Hypnosis for Enhanced Healing and Recovery

Some skeptical types may think of hypnosis as being out there and too "woo" to be taken seriously, especially when it comes to helping with medical disorders.

However there is plenty of evidence to suggest it deserves a place in your total health care plan.

Two primary aspects of hypnosis: deep relaxation and the cultivation of positive expectation are well documented in their relationship to physical health. The mind and body are not separate entities!

Below are some academic citations of interest. Please feel free to connect with me if you have any questions by calling (732) 714-7040.


Autogenic Training was a "powerful" therapy in early stage cancer patients
Hidderley, M., & Holt, M. (2004). A pilot randomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(1), 61-65.

Surgical Wounds Healed Faster with Hypnotic Visualization Technqiues
Broadbent, E., Kahokehr, A., Booth, R. J., Thomas, J., Windsor, J. A., Buchanan, C. M., . . . Hill, A. G. (2012). A brief relaxation intervention reduces stress and improves surgical wound healing response: A randomised trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 26(2), 212-217.

ACL Knee Surgery: the group that practiced imagery showed greater improvements in knee stability and reduced levels of stress hormones. The study authors speculate that imagery may speed recovery by reducing stress, which has been shown to interfere with healing.
Maddison, H. Prapavessis, M. Clatworthy, C. Hall, L. Foley, T. Harper, D. Cupal and B. Brewer. (2012) Guided imagery to improve functional outcomes post-anterior cruciate ligament repair: randomized-controlled pilot trial (pages 816–821). Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

GHT (Gut directed hypnotherapy) improves IBS-related quality of life, is superior to supportive me dical treatment alone, and shows a long-term effect even in refractory IBS.

Moser, G., Trägner, S., Gajowniczek, E. E., Mikulits, A., Michalski, M., Kazemi-Shirazi, L., . . . Miehsler, W. (2013). Long-Term Success of GUT-Directed Group Hypnosis for Patients With Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 108(4), 602-609

Hypnosis for Social Anxiety and Fear of Public Speaking?

A new video on how hypnosis can help you experience greater social confidence

Alchemy and the Upside of Addiction? A Different Perspective

A working definition of addiction could be, "the continued use of a substance or engagement in a behavior in spite of negative consequences." Some addictions such as opioid misuse or severe alcoholism have an element of what is called "tissue dependency" where a person may need medical assistance to safely wean off of the drug of choice. However, most addictions such as smoking, overeating, gambling and a host of others do not create tissue dependency, although they can and do create significant problems.

You might wonder what be the upside of addiction when it wreaks so much havoc? Well it does show the person is able to focus and engage in persistent goal seeking behavior. It's been noted that addicts of all varieties seem to be more driven than the average person and that often people in recovery go on to attain remarkable achievements.

For example, smokers always ensure they have a steady supply of cigarettes and plan their activities around when and where they can smoke-no exceptions. "Junk food junkies" will frequently have a stash (often hidden) of their favorite unhealthy food in their home or car. A gambler can always find a place where he or she can lay down a wager and so on.

Just as the alchemists of old sought to transform the base metal lead into gold, its strongly advised that a new set of goals be formulated when a person finally decides to disengage from the addictive behavior.

Dealing with stressors, past trauma and improving self-image are also important factors in recovery, yet finding a healthy and appropriate channel for the goal seeking drive is necessary too.

This is why I will often tell smoking cessation clients that this is the perfect time to get into a fitness program or take care of projects around the house. They are often astounded at how much they are getting done once the compulsion to smoke has been redirected into something positive.

Please feel free to connect if you would like some help transforming some of your lead into gold. Either give me a call directly at (732) 714-7040 or fill out the Life Enhancement Strategy Form and I will get back to you ASAP.

Health Creation 2018- an Upcoming Class

On Saturday, January 6 at 11 AM I will be offering a Health Creation class for anyone who is looking for inspiration and guidance on how to make 2018 a healthier and happier one for yourself. It will be held in the 2nd floor conference room at my office building, 302 Hawthorne Ave (Route 35 N) Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

The start of the New Year is often when people consider adopting a healthier lifestyle, however it can be challenging to do this on your own. The information we will be covering is derived from my 20+ years experience and training as a professional hypnotist and health coach. Some of the topics we will be exploring include;
-How to set goals that are motivating yet realistic.
-Identifying and overcoming potential obstacles.
-The 5 secrets of healthy eating.
-Proper ways to use encouraging self-talk.
-A new way to look at setbacks.

There will also be a guided imagery process that will help you to develop a more confident mindset. All participants will also receive a complimentary print copy of my new book Attainable Sustainable CHANGE along with a secret gift worth much more than the price of admission.

Advance prepaid registration* is required due to limited class size, which you can handle through the secure Pay Pal link below. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at (732) 714-7040, I hope to see you there!

Health Creation Class-$20.18*

*Please note prepaid tuition is non-refundable, however if you cannot attend a credit can be applied to a future group or private service.

Empowering Questions? A Free Life Enhancement Tip

The use of affirmations is a time tested means of cultivating a positive mindset. Essentially the method involves making self-statements where you state a desired goal as if it were currently true. Examples:

"I am strong and confident."
"I see myself as thin and healthy."
"I choose to eat healthy foods in the right amount."

