary Schwantes, CCH, CHt, MFA, Clinical Hypnotherapist https://www.garyschwanteshypnosis.com Procrastinating? Stop Pretending and Set Goals That You Really Want. Are you feeling stuck? Perhaps you have some goals but you're having trouble getting started on them. You brain keeps finding a million excuses, a million things that need to be done before you can start and then you turn ar ound with no time left, and no progress has been made. So things stay the same. Maybe your brain is trying to tell you something. Our subconscious processes have an amazing ability to analyze our situation and steer our behavior. Perhaps you're aiming for the wrong goal. Nobody is better at being you than you. Somewhere deep down, you have a sense of the best possible version of you. It may be buried under layers of other people’s expectations. But it’s there. You have an innate sense of the best possible version of you. But the weird thing is, so many us try to be someone else! Partly because of influential people in our lives, social media brainwashing or societal and cultural expectations. Now, don’t get me wrong, modeling an expert’s skills is an amazing way to learn. But trying to be someone, or something fundamentally different than your true nature can be very frustrating. It can create a lot of stress and make things harder. What Do You Really Want in Your Life? What Are Some Fundamental Long Term Goals? A lot of what we think we need or want is the result of conditioning. Ask yourself, "what do I really want in life?" If I could do anything and had nobody to answer to, if money was no object, and the only opinion that mattered was mine. If that was the case…then what do I want in my life? Think in a realistically optimistic way. Don’t be concerned at this point about how you’re going to get it. Then ask yourself…. What Are Your True Higher Values? Let’s talk about the things in your life that are most important to YOU. What do you value? These are key motivators and they can either power our success or affect us adversely if our way of life is in conflict with our values. There are higher reasons for most of the things we do. And the more we understand what they are, the more you can live a life that’s in tune with those values. We're not talking about getting the best deal on a new car, or your favorite vacation spot. We're going higher than that. Identify a few things you really want and ask yourself, "why do I want that car, or why do I want all that money? What does that get me?" and keep asking "what does that get me" or "why is that important to me" until you arrive at the highest level of values. Note which is the highest as well as the next couple down. Some examples: Family Honesty Being Part of a Community Independence Unconditional Love Being a Force for Good in the World Strength Spiritual Evolution Self Realization To Serve My True Purpose Security And now the rubber hits the road... Are Your Long Term Goals In Line with Your True Higher Values? The thing is…there are many different ways to satisfy those higher values. Be flexible in your thinking about how to live by these values. For example, a ballet dancer and an arts administrator can both bring art and joy into the world. An insurance broker can offer security and a degree of protection to families, their loved ones and the community. There are many different ways to honor the higher values in your life, but the higher values themselves are not things that can be easily swapped out. So it’s a good idea to know what your higher values are and to honor them. Give this some thought and possibly make some adjustments to your long term goals if appropriate. And now... What Do You Have to Work With? What resources both internal and external are available to you to help you reach your goals? Look for opportunities right under your nose. Keep a flexible outlook. What skills and resources do you already have? (smart, loyal, persistent, detail oriented, loving, kind, determined, fair honest, cunning, brave, outgoing, existing contacts, influential friends, membership in organization, money, location, equipment) What skills and resources do you want to develop? Vividly Imagine Your Ideal Outcome (Target State) Regularly So, taking all this into consideration, you can start to bring a vision of that outcome into focus. Set aside a few minutes of quiet time regularly to think about what it would be like if this target state was your reality right now. Be there. See, hear, feel, wh at you'd experience as much as you can. Where are you, who is with you? The more sensory systems you use to imagine this, the more power the process has. An interesting result of this process is that you may begin to notice things you hadn't noticed before. People, situations, products, behaviors that are either in harmony with your highest values or not. You'll certainly feel a pull towards the things that are in harmony. You’re teaching your subconscious what you want and providing information it can use to help you get it. If you've read this far, a seed has been planted. I'd urge you to go back over this article and spend a little time on each step. If the process resonates, keep doing it. You'll like what happens. Gary Schwantes, CCH, CHt, MFA, Clinical Hypnotherapist https://www.garyschwanteshypnosis.com Afraid of Public Speaking? Read This. Many people feel extremely uncomfortable when they are asked to speak in front of a group. Sometimes to the point where