Dateline. Oprah. 60 Minutes. PBS. The media - and delighted clients worldwide - are raving about the mind-body healing modality that unlocks the power of your subconscious mind to help you release old habits and create the life of your dreams: HYPNOTHERAPY.

Have you ever tried to make a change only to find that, after an initial period of success relying on willpower alone, you slipped back into the old habit? If so, you're not alone. For example, most people who try to lose weight relapse over and over, and studies have shown that 80% of diets fail. Why?

For most people carrying some extra weight around, that weight is the result of one or more of the following: emotional eating, lack of self-love, association of food with love and comfort, hidden desire to avoid intimacy (weight as protection/shield), relationship issues, lack of motivation for exercise and heathy eating choices. Only by healing those core issues at the deepest level can you lose the weight, and all of its baggage, for good.

Susie was a beautiful 18-year-old woman of average weight, with a strong, fit body and a pleasant, upbeat demeanor. What people didn't know, though, was that on the inside, she was frequently depressed and had been struggling with binge eating and a low self-concept of her body for many years. She had tried numerous diets, exercise programs and positive self-talk. Her parents were loving, and she had a boyfriend who cared about her. But no matter how much external support she had, an inner voice still criticized her: "You're too fat, look at those thunder thighs," "You look horrible in a bikini, don't even go to the beach." While her weight appeared to be just at the top end of normal range, she thought she was very fat and unattractive.

At Susie's first session, we spent a long time identifying the inner "tapes" that had caused her so much unhappiness, and driven her to skip meals then binge out of extreme hunger and deprivation. Through hypnosis and heart meditations, Susie found inner peace and true self-love for the first time. Hypnotherapist Taylor Kingsley states: "It's crucial to build that self-love and sense of deservingness, from deep down. Also, I always enlist the client's inner critic and saboteur to become part of their 'Dream Team' instead, so they stop getting in their own way and really succeed at their goals."

How Hypnotherapy Works
The ultimate attitude adjustment, hypnotherapy aligns your subconscious thoughts with your conscious goals. Hypnosis is simply an inwardly focused, relaxed state providing access to your subconscious mind. Think of it as meditation with an agenda. In meditation, the goal is simply the creation of the relaxation response and a quieting of the mind. Hypnosis takes this one step further and utilizes the relaxed state to reprogram your subconscious mind to support your goals for a better life.

You may be familiar with The Law of Attraction, which states that your thoughts determine your reality. Psychological studies have found that 70% of people's thoughts are a) redundant and b) negative. 70%! Amazing! The majority of thoughts you have are probably keeping you stuck in your old programming and your old choices. Most people think "I can't change my thoughts," but you can. Perhaps you have tried visualization and affirmations to think more positive thoughts and focus on what you do want, instead of what you don't want. Visualization and affirmations can be useful tools, but they are exponentially more powerful when you involve the subconscious mind in their creation and implementation. If you only use your conscious mind to see (visualize) and describe (affirm) your ideal life, you will have to do this hundreds of times a day to get real results. Who has time for that? There is a faster, easier way to create positive change: from the inside out.

The mind is like an iceberg. Only 10% is visible; this is your conscious mind. The remaining 90% of your consciousness is below the surface. If the top of the iceberg wants to go in one direction, but the bulk of it is still moving in the other direction, which way do you think that iceberg is going to go? That's right. You need to engage the immense power of your subconscious mind in order to get where you want to go, the easy way. Most people get glimpses into their subconscious mind only when they remember dreams. Yet for thousands of years, indigenous healers have used trance healing to create the relaxed state (trance) in which healing can optimally take place. Modern hypnotherapists integrate the wisdom of these ancient traditions with contemporary mind-body healing knowledge to help you shape your inner vision and inner world to create the life of your dreams on the outside.

A professional hypnotherapist will begin with an in-depth intake form and interview to help you and your therapist determine your most important goals for your therapy and . Based on her training, she may also do a few assessments (which will feel like fun games) to ascertain your neurolinguistic modality or preferred way of interacting with your world: visual, auditory or kinesthetic. Your hypnotherapist will create a customized "script" for your session that pinpoints exactly what you need. The therapeutic trance part of your session will probably be recorded so you can listen to it over and over to reinforce the new program and further motivate yourself for excellent results.

Then, in a pleasant, relaxed state, you will hear positive, motivating suggestions and internalize them at a subconscious level. Most clients describe their experience as "like a nice daydream," "peaceful," "beautiful" ... and occasionally they go into such a deeply relaxed state, they feel as if they were asleep. (Even if you think you slept through it, don't worry, the hypnotherapy will still work.) Your "inner journey" will be perfect for you and will empower you for immediate and lasting behavioral change because you heal from the inside out!

