Hypnosis
Welcome to my hypnosis page. Here you will learn about my hypnosis services, my hypnosis credentials, and how hypnosis works in
general. If you are interested in receiving hypnosis, please read this entire section first. Then you may call me at your earliest convenience
for an appointment at (916) 899-4990.
About Myself and My Hypnosis Services
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 8 years of annual 3-day hypnosis training seminars with world renown expert Dr. Michael Yapko. I
use hypnosis to help my clients with many clinical issues, including:
weight loss, smoking cessation, gambling, stress/anxiety reduction (including performance anxiety), procrastination, fears/phobias,
depression, pain management, grief/trauma, relationship issues, and other goals, addictions, habits, and disorders.
Complimenting my hypnosis training, I also possess over 11 years of experience as a psychotherapist, a Doctorate in Psychology, and 2
complimentary graduate-level psychotherapy licenses. Interestingly, hypnosis today is often practiced by people possessing only a
"hypnosis certification" with no psychotherapy degree or license whatsoever. That's like playing baseball knowing how to hit, but not
knowing how to field, pitch, catch, or throw a ball. Beware of those only claiming to hold a certification in "clinical hypnotherapy" with no
actual graduate-level therapy license or degree. Truth be told, there are no mandated requirements for such hypnosis certifications and
their requirements vary widely.
A clinical hypnotherapist should at least hold a graduate degree and license in some form of psychotherapy, such as a licensed clinical
psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or clinical social worker. True clinical hypnosis from a licensed and Doctoral-level psychologist
like myself is not its own "therapy" unto itself, but is rather a highly valuable primary technique of therapy. In other words, “hypnotherapy” is
better referred to with myself as “clinical hypnosis” within a broader counseling/therapy approach.
I generally prefer to blend and combine hypnosis and hypnotic techniques with other traditional, non-hypnosis behavior modification
techniques in a brief 4 session format. This combined approach tends to bring the best results: working on your goals through both a
conscious behavioral AND a subconscious hypnotic therapy approach for a more complete, comprehensive approach to change.
Unfortunately, insurances do not currently pay for hypnosis. For some reason, the insurance companies classify hypnosis under a special
billing code that they won't pay for: 90880. Therefore, the fee for my hypnosis sessions as a Doctoral-level Psychologist is either 1) $150 per
50 minute hour, or 2) a $500 one-time payment upfront for 4 sessions (which comes to $125/session for a $100 discount). I generally
recommend a set of 4 hypnosis sessions for most presenting issues for maximum effectiveness. Additional meetings beyond the first 4
sessions are also available at $130 per 50-minute hour. Because of the power and effectiveness of hypnosis, this relatively small
investment is well worth the results.
All hypnosis sessions are recorded through professional equipment including a full-length microphone, a laptop computer and CD, and
recording software. All clients leave each session with a professional-quality audio CD of the experience to listen and re-listen to the
session again and again to reinforce the suggestions for change. I generally recommend coming in for at least 4 hypnosis sessions.
Research and my own clinical experience have shown me that having at least 4 hypnosis sessions is generally the minimum number
needed to achieve maximum results. My typical 4-session hypnosis format is progressively structured in the following way to help you
achieve the greatest amount of positive change and goal achievement:
Before our first meeting (after setting up our first appointment): I email you a hypnosis questionnaire for you to fill out and email back to me
before our first session. I will you your answers to this to structure our hypnosis sessions together.
Our first meeting (Session 1): Meeting and getting to know one another, introduction of hypnosis, and an initial hypnosis session
*Between session homework: Listening to the hypnosis session on CD and/or other possible assignments specific to the client's individual
situation.
Our second through fourth meetings (Session 2-4): Further hypnosis sessions with CD audio tapings, progress reviews, and the possible
creation of further at-home assignments to facilitate change.
*From research my clinical experience, change through hypnosis-based sessions tends to be most effective when at least 4 sessions are
attended and the homework created during these sessions is practiced between meetings. Therefore, I strongly recommend committing to
at least a 4-session set to help you best accomplish your goals. Then, you may come in for as many additional supplementary sessions as
desired.
Hypnosis is powerful and very effective, but it still generally requires some time and effort to produce the best results (like most anything
else). Hypnosis is not a "quick fix" or a "magic pill" . However, the positive changes from hypnosis can often seem like magic! Read on to
learn more about what hypnosis is and how it works:
About Hypnosis
In its simplest form, "clinical hypnosis" may be viewed the following 3-step process to promote change: 1) leading a person into a highly
absorbed, focused state/ trance ("induction"), 2) giving suggestions and truisms to help them towards their goals, and 3) giving further
suggestions to help transfer hypnotic suggestions after hypnosis into their everyday life (“post-hypnotic suggestions”).
