Connie | The Hypnotizer - Connie Brannan, CHt's Hypnosis Blog

Events, Hypnosis

Explore!: Healing and Hypnosis

Written by Connie January 11, 2010June 9, 2013

C’mon and get hypnotized! Once again I’ll be teaching at Bellevue College as part of the Explore! program. This go-round I’m offering two courses. The first begins this month, Monday, January 25th, and it’s on the topic of healing and hypnosis.

I’m quite excited about it, as it’s a topic close to my heart. I had a close family member come very near death, as in coma and on life support and not expected to live, and I believe that hypnosis played a part in her miraculous and thriving recovery. Trust me, I know the power of hypnosis. This is a very personal story I’ll share in more detail at my course:

Here are the particulars of the course!
http://www.campusce.net/BC/course/course.aspx?C=12058&pc=1066&mc=1387&sc=

Healing and Hypnosis: Secrets to Wellness

In this hands-on workshop you will learn about the mind-body connection, and the transformational power of self-hypnosis. You will learn (and experience) what hypnosis is, how your mind works, how to hypnotize yourself, how to craft potent suggestions, how to put it all together in a simple process to use these skills for accessing your power within and enhancing your own health and wellness. This workshop is conducted by Connie Brannan, CHt, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Professional Conversational Hypnotherapist and Licensed Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™.

Healing and Hypnosis: Secrets to Wellness
Item: W8955 Connie Brannan
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM North Campus
Sessions: 2 M Address: 10700 Northup Way Bellevue, WA 98004
1/25/2010 – 2/1/2010 Fee: $89.00

I’m also teaching another course in Building Confidence and Self-Esteem through Self-Hypnosis. That course begins in March. Details here:
http://www.campusce.net/BC/course/course.aspx?C=11562&pc=1066&mc=1387&sc=

Each course is sure to be lots of fun and learning crammed into two 3-hour evening classes. If it fits your schedule, I recommend these as an easy and inexpensive beginner’s taster introduction to hypnosis. Feel free to email me for more info: connie@mindworkshypnosis.net.

Warm Regards,
Connie

Events, Hypnosis

World Hypnotism Day!

Written by Connie January 6, 2010June 9, 2013

Hi, Hypno Friends!

January 4th is the “official” 6th annual World Hypnotism Day, a day in which all things hypnotic are celebrated and knowledge spread to the general public about this fantastic tool for change! The “day” was yesterday, but it’s celebrated by formal and informal hypnosis organizations all this month! Personally, I celebrate hypnosis every day of my life!

My little sister was describing me recently to a family member who hasn’t seen me in quite awhile: “Connie’s happy now.” Yes, I am! And I credit hypnosis as the impetus and mechanism for making MAJOR shifts in my life, my body, my attitude, my career, my joy. So, everyday for me is I Love Hypnosis Day!

However…there is a formally recognized day. And it is now, and all this month! And it has events!

I’m a part of two major World Hypnotism Day Events this year, and I thought to share the particulars with YOU. Because, you’re invited. You’re invited to attend, and learn, and experience more about hypnosis.

1) My Professional Organization, The NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists) – WA (Washington State Chapter) has an event on January 30th! It’s tentatively to be held at the Seattle Public Library, all day that day, which is a Saturday. More information is to be found here:

http://www.nghwa.org/world_hypnotism_day.htm

There will be talks and demos and participatory STUFF presented by a select few of top notch professional hypnotists and hypnotherapists in the Pacific Northwest. I’m presenting a talk on self hypnosis! C’mon down and get hypnotized. It’s free–though there are some classes/events to be included which are earmarked for hypnosis professionals and enthusiasts and those have a modest fee. Free is good. C’mon down!

2) There is a Hypnotherapy & Mind-Body Wellness Day happening on January 16th at the Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland. That’s also a Saturday. This could be your month of hypnosis-happening-Saturdays! 🙂 I’m a part of this event as well. I am presenting a talk entitled: “New Year, New You! Managing Your Weight Through Hypnosis.” 2 pm. C’mon down. Meet me! Listen to my talk! Learn more! It’s all good!

