1. Joan Krueger Hypnosis
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy focusing on smoking cessation, weight management, test anxiety, memory improvement, self-esteem issues, pain relief, anxiety, and depression. Joan Krueger has served clients in the St. Louis area since 1994.
Conditions Addressed: Smoking cessation, weight management, test anxiety, memory issues, self-esteem challenges, acute and chronic pain from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries, anxiety, depression, phobias, and habit change.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, smoking cessation programs, weight management hypnosis, pain management, memory improvement techniques, self-hypnosis training.
Background: Joan Krueger is a Certified Hypnotherapist who has been in private practice since 1994. She has over 30 years of experience helping clients achieve their personal and professional goals through hypnotherapy.
Location: Kirkwood, MO (serving St. Louis metro area)
Contact: https://jfkhypnosis.com
Session Info: Contact for session rates and availability. Free consultations available. Long track record with documented client success stories.
2. Mind Body Clinical Hypnosis (Linda M. Guhe, LCSW)
Specialization: Clinical hypnosis combined with psychotherapy and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). Linda Guhe specializes in Ericksonian hypnosis techniques for anxiety, stress, pain management, and personal transformation.
Conditions Addressed: Stress, anxiety, chronic pain, emotional issues, behavioral patterns, and various conditions where stress is a contributing factor.
Services Offered: Individual psychotherapy sessions, clinical hypnosis, hypnoanalysis, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) for chronic pain, Ericksonian hypnosis techniques.
Background: Linda M. Guhe is a Missouri Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in private practice for 20 years. She is certified in clinical hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and has extensive training in clinical and medical hypnosis from prestigious psychologists, social workers, and physicians teaching Milton Erickson Hypnosis throughout the US and internationally. As a licensed professional, she is regulated by HIPAA laws for client privacy protection.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: https://mindbodyclinicalhypnosis.com
Session Info: $120 per session. Sliding scale offered in some circumstances. Business hours Monday through Friday, office typically open by 9:00 AM with last clinical hour at 6:00 PM.
3. West County Professional Counseling Services (Michelle Parker, LPC)
Specialization: Psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy focusing on addiction and substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma/PTSD. Offers both Moderation Management and abstinence-based approaches to addiction recovery.
Conditions Addressed: Addiction and substance use disorders, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma, PTSD, depression, and various mental health concerns.
Services Offered: Individual psychotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, motivational interviewing, telehealth sessions throughout Missouri.
Background: Michelle Parker is a Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. She takes a collaborative and integrative approach blending multiple therapeutic methods. She serves clients in St. Louis, St. Charles, and throughout Missouri via telehealth.
Location: St. Louis and St. Charles areas (telehealth available throughout Missouri)
Contact: https://westcocounseling.com
Session Info: Most insurance plans accepted. Virtual psychotherapy available. Contact for appointment scheduling.
4. Denovo Hypnotherapy (Kim Yurkovich)
Specialization: Regression hypnotherapy focused on identifying root causes of emotional pain and behavioral patterns. Kim Yurkovich helps clients heal trauma, reduce stress and anxiety, overcome depression, and release self-sabotaging patterns.
Conditions Addressed: Stress, anxiety, depression, fear, dependencies, sleep issues, trauma, racing mind, self-sabotage, feeling stuck, anger, toxicity, resentment, low confidence, and imposter syndrome.
Services Offered: One-on-one regression hypnotherapy sessions, sessions available via Zoom and in-person, free 30-minute Discovery Sessions.
Background: Kim Yurkovich is a Clinical Hypnotherapist providing personalized sessions to help clients get to the root causes of their current challenges.
Location: St. Louis Wellness Center, St. Louis, Missouri (also available via Zoom)
Contact: https://www.denovohypnotherapy.com
Session Info: Free 30-minute Discovery Session available. In-person sessions at St. Louis Wellness Center or virtual sessions via Zoom.
5. Champion Hypnosis (Dan Lohmeyer)
Specialization: Consulting hypnosis for habit change including weight loss, smoking cessation, fear and phobia elimination, stress management, anxiety relief, and sleep improvement. Also provides comedy stage hypnosis entertainment.
Conditions Addressed: Weight management, smoking cessation, fears and phobias, stress, anxiety, sleep issues, hot flashes, confidence building, organization and focus, and various personal development goals.
Services Offered: Individual hypnosis sessions, aversion therapy, parts therapy, self-image work, comedy stage hypnosis shows for entertainment events, adult shows available upon request.
Background: Dan Lohmeyer is a Certified Hypnotist at Champion Hypnosis in St. Louis. He individualizes sessions to address specific issues that influence each client’s challenges rather than using standardized scripts. He offers both consulting hypnosis services and stage hypnosis entertainment.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: https://championhypnosis.com
Session Info: Consulting hypnosis services available. Stage hypnosis shows custom designed for each audience. Contact for session rates and availability.
Hypnosis Regulations in Missouri
Missouri does not have specific licensing or registration requirements for hypnotherapists. The state is classified among those that do not appear to specifically regulate the practice of hypnosis, meaning there is no mandatory registration or certification required to practice hypnotherapy.