If you are working with a hypnotherapist who really wants to empower clients, your therapist will probably teach you some techniques for self-healing such as relaxation, stress reduction, creative visualization, meditation, and self-hypnosis. She or he may assign "homework" to help you help yourself stay on track, such as listening to your CD or tape of your session and doing your self-healing. If you do your homework, you will get results.

"I have found in 14 years of private practice as a holistic healer and seven years as a hypnotherapist, that 100% of my clients who do their homework to reinforce the session at home get results." - Hypnotherapist Taylor Kingsley

Hypnosis has been recognized by the American Medical Association as a viable form of therapy since 1958.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, hypnotherapy works very quickly. Most people experience lasting results in only a few sessions. During hypnotherapy, you may feel sleepy but you are awake; you will hear and remember everything. If your session is recorded, in addition to having it for reinforcement, you will also know exactly what took place while you were in a relaxed state. Hollywood movies have given an impression that unethical hypnotists can "make" people do anything. This is far from the truth. No one can be forced to do anything that is completely against their value system just with hypnosis. And remember, hypnotherapy is the THERAPEUTIC use of hypnosis. If you are working with a certified, trained, experienced hypnotherapist with whom you feel comfortable, listen to your intuition, and you will find the right therapist.

Holistic healing is a buzzword these days. But what does it really mean? Holistic means treating the whole, thus holistic healing treats the whole person: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Hypnotherapy is mind-body healing. However, the most holistic hypnotherapists will also integrate healing at the level of soul or energy, and emotional healing at the heart level, into your session, according to your needs and desires. For example, Hypnotherapist Taylor Kingsley will facilitate a holistic healing session that is right for you, which, in addition to hypnotherapy, may feature Reiki or chakra energy healing, shamanic soul healing or heart-healing meditations to help you heal and open your heart to experience more love in every moment of your life. Your environment, work, creativity and relationships are also addressed in the intake form, interview and session if needed to facilitate personal transformation that is holistic and ideal for you right now.

Everyone who wants to be can be hypnotized under the right conditions: with a knowledgeable, caring therapist with whom you feel rapport. People who are motivated, intelligent and imaginative get excellent results with hypnosis.

It's all right if you are thinking "But I can't visualize things very well." Try this: Close your eyes and picture a butterfly. Notice what color it is. Is it moving or still? Is it flying or resting on a flower or leaf? Now open your eyes. I'll bet you were able to see a butterfly. And I'll bet you have dreams at night that you can see, even if you remember them only occasionally. Everyone can visualize well enough to be hypnotized, and, in fact, a good hypnotherapist can help you improve your skill at creative visualization, as well as work with you through other modes of perception such as auditory and kinesthetic in your trance.

Clinical Hypnotherapist Taylor Kingsley developed True Nourishment Therapy (TNT), a revolutionary integrative method for quickly and permanently healing weight, food and body image issues. True Nourishment incorporates the mind-body power of hypnotherapy with emotional and spiritual techniques addressing core issues so you permanently heal your relationship with food and your own body, increase healthy exercise, eat healthier, and love yourself today. Individual and fun group sessions for women are now available.

Due to past painful experiences, internal blocks to intimacy may impede your ability to open your heart to joyous loving. You can turn wounds into wisdom. Taylor combines hypnotherapy with conscious relationship coaching and counseling to help you heal past relationships, rediscover and honor your sexual nature, learn communication techniques that foster deep connection and smooth conflict resolution, clarify your heart's desire, and love yourelf, your life and others more joyfully and freely. Resources for singles seeking lasting love include: SoulMates Matchmaking, articles, blogs and ebooks on conscious dating and loving, and individual hypnotherapy/counseling/healing sessions. Couples counseling with Taylor emphasizes fostering a deeper, more loving connection, as well as constructive communication so both individuals' needs are met.
Click here for more about Conscious Relationship Counseling

For the applications listed below, Taylor may be qualified to help you herself or may refer you to another qualified specialist. You may also research on the Internet, check your yellow pages, ask your health care providers or call 800-USA 9996, the American Board of Hypnotherapy for a referral.

Stop struggling and "trying" to change yourself and your life. As Yoda said, in The Empire Strikes Back: "Try? There is no try. There is only do or do not do." When you are done struggling and trying, hypnotherapy is the easier way to change your life. Hypnotherapy is a proven, safe, effective, personally empowering process for tapping into your subconscious mind, releasing blocks and achieving your dreams.

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Taylor Kingsley is a certified clinical hypnotherapist, relationship coach and intuitive spiritual counselor with 14 years of experience in the field of personal growth and holistic healing. She is pleased to offer you her services to help you end habits, increase health, and manifest success in all areas of your life.
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Recommended Resources:
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