Here’s more information on that:

I do hope you can make the time to learn more about hypnosis, and attend either or both of these events, either for all day or a talk or two. BECAUSE…it’s powerful stuff. Hypnosis is! Good stuff. Who knows? You may just be delighted at what you learn, entranced enough to want to learn more, and perhaps make a move as I did, and incorporate this into your life!

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Just for Fun

Written by Connie December 17, 2009June 9, 2013 4 Comments

Michael and I have “elfed ourselves.” You can, too. Too funny. Thought I’d share this.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Hypnosis, Musings

Hollyweird

Written by Connie December 15, 2009June 9, 2013 2 Comments

The Hypnotic Eye, 1960 Hypno-Horror movie

Last night, Michael and I watched a movie. THE HYPNOTIC EYE. 1960 hypno-horror ridiculousness. On the one hand, it is (unintentionally) hilarious–beyond ridiculous, to anyone who understands what hypnosis is and how it works. On the other hand, it is quite disturbing that this movie helped shape beliefs about hypnosis to minds of the 60’s and beyond!

This movie features sadistic, evil, murdering hypnotists! Not just one, but TWO evil hypnotists. Stage hypnotists. Working together on the unsuspecting public to torture and maim. Nice! (NOT!) The male hypnotist also had his hypno-seduction thing going on, too.

Visually, the movie was stunning, and evocative. Black and white. And not just black in color, I think they call it “film noir.” Nice spooky soundtrack.

Hollywood and popular culture sure like to malign hypnosis and hypnotists. It’s not just movies of the 60’s, swirling with hypnowheels and blinking electronics, men with dark, evil eyes and even evil-er intent, and swooning, helpless women. That mystique continues today in popular culture, movies, television. A mystique of fear, and darkness, mind control, and nasty intent. A recent episode of “The Mentalist” (massively popular US television show) featured an evil, murdering hypnotist as well. Also, thieving!

Of course, people who truly feel that hypnosis is dark and dangerous don’t come into my world. They aren’t coming to me for help. So, I really don’t know how prevalent this myth-bound attitude is. When I teach my courses at Bellevue College and with my own school, Mindworks NLP, and even one on one with clients, I ferret out these fear beliefs and counter with what I know is true. And clients and students experience that truth!

Hypnosis is a healing art. It’s natural, and positive. It’s one of the most natural and positive forces in the universe, and it’s not something “being done” to someone else. It’s what we can do inside ourselves and for ourselves. It’s a GOOD thing. Powerful, positive, healing, expanding, beautiful. Natural. We all go in and out of hypnosis every day. Reading, daydreaming, playing on the computer, writing, watching TV, just THINKING, it’s all hypnosis. I’ve always been a thinker, one prone to daytime dreaming, so I’ve always been a hypnotist. You are one, too. I have a hypnosis friend named Skip. He says we’re in a hypnotic state 24/7, only trading one trance for another. I like that idea, too!

So, while these movies and shows are surely entertaining, and might be “fun,” please take it with a grain or two or thousand grains of skepticism when you see, hear, or read in popular culture about all the evil hypnotists and their evil mind control power. Maybe it helps sell movies, but it ain’t reality.

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

More Musings About Weight Loss

Written by Connie December 12, 2009June 9, 2013 2 Comments

Connie Brannan, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. TRUE! But I have some more words to say about this as well. I’m still thinking about weight and body image and self esteem and confidence and health and how hypnosis can improve all those things. Unrecognizably so, in some cases. Hypnosis works. Fantastically well. On so many things. But…especially, weight loss. That’s a topic dear to my heart. And hips. And chin (singular nowadays).

I’ve been having a slew of weight loss clients lately. And, you know, I LOVE THAT! Love it. They’re not waiting until the first of the year and New Year’s Resolutions, they’re moving forward on what they want. NOW! I love that. When you’re ready, you’re ready. Are any of you out there ready to change your life? You can, you know. And it’s not magic, and it’s not voo doo and it’s also not horrifically difficult–it’s simply you doing what you want. Do you want to lose weight? I can help. My tools can help. Those tools are hypnosis and NLP Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™.