it interferes with their career goals and other things they want to do. It's normal to have a little bit of excitement before speaking, if you've experienced this, you're not alone. But if it's become problematic, if it's stopping you from doing the things you want to do, you don't have to put up with it. Changing your mindset will change your experience when speaking. As a result, you'll make a much better connection with people and you'll get much better results. Read on... A Gallup Poll conducted in 2000 found 40 percent of people said they feared public speaking. And according to that poll, public speaking was the second most common fear, just below a fear of snakes. But why do so many people fear public speaking? Most of us talk to people every day. What makes public speaking different? Here are a few things I've observed about this. The Shock of Self Awareness Public speaking is one of the few times that people become aware of themselves as a separate entity. Most people float along carried by life's currents with a very low degree of self awareness. They melt into whatever group, situation or media stream they're part of. Standing in front of an audience you can suddenly become acutely aware of your own consciousness, physical sensations and motor movements. This in itself can be a shock for many people. Automatic Protection Mechanisms Survival programs get activated when our brain senses a threat in the environment. But what threat are we experiencing with public speaking? The imagined, but primal threat of being ostracized from the tribe. In the distant past this could be a matter of life or death. We needed to be part of a tribe in order to survive against predators, enemies and lack of food or other resources. One of these survival programs is the fight or flight response which results in a burst of adrenaline and energy toward the large muscle groups and a temporary slowing down of anything not immediately necessary for physical combat like digestion, logic and reason, or fine motor coordination. This can result in heart racing, sweaty palms, shaky voice or a clumsy brain fog. Pattern Recognition and Reinforcement Our brains excel at recognizing patterns. Once an activity has been tagged as a threat by the subconscious, we will experience uncomfortable feelings when we engage in that activity or even think about doing it. This can become a self perpetuating cycle, reinforcing the perception of the imagined threat. Hypnotherapy Can Get to the Heart of the Problem The fear of public speaking is rooted in subconscious responses that have become automatic. These responses are very difficult to change with discussion or by logic and reasoning as the reaction happens instinctively and automatically before you can think about it. But in hypnosis, we can use modes of communication (emotion, symbols, a sense of involuntary movement, metaphor) understood by the part of you running the unwanted response. We're able to dissipate the negative response and redirect your experience so that you can feel normal excitement and high energy when you speak to a group, free from unnecessary and unhealthy fear and anxiety. Research Backs This Up A wide body of research has established that hypnosis is a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety. Hypnosis is being used by medical facilities like The Mayo Clinic as a complementary treatment for anxiety-related disorders, i.e. like fear of public speaking, social anxiety and fear of flying. Gary Schwantes, CCH, CHt, MFA, Clinical Hypnotherapist https://www.garyschwanteshypnosis.com Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss: Why Does it Work? Perhaps you've tried to lose weight in the past and found it difficult. You're not alone. Maybe you've struggled with special diets or other complicated weight loss processes like weighed portions and calorie counting. While these things can be very useful at times, they're difficult to keep up long-term. It's much easier to reach and maintain your desired weight if healthy eating becomes a natural, automatic behavior. Let's look at a hypothetical but very common situation. Jasmine started a weight loss program including some of the strategies listed above, ie a strict diet and calorie counting. Things were going great, she was sticking to the diet and losing weight gradually. As long as she was able to consciously focus on her program and use some willpower, the progress continued. But then life threw a curveball. There we re big changes at work and her stress level went way up. Out of the blue she found herself reverting to the old behaviors: overeating, eating high fat and sugary foods and while this made her feel good in the moment, it left her feeling terrible afterwards. Suddenly the thought pops into her mind, "what's the use?" and her weight loss program is out the window. It doesn't take long for the weight to come back. Why does this happen to so many people? One reason that this sequence of events is so common is that food carries powerful emotional associations. It can be associated with comfort, happy times, relaxation, celebration, closeness with people we love. And in times of stress, upset, or boredom your brain may automatically try to help you avoid feeling these emotions by triggering eating behaviors that flood your sensory systems and block out the uncomfortable feelings. This can become an automatic protective behavior pattern that is hard to change by willpower