I just wanted to let folks know that there are only a few classes left until the Fall. Tomorrow, May 20th, I will be at Mt. Olive High School, Cory Rd., Mt Olive. In June, classes will be held in Bloomfield, Edison and Flemington. That will be it until Fall. I will continue to see clients individually at my 3 offices.
I don’t know if you remember me or not, my name is Laura Clavijo. I did 2 sessions with you and I wanted to thank you for your services. I have been cigarette/smoke FREE for 10 months. I was hypnotized July 11, 2009 and I have not even touched a cigarette since July 10, 2009. The first 12 weeks were rough, but after that I have not looked back and I remain optimistic to have a smoke free life.
Thank you!
Last week I gave a lecture on hypnosis at Ridge Oaks Sr. Center and got this note. “Thanks so much for the presentation you did for our residents. I think most of them really enjoyed it. I guess you’re used to getting “interesting” questions. You’ve probably heard it all by now”.
I am always available to speak to groups about hypnosis and really enjoy it.
There are ONLY a few group classes left until the fall, so don’t wait too long if you or anyone you know is interested. We are going green.
If you are currently receiving the monthly calendar via regular US mail and would prefer to only get it through email, kindly let me know.
No more calendars will be sent by mail until October since there are only a couple of dates for classes between now and then. You will have to click on calendar to see if there are any classes. I will be see clients individually in Bloomfield, Flemington and Frenchtown.
Although short term therapy has been the cornerstone of the practice, I have come to realize that sometime folks slip up. Whether picking up cigarettes after quitting or reverting to negative behavior re: food choices or any other behavioral changes, it’s important to get back on track.
For this reason, I will be starting a new maintenance program shortly. Info will be posted on website and an email will be sent out as well. Keep an eye for it as it will help sustain your goals easier.
With cigarettes at $8.00 a pack or nearly $3,ooo per year, it’s a perfect time for folks to finally give up smoking. With the economy being what it is, folks have to earn an awful lot of money to pay for this harmful addiction. I truly hope that this cost might encourage people to save their own lives. It is so important for themselves, family and friends.
Locals look to kick habits with hypnosis
By Colleen Reynolds
Reporter
RUTHERFORD (April 2, 2009) — Hypnosis no longer involves just a staring hypnotist swinging a watch while chanting, “You are getting very sleepy.”
Barry Wolfson, director of the Hypnosis Counseling Center, conducted two hypnotherapy sessions for the Rutherford Adult School Wednesday, March 25. Wolfson, who has been hypnotizing adults in Rutherford for nearly 20 years, offered workshops for those who wanted to quit smoking or lose weight.
“Most people don’t like this; they love it,” claims Wolfson, who reports a 67 percent success rate over his 23-year career.
An initial skeptic, Wolfson became a supporter of the practice after a cousin hypnotized him while he was earning his Master of Science degree in counseling at Upsala College. “It’s more mainstream now,” the former basketball coach said of the current practice of hypnosis. “It’s opened me up to the power of the mind.”
After emphasizing the deleterious effects of smoking and extra weight and highlighting the benefits of improvement, he guided the classes through “progressive relaxation.”
“It’s an alpha state of mind, a dreamlike state, similar to the feeling you get before you fall asleep,” he said, “where I can plant positive suggestions for change at the subconscious level.”
Those who are creative and have positive attitudes tend to make the best candidates, he added.
Gradually, the participants were mentally transported from the classroom setting to their own imagery of beaches and the countryside.
Catherine Cannizzo, of Wood-Ridge, had been a double-pack-a-day smoker for two decades when she attended one of Wolfson’s classes in the 1980s. After just one session, she said she was able to quit and has not touched a cigarette since.
Cannizzo attended the most recent weight loss workshop for help in achieving her latest goal. She did not realize it would be the same hypnotist, but was hopeful the therapy will yield positive results. “I’ll know tomorrow if it worked,” she said.
A 60-year-old civil engineer from Rutherford also reported single-session success. His wife’s smoking cessation through hypnosis inspired him to enroll in the course for weight loss. “Hopefully, it will work for me, too,” he said, later admitting that he felt his scientific background was disadvantageous. According to Wolfson, those who are analytical may not enjoy the same results.
The Hypnosis Counseling Center (www.hypnosisnj.com) offers hypnotherapy for a range of issues, including public speaking, insomnia and even a lack of confidence in athletes. Wolfson will hypnotize again for smoking at 6:30 p.m. and weight loss at 7:30 p.m. at 554 Bloomfield Ave. in Bloomfield Tuesday, April 14.
The following article appeared this week in The Kearny Observer by Celeste Regal, Editor.
USING HYPNOSIS TO BREAK BAD HABITS, BARRY WOLFSON AT KEARNY ADULT SCHOOL
Barry Wolfson, Director of the Hypnosis Counseling Center, came to give two different sessions on March 5 at the Kearny Adult School. The classes – one on overcoming the smoking habit and one on overeating – were held at Kearny High at 6:30. Wolfson has been coming to the adult school for 23 years and has offices in Bloomfield, Flemington and Frenchtown. The Center can help people with a variety of problems from migraine headaches to sales motivation. His literature lists 18 areas where he says hypnosis can relieve not only fears and habits you wish to change but also ways in which you would like to respond to life.
He is originally from Newark and the Oranges and became interested in hypnosis while he was coaching college basketball at Upsala College in East Orange when the players would come to him with their problems and concerns, as well as many friends and family.
I took some courses and went back (to school) for my masters in counseling. I had a cousin who was a social worker in hypnotherapy,” he said. ” She got me involved with the people who trained her and I trained there as well.”
Wolfson has a Master of Science in counseling; certifications from the Institute of Hypnotherapy and Habit Hypnosis Control Systems, both in New York City. He said that most of his clients come from referral and his success rates are excellent.
“I’ve been coming to schools like the one in Kearny for years and if people didn’t do well, they probably wouldn’t keep having me come,” he explained.
The hypnosis session I attended was the “quit smoking” class. Although I don’t smoke I found the experience very pleasant. After a number of breathing exercises, Wolfson takes the class through a kind of guided imagery path where his soothing voice compels you through gentle suggestions to go deeper into a state of relaxation and meditation.
You are not asleep or unconscious since you can hear everything that is going on around you but the routine had a curiously happy affect. I felt happy and calm (not the general state for an extremely stressful job like an editor.) I don’t know about the others but there was a bounce in my step as I left and I felt energized.
Wolfson said he likes to help people achieve things that are “tough to do on their own.”
Even if I see people in a group or individually a couple of times and they no longer smoke, then they’re going to live a heck of a lot longer so that’s pretty satisfying,” he said. “It doesn’t work for everybody but it works for most folks if they are open to it. If you think you’re going to achieve it you will.”
Another surprise is that while Wolfson seems demure upon first meeting him, he is very funny in class and gets everyone in a familiar state with each other. It was really a fun time and the hour went quickly. I had no idea I would benefit from going through the hypnotic suggestions but I did focus on a behavioral change instead of a smoking one, and that worked out well.
To find out more about Wolfson and his work or to see a schedule for upcoming classes visit his Web site at http://hypnosisnj.com/site/. There is a a lot of written information and YouTube videos/. You can also call 908-996-3311.