I often get together with groups of hypnotists, at trainings and at professional meetings. I’m not mentioning any names, but you know, there are some seriously obese hypnotists out there selling weight loss services. In my book, that’s incongruent. They aren’t “walking the talk.” I am. I do. I wouldn’t go to a chain smoking hypnotist to quit tobacco, either.

If you want serious, passionate, compassionate (I’ve been there, believe it!), dedicated, KNOWLEDGABLE, successful help with this issue, I’m your hypnotist. I know fat. I know all about it. A lifetime of knowing. Until I learned something else. Not fat. I can teach you not fat. Come learn with me! 🙂

Wishing you health and success this holiday season,

Connie

Musings

Hypnowheel in the sky

Written by Connie December 10, 2009June 9, 2013

Watch this! It’s cool.

To me, it’s a very recognizable symbol. It’s a hypnowheel… of light! I think it’s a message, that HYPNOSIS WORKS! And those who saw it live or see it in video form, should get that message deep deep deep into their unconscious. Yes, very cool!

Michael says: it’s the universe trying to hypnotize us. 🙂 If so, I say: bring it. Hypnosis is a positive experience, always.

Warmest regards in these chill times (WINTER),
Connie

Events, Hypnosis

Reminder: My Self Hypnosis Course for BC happens tomorrow, 11/30!

Written by Connie November 29, 2009June 9, 2013 3 Comments

I teach continuing ed for Bellevue College

http://www.campusce.net/BC/course/course.aspx?C=11559&pc=1066&mc=1387&sc=

Healthy Hypnosis: Let Go of Weight

Imagine yourself in your “skinny jeans.” Hear the compliments of your family and friends. Like what you see when you look in the mirror! Feel the energy! The hypnosis skills taught in this workshop can help you unleash the infinite power within you to achieve all this! You’ll learn to reprogram your own mind to act in ways you desire: healthy choices, healthy eating, motivation to exercise. It won’t be a struggle, and it’s not a “diet,” it’s simply doing what you want to do. Your mind and your body will be working together–for your health!!

As of this moment, there are still 5 seats remaining. I’d love to fill the room. Because, I BELIEVE in this, and I know it works. Who wants to jump start their New Year’s resolutions now? Why wait? Now is good. How about the strength and resolve to avoid all that food/treat/goodies temptation that comes with the holidays? You don’t have to gain weight this holiday season. You really don’t. You can start moving the other direction. Down, down, down.

I think I’ll bring some photo print-outs of me before I lost weight. As evidence that HYPNOSIS WORKS for so much, including weight loss. Yes, it does. And well.

Half the size.

Who else wants to sign up, c’mon down, and GET HYPNOTIZED!!? Follow the link above and you can! Hope to see you manana!

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Vegas Hypno Training

Written by Connie November 23, 2009June 9, 2013

Well, Michael and I are heading home from a 2-week long Vegas adventure. And not just any old Vegas adventure. A HYPNO adventure! We just completed two weeks of continuing education in the realm of conversational hypnosis — for hypnotherapeutic processes and general excellence in communication both. And influence. Good stuff.

Now, I can’t help but wonder who I will have become beyond the sunshine and back into the autumn Seattle skies and clouds, but not yet. Our flight is delayed, so here’s a blog from the airport! What fun! 🙂 To the extent that you totally consider how deep down you all enjoy reading each and every one of my blog entries only here and only now and aside from that, learning more and more about hypnosis and it’s awesome power. (That’s some mind-bending language speak.)

I’m learning some new tools to help me help others and spin minds in resourceful directions. That’s what it’s all about!

I love Las Vegas. I love hypnosis. I love trance. I love learning. Put them together and it’s superlove. This was a valuable 2 weeks. Vegas is famous for its “Fremont Street Experience.” This was the “Henderson Hypno Experience.” We met some terrific people, because, truly, terrrific people are attracted to this healing art.

I’ll post some photos and tell some Vegas stories (in this instance what happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas) when I get home officially. But not yet.

