Perhaps you have become intrigued by the subject, especially if you once thought of hypnosis only as entertainment.

If you're like many intelligent people I meet, you're probably thinking, "Hypnosis sounds interesting, but what can it do for ME?"

There are many possibilities. Here are five to consider as a start.

1.Hypnosis can help you move away from habits you'd like to leave behind. It's a popular therapy for smoking cessation, some say the best. It involves no drugs, no physical pain, and usually puts you in a relaxed mood. While no smoking cessation method works all the time for all people, hypnosis is at the top of the list for effectiveness with no negative side effects and with positive, often long-term results.

But smoking is not the only negative habit hypnosis can help you eliminate or lessen. Overeating, nail-biting, hair twisting and even falling in love consistently with the wrong people are habits that can be removed or reduced with hypnosis.

2.Hypnosis can help you acquire healthy, useful habits that would be productive for your life or work. My clients have used it to lose weight, work out regularly and more strenuously, choose healthier foods, and even to enjoy new challenges.

3.Hypnosis can improve your performance in sports, in your work, in skills like public speaking, and in meeting people-when networking for business or for social contacts. It can help you think faster and improve skills. Children can be hypnotized for improved study and test-taking abilities (as can adults returning to school in later years!). Adults can become fluid speakers who shine in meetings and presentations. And better skilled at driving, communicating and even romance.

Teens can enhance social skills useful in dating as well as confidence in school subjects, sports, making new friends.

4.Hypnosis can reduce, and sometimes even alleviate, physical pain. But there's a cautionary note here: Because hypnosis can be so effective at this, it is crucial that the pain is discussed with a physician. Wiping out the sensation of pain is dangerous if the root cause is not diagnosed first. Pain is a signal that something might be wrong and should be checked. Always consult your doctor first.

Can hypnosis cure illness? There are some indications that it can, particularly with certain mild skin conditions that are caused by-or exacerbated by-emotional distress or nervousness. In these situations, use hypnosis in partnership with your doctor's treatment, and always with his/her knowledge.

5.Hypnosis can empower psychotherapy to achieve improved results in less time.

You may work with a psychotherapist who is also trained in hypnosis or with two

separate mental-health providers. If you do the latter, sign a form that allows the two to communicate about your situation, and you'll get twice the benefit.

We do that in my office, where there are five psychotherapists and one hypnotherapist-me. For patients who could benefit, my colleagues suggest seeing me, usually for one, three, or six sessions. The results have been excellent, especially in situations involving fears and anxieties that hold people back from achieving all they could.

For some clients, combining the two approaches eliminates the need for prolonged therapy.

And because a competent hypnotherapist or hypnotist can teach you self hypnosis, either in a class or through private instruction, you can reinforce your gains and improvements on your own.

Hypnosis may be one of the best "bargains" in complementary healthcare. For the cost of a few sessions, some problems can be erased and others reduced considerably; by learning self-hypnosis, a client or patient has a skill to use with him/herself that can be used in many situations and throughout a lifetime. © 2008 by Wendy Lapidus-Saltz. All rights reserved