| Interview with Hypnotist Karen Ethridge |
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Karen Ethridge is a certified hypnotherapist from the Leidecker Institute (now
called Alternative Practitioner Academy) in Chicago. She has been a member of
the National Guild of Hypnotists since she started practicing hypnotherapy in 2004.
Karen was interviwed by Penny Cole in January 2009.
Q. Why did you become interested in hypnotism?
A. I have always been drawn to helping professions. Helping people find peace within themselves
is very rewarding for me. Hypnosis is simply another modality by which we can help ourselves and
others.
Q. How would you define hypnotism?
A. Hypnotism, or hypnotherapy, is a means of inducing a level of consciousness that is
characterized by relaxation and suggestibility. The purpose of hypnosis (the state one is in when
they have been hypnotized) is to provide a means of bypassing the critical mind and accessing the
non-reasoning, suggestible subconscious. The purpose of hypnotism, or hypnotherapy, is to assist
the client, through guided imagery and visualization, to bring about a desired change in behavior or
thought.
Q. How did you learn to hypnotize people?
A. I learned to hypnotize people through training at the Leidecker Institute. There were 14 students
in the class. We gained much experience practicing with each other, and I had plenty of family and
friends who volunteered to try hypnosis.
Q. What types of problems can be helped with hypnotism?
A. Some common problems hypnotherapists assist clients with are: ridding themselves of habits,
anxieties, and phobias, weight management, pain control, stress management, confidence
building, and improving life management skills. There are many more issues and some that
require a licensed professional’s referral.
Q. Does a hypnotized person have to follow the suggestions he is given while
hypnotized? Can a person be made to do something he doesn’t want to do?
A. I believe that stage hypnotism has left us with the myth that a person may do something that is
humiliating. The people who volunteer for stage hypnotism have usually seen such performances
prior to their turn on stage and are eager to be hypnotized and given such suggestions such as
those that stage hypnotists give. In other words, they want to do those suggestions. That is why they
volunteer. Stage hypnotists choose only those subjects who are eagerly willing to participate.
A person experiencing hypnosis never has to follow any suggestion he chooses not to, nor can he
be made to do something he doesn’t want to. He is totally conscious, a consenting participant, fully
in control, comfortably relaxed, and aware of surroundings and of what is happening. He can hear
any sounds that occur such as phone ringing, cars driving by, etc. He can emerge from the relaxed
state at any time he chooses, although typically he chooses not to because the relaxation feels so
good. Every new client has the opportunity to pose questions to the hypnotherapist during the pre-
talk. This is the time that questions are answered and the client is reassured that hypnosis is an
extremely relaxing state that most people who experience it want to repeat it again and again. It is
common for most people to go into a deeper state of relaxation each time they are hypnotized.
Q. Is hypnotism dangerous? If so, what types of precautions do you take?
A. Hypnotism is not dangerous. I have only seen improvement as a result of hypnotism. Those of
us who are members of the National Guild of Hypnotists sign a Code of Ethics and are in this field
out of a true desire to help others.
Q. Do you ever practice self-hypnosis? If so, for what and when do you do it?
A. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, even when facilitated by a therapist. The usual definition of self-
hypnosis refers to a person’s working alone or with a relaxation tape or other electronic aid.
Hypnosis is a state or condition in which the subject becomes highly responsive to suggestions. I
practice self-hypnosis for stress management. I do it during the day if I’m on a tight schedule and
need to calm myself or relax. It only takes a few minutes to do. I do it at bedtime for any changes I
want to make, such as healthier eating, exercising, etc.
Q. Can you give an example of how hypnotism helped one of your clients? Did they
need more than one session?
A. Three sessions (50-60 minutes each) is the standard amount of sessions that I begin with. It
allows rapport to build between the client and me. Clients tend to relax into a deeper state with each
subsequent session allowing for a better rate of their success in achieving their goals. We add to,
and reinforce the suggestions at each session. Each person determines if he wants more sessions
after the first three. It depends on what the issue is. Weight management is an example where the
client can benefit from a maintenance session periodically.
A client whose issue was test anxiety reported that after her first session people commented that
she looked different—much more relaxed. She felt calmer, and little annoyances did not bother her
as they had before. With each session she reported more of the same types of comments from
peers and family. She said she felt calmer during the day and slept better at night. After passing the
test without the anxiety of which she had become accustomed from years of practice, she has
referred several others to me for the same issue. They have all reported similar results.
called Alternative Practitioner Academy) in Chicago. She has been a member of
the National Guild of Hypnotists since she started practicing hypnotherapy in 2004.
