What first got you into hypnosis?

I first started doing hypnosis in the early 70s as a path to my own personal growth. This was through The Silva Method and I took all the trainings they had to offer. I was a migraine sufferer at the time, and I learned hypnosis methods to rid myself of migraines forever. I went on to take hypnosis classes through Denver Free University which is now Colorado Free University where I teach hypnosis classes now. I became friends with the instructor of those classes and another of the students. We went into business together using hypnosis methods.

What’s your favorite part about your job?

To me every day is an adventure, and there are times when mundane-seeming issues end up challenging my skills. I enjoy working with unusual issues. No matter what a client comes in for I can apply the principles of hypnosis.

If you weren’t doing hypnotherapy, what do you think you’d be doing?

I have a great many interests, and I tend to be passionate about whatever I’m involved in. Hypnosis has become such a normal part of my existence that it would play a role in anything I might pursue. I have done a lot of other things which are closely tied to the subconscious mind and personal growth. I became certified in breathwork years ago and practiced that quite a lot. I have a great interest in antique engines and farm tractors. At one time I even looked at working for a museum in California that specialized in repairing and casting antique engines and other equipment.

I might even return to farming. It’s something I enjoyed, but never made much money at. Whatever I would be doing, I’d always be writing. Writing has always been an underlying passion.

You’ve written a lot of books. Have you always wanted to be a writer? Where did that desire come from?

I was a terrible student, but my third-grade teacher thought I had some ability as a writer and that always stayed with me. I recall being very young and half-asleep in the back seat of the car listening to a story on the radio. I remember listening to the story in an analytical way, trying to figure out what made that story interesting. I didn’t technically know what made the story interesting, but I could hear it in my mind, and I integrated what I had heard into my own writing. Later I discovered that it was adjectives which were helping to make the stories more colorful.

I’m not a great writer, but it is a passion and I would probably keep writing books even if no one ever read them.

Do you have any funny stories to share from your work?

A lot of humorous things have happened and a lot of those happened when I was speaking at college and high school psychology classes.

Early in my career I was seeing a woman for weight issues. She belonged to a country club and went to the gym there regularly, however she never allowed herself to sweat. If she was working out on a machine and started to sweat she would stop. Obviously she wasn’t getting the full benefit from her exercise.

During her hypnosis session I was encouraging her to embrace the positive effects of perspiring. As I continued she started unbuttoning her dress (to cool down). When I emerged her, she quickly buttoned her dress back up.

What’s the craziest place you’ve ever done hypnosis?

I’ve done hypnosis in hotel lobbies, airplanes, retirement homes and more. I’ve done hypnosis in hospitals, and in one case I was working with a woman pre- and post-surgery for a kidney transplant. It was her third kidney transplant as the first two were unsuccessful. After her surgery I hypnotized her in the recovery room while nurses were busy plugging her in to IVs and monitoring devices. The medical staff had no idea what I was doing, but they didn’t interfere, and it worked out great. Her body accepted the new kidney and she is doing well to this day.

Do you use hypnosis in your own life?

Hypnosis is our most common experience of consciousness, so we are all using it in our daily lives, whether we are aware of it or not. It’s how we can make use of it that is important. Formally I do self-hypnosis processes daily, and I have affirmation recordings that I have made and I listen to them when driving.

What’s the number one thing you wish people knew about the work you do?

I guess that would be how easy it is. Things like stopping smoking only require one session and people walk away a non-smoker. Some issues may take more sessions, but so often the client is experiencing deep relaxation while I talk to their subconscious mind and convince it there’s a better way. People can spend years in traditional cognitive talk therapy and end with coping strategies, while with hypnotherapy we can become free of an issue in a very short time. Feel free to call or send a message anytime.