FAQ’s
If you are considering hypnotherapy, it is natural to have questions about what hypnosis feels like, whether you remain in control, and what happens during the Regressive Release Method.
These answers explain how I work, what you can expect, and how to decide whether this approach is appropriate for you.
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention in which outside distractions become less important and your inner experience becomes easier to notice.
You may experience something similar when you become absorbed in a book, drive a familiar route, meditate deeply, or hover between waking and sleeping.
During hypnosis, your body may feel deeply relaxed while your mind remains aware and responsive.
WHAT DOES HYPNOSIS FEEL LIKE?
Everyone experiences hypnosis differently.
Some people describe it as deep relaxation. Others compare it to meditation, daydreaming, or the quiet state just before falling asleep. You may notice physical heaviness, lightness, warmth, mental imagery, emotions, memories, or simply a calmer quality of attention.
There is no single sensation that proves you are hypnotized. You do not have to feel unconscious or dramatically different for the process to be meaningful.
For a fuller explanation, read What Is Hypnotherapy? How Hypnosis and the RRM Work.
WILL I BE UNCONSCIOUS OR ASLEEP?
No. You remain conscious and aware.
You can hear what is being said, answer questions, move your body, and communicate throughout the session. Some people remember a session in great detail, while others remember certain portions more clearly than others, just as they might after deep meditation.
Hypnosis does not require you to lose awareness.
WILL I LOSE CONTROL?
No. Hypnosis does not remove your judgment, values, or ability to make choices.
You remain an active participant and can accept, question, or reject any suggestion. You can also pause or end the process at any time.
The hypnotherapist guides the session, but you remain responsible for your participation and decisions.
CAN I BE MADE TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING AGAINST MY WILL?
No. Hypnosis is a collaborative process, not mind control.
You remain capable of evaluating what is being said and deciding how you want to respond. The success of the work depends upon communication, trust, and your willingness to participate—not surrendering control.
WHAT IS HYPNOTHERAPY?
Hypnotherapy is the intentional use of hypnosis to support a personal-development goal.
A hypnotherapist may use focused relaxation, questions, imagery, emotional exploration, or carefully selected suggestions. Some approaches focus on strengthening a desired response. Others explore the subconscious associations connected to a recurring emotional or behavioral pattern.
My work focuses on helping clients understand and address the emotional roots of patterns that continue despite insight and self-awareness.
WHAT IS TRAUMA-RELEASE HYPNOTHERAPY?
Trauma-Release Hypnotherapy is a structured approach to exploring subconscious emotional patterns formed through earlier experiences.
The word “trauma” does not refer only to a catastrophic event. A lasting emotional pattern may also develop through repeated criticism, instability, unmet needs, family dynamics, or experiences that shaped what you learned about safety, connection, and self-expression.
The goal is not to diagnose or treat a mental health condition. It is to understand the emotional association beneath a repeating pattern and help you access your own internal resources for change.
WHAT IS THE REGRESSIVE RELEASE METHOD?
The Regressive Release Method, or RRM, is my signature three-session Trauma-Release Hypnotherapy process.
Session 1 introduces self-hypnosis. We practice the technique together and use visualization to connect you with the goal or change you want to create.
Session 2 is the longer, deeper hypnotherapy session. We explore the subconscious origin of the presenting pattern and work with the emotional response connected to it.
Session 3 addresses anything that has naturally surfaced since Session 2. It may include additional hypnotherapy, along with guidance on using self-hypnosis independently after completing the process.
RRM is structured, contained work designed to help you understand the pattern, address its emotional origin, and leave with a technique you can continue using for yourself.
DOES REGRESSION MEAN I HAVE TO RELIVE TRAUMA?
No. The purpose is not to force you to relive a painful experience or remain immersed in it.
We approach whatever arises with awareness, communication, and respect for your capacity. You can slow down, pause, redirect, or stop at any point.
The focus is on understanding the emotional meaning of an experience and what your younger self needed—not repeatedly reenacting the event.
WILL HYPNOSIS RECOVER COMPLETELY ACCURATE MEMORIES?
Hypnosis should not be used to prove that a memory is historically or legally accurate.
Memory is reconstructive and can be influenced by emotion, expectation, time, and suggestion. An image or experience that arises during hypnosis may be literal, symbolic, imaginative, or a combination of these.
I do not treat hypnotically accessed material as independent factual evidence. We work with the emotional meaning it holds for you and its connection to the pattern you want to understand.
DO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN PAST LIVES OR SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES?
No. You do not need to hold any particular spiritual belief to participate.
Some clients interpret an experience psychologically, while others experience it through a spiritual framework. Images or narratives may also arise symbolically.
I do not impose an interpretation. We remain focused on what the experience means to you and whether it provides useful insight into your present pattern.
WHAT KINDS OF PATTERNS CAN THIS WORK SUPPORT?
Clients may seek hypnotherapy to explore patterns involving:
People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries.
