110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - 110° Magazine - July 2007 - Through the gates of Hell - Index

BLOOM [PERSONA]
KNOCKING DOWN
BARRIERS TO HEALTH
Shayn is working in an area
of therapy that seems strange
to most of us. We can’t
understand how hypnotism
works so we are a little fearful
of it. But Shayn reports
wonderful healing results
52 www.110mag.com July 2007
from her work.
by Shayn Cutino
Images by Russell Byrne
Hypnotherapy is a healing art that uses hypnotism to
promote healthy emotions and attitudes, plus providing
curative procedures for a variety of ailments.
Hypnotherapy also aids in managing pain and
enhancing personal development.
The AMA has recognized hypnotherapy’s curative
powers for nearly 50 years. It has over 800 documented
uses — from removing phobias and compulsive
behaviors, to overcoming depression — attacking
such things as stress, anxiety, panic, smoking, plus
issues of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Hypnotherapy procedures are able to attack the
root of many problems rather than merely treating
symptoms. Weight problems, for example, usually
have emotional underpinnings.
People are carrying issues around with them and
literally “stuffing” their emotions rather than their
stomachs because they are failing to deal with the
issues causing the problem.
Most weight-loss programs treat only symptoms
by focusing upon calorie reduction and special
diets. These sometimes help people experience
significant weight loss. Once they get off those
programs, however, 80 percent end up gaining the
weight back, because underlying problems, that
were the source of the compulsive eating symptoms,
were never addressed.
THE ROAD TO HYPNOTHERAPY
Since age 12 I’ve had a desire to serve others but did
not know how I wanted to do that. I began working in
the fashion industry in San Francisco’s Garment
District. I loved the work, but when we moved to
Oakley in 1984 I found the commute to be grinding.
I developed an interest in the healing professions,
so went back to school and started working at the
John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek doing
patient discharging. I subsequently worked for other
medical offices.
My jobs were happy experiences but I always felt
that I wasn’t being true to myself because I was capable
of helping people in a more personal way.
One day a light came on and I realized that I should
be working with people one-on-one helping them to
live and work through their passions. The decision
wasn’t made in a vacuum because fellow workers
would come to me asking things like: “What should I
do?” “I just had to come here and talk to you.”
It became apparent that I should be working fulltime
with people on this personal level so I went back