No one knows exactly how hypnosis works, but there is a wealth of clinical research backing its effectiveness in counseling. When a
person is in a trance, they are more suggestible because their conscious resistance to change is otherwise absorbed and distracted.
“Conscious resistance” is a main reason why many positive changes often do not occur—even when a person strongly desires to change.
For instance, after making a goal to lose weight, people often tell themselves all of the reasons why their diet won’t work: I’ll get too hungry,
etc. Their consciousness creates a defeatist attitude and a set up for failure.
Hypnosis is so effective because it minimizes our conscious resistance against suggestions for change. However, again, it should not be
viewed as a “quick fix”. It may take several live hypnosis sessions + follow up audiotape reviews at home for the desired changes to occur.
How quickly hypnosis is effective will depend on a number of factors, including how rigid the old beliefs are, how focused the person is
during hypnosis, how visual a person is, etc.
Furthermore, again, hypnosis also works best when used along with a well balanced approach, such as a traditional counseling process
and the direction of your primary care physician. Either way, clinical hypnosis is a power tool that can help those who need an “extra
something” to overcome their inner resistance to change. Plus, it is far more affordable than having paying the high fees of a lawyer
($200-$500/hr.) or a medical doctor ($500+/hr.)--two other professionals you're more likely have to see if you don't resolve your issue(s)
somehow beforehand in another way (like hypnosis). My suggestion: try hypnosis.
Note:
Hypnosis may not be effective—and may even be harmful—when it is used to try to recover "forgotten" memories of physical or sexual
abuse in childhood. The main risk here is the possibility of remembering abuse events that are distorted or may never have even occurred
at all. It is for this reason that abuse memories recovered under hypnosis are no longer allowed in a court of law. Also, remember that
hypnosis is not "scary" or "risky". People won’t do anything under hypnosis that they wouldn’t do in real life. Furthermore, hypnosis won’t
change someone against their will.
Hypnosis works best with those possessing a strong inner desire for change.
Just remember that if you can relax, focus, and visualize, and you possess an adequate inner desire to change, then hypnosis will likely be
helpful to you. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful approach to promote change. If you are interested in coming in for hypnosis, please call
me at: (916) 899-4990.
Randy A. Gilchrist, Psy.D.
general. If you are interested in receiving hypnosis, please read this entire section first. Then you may call me at your earliest convenience
for an appointment at (916) 899-4990.
About Myself and My Hypnosis Services
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 8 years of annual 3-day hypnosis training seminars with world renown expert Dr. Michael Yapko. I
use hypnosis to help my clients with many clinical issues, including:
weight loss, smoking cessation, gambling, stress/anxiety reduction (including performance anxiety), procrastination, fears/phobias,
depression, pain management, grief/trauma, relationship issues, and other goals, addictions, habits, and disorders.
Complimenting my hypnosis training, I also possess over 11 years of experience as a psychotherapist, a Doctorate in Psychology, and 2
complimentary graduate-level psychotherapy licenses. Interestingly, hypnosis today is often practiced by people possessing only a
"hypnosis certification" with no psychotherapy degree or license whatsoever. That's like playing baseball knowing how to hit, but not
knowing how to field, pitch, catch, or throw a ball. Beware of those only claiming to hold a certification in "clinical hypnotherapy" with no
actual graduate-level therapy license or degree. Truth be told, there are no mandated requirements for such hypnosis certifications and
their requirements vary widely.
A clinical hypnotherapist should at least hold a graduate degree and license in some form of psychotherapy, such as a licensed clinical
psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or clinical social worker. True clinical hypnosis from a licensed and Doctoral-level psychologist
like myself is not its own "therapy" unto itself, but is rather a highly valuable primary technique of therapy. In other words, “hypnotherapy” is
better referred to with myself as “clinical hypnosis” within a broader counseling/therapy approach.
I generally prefer to blend and combine hypnosis and hypnotic techniques with other traditional, non-hypnosis behavior modification
techniques in a brief 4 session format. This combined approach tends to bring the best results: working on your goals through both a
conscious behavioral AND a subconscious hypnotic therapy approach for a more complete, comprehensive approach to change.
Unfortunately, insurances do not currently pay for hypnosis. For some reason, the insurance companies classify hypnosis under a special
billing code that they won't pay for: 90880. Therefore, the fee for my hypnosis sessions as a Doctoral-level Psychologist is either 1) $150 per
50 minute hour, or 2) a $500 one-time payment upfront for 4 sessions (which comes to $125/session for a $100 discount). I generally
recommend a set of 4 hypnosis sessions for most presenting issues for maximum effectiveness. Additional meetings beyond the first 4
sessions are also available at $130 per 50-minute hour. Because of the power and effectiveness of hypnosis, this relatively small
investment is well worth the results.
