10 Questions with Josh Houghton

Location: Columbus, Georgia

Cyber Location:
www.southernhypnosis.com
www.whatsonmybrain.com



1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

I'm currently working part time as a hypnotist, but I'm currently in the process of opening up my full time practice "Southern Hypnosis & Consulting" and working on putting together a few workshops on how to perform "Instant and Rapid inductions" and "Hypnosis for Beginners" I currently work in the field of Real Estate Investing and Property Management, but since I work for myself it allows me the time needed to see clients and build Southern Hypnosis & Consulting as a company.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

I work with a good majority of issues, but I specialize in Smoking Cessations, Fear Removal and Sports Enhancement. I really like these three fields because the results are seen almost instantly. This provides a sort of validation for the client and even myself.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

I'm pretty much open to anything hypnosis related. Hypnosis is a huge part of my life and being 25 there is still a lot I want to learn. Currently I am keeping myself open to all the different possibilities, but you never know. Maybe sometime down the road I'll run across something in this profession that just doesn't rub me right.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

I'm a huge believer in personal development and hypnosis is one of the fastest and most effective ways to effect change within ourselves. I actually starting using self-hypnosis around the age of 17 and it has really helped me become the person I am today. I typically like to do my self-hypnosis right after I wake up, but if I can't then I will usually do it right before bed.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

I work out of a home office which is located in a nice quiet area of Columbus, Georgia, which is where I'm located. I wanted to keep my expenses low for the first few years until I really began to establish myself so I decided a home office would work best for my situation. I currently have one recliner which I use as my hypnosis chair, a smaller chair that I sit in to do the work, a computer desk with a large flat screen monitor where my clients watch my pre-talk video, two book cases filled with training material and books on hypnosis, management, personal improvement and many other topics and than a few calm and relaxing photos on the wall. I also hang my certifications, my client bill of rights and a disclaimer. Eventually as I pick up more clients I would eventually like to move into a actual office, but until that time comes my home office works fine for me.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

I usually wake up around 9:30am and begin doing my self-hypnosis techniques for about 15 min. After that I will work out for a little while and then hop in the shower. After a decent breakfast I head to my office to see what’s on the agenda for today. If I have a session I usually like to schedule it for 10:30am, but it really just depends on what time is acceptable for the client. If I have back-to-back clients I always give myself a thirty min. break in between each one. This allows me to take a breath, step back and get my mind ready for my next one. I will usually only see clients up to 6:00pm, but on rare situations I may fit a client in after 6:00. My motto is why change tomorrow when you can change today.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

I have always been into hypnosis and would read whatever I could when growing up. It wasn't until 22 that I really got serious into hypnosis and started studying it with the intent to actually use what I learned. The first real course I ever studied and completed was from one of the best hypnosis instructors and teachers in the profession, a great hypnotist by the name of Gerald Kein. I got a hold of his Basic to Advance Home Study Course from a good friend who was just going to throw it away because he could never get into hypnosis. So I took it off his hands rather then have it thrown in the garbage. This course literally changed my life and started me on my journey. Eventually after many more DVD training programs I decided to get certified with the National Guild of Hypnotist. I am currently a member in good standing and also working on my second certification with the International Hypnosis Association. I have also read and studied many different books and training programs. One of my favorite books is called Hypnotherapy by Dave Elman and Answer Cancer by Stephen Parkhill.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

That’s a good question and honestly I don't know if I could pick just one, but if I had too I would have to say Chair Work. I find the healing this technique can produce is amazing and it's really interesting to see the interaction between the client and the person in the other chair. This technique has many different applications so I would have to say this is my favorite one.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

When I first started to learn hypnosis I did a lot of stage hypnosis type stuff. Well one day I used hypnosis on a friend and made him forget his name. Since I was caught up in the moment I forgot to tell him he could remember his name. I discovered later on that he had a job interview and had to wait for his name to be called. Well since he forgot his name he didn't realize his name was being called and he never got the job. I felt awful and learned that hypnosis can be a powerful tool for change and never abuse it because the moment you do it will come back to bite you. The moment I discovered it which was the next day I reversed the amnesia.

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist?

My main advice is to never stop learning and never stop practicing. Hypnosis is a amazing tool for change and we have only discovered a small percentage of the potential of hypnosis. We are living in a time where hypnosis is starting to become accepted by the main stream so we must treat it as a profession. We must always strive for the highest degrees of credibility and professionalism or we risk losing our rights to practice this amazing art. The more we study and learn the better we will be able to take hypnosis to the next level and show the world that change is nothing more then a state of mind. I also would like to give a word of advice to all the young hypnotists out there. Understand that there are other people and hypnotists out there that know more then you do. Seek these peoples out and learn everything you can. For the moment you think you know everything is the moment you undo everything. Strive to be the best at what you do and great things will follow.