Warm Regards,
Connie

NLP

Confidence Booster – Michael’s Tirade

Written by Connie November 5, 2009June 9, 2013 1 Comment

Hi, again! The other day my husband and fellow hypnotist, Michael, was reading the Sunday paper. He likes to do that! 🙂 In particular, he was reading Parade Magazine, one of the little inserts next to the grocery ads, coupons, and TV schedule. Under “Healthystyle Cheat Sheet” they had a little article called: “Two-Second Confidence Booster.” Basically, it was about a study and “growing research” that “found” that your body position affects your mood. Specifically, that sitting up straight can affect confidence.

Well, duh!

Michael was irritated that this was being presented as something new and groundbreaking. It’s not! This is something NLP, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, has known and advanced upon a hundred-thousand-fold over the past several DECADES, how the mind and body are linked and processes to change how you feel, how you think, how you act. I said: wow, talk about just the tip of the iceberg, that this little article shows just a tiny, tiny, miniscule understanding of our power for change and presents it as something so exciting and “new!” Michael said: it’s NOT even the tip of the iceberg. It’s less than that!

Our conclusion: more people need to know about NLP!!!

In the 70’s, NLP founder (and our teacher!) Dr. Richard Bandler developed an entire methodology that allows people to control their own lives, in his words: “get through it, get over it, get to it!” Motivation. Healing past hurts, letting go of fears and limiting beliefs, changing your current state of mind and life, and so much more, through such easy yet powerful techniques. As Richard also says: With NLP you are learning to “Drive your own bus.” I love me some Richard Bandler. He’s the KING! He’s licensed us to teach these materials, which we do through our school in the Seattle area: Mindworks NLP. If you’d like to know more about that, call me or look here: http://www.seattlenlptraining.com.

NLP is hypnosis on steroids!

Connie and Michael with the KING, Dr. Richard Bandler.

Michael and I are going to go study further with Dr. Bandler in Orlando, Florida in a few months! Yay!!

I use a blend of NLP and hypnosis in my therapy practice. Like chocolate and peanut butter! Two great things that go great together! I think it’s super powerful this blend of hypnosis and NLP, and my initial certification is as a “Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapist.” I love these tools for change. And there’s a hell of a lot more power to it than “sit up straight!”

Learn more about NLP here:
http://www.seattlenlptraining.com We also offer 1 and 2-day seminars on NLP topics such as NLP for Sales and Business Success, NLP for Personal Development, NLP for Therapists. It’s good stuff, and benefits anyone and EVERYONE who wants to live well.

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis, Musings

Why Halloween is for Hypnotists

Written by Connie November 1, 2009June 9, 2013 2 Comments

Yesterday was Halloween. I was sitting in a Starbucks (they’re everywhere here, and a day without coffee is like a day without clouds) and Michael and I were drinking some coffee. A little boy and girl were there with Mom and ran past me squealing in delight when they saw me. Because I was wearing a colorful Halloween sweater with spiders and cats on it and and some “antennae” with orange fur and bats on my head. The boy and girl came up to me and informed me that they were, respectively, a princess and SUPERMAN!!! He told me that with passion and intense conviction, and although he wasn’t wearing his costume at the moment, I could see it. Yes, he was superman.

Knowing that you’re superman is a good thing.

Imagination is a freedom. To an adult, a chair may be just a chair–something to sit on. To a child, a chair may be so much more, a car, a pony, a fort to climb on, a spaceship. I remember as a kid walking on living room furniture (I don’t think my Mom was in on this game)–the game was NOT to touch the floor as the floor was a moat or a lava pit or sure death of some kind. Furniture was land, and safety.

I was also at the costume store the other day, and saw imagination in full play. Adult imagination. Adults looking at, trying on, playing with Halloween costumes, and props–faces alive with “let’s pretend.” Yes, I AM a pirate! There was a magic in that store, and a life and energy that you don’t find in everyday life. Simply: it’s imagination. One of the “rules of the mind” I teach in my Bellevue College course is that “imagination is more powerful than knowledge.” Yes, it is!