Karen was interviwed by Penny Cole in January 2009.
Q. Why did you become interested in hypnotism?
A. I have always been drawn to helping professions. Helping people find peace within themselves
is very rewarding for me. Hypnosis is simply another modality by which we can help ourselves and
others.
Q. How would you define hypnotism?
A. Hypnotism, or hypnotherapy, is a means of inducing a level of consciousness that is
characterized by relaxation and suggestibility. The purpose of hypnosis (the state one is in when
they have been hypnotized) is to provide a means of bypassing the critical mind and accessing the
non-reasoning, suggestible subconscious. The purpose of hypnotism, or hypnotherapy, is to assist
the client, through guided imagery and visualization, to bring about a desired change in behavior or
thought.
Q. How did you learn to hypnotize people?
A. I learned to hypnotize people through training at the Leidecker Institute. There were 14 students
in the class. We gained much experience practicing with each other, and I had plenty of family and
friends who volunteered to try hypnosis.
Q. What types of problems can be helped with hypnotism?
A. Some common problems hypnotherapists assist clients with are: ridding themselves of habits,
anxieties, and phobias, weight management, pain control, stress management, confidence
building, and improving life management skills. There are many more issues and some that
require a licensed professional’s referral.
Q. Does a hypnotized person have to follow the suggestions he is given while
hypnotized? Can a person be made to do something he doesn’t want to do?
A. I believe that stage hypnotism has left us with the myth that a person may do something that is
humiliating. The people who volunteer for stage hypnotism have usually seen such performances
prior to their turn on stage and are eager to be hypnotized and given such suggestions such as
those that stage hypnotists give. In other words, they want to do those suggestions. That is why they
volunteer. Stage hypnotists choose only those subjects who are eagerly willing to participate.
A person experiencing hypnosis never has to follow any suggestion he chooses not to, nor can he
be made to do something he doesn’t want to. He is totally conscious, a consenting participant, fully
in control, comfortably relaxed, and aware of surroundings and of what is happening. He can hear
any sounds that occur such as phone ringing, cars driving by, etc. He can emerge from the relaxed
state at any time he chooses, although typically he chooses not to because the relaxation feels so
good. Every new client has the opportunity to pose questions to the hypnotherapist during the pre-
talk. This is the time that questions are answered and the client is reassured that hypnosis is an
extremely relaxing state that most people who experience it want to repeat it again and again. It is
common for most people to go into a deeper state of relaxation each time they are hypnotized.
Q. Is hypnotism dangerous? If so, what types of precautions do you take?
A. Hypnotism is not dangerous. I have only seen improvement as a result of hypnotism. Those of
us who are members of the National Guild of Hypnotists sign a Code of Ethics and are in this field
out of a true desire to help others.
Q. Do you ever practice self-hypnosis? If so, for what and when do you do it?
A. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, even when facilitated by a therapist. The usual definition of self-
hypnosis refers to a person’s working alone or with a relaxation tape or other electronic aid.
Hypnosis is a state or condition in which the subject becomes highly responsive to suggestions. I
practice self-hypnosis for stress management. I do it during the day if I’m on a tight schedule and
need to calm myself or relax. It only takes a few minutes to do. I do it at bedtime for any changes I
want to make, such as healthier eating, exercising, etc.
Q. Can you give an example of how hypnotism helped one of your clients? Did they
need more than one session?
A. Three sessions (50-60 minutes each) is the standard amount of sessions that I begin with. It
allows rapport to build between the client and me. Clients tend to relax into a deeper state with each
subsequent session allowing for a better rate of their success in achieving their goals. We add to,
and reinforce the suggestions at each session. Each person determines if he wants more sessions
after the first three. It depends on what the issue is. Weight management is an example where the
client can benefit from a maintenance session periodically.
A client whose issue was test anxiety reported that after her first session people commented that
she looked different—much more relaxed. She felt calmer, and little annoyances did not bother her
as they had before. With each session she reported more of the same types of comments from
peers and family. She said she felt calmer during the day and slept better at night. After passing the
test without the anxiety of which she had become accustomed from years of practice, she has
referred several others to me for the same issue. They have all reported similar results.
