Healing through hypnosis

Published 6:40 am Monday, March 3, 2008

It’s not watching a pocket watch swing before your eyes. It’s not a mysterious man telling you, “You are getting sleepy.”

Instead, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be utilized to help ailments, accomplish goals or change bad habits. And it can be very relaxing, as I learned while sitting in on the basic hypnosis course taught through Everett Community College’s Continuing Education program.

As I sat in the back of the classroom, focusing my eyes on a speck on the ceiling and concentrating on breathing deeply, I began drifting away – but not in the sense that I fell asleep or shut out everything in my surroundings. It was actually the opposite. I felt acutely aware of everything around me, but especially the way I was feeling: relaxed, but with a certain heaviness.

The instructor, Ron Stubbs, was suggesting to the class, as we all sat in relaxed, trance-like states, that our eyes weren’t focusing well and that it felt good to let them close completely. He was right; my vision blurred and every muscle in my face and body relaxed and grew heavy.

I’m not sure how much time passed, but when I opened my eyes, I felt surprisingly refreshed and peaceful.

The experience was different than what I imagined, different than the comedian hypnotists I’ve seen perform on stage.

This was the side of hypnosis that can be used therapeutically. And I learned this was the reason adults in the class chose to learn hypnosis– to possibly continue on and receive hypnotherapy certification through Stubbs, a certified clinical hypnotherapist and educator.

I must admit I was a bit worried about my possible behavior before being put into a trance, but Stubbs explained that “You won’t do anything that’s ethically or morally against your will.”

And for skeptics who don’t believe it’s possible, Stubbs told me he agreed that it probably wouldn’t work for them.

“It works fantastic, but the people have to want it to work,” Stubbs said.

I learned his goal for the students, who are enrolled in the first of three classes offered as part of the hypnotherapy certification program, is to become experts on a few specific aspects of hypnotherapy.

“I want my student to be the best in their field,” Stubbs told me. “I want them to be the best.”

Stubbs specializes in several aspects of hypnotherapy, including self-inflicted violence, ringing in the ears, depression and fibromyalgia.

He told me one of the most important things he will teach his students is how to be a good listener.

“In hypnotherapy the best thing we can do is listen,” Stubbs said.

I was impressed by the backgrounds and experience of the students in the class, which varied greatly. Wil Balla, of Mill Creek, is a chiropractor who began practicing acupuncture several years ago.

“I’m taking (the class) to learn more about pain relief,” Balla told me.

While Balla has had some past experience with hypnosis, he has never incorporated it into his current practice, although he hopes to after receiving certification.

Kristin Schaaf, a clinical psychologist from Mukilteo, said she took a hypnosis class years ago while completing an internship.

“I’ve been using a little bit of hypnosis in my practice, and I decided I should take the class to learn a more about it,” Schaaf said.

Shoreline resident Larry Arnett is a physical therapist and acupuncturist with no previous hypnotherapy experience. He signed up for the class because of his interest in pain relief, he told me.

I was impressed to find out that some students already have plans for their hypnotherapy training.

Cheryl Chamberlain, of Lynnwood, and John Gore, of Mukilteo, both work for Boeing, but they hope to someday open their own hypnotherapy center.

Chamberlain admitted to me she was a skeptic in the beginning, but since learning about hypnosis, she has already completed certification and decided to enroll in Stubbs’ class to learn a different style.

Gore’s wife, who suffered a stroke and struggles with speaking, has done well while hypnotized, giving Gore hope that they will be able to improve upon this success, he told me.

And I attended the class without prior hypnosis experience, but with an open mind, which is an important factor for success, Stubbs said.

“If you really believe in something, you can do anything you want.”