I love imagination. It’s the stock in trade of what I do. Helping people change, in ways they want to. But, before they can do that, they have to have the imagination to see life could be different. They must be able to imagine themselves cigarette-free, thinner, more successful, etc. That’s part of what I help them do–because I can see it for them. Clearly! A person can come into my office with 50 pounds to lose, and I can fully imagine them thinner and healthier and living life with full passion. It’s who they really are. I can “see” their face thinner. Their body slimmer. I can see twitching turn to calm. I can see happiness. Hypnosis helps me communicate what I know is true for them. When people are feeling “stuck” in their lives, partly it’s because they’ve stomped down this innate childlike ability to see the world as full of possibility and potential. I help people reconnect with that ability, and change is streamlined.

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Cleaning out the closets

Written by Connie October 28, 2009June 9, 2013 1 Comment

The topic is weight loss! Mine, in particular. See, I’ve been using my own tools, hypnosis and NLP to work on my own “stuff.” Lifelong stuff. And…I’m happy to report: it’s working! Going great! 🙂 I’m now officially half my former size. I’m not going to say the NUMBERS because it’s not primarily about the numbers, in my mind. In fact, I don’t even weigh myself. It’s about how I feel. How I look. Energy! Vitality! Life! Those things are improving every day.

Thus, time to clean out the closets. I went through my clothes closet the other day, trying things on that I haven’t looked at since last winter, to see if my favorite coats and sweaters were something to keep or donate. Most were “donate!” Some of them looked like clown suits on me, so large. I thought about keeping one, as a reminder, but no–off they go! I said “goodbye” (literally and out loud) to several garments that I had particularly loved. My brown suede blazer. Goodbye! My black wool “peacoat.” Goodbye! A favorite embroidered and beaded sweater which was hanging long on me like a dress. Goodbye!

Letting go is good. Letting go of things that are no longer needed or useful. Like the extra weight. Goodbye!

Gird yourself. 🙂 Now, the sales pitch!! 🙂 I love helping people with this issue of weight. Because I know all about it. I understand it. I’m living it! I’ve been dealing with it all my life. And now, I know first hand how powerful and successful the tools of hypnosis and NLP are in managing it, by quickly changing patterns and habits, changing thoughts, changing feelings, streamlining change in such natural, healthy ways that lets you feel good about yourself, your life, and your capabilities. I love it! Absolutely.

If you’re struggling with this issue, and have “tried everything,” (by the way, “try” = failure.) then perhaps it’s time to stop trying and start doing. Hypnosis is a fantastic way of doing change! It’s not “talk therapy,” it’s action therapy. If you’re serious about getting yourself on that right path, the one you want and deserve, I can help. Call me! All my contact info is here:
http://www.mindworkshypnosis.net/contact.html.
This is what I do, and I’m damn good at it!

Now, I’m going to put myself out there and show a “fat picture” to the world. Here’s a pic of me from a few years ago, pre-hypnosis, and here’s me a few days ago, trying on my “pirate vixen” Halloween costume. 🙂 As they say, the camera don’t lie!

Warm Regards,

Connie

Hypnosis

It’s cold and flu season (but not for me!)

Written by Connie October 23, 2009June 9, 2013 2 Comments

Hi, guys! Who watches television? (Raising my own hand, but only half way.) 🙂 I hardly watch at all any more, because the quality of “what’s on” is going down, down, down, and my time for leisure is going down as well. That’s a good thing, but that’s also another topic. This one is:

Dramatic pause. Negative suggestions.

Watching TV this past week, I can’t help but notice the BOMBARDMENT of ads right now, commercials for cold & flu medicines and paraphernalia. Here’s the message: “It’s cold and flu season.” and that means “You’re going to get sick., you can expect to get sick.” I also notice that the stores are stocking the aisles with cold and flu medicines and products–prominent and in-your-face, on the end caps and special displays, with alarming banners warning that cold and flu season is here! Same message: “It’s time for you to get sick now! You’re going to get sick now.” It’s not a warning, per se, it’s a directive! It’s a negative suggestion. And our minds seem quite willing to embrace it without question!

Michael has a story he likes. He was in a work training with a woman. She told this story: She knew that every year she would have one bout of illness per cold and flu season, one only. The reason she’d only have one was because she’d prepare for it, and take massive doses of vitamins. She knew that she’d only get sick once! Her vitamins would protect her from further illness! And yes, it did transpire that she’d only get sick once per winter/season. BUT…one winter she got so busy and forgot to prepare with her vitamins, didn’t think about it at all. Guess what? She didn’t get sick that winter. Not once. Not at all. She forgot to get sick!!