Overthinking and persistent mental pressure.
Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes.
Emotional reactivity or suppressed anger.
Procrastination and difficulty taking action.
Low confidence or difficulty trusting personal decisions.
Repeating relationship dynamics.
Habits or responses that continue despite conscious effort.
No specific result can be guaranteed. Each person’s experience, history, goals, and participation are different.
IS HYPNOTHERAPY A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL CARE OR PSYCHOTHERAPY?
No.
Hypnotherapy is an educational and self-improvement process. I do not diagnose or treat medical conditions, psychological disorders, or mental illness, and my services are not a replacement for medical care, psychotherapy, counseling, psychiatric treatment, or emergency support.
If you have a medical or mental health concern, consult an appropriately licensed healthcare professional. When appropriate, hypnotherapy may be used alongside care from licensed providers, with clear communication about the roles of each practitioner.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or may harm yourself or someone else, contact emergency services or call or text 988 in the United States.
IS HYPNOTHERAPY APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYONE?
No single approach is appropriate for everyone.
The complimentary consultation helps us discuss your goals, expectations, current circumstances, and whether my scope of practice matches the support you are seeking.
I may recommend that you consult a licensed medical or mental health professional before beginning, or determine that another type of support is more appropriate.
HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE INCLUDED IN RRM?
The Regressive Release Method is a structured three-session process.
Each session has a distinct purpose, from identifying the pattern and exploring its emotional origin to integrating the change and creating your Personal Reality Script.
Your complimentary consultation is separate from these three sessions and gives us an opportunity to determine whether RRM is the right fit before you commit.
WHAT IS A PERSONAL REALITY SCRIPT?
A Personal Reality Script is created during the third RRM session.
It is a personalized statement describing how you want to think, feel, respond, and live as you move forward. It reflects the specific insight and direction developed through your sessions rather than relying on generic affirmations.
The script supports continued integration, but it does not replace the choices, boundaries, and actions required in daily life.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER RRM?
RRM is complete after the third session. You may continue using the self-hypnosis technique and recording provided during the process on your own.
Some clients choose Empowerment Coaching when they want support applying the change to relationships, communication, boundaries, leadership, decision-making, or personal goals.
The first Empowerment Coaching session may include creating a Personal Reality Script—a personalized vision of the internal patterns and daily life you want to build moving forward.
RRM focuses on releasing the old pattern. Empowerment Coaching supports the creation and integration of what comes next.
CAN SESSIONS BE COMPLETED ONLINE?
Yes. Sessions are available online through Zoom for clients in the Bay Area and beyond.
Choose a private, quiet location where you can speak freely and remain uninterrupted. You will need a reliable internet connection, a charged device, comfortable seating or a place to recline, and headphones if they help you feel more focused.
Do not participate while driving, supervising children, or completing another activity that requires your attention.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR A SESSION?
Before your session:
Choose a private and comfortable location.
Arrange uninterrupted time for the full appointment.
Use the restroom and have water nearby.
Silence unnecessary notifications.
Avoid alcohol or recreational substances.
Follow your prescribed medication routine unless a licensed prescriber tells you otherwise.
Arrive with curiosity rather than pressure to experience hypnosis in a particular way.
Meditation experience is not required. Your ability to communicate honestly is more important than your ability to enter a particular depth of relaxation.
ARE SESSIONS RECORDED?
Any recording arrangements will be discussed with you before recording begins.
A session recording is intended for the agreed purpose stated at the time of recording. Your session content will not be posted publicly, used for marketing, or shared with another person without your separate, explicit written permission.
You may decline recording or ask questions about how a recording will be stored, delivered, or deleted.
IS MY INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL?
Your privacy is treated with care. Information you share is not used publicly without your explicit written permission.
However, hypnotherapy is not psychotherapy, and the legal confidentiality rules that apply to licensed healthcare relationships may not apply in the same way. Any limits to privacy, recordkeeping practices, and required disclosures should be reviewed in your client agreement before services begin.
Please ask during your consultation if you have specific privacy concerns.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
The current cancellation and rescheduling terms are provided during scheduling and in your appointment confirmation.
Please review those terms before booking and contact me as soon as possible if you need to make a change.
HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER RRM IS RIGHT FOR ME?
RRM may be worth exploring when you understand a pattern intellectually but continue experiencing the same emotional reaction, relationship dynamic, or behavior.
A complimentary consultation is the appropriate place to discuss:
What continues to repeat.
What you have already tried.
What you want to change.
Questions or concerns about hypnosis.
Whether my approach falls within the appropriate scope for your needs.
There is no obligation to move forward if the process does not feel aligned with your goals.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
Schedule a complimentary consultation. We will discuss what you are experiencing, what you want to change, and whether the Regressive Release Method is an appropriate next step.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
About Carrie LaMastus: Carrie is a clinical hypnotherapist, founder of TAKE BACK YOUR LIGHT, and creator of the Regressive Release Method.
Updated September 2026.