Frequently Asked Questions

HYPNOTHERAPY

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is the process of using hypnosis to interact with the subconscious mind in an open reflective process to create positive change in your life. The client must have a strong desire to change and be willing to submit to a deep state of relaxation.

Will I lose control?

You always have control, and you can always hear what’s going on. Hypnosis is nothing but a state of relaxed deep focus. It is a natural altered state of consciousness that can be deeper than some you already experience. Altered states of consciousness you experience today are falling asleep, meditating/praying, engaging fully in a movie, sometimes driving and “losing time”, focusing intently on a work or school project, etc.

What should I expect during a Hypnotherapy session?

You will experience a deep sense of relaxation, drifting in and out in a sleep like state, hearing my voice for guidance in visualization and positive change suggestions. Although you may not recall specifics, you are always in control.

How many Hypnotherapy sessions do I need?

This depends on the client and what it is they are trying to change. In addition, there is a singular focus in a session so if the client would like to change more than one thing, then naturally there would be more than one session.

Is there a guarantee and how do I know the Hypnotherapy worked?

Results are dependent upon the client. Their desire to change and engage in the process is key. The results can be subtle so focus on small changes such as a thought that will not seem to leave your mind or a change in your reactions or behaviors.

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES

What is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)?

EFT is often referred to as “energy tapping”. It is a safe and popular energetic healing technique that stimulates acupressure points on the body to eliminate blockages that are causing or contributing to mental, emotional, or physical pain.  Watch this YouTube Video by founder, Gary Craig.

What should I expect in a session?

After identifying which EFT technique to use, the practitioner will ask you what success will look like and also ask you to rate your distress/anxiety/concern/etc. of the topic/emotion. Then they will tap along with you and prompt you to tell them about something or to repeat statements.  This is repeated until you feel the emotional connection and blockage is gone.

Why should I come to a practitioner for this instead of using books and online videos?

Most books and online videos go over the classic or shortcut versions of tapping and does not take advantage of all the tapping points and techniques that may benefit you. In addition, not everyone has knowledge of energy anatomy and physical/emotional associations that a practitioner has and can leverage for best results. A practitioner can help address issues that a client would have dismissed as a non-issue because the practitioner is not emotionally tied to it.

COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION

What does Cognitive Behavioral Modification (CBM) mean?

Focus is on changing negative self-talk and life narrative to positive self-talk. The premise of this approach is negative self-talk can reflect in a person’s behaviors. (Example: Female client does not respect or think highly of herself, therefore the men she dated didn’t either.)

How does CBM benefit me?

The goal of CBM is to change a person’s narrative or life story from negative to positive. This is done by focusing on the client’s strengths and resilience. CBM also helps clients forgive themselves for misdoings in the past and move forward with hope and positivity for the future. With a favorable change of perspective and life narrative, a client’s actions and behaviors will expectantly follow suit.

How does Mindful InnerChange use CBM?

CBM is integrated in every client’s custom therapy.  It is integrated into the Hypnotherapy scripts, EFM statements, and Homework in order to see immediate change.  This is why your first session will have at least 20 mins of talking and exploration and why it is a little extra cost for the first session in order to account for the after work the therapist completes.

MEDITATION

What type of meditation is practiced?

Breath meditation which is focusing on regulating and slowing your breath.  Breath is life and following your breath can take you into a deep state of relaxation.  You could say it is almost like self-hypnosis.

Is a 1-hour Meditation the only way to experience a guided session?

Unless the client specifically asks for this, it is usually a homework assignment and a recorded guided meditation provided.  Some clients may require some custom recorded meditations and the therapist provides these via email.

How does Meditation benefit me?

There are 12 science-based benefits to meditation

  • Reduces stress
  • Controls anxiety
  • Promotes emotional health
  • Enhances self-awareness
  • Lengthens attention span
  • Reduces age-related memory loss
  • Generates kindness
  • Helps fight addictions
  • Improves sleep
  • Helps control pain
  • Decreases blood pressure
  • Can be done anywhere and anytime

QI GONG

What is Qi Gong?