Here’s a personal story about my personal experiences. This is NOT medical advice, because…I’m not medical. I’m a hypnotist. And here’s one positive side effect I enjoy from my hypnosis. Your mileage may vary.

I don’t get sick, either. Ever. Because I’ve decided not to. I USED to get sick, just like everyone else. Two major colds a year. At LEAST two. Until I discovered hypnosis and how the mind processes ideas and suggestions three+ years ago. Three years, and I haven’t been sick. Not a sniffle. I did have food poisoning for one day (some bad shrimp on a Vegas buffet), but it ended quite quickly. I don’t get sick because my unconscious mind rejects the idea, and does what it needs to do to make sure I stay well–strengthening my immune system, or whatever it wants to do. I can happily trust my unconscious to keep me well, and ignore those nitty gritty details as well. I don’t care how. I just know it’s in place. Wellness. I can hang around sick people, avoid hand sanitizer, ignore those commercials and product displays, no flu shot for me, and stay well. Three years and counting…

Hypnosis is incredibly powerful. And our understanding is just a miniscule slice of that giant cake. There’s so much more to know and learn. The unconscious mind knows how to keep us healthy. I talk to the mind in ways it likes, to do just that!

What do you suppose would happen if you decided to stay well this winter?

Warm Regards,
Connie

Musings

“I don’t believe it!”

Written by Connie October 20, 2009June 9, 2013 3 Comments

I made some different categories of “blog topics” here. This one is a MUSING! Not necessarily amusing. A musing. 🙂

Bellevue College Continuing Education Courses

I offer adult continuing education courses at Bellevue College, and last night was Part I of my “Building Confidence and Self-Esteem Through Self-Hypnosis” course. Fun stuff!! Hands on, minds on, very experiential. 🙂 We had a great turnout of interested parties (except one, story to follow) and they went deeply into hypnotic trance, several times, and got to experience and learn a LOT in a short amount of time. What is hypnosis, how does the mind work, what is the conscious mind, what is the unconscious mind, what is the truth vs. the myths of hypnosis, how can we use hypnosis to make personal change, what is a well formed goal…and more! LOTS of good stuff.

We all made and played with pendulums, learning more about the mind-body connection, and about the best language for communication with the unconscious. My class is heavy on participatory exercises and demos. Experiences. You learn more by experiencing trance, than just hearing it described. Which provides a better understanding, hearing about the taste of a ripe peach, or eating one, riding a bicycle, or reading about balance? It was a trance-filled evening. People were “into” it and loving it, and so was I. One of my goals in the world is promoting hypnosis and making people aware of it’s power and possibility. And that seemed to be going well…

However, there was one girl in my class who apparently wasn’t listening. Or, listening, but not believing. Have you ever seen a little kid sticking their fingers in their ears and chanting: “I don’t hear you, I don’t hear you, I don’t hear you…” This girl’s attitude was just like that. She interrupted the course, deep into the lecture to announce: “I don’t believe it. Any of it! I don’t believe in hypnosis.” She HAD gone into trance, but was denying the experience to herself. She was challenging me to “prove it” and “convince her” that “hypnosis is real.” She announced that she really didn’t want to be there, and was just taking the course for a credit. Convince her? No can do. This isn’t about mind control, this is about sharing cool things I know and offering experiences to those that are open to them. At that moment in time, she wasn’t open to learning. Nor was I going to direct my energies to changing her.

I KNOW the power of hypnosis and how it has improved my life a thousand-fold. And I see and experience daily how it’s helping my clients and students to live more fully and enjoyably, and change in ways they want to change, ways that make sense for their lives. It’s about expanding the realms of human potential and human excellence. It’s about accellerated learning. It’s about connection with the deepest and best parts of ourselves. How do I communicate that to someone with their fingers stuck in their ears? I can’t.

