You're a what? Hypnotherapist.(hypnotherapy as a profession)

You're a what? Hypnotherapist.(hypnotherapy as a profession)

Occupational Outlook Quarterly

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September 22, 1996 | Mariani, Matthew | Copyright

As a hypnotherapist, Pamela Griffin guides clients into a peaceful state of mind known as hypnosis. She then helps them work through this special state to alter problem behavior, increase motivation, or heal emotional scars.

On a bright morning in Rufus, Oregon, Griffin looks out her office window. She glances over the fields of wheat, which lead to the Columbia River a few miles away. Further beyond, rolling hills give way to blue mountains. Griffin savors the serene view while she waits for her first client of the day.

Various chairs and a couple of couches fill the large room. When new clients arrive, she greets them and invites them to sit wherever they'll feel comfortable. If a client has never experienced hypnosis, Griffin explains it. "It's progressive relaxation," she says, "and it's also intense concentration. It's not a sleep state." She describes how this profoundly tranquil state allows the mind to use its own power more fully. It sounds like magic, but Griffin assures her clients there's none involved. "Hypnosis is like a room," she says. "It's just a medium …

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