Frequently Asked Questions

Got Questions About Hypnotherapy?


You're not alone.

If you’re considering hypnotherapy, it’s natural to wonder what hypnosis feels like,

whether you’ll remain in control,

how many sessions you may need,

and whether this approach is right for what you’re experiencing.

These FAQs are designed to help you better understand hypnotherapy, my approach to self-sabotage, and what you can expect when working with me.

Do you accept insurance?

No. My services are self-pay.

Some clients have been able to use Health Savings Account (HSA)

or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds toward their sessions.

Because every plan is different, I recommend checking directly with your HSA or FSA administrator to determine whether your sessions are eligible.

Working privately also means our work is not dictated by insurance requirements, diagnosis codes, or limitations on the number or type of sessions you may receive.

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What is self-sabotage?

Self-sabotage can happen when your thoughts, behaviors, or automatic responses repeatedly interfere with something you consciously want.

It might look like procrastinating,

overthinking, starting and stopping, perfectionism, people-pleasing, negative self-talk, avoiding opportunities, struggling to follow through,

or returning to familiar behaviors even after deciding you want something different.

Rather than simply asking,

“Why do I keep doing this?”,

my work focuses on becoming curious about the subconscious beliefs, emotional associations, and patterns that may be contributing to the behavior.

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How can hypnotherapy help with self-sabotage?

Hypnotherapy allows us to work with patterns that may operate beneath conscious awareness.

Instead of focusing only on changing the behavior you can see, we can explore the beliefs, associations, emotional responses, and protective patterns connected to it.

The goal isn't to force you to behave differently.

It's to help you better understand what's driving the pattern and begin developing responses that are more aligned with what you consciously want.

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What kinds of self-sabotaging patterns do you work with?

Clients may come to me because they struggle with procrastination, perfectionism, people-pleasing, negative self-talk, inconsistent follow-through, fear of being seen, difficulty setting boundaries, starting and stopping, unhealthy coping patterns, or repeatedly getting in their own way.

You don't have to know exactly why the pattern is happening before you come in.

That's part of what we can explore together.

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Do you work with issues other than self-sabotage?

Self-sabotage is the primary lens through which I approach my work, but it can show up in many different areas of life.

Someone may experience it in their career, relationships, confidence, personal goals, habits, relationship with food, visibility, boundaries, or ability to follow through.

During your consultation, we can briefly discuss what you're seeking support with and determine whether my approach to Hypnotherapy is appropriate for your goals.

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What happens during the free 15-minute consultation?

The consultation is a brief opportunity for us to talk about what is bringing you to Hypnotherapy, answer your questions about the process, and determine whether we may be a good fit to work together.

There is no hypnosis or coaching during the consultation, and there is no obligation to move forward.

If we determine that working together makes sense, I'll explain the next step.

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What happens during my initial hypnotherapy session?

Your initial session allows us to go much deeper than we can during a consultation.

We'll talk about what you want to change, the patterns you've noticed, relevant history and experiences, what you've already tried, and what you would like to experience differently.

We'll begin exploring the subconscious patterns that may be connected to what you're experiencing, and you'll receive your first personalized hypnotherapy session.

At the end of the session, we'll discuss my recommendations for moving forward.

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Will I lose control during hypnosis?

No.

Hypnosis is a focused state of attention.

You remain aware during the experience and you are not surrendering control to me.

You can speak, move, open your eyes, or end the experience at any time.

My role is to guide the process—not control you.

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What if I can't be hypnotized?

You don't have to become unconscious, lose awareness, or enter some mysterious state for hypnotherapy to take place.

People experience hypnosis differently.

Some feel deeply relaxed, while others simply notice increased internal focus.

There is no single way hypnosis is supposed to feel.

You also don't need to work hard to “make” hypnosis happen.

I guide you through the process and encourage you to simply notice and respond naturally.

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Is hypnotherapy safe?

Hypnotherapy is generally considered a low-risk approach when practiced appropriately.

You remain aware and in control throughout the hypnotic process and can stop at any time.

During your intake, we'll also discuss relevant information that may affect whether Hypnotherapy is appropriate for you.

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Do you offer virtual sessions?

Yes.

I work with clients both in person and virtually.

Virtual sessions allow you to participate from a private, comfortable location of your choosing, while in-person sessions are available through my office.

The Hypnotherapy process can be adapted to either setting.

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How do I know if hypnotherapy is right for me?

Hypnotherapy may be worth exploring if you recognize that you keep returning to the same patterns despite consciously wanting something different.

You may already understand what you “should” do and still struggle to consistently follow through.

You don't have to decide whether Hypnotherapy is right for you before contacting me.

That's one of the purposes of the free 15-minute consultation:

you can ask questions, tell me briefly what you're seeking help with, and determine whether this approach feels like an appropriate next step.

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How much does hypnotherapy cost?

Your initial hypnotherapy session is $247.

This is a comprehensive appointment where we'll discuss :

what you're experiencing,

explore the patterns that may be contributing to it,

clarify what you'd like to change,

and complete your first personalized Hypnotherapy session.

Afterward, I'll make recommendations based on your individual goals and the depth of the patterns we're working with.

There is no requirement to commit to an ongoing program before completing your initial session.

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How many sessions will I need?

Every client is different, so there isn't one number of sessions that is appropriate for everyone.

Some patterns may be relatively specific, while others have developed and been reinforced over many years or are connected to several different areas of a person's life.

After your initial session, I'll recommend the level of support I believe is most appropriate based on what we've uncovered and what you want to accomplish.

Your continued work may range from a shorter six-session process to longer-term twelve- or twenty-four-session work when deeper or multiple patterns require additional time, reinforcement, and integration.

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Why do you recommend packages instead of one session at a time?

Self-sabotage is rarely just one isolated behavior.

What appears on the surface as procrastination, people-pleasing, perfectionism, difficulty following through, or another unwanted behavior may be connected to deeper beliefs, emotional associations, experiences, and patterns that have developed over time.

A meaningful shift can begin during one session, but deeper work often requires time for us to explore the pattern, repattern what is underneath it, reinforce new responses, and integrate those changes into everyday life.

Structured packages allow us to approach that work with greater continuity rather than treating every session as an isolated experience.

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What if I want results as quickly as possible?

Wanting change quickly is completely understandable—especially when you've been struggling with the same pattern for a long time.

At the same time, I don't approach Hypnotherapy as a race or promise a specific result within a specific number of sessions.

We focus on understanding what's actually happening beneath the pattern and creating changes that can continue supporting you beyond our time together.

Sometimes progress looks like a major realization.

Sometimes it's responding differently in a situation where you would normally fall back into the old pattern.

Sometimes it's simply noticing that something that once felt difficult is beginning to feel easier.

The goal isn't the fastest possible change.

It's meaningful change that you can continue building on.


Still Have Questions?

You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Your free 15-minute consultation gives you an opportunity to ask questions, briefly discuss what you're experiencing, and determine whether hypnotherapy feels like the right next step.

© Erika Hypnotherapy 2026