If you’re here, reading this blog, your ears are open! Your mind is open! And I appreciate that! I appreciate your openness to learn more. I hope I can be a good representative for this thing called hypnosis. I’m still learning, as well. One thing is deep, deep, deeply true. I love it! 🙂

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Michael, Master of the Mind!

Written by Connie October 19, 2009June 9, 2013 3 Comments

Yesterday, Michael put on a comedy stage hypnosis show for hypnosis students, enthusiasts, and professionals. It was FANTASTIC. We’re talkin’ FUN! Entertaining, and fascinating! He’s GOOD! He had zombies dancing, losing body parts, finding body parts, a girl miscounting her fingers, forgetting her name, remembering her name, forgetting her name,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p22YVEZclg

a top secret agent answering her ringing shoe, magic x-ray glasses revealing people in their underwear, and all manner of good clean hypnotic fun.

If you’ve ever seen a stage hypnosis show, it’s an entertainment like no other. Volunteers are guided to trance and then led to experience all manner of hypnotic phenemona in amusing skits, such as I’ve described above. Amnesia. Hallucinations, both positive hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there, hearing things that aren’t there, smelling things that aren’t there, and so on…) and negative hallucinations (not seeing things that ARE there). Body catalepsy. (Inability to move certain muscle groups, such as an arm or the eyes.) Post hypnotic suggestions. (Engaging in a behavior outside trance triggered by something communicated during trance.) Very cool to see AND experience! It’s performance, it’s art, and ethical performers such as Michael are respectful and never embarass anyone.

Michael and I have both been trained and certified as Professional Stage Hypnotists. Stage hypnosis is fun stuff. It ain’t therapy. Nor is it intended to be. As I said, it’s FUN! Fun that makes people smile and feel good, and laugh. Why not?

Some hypnotherapists look down on stage hypnosis as frivolous and providing a myth-filled, skewed, and erroneous view of hypnosis as mind control, and some stage hypnotists look down on hypnotherapists as unskilled with no professional standards of training and excellence. And no business sense. Both are right, and both are wrong. Personally, I LOVE stage hypnosis. It has value. It has it’s time and its place and its purpose. Entertainment is a good thing. As is education. (Think Mr. Wizard for science!)

I do both, and I love both, clinical hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis. No conflict in my mind! 🙂 As I mention in my personal story about my journey to a life and career and joy in hypnosis, stage hypnosis was my first intro. I believe it is for a lot of people!

Michael, “Master of the Mind,” and I will be putting on more shows in the future. If you’d like to join in on this unique experience, keep your eyes on this space and also on http://www.mindworkshypnosis.net for coming announcements. If you’d like to arrange a private show for your group or place of business, call us! We can do that, too! We’re also in the process of putting together a youtube video of some of the highlights from yesterday. Also keep your eyes here for that link!

Update: Here is the video link to a skit involving “amnesia dust.” 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p22YVEZclg

Here’s another video: the walk of the dreaded ZOMBIES!!

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Just say “No!” to Spam

Written by Connie October 15, 2009June 9, 2013

Hey, guys! This is in the nature of an announcement. Lately, someone is “spoofing” several of my business email addresses. That means, the email appears to come from me, and has a return address which is mine, but does not originate with me. So…if you get an email which appears to be from Mindworks Hypnosis or Seattle NLP Training with some intriguing title and you open it and inside is a sexy nurse in low cut top selling VIAGRA—IT’S NOT FROM ME! Delete! Delete! Delete!

By the way! I can and do help with some sexual dysfunction issues with the work I do, without putting drugs in your body. I’ve had good success with that, primarily with men, but with women, too–when the cause is emotional/mental and not organic. Of course the first step in anything like this is consult your medical professional. If he/she rules out physical causes, suggests that they can’t help you beyond giving you drugs, tells you “it’s all in your mind,” guess what? I can help. Of course it’s all in your mind. The mind controls the body. It’s simply another pattern of experience running in you, and patterns can be changed. Easily! For more info. on that and other services I provide, check out:

http://www.mindworkshypnosis.net/services.html. Or you can call me for a free consult! I love to help people get more enjoyment out of life, and intimacy is a huge part of that.

