1. Central Valley Hypnosis – Mr. Banks, BA, CH
Specialization: Smoking cessation, weight management, anxiety and stress reduction, confidence building, fear elimination, motivation enhancement, addiction support
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, overeating, anxiety, stress, fears, confidence issues, motivation problems, anger issues, unhealthy eating habits
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, in-office sessions, video conferencing, phone sessions, free consultations
Background: Mr. Banks, BA, is a Certified Hypnotherapist and Certified Member of the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH). He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego. He has personally overcome challenges including alcoholism, anxiety, anger issues, and unhealthy eating habits through hypnosis. He established Central Valley Hypnosis in 2016 and has expanded to three locations serving the Central Valley region.
Location: Bakersfield office location (also serves clients from Fresno main office at 5528 N. Palm Ave, Suite 115, Fresno, CA 93704)
Contact: (559) 854-3251 | https://cvhypnosis.com
Session Info: Free consultation available. Sessions available Monday through Saturday. Video conferencing and phone services available for clients who cannot visit in person.
2. Nina Manny, CHt – Bakersfield Clinical Hypnotherapy
Specialization: Cognitive clinical hypnotherapy, consciousness exploration, medical hypnotherapy, spiritual hypnotherapy, children and teen hypnosis, past life regression
Conditions Addressed: Anxiety, depression, insomnia, sexual dysfunctions, phobias, weight issues, smoking, addiction, chronic pain, cancer treatment support, post-operative healing, stroke recovery, bedwetting, nail biting, anger management
Services Offered: Clinical hypnotherapy, spiritual hypnotherapy, past life regression, consciousness exploration, medical hypnotherapy (with physician referral), individual sessions, remote sessions via phone and video conferencing
Background: Nina Manny is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CHt) recognized as an expert in cognitive clinical hypnotherapy and consciousness exploration. She has over a decade of experience and is regularly consulted by physicians and medical professionals to work with their patients. She is a contributing author to “Miracles Happen” with Dr. Brian Weiss and Amy Weiss, as featured on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Super Soul Sunday and Doctor Oz. She was awarded “Best of Bakersfield” for Hypnotherapy. She specializes in behavioral and spiritual hypnotherapy for adults, teens, and children.
Location: Stockdale Tower, 5060 California Avenue, Suite 1090, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Contact: (661) 342-2142 | https://ninamanny.com | https://bakersfieldhypnotherapy.com
Session Info: Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Remote sessions available via telephone and video conferencing. In-person sessions available at Stockdale Tower location.
3. Cynthia Cunningham Hypnosis
Specialization: Hypnotherapy integrated with family therapy, personal development, client-centered approaches
Conditions Addressed: Family issues, inner conflicts, personal development needs, stress, anxiety, relationship challenges
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy, family systems therapy integration, client-centered approaches, brief therapy techniques
Background: Cynthia Cunningham is a licensed therapist with training in family systems, brief therapy, and hypnosis. She uses an eclectic combination of therapy modalities based on client needs and personality. She is a proponent of natural methods of healing and believes clients have their own answers, with her role being to serve as a catalyst.
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Contact: Available through Psychology Today directory
Session Info: Contact practitioner directly for scheduling and fee information.
4. Yessica Avancena, LMFT, MBA
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, personal development, life challenges, mental health counseling
Conditions Addressed: Mental health challenges, personal development needs, life obstacles, relationship issues, work challenges
Services Offered: Licensed marriage and family therapy, certified hypnotherapy, individual counseling, personal development coaching
Background: Yessica Avancena is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Hypnotherapist. She holds an MBA and has a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She has been working in the mental health field for over a decade, helping clients achieve successful results. She views challenges in life as opportunities for growth and invitations to self-improvement. She is bilingual (English and Japanese).
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Contact: Available through Psychology Today directory
Session Info: Contact practitioner for appointment scheduling and fee structure.
5. Karen Chaney, MA, LMFT
Specialization: Hypnotherapy as part of integrated therapeutic approach, family therapy, couples therapy, individual counseling
Conditions Addressed: Family conflicts, couples issues, individual mental health concerns, personal growth needs
Services Offered: Marriage and family therapy, individual therapy, hypnotherapy integration, couples counseling
Background: Karen Chaney is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a Master of Arts degree. She incorporates hypnotherapy into her therapeutic practice to help clients address various concerns.
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Contact: Available through Psychology Today directory
Session Info: Contact practitioner for appointment information and fees.
Hypnosis Regulations in California
California has specific guidelines for the practice of hypnosis, providing a regulatory framework that allows non-licensed practitioners to operate under certain conditions while protecting the public.
