What healing modality or modalities do you practice?
I am a practitioner of HipGnosis, an integrative approach to all sorts of magical transformation. A lot of it is based on structures and insights of classical hypnosis but combines elements of NLP, energy medicine, play and brain-training yoga.
Why do clients typically seek your particular style of work?
Many clients want change but have exhausted all other options and think, “hey, it doesn’t help to try another thing.” Luckily, I am often the last stop 
. Others come with a specific curiosity about what hypnosis can accomplish for them.
How did you get interested in doing what you do?
My father is actually a leading expert of hypnotherapy in South Korea. I grew up being his guinea pig but I always dismissed it as ‘weird’ and ‘woo-woo’ in the way that kids can be reflexively defiant of their parents. And then… well, as I like to say, I saw the light, and became infatuated with the power and possibility of hypnosis and other types of change work. Although my most recent 9-to-5 profession was in public health research, as a religion major and seminary drop-out, I have always been preoccupied with understanding the nature of consciousness and transformation. I am so passionate about it and I can hardly believe that I am now building a business around it!
How long have you been in practice? Has your practice always looked like this, or have there been variations?
I became a certified clinical hypnotist last year and am actively building up my practice in 2012. I am looking to incorporate more elements of play and mind-body training into my approach this year.
Where and when did you do your training? Was it formal or informal?
I trained with an award-winning master teacher of hypnosis, Melissa Tiers, at the Center for Integrative Hypnosis which she founded. I went through her formal certification program (certification granted by the National Guilt of Hypnotists) which involves not only theory but a lot of clinical training. Additionally, I recently also received certification as an integrative life coach by the International Association of Counselors and Therapists. My coaching training builds on a foundation of hypnosis & other change work skills.
Is tipping appropriate for your business? Why or why not? How much?
I am not sure what other hypnotists do, but neither I nor any hypnotist I know takes tips.
What are your rates? Do you use a fixed or sliding fee scale? Are taxes included? What forms of payment do you accept?
My rate is $125 an hour. My clients have so far paid me through paypal or sent checks through snail mail.
Are clients clothed or disrobed during your service? What kind of draping can they expect?
My clients are and remain fully clothed during the session.
Though there was this one client with a fear of nudity… KIDDING!
What ages can you treat, and in that range, what ages have you comfortably treated?
HipGnosis is great for any age because it is just a set of techniques for working with your mind, though of course my approach will be different for a given age group. As I am starting out, I have so far worked with clients whose ages range from the teens to mid-forties.
What are common fears you have encountered in new clients that you’d like to allay?
1. There is no such thing as ‘not hypnotizable’! This is a myth propagated by early practitioners who did not understand that people vary and that a flexible approach to induction is crucial. If you are open to the experience and are capable of following directions (and are working with a good practitioner), you can be hypnotized.
2. There is actually nothing “woo” about the basic principle of HipGnosis. We usually don’t have access to the vast majority of our brain functions because they take place “behind the scenes”. Hypnotic techniques help you relax and lower your conscious barriers to make it easier to access your inner world and make change. Neuroscience!
How frequently and for how long do you recommend receiving treatment within a typical treatment plan?
The beauty of HipGnosis is that change can be, er, disorientingly quick. Unless I have an ongoing coaching relationship with a client, a stuck situation or desired pattern change (whether it is changing a habit or dissolving a phobia) can be resolved in between 1 to 3 sessions. I have had more than one client who dissolved decades of stuff in one hour.
Are there other modalities you would consider complementary to your work?
I think any mind-body healing modalities that is noninvasive, open, compassionate and client-centered can complement hypnosis beautifully.
How long does a typical session last? Are there reasons for doing longer or shorter sessions?
A session involves me teaching a client a range of techniques which can be used with or without inducing a deep trance and typically ranges from 1 to 2 hours. If change is achieved quickly (which does happen) then there is no reason to continue for much longer except to reinforce and seal in the change that has been made. Sometimes, deep change requires a bit more time and a deeper trance. It all depends!
If I don’t live in the same city as you, or if I want to experience your modality while I’m traveling, are there resources for me to easily and safely find a skilled practitioner in other places?
HipGnosis by Skype can be just as effective as an in-person session. All that matters is that you have a webcam and good internet connection so we can see each other clearly. It is very important that I be able to read your body language and be able to teach you techniques that engage the body. I will answer the other part of this question in the next question…
What kind of licensing do you have? Are there legal standards that apply?
HipGnosis is not a legally regulated field. Even though organizations like the National Guild of Hypnotists (the largest and most prestigious international organization that I am certified by) works hard to upkeep certain professional standards in the industry, technically anyone can claim to be a hypnotist. For this reason, I am hesitant to recommend anyone’s work that I am not familiar with. The first thing I would advise is to go based on referrals and recommendations of other people — that way, you can be assured that you are entering into a healing relationship with someone with true skills who will create a safe space for you.
Are there any common missteps that clients have made? What should clients know to avoid awkwardness?
Not much potential for awkwardness with HipGnosis.
The only thing my clients need to know is that there is no such thing as doing it ‘wrong’. There’s no ‘right’ way to be hipgnotized and this will immediately become very clear to whoever is working with me.
What kind of records are kept about clients? Who has access to them?
No records whatsoever, unless the client requests a recorded session.
Is there paperwork to fill out, and if so, how much time does it typically take to complete?
I usually ask a couple of questions about what the client would like to work on beforehand, but nothing extensive or formal.
If I have questions before/after my session, what’s the best way to get them answered?
Email me! I love email.
Do you have a website?
Yes! http://www.houseofhipgnosis.com
How do I book an appointment?
Through my website or by emailing me.
How do you take care of yourself?
I use all HipGnosis techniques on myself! I have to walk the walk because life is so much better with HipGnosis than without.
How can I continue the work we’ve begun here in my daily life?
HipGnosis sessions are less like therapy and more like a personalized course on self-hipgnosis techniques. My goal is to teach them to you and let you know how you can use them during our session so that you can take advantage of them for the rest of your life. I love the process of becoming totally unnecessary to my clients!
Will you provide me with specific self-care homework to help me take this work deeper?
If I am in a coaching relationship with you, yes, this is built into the process.
If I want to explore this more on my own, what books or other resources would you recommend?
My teacher, Melissa Tiers, is a genius and models the kind of integrative, endlessly curious approach to hypnosis that I aim to emulate. I would highly recommend her books.
Havi Brooks’ work in propagating Shiva Nata and bringing the spirit of mindfulness and play to transformative processes has been a huge influence and resource for me. In addition, I am a big fan of Donna Eden’s work; her contribution to energy medicine (in conjunction with her husband Dr. Feinstein) is intelligent, inspiring and unparalleled.
And as I always say, if you can find a good teacher, it never hurts to learn some NLP. Ever!
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