Deb Abraham Spalding

Sharon Edmondson (pictured right) became a certified hypnotherapist in 2001. Around that time, while visiting Dr. John Hagemann at the Center of Life Chiropractic Center, he shared his vision of The Center of Life Holistic Center that has since come to be. Sharon’s hypnotherapy office is now open in the Holistic Center, located at 103 Park Lane in Thurmont.

She currently has a clinical certification in trans-personal hypnotherapy, where she engages mind, body, and spirit. To prepare for a session, Sharon works with each client to develop a plan to achieve goals during the therapy.

Formerly a food and beverage manager, turned event planner, Sharon just received an advanced hypnotherapy certification and will complete her master’s certificate to allow for a broader range of therapies. Therapies range from relief from addiction, to past life regression, smoking addiction, weight loss, pain relief, stress relief, ending bad habits, and a relief from obsessive compulsive tendencies. “These are all learned behaviors,” she explained, “We aren’t born with these behaviors. Hypnosis helps us to allow a healthy behavior to replace the harmful behavior.”

When hypnotized, a person simply achieves a very deep level of relaxation with a focused intent. It is not a trance. You are always in control with hypnosis. You can always come out of the relaxed state. A hypnotherapist gives positive suggestions to implement the change. Sometimes it takes a few sessions to interrupt a behavior. You need to reinforce the suggestions to make them stick.

Sharon, herself, was a patient of hypnosis for her smoking addiction. It took about three sessions to change the behavior, but she never went back. Hypnosis didn’t change the situation, it changed the way she reacted to the situation. She has never needed more hypnosis sessions for smoking. She said, “Once it takes, you’re good.”

Sharon recommends a package of three sessions. During the first session, the client is usually nervous and focused on what the hypnotherapist is saying, therefore not relaxed yet. But the second time, the client is more relaxed and focused on fixing the behavior. In the third session, the client reinforces what has been learned.

Many people can’t identify a specific problem like an obvious addiction. Be assured, you don’t have to know what’s wrong, just your direction. Together with Sharon, you can achieve even the ambiguous by identifying the end goal. Your subconscious mind wants what’s best for you. Hypnosis talks to your subconscience mind while the logical mind is in an altered relaxed state.

In comparison to the group weight-loss or smoking cessation, hypnotherapists you may see advertised at local hotels for group sessions, Sharon said, “Nine out of ten people in a group setting don’t get it. That leaves ninety out of a hundred thinking hypnotherapy will not work, that it’s a circus act.”

For clients under a doctor’s care, hypnosis can help to compliment a doctor’s regimen. Pain in our bodies tells us that something isn’t right. So, a client may say to Sharon, “Here’s what my doctor said…” and share the diagnosis so she can specifically set goals for relief. A ten-year-old girl with irritable bowel syndrome was her most significant success so far in her career.

There are package discounts, new customer discounts, and referral discounts. If you currently see Dr. John, or any of the massage therapists at Center of Life, you will receive a discount. “I want this to be affordable to many,” she explained. “I just love the holistic avenues. We can help so many.”

To contact Milestones Hypnosis, reference the ad on page 8, visit milestoneshypnosis.com, call 240-674-3071, or email milestonesgoals@gmail.com.