State Licensing Requirements: California does not have mandatory state licensing specifically for hypnotists or hypnotherapists. The practice is not directly regulated by a state licensing board for hypnosis.
Business and Professions Code Section 2908: This section provides exemptions that define how non-psychologists may practice hypnosis legally in California. Persons using hypnotic techniques are exempt from the psychology licensing act when they either work under referral from persons licensed to practice medicine, dentistry, or psychology, or utilize hypnotic techniques that offer avocational or vocational self-improvement and do not offer therapy for emotional or mental disorders.
SB 577 Requirements (Health Freedom Act): Senate Bill 577 requires unlicensed complementary and alternative health care practitioners, including hypnotherapists, to provide written disclosure to clients stating that the services are not licensed by the state, describing the nature of services, explaining the treatment theory, listing education, training, experience, and qualifications, and specifying that services do not include diagnosis, prescription, or treatment of medical conditions. Practitioners must obtain written acknowledgment from clients and maintain records for three years.
Scope of Practice Limitations: Non-licensed practitioners should avoid diagnosing or treating emotional or mental disorders, should not hold themselves out as psychologists, should refrain from making medical claims, and should work within avocational and vocational self-improvement categories.
Health Professional Exemptions: Licensed health professionals in California, including physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, optometrists, psychiatric technicians, registered nurses, and attorneys, may use hypnosis within their scope of practice without additional hypnosis-specific restrictions.
Court Precedent: People v. Cantor (1961) held that practicing hypnotism as a curative means for sick persons constitutes the illegal practice of medicine, establishing that hypnosis used to treat medical conditions requires appropriate medical licensing.
Title and Advertising: Practitioners who are not licensed health professionals must state in advertising that they are not licensed by the state as healing arts practitioners. Use of terms like “certified hypnotherapist” should be accurate and verifiable.
Voluntary Certification: Many practitioners obtain certification through organizations such as the American Hypnosis Association (AHA), American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), or International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT). The ACHE requires up to 300 hours of training for its highest certification levels.
Training Institutions: California has state-licensed hypnotherapy training institutions, including HMI College of Hypnotherapy in Tarzana, which is nationally accredited and offers programs up to 720 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do hypnotists in California need a license to practice?
A: California does not require a state license to practice hypnosis. However, practitioners must comply with Business and Professions Code Section 2908, which allows hypnosis for avocational or vocational self-improvement, but prohibits offering therapy for emotional or mental disorders unless properly licensed. Additionally, SB 577 requires non-licensed practitioners to provide specific written disclosures to clients about the nature of their services and their qualifications.
Q: What disclosures must California hypnotherapists provide to clients?
A: Under SB 577, non-licensed hypnotherapists must provide written disclosure stating that services are not licensed by the state, describing the nature of services, explaining the theory behind the services, listing their education, training, experience, and qualifications, and stating that services do not include diagnosis, prescription, or treatment of physical or mental conditions. Practitioners must obtain written acknowledgment from clients and keep records for three years. Advertising must also state that the practitioner is not licensed as a healing arts practitioner.
Q: How can I verify a hypnotist’s credentials in Bakersfield?
A: For licensed therapists (LMFTs, LCSWs, psychologists) who offer hypnotherapy, verify their license through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology. For non-licensed hypnotists, verify certification through organizations such as the American Hypnosis Association at (818) 758-2700, the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), or the National Guild of Hypnotists. Ask practitioners for their certification number and expiration date. For practitioners trained at HMI College of Hypnotherapy, graduation credentials can be verified through the school.
Q: Will my health insurance cover hypnotherapy in California?
A: Insurance coverage varies by plan. California’s Basic Health insurance programs specifically exclude hypnosis from coverage. However, if a licensed mental health professional (such as an LMFT, LCSW, or psychologist) provides hypnotherapy as part of their licensed practice, some private insurance plans may cover the service under mental health benefits. Hypnotherapy provided by non-licensed practitioners is typically not covered. Contact your insurance provider to verify coverage for specific providers.
Q: Can California hypnotists work with medical conditions like chronic pain?
A: Non-licensed hypnotists in California should obtain a referral from a licensed physician, psychologist, or dentist before working with medical conditions. Business and Professions Code 2908 allows hypnosis under such referrals. For chronic pain, cancer support, or other medical conditions, practitioners like Nina Manny work with patients referred by their doctors. Without a referral, non-licensed hypnotists should focus on avocational and vocational self-improvement rather than medical conditions. Licensed health professionals may use hypnosis for medical conditions within their scope of practice.