QiGong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing, and movement exercises. This translates to Mastery of Your Energy and is sometimes seen as another version of Tai Chi.  This 20min video on the 8 Brocades will give you an idea.  There are hundreds of movements in the QiGong practice and certain movements can enhance your meditation practice as well as other management practices such as stress, pain, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive (OCD) thoughts/actions.

What are the benefits of Qi Gong?

Qi Ggong can harmonize, strengthen, and have a healing effect on the functioning of all the internal organs and bodily systems. It increases the supply and flow of energy throughout the body, can have a variety of rejuvenating effects and is believed to increase longevity, and it induces calm mental and emotional states.

Can Qi Gong be done seated?

Absolutely! The therapist may recommend a seated movement to do before and after meditation to enhance your meditation experience. For an extra premium fee, the therapist can assist on-site clients who are bedridden or cannot travel for any other reason.

YOGA

What type(s) of yoga do you work with?

Restorative, Yin, Hatha, Flow, Power are the styles and types most worked with. Restorative and Yin are the styles used in office while the others can be done privately in home or at planned events. See website for more details on the in-office styles.

How does yoga benefit me?

Benefits

  • Improves strength, balance, and flexibility
  • Helps relieve back pain
  • Can ease arthritis symptoms
  • Benefits heart health
  • Relaxes you, to help you sleep better
  • Can increase energy and brighter moods
  • Helps you manage stress
  • Promotes and motivates self-care
What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative yoga is a restful practice that is all about slowing down and opening your body through passive stretching. You hardly move at all, doing just a few postures over the course of an hour, with bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps to support you in this pose. The practitioner/instructor will usually speak softly affirmations almost like hypnotherapy.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin yoga works deeply into our body with passive, longer-held poses. It targets the deepest tissues of the body, connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, and the deep fascia networks of the body – rather than the muscles (which are the physical focus of other yoga practices). Energetically, Yin yoga improves the energy flow, enhancing the flow of chi in the organs. To be healthy, we need healthy organs as well as healthy muscles. Yin yoga also offers wonderful emotional and mental health benefits

What is Yoga Nidra?

Meditation while lying down while moving into a deep state of conscious awareness sleep, which is a deeper state of relaxation with awareness. This state involves moving from consciousness while awake to dreaming and then to not-dreaming while remaining awake; going past the unconscious to the conscious. Instructor speaks softly as in hypnotherapy.

Yoga nidra works with the autonomic nervous system which regulates processes of the body that take place without a conscious effort (heartbeat, breathing, digestion and blood flow). This system also includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The practice calms the sympathetic nervous system for overall immunity, digestion, and stress management. In addition, the pineal gland is activated, releasing melatonin, a powerful antioxidant, which helps manage immune function, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and induce restful sleep. Studies have shown Yoga Nidra is highly effective in reducing both cognitive and physiological symptoms of anxiety.

What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha yoga is the branch of yoga that typically comes to mind when you think of yoga in general terms. The practice involves breath, body, and mind, and classes are usually 45 minutes to 90 minutes of breathing, yoga poses, and meditation.

What is Flow Yoga?

Flow or Vinyasa is a style of yoga where poses are strung together to form one fluid sequence of movement. It is a style of yoga with focus on transitions and movements, with less time spent in stationary poses. More stamina is required.

What is Power Yoga?

Power yoga is a very athletic form of yoga focusing on strength and core. The poses are harder, they are held longer, and the transitions require strength.

PRANAYAMA

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama is a system of breathing techniques used to harness and manipulate universal energy known as prana. It uses deliberate control of the breath in order to extend and expand vital life force energy.

How does pranayama benefit me?

Not only does pranayama have the potential to steady the mind, but the practice has far-reaching physiological benefits such as increased heart rate variability, improved oxygen saturation, and overall re-balancing of the nervous system.