If anyone had asked me a few weeks ago if I thought hypnosis was legitimate, I would have probably laughed. “Hypnotism? That’s just a bunch of baloney ... right?”

After one session at the Florida Institute of Hypnotherapy, however, my opinion has completely changed.

I arrived at the Florida Institute of Hypnotherapy on Northwest 43rd Street with no idea what to expect. How long was I going to be hypnotized? Would I remember any of it? Walking into the building, the low lighting and warm hues of the office’s waiting room soothed my running mind.

The hypnotist, director Matthew Brownstein, sat me down for a thirty-minute chat to establish what he calls “rapport.” It is important to feel comfortable going into the session and to be willing to actively participate.

“We call our clients Co-Operators,” he said. “If you’re not willing to cooperate with the hypnotic experience, you can reject anything I give you.”

I relaxed into a large, black recliner with a blanket covering my legs while Matthew sat at a computer desk explaining to me exactly what hypnosis is not. He explained that I would remember the entire session and would not be unconscious. I would be in complete control as well as relaxed, receptive and responsive.

Together, Matthew and I decided I would be hypnotized for test anxiety and some of the symptoms of my head cold. He asked me to close my eyes and imagine I had a test the next day. On a scale of 1 to 10, my anxiety came to a 7.

“Anything that the mind effects, hypnosis can work with,” he said.

Before you can go into hypnosis, however, an “anchor” must be set. Working like a trigger, an anchor induces the state, Matthew explained. As long as you’re comfortable, it can be almost anything you like. It can be something as simple as closing your eyes or listening to a command—I chose to close my eyes.

He asked me to stare into his eye while pressing down the palm of my hand flat in his as hard as I could. Afterward, he continued several hand techniques, having me follow the movement and listen to his instruction. My anchor occurred when I closed my eyes.

After each round of direction, Brownstein asked what my anxiety level was on the same scale. Each round, it decreased by two numbers until my anxiety fell all the way to one.

Throughout the experience I remained relaxed, feeling better mentally and physically with each passing minute. I was under hypnosis for about an hour, and the session was recorded and burned onto a disc for me to take home and listen to before going to sleep.

When the session was over, I left feeling on top of the world. My cold was by no means cured, but I felt significantly better and my symptoms were reduced. I have a test coming up in the next week and I have yet to feel overly anxious. Matthew invited me to come back for a seminar, and I’m really looking forward to it.

The Florida Institute of Hypnotherapy, founded almost three years ago, is the first state licensed school in the state of Florida to offer true diplomas in the field of hypnotherapy. Great for college students, the institute’s Student Success Seminars start Jan. 21 at 7pm. The $49, 90-minute course takes places once a month and involves informal group talks about the power of your subconscious mind as well as actual hypnotic experiences using the techniques you will discuss. Call ahead to reserve a spot, because space is limited. To register call 352-378-5746 or 800-551-9247. You can also register online at fihseminars.com.

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