All hypnosis sessions are recorded through professional equipment including a full-length microphone, a laptop computer and CD, and
recording software. All clients leave each session with a professional-quality audio CD of the experience to listen and re-listen to the
session again and again to reinforce the suggestions for change. I generally recommend coming in for at least 4 hypnosis sessions.
Research and my own clinical experience have shown me that having at least 4 hypnosis sessions is generally the minimum number
needed to achieve maximum results. My typical 4-session hypnosis format is progressively structured in the following way to help you
achieve the greatest amount of positive change and goal achievement:
Before our first meeting (after setting up our first appointment): I email you a hypnosis questionnaire for you to fill out and email back to me
before our first session. I will you your answers to this to structure our hypnosis sessions together.
Our first meeting (Session 1): Meeting and getting to know one another, introduction of hypnosis, and an initial hypnosis session
*Between session homework: Listening to the hypnosis session on CD and/or other possible assignments specific to the client's individual
situation.
Our second through fourth meetings (Session 2-4): Further hypnosis sessions with CD audio tapings, progress reviews, and the possible
creation of further at-home assignments to facilitate change.
*From research my clinical experience, change through hypnosis-based sessions tends to be most effective when at least 4 sessions are
attended and the homework created during these sessions is practiced between meetings. Therefore, I strongly recommend committing to
at least a 4-session set to help you best accomplish your goals. Then, you may come in for as many additional supplementary sessions as
desired.
Hypnosis is powerful and very effective, but it still generally requires some time and effort to produce the best results (like most anything
else). Hypnosis is not a "quick fix" or a "magic pill" . However, the positive changes from hypnosis can often seem like magic! Read on to
learn more about what hypnosis is and how it works:
About Hypnosis
In its simplest form, "clinical hypnosis" may be viewed the following 3-step process to promote change: 1) leading a person into a highly
absorbed, focused state/ trance ("induction"), 2) giving suggestions and truisms to help them towards their goals, and 3) giving further
suggestions to help transfer hypnotic suggestions after hypnosis into their everyday life (“post-hypnotic suggestions”).
No one knows exactly how hypnosis works, but there is a wealth of clinical research backing its effectiveness in counseling. When a
person is in a trance, they are more suggestible because their conscious resistance to change is otherwise absorbed and distracted.
“Conscious resistance” is a main reason why many positive changes often do not occur—even when a person strongly desires to change.
For instance, after making a goal to lose weight, people often tell themselves all of the reasons why their diet won’t work: I’ll get too hungry,
etc. Their consciousness creates a defeatist attitude and a set up for failure.
Hypnosis is so effective because it minimizes our conscious resistance against suggestions for change. However, again, it should not be
viewed as a “quick fix”. It may take several live hypnosis sessions + follow up audiotape reviews at home for the desired changes to occur.
How quickly hypnosis is effective will depend on a number of factors, including how rigid the old beliefs are, how focused the person is
during hypnosis, how visual a person is, etc.
Furthermore, again, hypnosis also works best when used along with a well balanced approach, such as a traditional counseling process
and the direction of your primary care physician. Either way, clinical hypnosis is a power tool that can help those who need an “extra
something” to overcome their inner resistance to change. Plus, it is far more affordable than having paying the high fees of a lawyer
($200-$500/hr.) or a medical doctor ($500+/hr.)--two other professionals you're more likely have to see if you don't resolve your issue(s)
somehow beforehand in another way (like hypnosis). My suggestion: try hypnosis.
Note:
Hypnosis may not be effective—and may even be harmful—when it is used to try to recover "forgotten" memories of physical or sexual
abuse in childhood. The main risk here is the possibility of remembering abuse events that are distorted or may never have even occurred
at all. It is for this reason that abuse memories recovered under hypnosis are no longer allowed in a court of law. Also, remember that
hypnosis is not "scary" or "risky". People won’t do anything under hypnosis that they wouldn’t do in real life. Furthermore, hypnosis won’t
change someone against their will.
Hypnosis works best with those possessing a strong inner desire for change.
Just remember that if you can relax, focus, and visualize, and you possess an adequate inner desire to change, then hypnosis will likely be
helpful to you. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful approach to promote change. If you are interested in coming in for hypnosis, please call
me at: (916) 899-4990.
Randy A. Gilchrist, Psy.D.
Randy Gilchrist, Psy.D.
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1899 East Roseville Parkway Suite 100
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 899-4990 drgilchrist@yahoo.com
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 899-4990 drgilchrist@yahoo.com
Counseling and Psychotherapy Services
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #MFC39159