Clinical Hypnotherapy

What is clinical hypnotherapy

Clinical hypnotherapy uses a guided, focused state of attention (trance) to help people make positive changes and manage issues like anxiety, phobias, pain, and habits by accessing the subconscious mind for therapeutic suggestions.

Hypnosis is an extremely safe and deeply restful state for the nervous system, when measured we see the same brainwaves states that occur in deep meditative or dream states. The client is easily able to move themself out of the trance state at any time if they feel uncomfortable, similar to waking oneself up from a dream. This is distinct from stage hypnosis as the individual remains completely in control and aware in clinical hypnosis.

❋ Break unwanted habits

Clinical hypnotherapy directly targets subconscious thought patterns, helping you stop behaviors like overthinking, nail biting or scrolling.

❋ Reduce anxiety and stress

Sessions trigger the body’s relaxation response, lowering heart rate, calming the nervous system, and improving emotional regulation.

❋ Strengthen lasting change

By creating new neural connections, clinical hypnotherapy helps new beliefs, behaviors, and coping skills stick over time.

❋ Evidence-based approach

Clinical hypnotherapy is supported by decades of research showing measurable improvements in stress, anxiety, pain management, sleep, and behavior change. Studies published by the American Psychological Association, Mayo Clinic, NIH and peer-reviewed journals demonstrate that hypnosis can reliably help people achieve lasting results when facilitated by trained professionals.

Interested in going deeper?

Explore the role of clinical hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, stress, sleep and more. Dr. Spiegel explains how to determine your level of hypnotizability and provides case studies of remarkable successes using hypnosis to treat a variety of ailments.

Learn how hypnosis works at the neural circuit level to enhance cognitive flexibility. Throughout the episode Dr. Spiegel summarizes key clinical trials, peer-reviewed findings and resources for working with a trained clinical professional or for practicing guided self-hypnosis.

Dr. David Spiegel, MD is the Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health and Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Spiegel has more than 40 years of clinical and research experience with hypnosis, stress physiology and psychotherapy.

How hypnosis works—from a brainwave perspective

Hypnosis & the brain

Your brain operates in different electrical rhythms, often measured as brainwaves. Each state of consciousness — alert, relaxed, asleep — has a characteristic pattern.

  • Beta (13–30 Hz): Normal waking state. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and active focus.

  • Alpha (8–12 Hz): Relaxed but awake. Common during meditation, light daydreaming, or calm focus.

  • Theta (4–7 Hz): Deep relaxation and imagery. Associated with memory processing, creativity, and heightened suggestibility.

  • Delta (0.5–3 Hz): Deep sleep.

Clinical hypnosis typically guides the brain from a high-beta, analytical state into alpha and theta rhythms. In these slower-wave states:

  • The prefrontal cortex (critical thinking & filtering) becomes less dominant.

  • The brain shows increased connectivity between emotional and memory-processing regions (such as the limbic system).

  • The nervous system shifts toward parasympathetic activation (rest-and-regulate mode).

This combination creates a state where:

  • The mind is focused but relaxed

  • External distractions are reduced

  • Subconscious patterns become more accessible

  • New associations can be formed more easily

The brain is more “plastic” in these states, which means suggestions, reframes, and imagery can more effectively influence automatic thoughts, emotional responses, and habits.

Importantly, hypnosis is not sleep and not unconsciousness. Most people remain aware of what is happening and can stop at any time. It is better described as a state of deeply focused attention with reduced mental noise.

  • “Alex is an amazing hypnotherapist. After just 2 sessions with her I was impacted in a profoundly positive way that continues to have benefits in my life every day. Alex brings her full grounded, wise, and creative spirit to these sessions, and I highly recommend working with her if you are even a little interested in hypnosis and improving some aspect of your life!”

    Eric L.

  • “Alex is naturally gifted at the healing process. This is not always something that can be taught. If you want to heal deep wounds, if you want to receive high-quality of focus and attention, if you want to be heard and genuinely and specifically attended to, Alex is your person! I’ve been a professional healer for 19 years, she deeply and profoundly and long lastingly helped me breakthrough my deepest fears. Highly recommended. Very much suggested.”

    Aimee R.

  • “I had the pleasure of studying hypnotherapy alongside Alex. Her dedication to the craft, deep empathy, and calm presence consistently stood out during our training. Alex cares deeply about helping clients achieve meaningful transformation. Anyone working with Alex will be in compassionate, capable hands.”

    Munjal S.

FAQs

  • Clinical hypnosis uses a guided, focused state of attention (trance) to help people make positive changes and manage issues like anxiety, phobias, pain, and habits by accessing the subconscious mind for therapeutic suggestions. This is distinct from stage hypnosis as the individual remains completely in control and aware in clinical hypnosis.

    Hypnosis is an extremely safe and restful state for the nervous system, akin to a deep meditative or dreamlike trance state. The client is easily able to move themself out of the trance state at any time if they feel uncomfortable, similar to waking oneself up from a dream.

  • Alex received training for Active Breathwork Facilitation from Ally Maz & George Ramsay, Coaching from MindBodyGreen and Hypnotherapy from the renown Hypnotherapy Training Institute (HTI) where she was trained directly by Randal Churchill, who wrote the text on Regression Hypnotherapy. HTI is accredited by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) and was one of the original four licensed hypnotherapy schools when was founded it over 45 years ago.

    Golden Wake Healing is about the transformation and integration of all parts of you. All healing that takes place comes from inside you, I am simply a guide offering time, space and structure to help remind your body what it is capable of.

    I am not a medical professional, I do not offer medical advice or services.

  • Before any type of session we will have a consultation to discuss the challenge you want to overcome or the goal/outcome you want to focus on.

    Session content depends entirely on your goals. We discuss your preferences and the modality that may best meet your needs at the time. Sessions can last anywhere from 60-90 minutes depending on the type of work being done.

    Similar to hiring a personal trainer, a single session is unlikely to move the needle longterm (though it does occur sometimes). This type of work is a commitment to self-growth — powerful change can be achieved when sessions are focused on a single goal/outcome for a distinct period on time, usually 3-6 sessions depending on the topic.

  • I do not take insurance at this time.

    However, I do offer a referral discount where you can get $25 off your next session for every person you refer that completes a session.