It is known that if a suggestion is delivered repetitively and with emotion, eventually it will be accepted by the subconscious mind as true. Yet some people don't have the desired response to affirmations, especially when there is a wide gap between their intentions and their current perceived reality. It can seem too much of a stretch if a person is excessively stressed or in a place of deep discouragement to imply they feel otherwise.

An alternative to affirmations is the use of what could be called empowering questions. This technique takes advantage of two little known principles that enable you to avoid creating conscious resistance.

First, the brain will reflexively attempt to answer any question put to it and may continue to work on it "under the radar" so to speak even if you don't know the answer right away. A perfect example of this is the tip of the tongue phenomena. Let's say you try to remember the name of someone you went to high school with but you draw a blank. Hours later when you are doing something totally unrelated, the name springs to mind. Clearly the subconscious mind continued to work on the challenge.

The second principle is that questions indirectly make assumptions. If I ask you how to get to the train station, its assumed going there is indeed possible or the question wouldn't be asked.
To use this technique, silently ask yourself a simple question such as:

"What can I do today that will improve my health?"
"How will I make my business more successful today?"
"What will enable me to feel more confident when I give my presentation tomorrow?"
"Why am I going to succeed at reaching my weight loss goals?"

Reflect on the question for a moment and then let the subconscious work on it. Sort of like the old rotisserie grill infomercial where you "set it and forget it." You might be pleasantly surprised at how the empowering question stimulates your problem solving resources.

I would encourage you to actually write out your empowering question on a post it note or index card and put it somewhere where you will regularly see it like on your mirror or nightstand to create a new habit of thinking.

Please feel free to connect if you have any questions, you can call me directly at (732) 714-7040.

P.S. This and other self-help tools can be found in my new book Attainable Sustainable CHANGE at Amazon

Attainable Sustainable CHANGE Book Release!

I am proud to announce the release of my latest book Attainable Sustainable CHANGE.  It's your guide to creating a healthy eating, exercise and stress relief program that you can actually stick with.

It comes from my training as both a professional hypnotist and health coach and encourages you to look at the lifestyle modifications you wish to make from a perspective that does not consider the mind and body separate. 

When trying harder hasn't worked, isn't time to do something different?

Considerable attention is given on developing the mindset of health creation. Topics include:

• Connecting with your deeper motivation.
• Overcoming obstacles.
• Empowering self-talk
• Safe nutritional and exercise guidelines.
• Lapse and relapse prevention.

Attainable and Sustainable CHANGE is available in print and Kindle formats at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776FFRYZ

Digital formats other than the Kindle can be found at Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/757484

P.S, The contents of this book are also at the heart of the 6 Week Attainable Sustainable Change program I offer, details at https://www.njhypno.com/health-coaching

Tinnitus Stress Magnified?

I occasionally  participate in an online forum for people looking for effective strategies when it comes to dealing with tinnitus.

Recently I posted this question to the members there:

"I have been an ATA support group leader in the past here at the Jersey Shore. I also see clients with tinnitus in my hypnosis practice. Here's the question. Do you believe that the initial interactions with your healthcare providers when you developed tinnitus helped or hindered your recovery? I am curious as I have encountered people who felt they were treated with less than adequate sensitivity and this created a sense of hopelessness and panic. For example being told "you have tinnitus, there's nothing that can be done, go home and learn to live with it" without being given any actual direction on coping strategies. Is this commonplace or just a few healthcare providers with a deficiency in empathy and communications skills?" 

Dozens of group members took the time to reply and indeed it does seem that the being traumatized by poor communication from healthcare providers is unfortunately rather common.

While some respondents stated they received supportive care, many didn't replying with comments like:
"I was told by an ENT that I waited 9 months to see "just ignore it". My visit was 4 minutes long"

"I saw an insensitive audiologist at a well know high street store who told me people committed suicide with tinnitus. He thoroughly depressed me and scared me to death!! Thank god I saw a hospital audiologist who gave me hope my brain would get fed up and filter the sound out."

"My G.P. used those very words!! "You have Tinnitus, we can't do anything for you, you'll have to learn to live with it!!"

"I'm in Perth Australia and YES I also hate the doctor who said exactly what you wrote. I cried for weeks without any direction. It was  horrible."

The experience of having tinnitus is complex as I am sure you are aware. There is the neurological misfiring that is creating the perceived noise and then there is a person's response to that signal which can vary depending on stress levels and personal expectations.

I suspect that those people who received negative, pessimistic or dismissive communication from their initial healthcare provider had insult heaped on injury in that it increased anxiety and a sense of hopelessness and made the subjective perception of the tinnitus worse.

Never underestimate the reach of the mind/body connection to work in the other direction too.  People who feel better tend to heal better and anything you can do to reduce stress, anxiety and pessimism will help in the long run.

If you could use some help, please consider me a resource. A free initial phone consultation is available, call (732) 714-7040 to set that up.

P.S. I also have free self-help resources for tinnitus you can access at https://www.njhypno.com/tinnitus-nj-help