What to Look for in a Hypnotist
By John J. Murphy, Ph.D.
It seems every other person in L.A. is either a hypnotist, masseuse, or fitness guru! If you’re looking to quit smoking with hypnosis, who do you go to? I like to think there are a few qualities to look out for, which set me apart from your average hypnotist.
Degree and Training Level
I’m both a hypnotist and a psychologist. I have both a masters and a doctorate in general psychology from a regionally accredited university (Capella University). I’ve completed my pre-doctoral internship and am currently studying to pass the EPPP. This means I’ll (hopefully) be a licensed psychotherapist in about, say, a year-and-a-half (around 2009). I’ve spent five years studying psychology, in addition to the 3 spent in college (I graduated early). I think it's generally better to see a hypnotist who's already either a psychologist, psychiatrist, or medical doctor.
Member Association
People who fancy themselves as hypnotists can go to a variety of hypnotist guilds and associations, where the one criteria of membership is that your membership check clears! Although the association where I received formal training in hypnosis, the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, required on-site training and supervision, the membership that I feel is the most relevant is being associated with the American Psychological Association, the largest organization of psychologists in the world.
Type of Orientation
You can generally divide hypnotists into two catagories: a medical orientation or the more esoteric/mystic orientation. For myself, I'm in the more left-brain, medical orientation. That doesn’t mean I’m a medical doctor but that I focus on more clinical issues. My specialties include addiction, anxiety, and phobias. This means you won’t find any crystals in my office and you won’t find me talking about your past lives or inner chakras! This also means that if you talk about medication you’re taking or a particular psychological concept, chances are I’ll be familiar with what you’re talking about. If you need a particular prescription for nicotine replacement therapy, I’ll be able to talk with your doctor or write a note. Medical doctors are generally more willing to talk and listen to a psychologist.
Location
I’ve been located in Beverly Hills about 6 years and at the same office for around 4. I’m in the process of obtaining my license to practice psychotherapy in the state of California, so I’m not going anywhere. The office that you’ll visit to quit smoking isn’t a house, or a small corner office in some unknown part of town! I’m right on Wilshire by Robertson, in an office building in Beverly Hills.
Information
All the information, including costs, success rate, and program details can be found right on my website. In fact, there’s a whole manual explaining what I do and why I do it. If you have any questions, you can always click here to contact me through phone, e-mail or text message. You'll typically hear back from me within 24 hours, usually sooner.
Testimonials
Here are a few testimonials, below, including an article and follow-up article about me in “Hollywood Covered” and from a class I led for group hypnosis.
Today is Day 13 for me! Still hard to believe that I could become a non-smoker after being a smoker for some 50 years of my adult life. I do believe much of my success is directly related to John Murphy's participation on Quit Day at "The Last Drag". I've always believed that the subconcious is a very powerful part of our minds and the hypnosis work that John did -- had a definite, positive effect on my subconcious, which in turn has affected my conscious mind.
His guided meditation which led us to be in a place that we especially loved, surrounded by our loved ones -- set the tone. Then when he repeated the mantra over and over again: "I am a non-smoker today, and will be a non-smoker every day for the rest of my life" -- that thought became so embedded in my subconcious that I just know it has helped me enormously to kick the habit once and for all. Of course there were other contributing factors to my success but John's was major.
Thanks, John, for your invaluable gift. Thanks, Rikki, for your invaluable guidance and instruction. And thanks, "The Last Drag", for being there for me -- at the right time, and the right place. Kim G
My name is Jan Ford and I am a non smoker and I’ll be a non smoker for the rest of my life. I started smoking 32 years ago. After many failed attempts to quit, i.e. patch, pills and the scare tactic, it seemed as if nothing was going to help me. When I heard of the last drag class and that a hypnotist may come in, I felt that I wanted to give it another try. I wasn’t sure if I could be hypnotized but I was willing. The information John shared with us about smoking was remarkable. Information I had been given in the past about smoking and how to stop smoking seemed to be untrue, John made non smoking a non issue, in other words he gave me the confidence I needed to stop and he made the idea of quitting not a big deal. I actually took the class twice. The first time, I had forgotten some of the tools John had mention and I started smoking again after a week. This time I talked to John about some of my struggles and he gave me a few suggestions. One, continue to take breaks at work, actually for a short time I may need to take a few more breaks than normal. He also suggested that I not hide from smokers, that during my break if smokers came around do not avoid them, after all I am a non smoker. Another thing that has helped tremendously is the deep breathing. I still don’t know a lot about being hypnotized, it feels as if I was just in a deep meditation hearing and understating everything John said. I guess I just believed in John. I would also like to mention that I’m 18 years sober and it is true that cigarette smoking is not a physical addition.
Jan F.
From "Hollywood Covered"
Judd, an advice columnist in “Hollywood Covered” came to see me to quit smoking. He wrote about my services in his advice column and in a follow up a few months later.
From the first article (reprinted with permission):
“I can totally relate to your problem. I quit drinking and doing drugs over a year ago but smoking proved to be the ultimate challenge. I tried over-priced hypno-therapists, nicotine gum and of course, the patch, nothing worked and the addiction got stronger. I was even smoking while chewing the gum, and option I don’t recommend.
Let’s just say I was sure to die a smoker. I was more than a little weary when I came across the business card for John Murphy, yet another hypno-therapist, but thank God I did.
For less than half what other hypno-therapist charged, John offers a one-time 90 minute session that’s tailored to you and your life. No fuss, no muss. You’re just done smoking. I went from over one pack a day to no cigarettes at all after my visit with him. It has been almost a month now and I haven’t gained any weight, my skin is flawless, and I didn’t even go through that nasty bitch phase.
The hypno-therapy session was simple, and I am telling you, AMAZING! I normally operate at a high anxiety level and now I am calm and serene. In fact, I was worried that quitting smoking would amplify the ‘crazies’ in my head, but just the opposite happened. I’m handling every situation with ease. Do yourself a favor and check out John Murphy’s website. I am now a HAPPY non-smoker. And I’ll be a non-smoker for the rest of my life! Seriously, it’s the best thing I ever did.
Do it! Peace out, Judd”
And the follow up article:
“Dear Weezie,
When you see me, you can approach me. I am accessible, honey! Just to let you know, I have not had a cigarette since I saw John Murphy on January 16. I went in smoking over a pack a day for 20 years, opps, I mean 10. Best thing that I ever did was to see a real hypnotist to quit smoking. Don’t be fooled by the fakes. I am a non-smoker and I will be a non-smoker for the rest of my life.”