alone. In our example, Jasmine's brain reacted subconsciously to protect her from the stress she'd been feeling at work. It was triggering the protective behaviors that were programmed, well rehearsed and readily available. The Key to Real Change Any successful weight loss program must address these subconscious programs or else they can activate again whenever willpower drops momentarily, as Jasmine experienced when the stress at work used up so much of her mental energy. This is where hypnotherapy comes in. Through hypnotherapy, your mind can be redirected to trigger better, healthier alternatives when these difficult situations arise. And you'll get the same positive result (comfort, relaxation, connection etc). In fact, during our sessions, you don't even have to come up with these alternatives consciously (ie exercise, calling a friend, reading a book, working around the house, etc) because we can ask the part of your mind that's been managing your problematic eating to do this for you in the background. Once the new patterns take hold, you'll have healthier automatic responses when you hit rocky waters. Hypnotherapy does not make weight evaporate like magic. Our goal is to change the underlying programs around eating so that new healthier eating habits become automatic. Also, hypnotherapists don't prescribe diets, supplements etc. You'll have the opportunity to choose a reasonable diet of foods that you like. Choose a combination that you know will be sustainable long-term for you health and well being. This can be adjusted as we move forward with your program as you'll probably find that your preferences will change. The better you feel, the less you'll want to eat unhealthy foods that keep you from your goal. Conscious / Subconscious Partnership Another important part of your weight loss program is mindfulness and awareness of your own responses and behavior. I believe that conscious as well as subconscious processes are important to successful change work. We can leverage the power of both. This is why I employ what I call Cognitive Skill Building techniques to help you stay on track. These are simple mental techniques you can use when you're out and about to navigate mindfully and pilot your own course through whatever situations present themselves as you go through your day. I hope this short article gives you a general idea of how and why hypnotherapy can provide a very effective way for you to reach your ideal weight. If you have any questions, please get in touch. Gary Schwantes, CCH, CHt, MFA, Clinical Hypnotherapist https://www.garyschwanteshypnosis.com Break Free from Anxiety and Boost Self-Confidence Anxiety, worry, stress, self-doubt. These are words used to describe thoughts and feelings that all of us experience from time to time. For the most part, these thoughts and feelings are temporary, perfectly normal and actually useful. They're a signal that something needs our attention. We all know that there are things in life we need to be cautious about. Sharp objects, wild animals, downed power lines during a storm, etc. But unnecessary worrying about things that will probably never happen is not healthy. There’s no need for it. In some cases anxiety can become habitual and problematic. Irrational fear might hold you back from doing the things you want to do in life. Things like advancing in your job, starting a business, participating fully in school, or even normal everyday things like shopping, family get-togethers, enjoying intimacy or going out for a good time. Some people seem to know exactly what causes them to feel anxious, while for others it’s harder to pin down because it’s become more pervasive in their lives. An Overactive Protective Mechanism Certain types of anxiety are related to the future, a fear of something that might happen. Others types of anxiety might be connected to an event in the past either known or unknown consciously. It may be a combination of both. In our Hypnotherapy sessions we’ll discover the best approach for your particular situation so we can free you from the anxiety habit. Think of habitual anxiety as an unconscious skill you’ve developed. Your unconscious mind is doing its best to protect you from something that fits a pattern from the past. The anxiety will tend to keep you out of situations that match a pattern that some part of your mind has tagged as a threat. Even though you may be completely safe and not in any danger at all, The response is an automatic survival mechanism. This automatic response could have been created by a single powerful experience or it could have developed over time with a series of experiences. The good news is that this is not uncommon and you don't have to put up with it. Hypnotherapy can allow you to let go of this response fairly quickly. You Don't Have to Put Up With It There are many techniques we can use to help you break free from unnecessary fears and anxious feelings. As the anxious feelings dissipate and you stretch beyond your old self-imposed limitations, you’ll inevitably find your level of self-confidence rising. As your confidence and comfort level rises you'll find yourself once again participating in the activities you enjoy and had been missing. You'll feel so much better, free of that old useless, unnecessary fear but still safe and well protected, with a more realistic perspective. Gary Schwantes, CCH, CHt, MFA, Clinical Hypnotherapist https://www.garyschwanteshypnosis.com C