Warm Regards,
Connie

Hypnosis

Samurai Mind Training for Modern American Warriors

Written by Connie October 14, 2009June 9, 2013

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1920753,00.html

Interesting article! I notice they do not use the word “hypnosis” anywhere at all in this—but it IS hypnosis.

“The importance of the mind-body connection is being acknowledged at the highest levels of the military. The West Point-based Army Center for Enhanced Performance (ACEP), draws on performance psychology to teach soldiers how to build confidence, set goals and channel their energy…”

NLP

Mirror Box

Written by Connie October 13, 2009June 9, 2013

I was watching TV the other night–I don’t watch much at all anymore–but I still like “House,” that medical drama. Melodrama, really. Quite a bizarre, yet entertaining show! The episode the other night featured a “Mirror Box.”

A Mirror Box is a real thing. It’s very cool, and it’s something I was trained in the use of just a couple months ago. See the pic. I was at an Advanced Mastery NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) training.

The box is used to help people with phantom limb pain. Through accident or disease or what have you, the person has lost a limb. Yet it still hurts. Sometimes incapacitatingly. This technique relieves that pain. It also helps restore mobility in limbs to stroke patients.

Now, “House” is a strange show as I said, and as a character, he shows a very eccentric and non-nurturing approach to medicine. On the show, House kidnaps and basically tortures someone to “help” him with the mirror box and phantom limb pain.

In spite of this, I’m pleased that the “mirror box” got featured on the show. Shows how change takes no time at all–with an understanding of how the mind works!

Warm Regards,
Connie

Musings

What you focus on expands

Written by Connie October 12, 2009June 9, 2013

One of the key things I do in my hypnotherapy practice is help people find choices. More choices than they had hitherto seen! And key to that is the idea of being “at cause” in the world rather than “at effect.” I help shift people from victim mode (things happen to me) to creator mode (I make things happen that I desire). It’s incredibly powerful.

Before change can happen, whether it be habit changes like fingernail biting or smoking cessation, or self image shifts, belief shifts, positive changes of many and any varieties, this inner shift has to happen. At cause: My life is how I make it. I control events. And it’s getting better all the time. At effect: I’m stuck, bad things happen to me, I’m just “unlucky,” and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the difference between feeling (and thus being) weak, and being empowered.

When I successfully made this shift, I changed my whole life. New body, new career, new joy. It’s a worthwhile transition!

One of my friends and early hypnosis/NLP teachers, Skip Carson, helped me to do just that. Shift my mindset. Here’s what he said:

Creating Your Own Reality By Choice Is The Truth.

You Choose Exactly How You Want Your Reality To Be.
Whether You Believe It Or Not, It Still Is How It Works.

The More You Dicover Who You Are The More You Realize The Limitlessness Of Choices Available, And The Unbounded Possibilities That Exist.

Choose That Which Brings You The Deepest Experience Of Gratitude And Love.

Life Is Yours To Create The Way You Wish, Better Make It Something You Enjoy.

Look Within Yourself – How Much Joy Can You Stand?

What You Focus On Expands.

What Do You Want More Of?

I encourage you to look at Skips musings, above, and adopt them as your own as you are able. Because…he’s right. Absolutely right! I printed those out, attached them to my computer monitor where they remained for about a year and studied them daily, thought about them, and absorbed them. Do you likewise!

Stay turned for one of my upcoming “Monthly Trance” newsletters, you can sign up at http://www.mindworkshypnosis.net, where I cover this topic in more detail and offer one or two useful exercises to actually help you make this shift of mind.

Warm Regards,

Connie

Hypnosis

The Hypnotizer – Connie’s Hypnosis Blog!

Written by Connie October 12, 2009June 9, 2013 1 Comment

Connie Brannan, CHt., Master Hypnotist

Welcome to my blog! This is the place where I’ll discuss hypnosis and NLP with you, and answer questions, and tell stories, make announcements of upcoming events and sing and dance and generally amuse myself and you (hopefully). I LOVE hypnosis. It’s my life, my passion. My six year old cousin has dubbed me “The Hypnotizer” and you know what? I like that! So, the Hypnotizer I shall be!