Photo of Lou Figueroa, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90254, CA
Lou Figueroa
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MS, CHT
Verified Verified
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
I am an experienced bilingual clinician who works with adolescents, adults, couples and families dealing with a variety of mental health issues. I utilize a number of therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, clinical hypnosis and hypnotically-facilitated psychotherapy. My areas of specialization include addiction, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, grief/loss, and bipolar disorder. My life experience has given me broad exposure to divorce, blended families, bi-cultural families, midlife career changes, families with special needs members, special needs advocacy, and sports performance.
I am an experienced bilingual clinician who works with adolescents, adults, couples and families dealing with a variety of mental health issues. I utilize a number of therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, clinical hypnosis and hypnotically-facilitated psychotherapy. My areas of specialization include addiction, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, grief/loss, and bipolar disorder. My life experience has given me broad exposure to divorce, blended families, bi-cultural families, midlife career changes, families with special needs members, special needs advocacy, and sports performance.
(424) 772-4403 View (424) 772-4403
Photo of Sharon M. Coulter, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90254, CA
Sharon M. Coulter
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, PPS, LMFT
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Life is messy but my philosophy is that even crisis brings great opportunity for growth. Whether you're an adolescent, adult, or couple, our work together integrates therapeutic approaches such as Compassionate/Non-Violent Communication, Tapping (EFT), CBT, EMDR, Gestalt and Internal Family Systems, Hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Anxiety and depression are the organism's way of expressing the need for help. Whether you're looking to address past trauma, increase self confidence and self compassion, grieve or nurture a relationship, or support yourself through a life transition, I am here to support you on the journey.
Life is messy but my philosophy is that even crisis brings great opportunity for growth. Whether you're an adolescent, adult, or couple, our work together integrates therapeutic approaches such as Compassionate/Non-Violent Communication, Tapping (EFT), CBT, EMDR, Gestalt and Internal Family Systems, Hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Anxiety and depression are the organism's way of expressing the need for help. Whether you're looking to address past trauma, increase self confidence and self compassion, grieve or nurture a relationship, or support yourself through a life transition, I am here to support you on the journey.
(310) 740-9038 View (310) 740-9038
Photo of Monica Chernoff, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate in 90254, CA
Monica Chernoff
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MS , AMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
My specialities as a therapist are 1) children, adolescents, & their families and 2) student athletes. Many individuals within this population suffer with mood disorders, anxiety, school & sport performance stress, identity crisis, family conflict, and low self-esteem due to familial/societal expectations and competitive culture. As a child, teenager, or parent, managing all these life stressors can take a toll on our mental health. My hope as a therapist is to make clients feel safe to process these struggles, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and improve their social/ family connections around them.
My specialities as a therapist are 1) children, adolescents, & their families and 2) student athletes. Many individuals within this population suffer with mood disorders, anxiety, school & sport performance stress, identity crisis, family conflict, and low self-esteem due to familial/societal expectations and competitive culture. As a child, teenager, or parent, managing all these life stressors can take a toll on our mental health. My hope as a therapist is to make clients feel safe to process these struggles, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and improve their social/ family connections around them.
(424) 340-5636 View (424) 340-5636

HypnoTherapy

How does hypnotherapy work?

Hypnotherapy works by using guided hypnosis to help you reach a state of focus and concentration through mental imagery and soothing verbal repetition. The state is somewhat like being absorbed in a book, a movie, or your own thoughts. You are not under a therapist’s “control,” but they can help you relax and turn your attention inward to discover the resources to achieve behavior change or better manage psychological concerns. Therapy sessions may involve guiding you through recognizing a problem, releasing problematic thoughts about it, and considering and accepting more productive alternatives before returning to normal awareness. Hypnotherapy is typically used by a therapist along with traditional forms of talk therapy. Eventually, your therapist can help you learn hypnotherapy techniques yourself so you can establish a stronger sense of control on your own in stressful or challenging moments.

Is hypnotherapy the same as hypnosis?

Hypnotherapy, which is sometimes called hypnotic suggestion, is a therapeutic technique in which a therapist uses hypnosis to help patients. It is not the kind of hypnosis portrayed in stage shows, or in movies or on television. You will not be unconscious or asleep during hypnotherapy, you will not lose control of yourself, your thoughts, or your free will, and you will be able to fully recall your experience. And while you will hear your therapist’s suggestions, it is always up to you to decide whether to act on them. Hypnosis by a trained mental-health professional is not a form of mind control, which is impossible to achieve anyway.

Can everyone be hypnotized?

The most common challenge of hypnotherapy is that as many as one in four people cannot be hypnotized. Brain imaging has confirmed differences in patterns of brain connectivity between those who respond to hypnotism and those who do not. Other people who could potentially be hypnotized may not respond to the technique because of their skepticism or resistance to entering a hypnotic state. If a therapist’s “post-hypnotic suggestion” is effective, it’s because they are suggesting something you want to achieve.

Does hypnotherapy work?

Through hypnotherapy, you can achieve changes that are real and sustainable. Like other talk therapy techniques, when hypnotherapy succeeds, it’s a case of mind over matter. Effective hypnotherapy involves self-healing because you access resources you need to change inside of yourself and learn how to tap into them whenever you need. Hypnotherapy has been shown to be an effective therapy for anxiety, phobias, stress, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction, and undesirable behaviors like smoking. It can be used to help improve sleep or to address relationship challenges, and to aid with pain management, digestive disorders, skin conditions, and the gastrointestinal side effects of pregnancy or chemotherapy.