The brain is involved in everything you do: how you think, feel, act, and interact, and who you are as a parent, a child, employer, lover and spouse. When your brain works right, you work right. Problems in specific brain areas tend to cause specific problems. Lowered motivation, reduced frustration tolerance, and mood irritability are just some of the conditions that affect your well-being. Anxiety, depression, and pain come from different parts of your brain such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex. Even as you age, your brain has optimal performance zones. Determining your brain system pattern and utilizing relaxation techniques such as Hypnosis, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and visualization techniques enhance professional, sports and life performance for adults and adolescents.

Hypnosis (also called hypnotherapy) is a trance-like state in which one becomes more aware and focused and  more open to suggestions to alter habits and behaviors and reduce pain.  It can improve the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:

• Phobias and fears
• Depression and anxiety
• Stress and PTSD
• Grief and loss

There are different types of hypnotherapy available as well. The Ericksonian hypnotherapy uses indirect suggestion and storytelling to alter behavior. This type of hypnotherapy may appeal to those who are looking for a different approach or even those who have tried and disliked traditional forms of hypnotherapy. Milton Erickson was a psychiatrist who specialized in family therapy and medical hypnosis. His work is cited as being revolutionary in the hypnotherapy industry and his approach is now used by a growing number of hypnotherapists.

Hypnosis with or without guided imagery can be a tool for relaxation. Other modalities for stress reduction include prayer, meditation, socialization, yoga and exercise, sleep, and creativity.

Alicya Simmons, M.B.A. is the Florida Affiliate of Dr. Daniel Amen Clinics, Certified Hypnotherapist, and NLP Practitioner. She practices the Ericksonian method of Hypnosis in Indialantic and Melbourne. For more information, visit AlicyaSimmons.com or call 407-399-0608.