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 haphazard fire alarm interrupting the weight loss class’ deepest stage of relaxation could not have helped either. Following an evacuation and 30-minute delay, everyone had to refocus and try to regain their sense of peacefulness.
Some participants said they were nervous about being hypnotized. “It’s fear of the unknown,” said Barbara Dolcemascolo, of Wood-Ridge.
Nellie Tomic, of Paramus, concurred. “It’s a difficult process if you’re a control person,” she said.
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.
Will any of Wednesday’s participants continue with hypnosis? “We’re all going to have to come back for the anxiety class,” exclaimed one woman following the jolt of the untimely fire alarm.
