Milford Hypnotist Wants to Help Solve Problems
"Anyone with a normal IQ can be hypnotized."
Joann Dunsing says hypnosis works, especially as a tool for weight loss, smoking cessation and stress reduction.
Those are the three main reasons people come to her Milford office for help from Dunsing, a Connecticut certified hypnotist.
She said hypnosis quiets the "critical brain" and puts a person into a relaxed state where they are open to suggestion. When in this state, people remain completely aware of their surroundings.
A good example is so-called "highway hypnosis," when a driver on the highway zones out and absent-mindedly drives right past his exit. Dunsing said it happens to everyone. "That’s just an excellent example. We’re constantly doing it." But it doesn’t mean you couldn’t react to a traffic situation.
Dunsing’s web site reports statistics for the effectiveness of hypnosis, including an over-80 percent success rate for smoking cessation. It says hypnosis subjects lost more weight and kept it off than people who dieted without hypnosis.
"We don’t do therapy. We are not therapists," Dunsing said. Certified hypnotists in Connecticut don’t call themselves hypno-therapists. Instead, they describe what they do as motivating people to change unwanted behaviors.
"I wouldn’t work with someone who had a mental illness, because I am not a therapist," she said.
Dunsing said hypnosis for weight loss is especially effective when used in conjunction with a structured weight loss program like Weight Watchers. "I believe with weight loss there’s more to it than just what’s going on inside their heads," she said.
Dunsing grew up in Shelton. She got married, had children, got divorced and now lives in West Haven. She learned the art of hypnosis in 2009 from Barbara Herr, a National Guild of Hypnotists certified instructor in Guilford.
The type of hypnosis services she provides differs from the show business version. Those hypnotists must put people in a suggested state quickly, so observant members of the audience may notice that some of the participants aren’t really hypnotized at all. They’re just playing along, doing silly things to get a laugh.
But Dunsing said she believes everyone can be hypnotized, although some might go into a deeper relaxed state than others.
"Anyone with a normal IQ can be hypnotized," she said.
Lately, she is providing a new service as a certified 'Fertility by Hypnosis Consultant.' Some unexplained infertility is caused by stress, and in that case hypnosis might help, she said.
"I love the work," she said, "because people really get results. People say, ‘You know Joann, I find I’m more relaxed or more considerate.’"
Priscilla Lynn, owner PrisCo Consulting
7:34 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Another well-written and informative article! Joann is also a member of the Milford Chamber and its Health & Wellness Council, continuing to perpetuate the benefits of her unique brand of supporting a healthier living and lifestyle.
RONALD M GOLDWYN
7:50 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Hypnosis may be good for some, but I have long believed never to let my mind be in control by another person. I would always look for another solution.
Priscilla Lynn, owner PrisCo Consulting
7:59 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
With all respect, Mr. Goldwyn, it's lucky for the many people that Joann has already helped (and will continue to help going forward) that they didn't think the same way you do. The Patch does its readers a wonderful community service by offering informative articles such as this one. Why, there might actually be Patch readers out there that have been suffering silently, not knowing they had a choice. This information shows them there are choices.
RONALD M GOLDWYN
8:09 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Priscilla, I agree with you, That was the first thing I said. (SEE ABOVE)
For myself, I must have faith in the person and their practice. I just will not see a Psychologist, A Chiropractor, Acupuncturist and other non MDs. As I said, it is a matter of faith for me.
John Pasnau
12:20 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I lost 90 pounds last year using the services of a hypnotist. I used fit day dot com for my food plan because it is free, but am now using weight watchers just to change it up. This year my goal is another 50 pounds which will bring me to the weight I was in High School. I find a refresher session ever 60 - 90 days really helps. I was so pleased with my results that I have seen three different hypnotists in the last year to help me work out other issues. Joann is one of them and she is outstanding. I understand Ron's concerns, I had them too. I was wrong. First time this decade.
Barbara Herr
3:06 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Barbara Herr, Certified Hypnotist, Certified Instructor, Guilford
Ron, your above comment suggests that you have a misconception of hypnotism. Please let me shed some light and clarify for your the role of a hypnotist.
A client is in total control of their thoughts and actions. A client will not accept any suggestion that is against their values or morals. A hypnotist guides the client to achieve their goal. Allow me to give you an analogy that will help you to further understand the role of the hypnotist. A client is the captain of their ship; the hypnotist is the rudder of the ship. The client (captain) tells the hypnotist (rudder) their goal (smoking cessation, weight loss, etc) and the hypnotist (rudder) guides the client to attain their goal through suggestion, reframing or many other techniques utilized by the hypnotist. Just to reiterate, the client is always in control. I trust this explanation clears up any misconceptions you may have of hypnotists and the practice of hypnotism.
John Pasnau
5:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I just want to say Barbara is not one of the hypnotists I visited, but that is very near my experience. I found myself vastly overweight because I just could not seem to skip the after dinner snacking. My hypnotist suggested to me under hypnosis that there was no way I could be hungry after dinner. I was full and content with dinner, what my body wanted was cool, clean and pure water. I might think I was hungry but that was just years of misreading my body's message to me. I was thirsty. After that, I stopped eating after dinner, and started drinking water. The first morning that happened I was amazed. Sitting by my Lazy Boy recliner were 3 empty water bottles. No plates, bowls, forks or spoons. Just water bottles. I didn't remember not snacking any more than I did remember drinking water. I didn't go to bed feeling deprived or hungry. These days not eating after dinner is not an effort. Motivating myself to go exercise is no problem. This was another area where hypnosis helped. Hypnosis is not magic. You still have to have a good food and exercise plan. But hypnosis can and does make some of the hard parts, some of the parts that may have caused you to fail repeatedly in the past to go away. I easily save on food costs far more than I spent for the help. Smokers will recover their investment fast at 9 bucks a pack saved! By the way, Joann's new office at 57 Planes Road is comfortable and quiet. It is an awesome place to receive hypnosis.
Miranda Writes
8:38 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Terrific article. I am an NGH Certified Consulting Hypnotist as well! It would be nice to network. Maybe we can get together for a chapter meeting since there never seems to be any for Connecticut? I've been certified and in practice since 2007.
Joann Dunsing
12:03 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hello Miranda,
Please contact me and I would be happy to give you the details on the local chapters that meet on a regular basis.
jennifer miller
1:48 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
its so nice to see hypnotist people helped a lot of problematic individuals, and i salute and support all of you, by the way i will share a link that for me is useful its a a free hypnosis video and it works http://tinyurl.com/FreeGregoryHypnosisVideo