I'm a certified hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy is a type of therapeutic intervention that uses hypnosis to create positive behavioral change. During hypnosis, your body is deeply relaxed and your mind becomes receptive to positive suggestions. I work with clients of all ages (including children as young as 6 years old). My areas of expertise include: smoking cessation, insomnia, test anxiety, performance enhancement, confidence building, fears/phobias, habit elimination and eating disorders.

EDUCATION | I received my hypnotherapy certification from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. I am also a licensed California attorney. I received my Juris Doctorate from USC Law School and a BA degree from UC Berkeley.

HOW TO GET STARTED | First, you may want to experience hypnotherapy for yourself. I suggest trying more than one hypnotherapist so that you can see different styles. Next, buy a book on hypnosis or sign up for an introductory course. The Hypnosis Motivation Institute offers a complimentary intro course.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Compassion; patience; an open mind; an interest in the human psyche; creativity; flexibility; ability to create good rapport; desire to help people; emotional acuity; emotional intelligence.

how I got started | I became interested in hypnotherapy while I was still practicing law. At the time, my life was incredibly stressful and I was using food as a coping mechanism. I wanted more balance and harmony in my personal life. One day, a friend recommended that I see a hypnotherapist. I was skeptical, but thought I'd give it a try. It worked! I was so intrigued by the process, I decided to go back to school and get a degree in clinical hypnosis.

why this job?| I saw what a difference hypnotherapy made in my life and I knew there were many people out there who could also benefit from what I had gained. I have always been passionate about helping people and I knew that I could make a greater difference by using my powers of persuasion to help people overcome their personal struggles.

why I love this job!| I love the responses I get from my clients when I bring them out of trance: "Wow. I don't remember the last time I felt so relaxed." Or, "That felt incredible. I didn't want to come out of hypnosis." I love getting positive feedback from clients-- I have clients who call several months after coming in for treatment to say, "I can't believe it, I'm still a non-smoker! Or, "I can't believe I'm still sleeping like a baby after so many years of dealing with insomnia!" I also really enjoy the creative aspect of my job. Not every person will respond to the same types of suggestions. Some respond better to direct commands, like, "You will quit smoking," while others respond better to inferences and stories. Each client is different and I have to tailor my suggestions to fit each person's model of the world.

my typical day| On a typical day, I see 2-4 clients in my office. Sometimes, I travel to outside facilities to provide treatment to those in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. I also spend a lot of time networking, writing articles and doing public speaking.

what they are | One of the challenges I face is having to dispel the myths that are out there about what hypnotherapy is. People have a lot of misconceptions about hypnosis based on what they have seen on television or on stage. Part of my job is to educate people that hypnosis is a natural state of mind and that it is a safe therapeutic approach.

all about growth | The growth opportunity is tremendous, especially now, as more and more people are turning to alternative forms of therapy to deal with unexplained physical ailments and self destructive behaviors. Because hypnotherapy can be used for such a wide variety of medical and psychological conditions, the possibilities are endless!

my website| http://www.hypnoswitch.com/