However, Missouri Revised Statutes Section 337.015 regulates the practice of psychology, and the definition includes hypnosis. The statute states that no person shall represent themselves as a psychologist or engage in the practice of psychology without being validly licensed under the provisions of the chapter. The practice of psychology is defined broadly to include the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures including diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of adjustment problems and emotional and mental disturbances, as well as hypnosis.
The key distinction is that Missouri’s psychology statute is a “titling act” that outlines what licensed psychologists can do rather than explicitly prohibiting others from providing hypnosis services. The phrase “application of psychological principles, methods and procedures” is broad, and many professionals in fields such as coaching, training, and consulting use psychological principles without being required to hold psychology licenses.
Licensed mental health professionals in Missouri, including psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed marriage and family therapists, may incorporate hypnosis into their therapeutic practice within their scope of practice. These professionals are regulated by the Missouri Division of Professional Registration and must meet educational, examination, and continuing education requirements.
For hypnotherapists who are not licensed mental health professionals, best practices include clearly disclosing that services are for self-improvement and personal development purposes rather than treatment of mental health disorders. Practitioners should avoid using terms that imply they are providing psychological treatment and should refer clients with serious mental health concerns to licensed professionals.
Professional hypnotherapy organizations provide voluntary certification and set ethical standards for practitioners. These include the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA), and American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). The ASCH provides certification specifically for licensed health care professionals who want to add clinical hypnosis to their practice.
There are no known legal cases in Missouri where someone has faced legal action specifically for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy. However, practitioners should be cautious about making claims that could be interpreted as practicing medicine or psychology without a license.
Stage hypnotists providing entertainment services are generally not subject to mental health practice regulations, though they may need entertainment or business licenses depending on local municipality requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do hypnotherapists in Missouri need to be licensed by the state?
A: Missouri does not require specific licensing or registration for hypnotherapists. The practice of hypnosis is not directly regulated by the state. However, if a practitioner represents themselves as a psychologist or claims to be treating mental health disorders, they may be subject to psychology licensing requirements under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 337.015. Hypnotherapists who are also licensed mental health professionals such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), or psychologists practice under those licenses and must meet the requirements of their respective licensing boards. When choosing a practitioner, verify their credentials by asking about their training, professional certifications, and any licenses they hold.
Q: How can I verify a hypnotherapist’s credentials in St. Louis?
A: To verify a hypnotherapist’s credentials in St. Louis, start by asking the practitioner directly about their training and certifications. You can verify certifications with the issuing organizations such as the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, or International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. If the practitioner holds a mental health license (such as LCSW, LPC, or psychologist), you can verify their license status through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration online license verification system. For practitioners trained at accredited institutions, you can confirm their training credentials with the school. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) provides certification specifically for licensed health care professionals, and their membership can be verified through the organization.
Q: Will my health insurance cover hypnotherapy in Missouri?
A: Insurance coverage for hypnotherapy in Missouri depends on the practitioner’s credentials and the purpose of treatment. Sessions with licensed mental health professionals such as LCSWs, LPCs, or psychologists who incorporate hypnotherapy into treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions may be covered under mental health benefits if the provider is in-network with your insurance. Some practitioners, like Michelle Parker at West County Professional Counseling Services, accept most insurance plans. Sessions with certified hypnotherapists who are not licensed mental health professionals are generally not covered by insurance and are paid out-of-pocket. Typical session costs range from $100 to $175 in the St. Louis area. Always verify coverage with your insurance provider before beginning treatment.
Q: What is the difference between clinical hypnosis and consulting hypnosis in Missouri?
A: In Missouri practice, clinical hypnosis typically refers to hypnosis provided by licensed health care professionals such as psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs, physicians, or dentists who use hypnosis as part of treatment for medical or psychological conditions. Organizations like the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) provide certification for clinical hypnosis to licensed professionals. Consulting hypnosis, sometimes called vocational or avocational hypnosis, refers to hypnosis provided for self-improvement purposes such as smoking cessation, weight management, stress reduction, confidence building, and performance enhancement by practitioners who may or may not hold mental health licenses. Both approaches use hypnotic techniques, but clinical hypnosis practitioners can address diagnosed conditions within their professional scope, while consulting hypnotists focus on goals and self-improvement rather than treatment of disorders.
Q: Are there hypnotherapists in St. Louis who specialize in addiction recovery?
A: Yes, some hypnotherapists and licensed mental health professionals in St. Louis offer hypnotherapy for addiction and substance use issues. Michelle Parker at West County Professional Counseling Services is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist who specializes in addiction and substance use disorders, offering both Moderation Management and abstinence-based approaches. When seeking hypnotherapy for addiction concerns, it is advisable to work with a licensed mental health professional who can provide comprehensive care. Hypnotherapy for addiction is often used as a complementary approach alongside other evidence-based treatments. Verify that any practitioner you consider has specific training and experience in addiction recovery and ask about their approach and success rates.