1. Tampa Hypnosis Center – Ron Queeney, CHt
Specialization: Smoking cessation, weight management, virtual gastric sleeve hypnosis, stress reduction, anxiety management, NLP, life coaching, health consultations
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, overeating, stress, anxiety, fears, phobias, lack of confidence, self-esteem issues, motivation problems, personal and professional development needs
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, virtual gastric sleeve (bariatric weight loss without surgery), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), life coaching, health consultations, self-hypnosis training, phone sessions, in-office sessions
Background: Ron Queeney, CHt, is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Integrative and Transformational Health Life Coach in practice since 2005. He maintains certifications through IMDHA (International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association), IACT (International Association of Counselors and Therapists), HEA, IIN, and NLP Comprehensive. He completes significant continuing education in hypnotherapy and NLP each year.
Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida
Contact: https://tampahypnosiscenter.com
Session Info: Free complementary strategy session available. Private sessions available by phone or in office.
2. Essential Balance Holistic Wellness Center – Hayden Sutherland
Specialization: Clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapy, mother/child/family wellness, pain control, sports performance enhancement, massage therapy integration, Reiki therapy
Conditions Addressed: Fears, phobias, anxiety, depression, addictions, weight issues, smoking, pain, sports performance blocks, prenatal and postpartum concerns
Services Offered: Hypnotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, transpersonal hypnotherapy, massage therapy, Reiki therapy, past life regression, wellness programs for pregnancy and childbirth
Background: Hayden Sutherland is an ACHE-certified (American Council of Hypnotist Examiners) clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapist. He is also a nationally certified and Florida-licensed massage therapist. The center specializes in providing hypnotherapy for mother, child, and family wellness before, during, and after childbirth, as well as pain control and sports performance enhancement.
Location: Tampa, FL
Contact: Available through practice website
Session Info: Contact center for appointment scheduling, session length options, and pricing information.
3. Florida Hypnosis Clinics – Trish
Specialization: Anxiety treatment, behavior change, emotional transformation, life coaching integration, advanced hypnotherapy techniques
Conditions Addressed: General anxiety, social anxiety, stress, emotional issues, behavioral challenges, personal transformation needs
Services Offered: Hypnotherapy sessions, life coaching, behavior modification, emotional transformation work
Background: Florida Hypnosis Clinics is recognized as a professional hypnotherapy and life coaching practice in Tampa. The owner, Trish, administers hypnotherapy services and is noted for her detailed explanations of hypnotherapy processes and personalized session approaches. The practice uses advanced cutting-edge techniques and the latest research in behavior change.
Location: 701 W. Azeele Street, Tampa, FL
Contact: Available through Yelp and practice channels
Session Info: Initial consultation available to explain hypnotherapy processes. Tailored sessions based on individual consultation information.
4. Catalyst Center for Change LLC – Scott Grupp, LMHC, CSAT, EFT Therapist
Specialization: Clinical hypnosis, rapid trauma resolution, addiction treatment, sex addiction therapy, couples therapy, emotionally focused therapy
Conditions Addressed: Trauma, addiction, sex addiction, intimate betrayal, relationship issues, couples challenges, emotional distress
Services Offered: Licensed mental health counseling, certified clinical hypnosis, rapid trauma resolution, couples therapy, three-day intensives for intimate betrayal recovery, individual and couple intensives
Background: Scott Grupp, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Catalyst Center for Change LLC (with his wife, Erin Grupp, LCSW). He holds multiple certifications including Master Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), Certified Sex Therapist (CST), Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist (EFT Therapist), and Certified Practitioner in Clinical Hypnosis and Rapid Trauma Resolution.
Location: Tampa, FL
Contact: Available through practice website
Session Info: Individual therapy, couples therapy, and Three-Day Intensives for couples recovering from intimate betrayal. Polygraph can be included with intensives.
5. Tampa Hypnosis
Specialization: Smoking cessation, weight loss, confidence building, self-esteem enhancement, fear elimination
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, weight issues, confidence problems, low self-esteem, fears
Services Offered: Virtual office sessions, face-to-face hypnosis sessions via Zoom, personalized professional hypnosis, nationally certified consulting hypnotist services
Background: Tampa Hypnosis is staffed by Nationally Certified Consulting Hypnotists and maintains membership in the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) and IACT. The practice focuses on providing personalized professional hypnosis with a consistently high success rate.
Location: Virtual office serving Tampa area with Zoom sessions
Contact: https://www.tampahypnosis.com
Session Info: Virtual office with face-to-face hypnosis sessions via Zoom. High level of expertise and personal attention provided.
Hypnosis Regulations in Florida
Florida has specific statutes governing the practice of hypnosis, primarily through Chapter 485 of the Florida Statutes, known as the “Hypnosis Law.” This law regulates therapeutic hypnosis while allowing non-therapeutic hypnosis to be practiced more freely.
Florida Statute 485 – Hypnosis Law: Chapter 485, Florida Statutes, regulates hypnosis for therapeutic purposes. Section 485.004 states that it is unlawful for any person to engage in the practice of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes unless such person is a practitioner of one of the healing arts or acts under the supervision, direction, prescription, and responsibility of such a person.
Definition of Hypnosis (485.003): The law defines “hypnosis” as hypnosis, hypnotism, mesmerism, posthypnotic suggestion, or any similar act or process that produces or is intended to produce in any person any form of induced sleep or trance in which the susceptibility of the person’s mind to suggestion or direction is increased, where such condition is used or intended to be used in the treatment of any human ill, disease, injury, or for any other therapeutic purpose.
Healing Arts Practitioners: The law defines “healing arts” to include medicine, surgery, psychiatry, dentistry, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, naturopathy, podiatric medicine, chiropody, psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and optometry. Practitioners of these healing arts may practice therapeutic hypnosis.
Non-Therapeutic Hypnosis: Florida Statute 491.0141 recognizes that persons may practice hypnosis for non-therapeutic purposes, so long as they do not hold themselves out as possessing a license or use a title protected by the licensed professions.
Qualified Persons Under Referral: Hypnosis for therapeutic purposes may be performed by a “qualified person” under the supervision, direction, prescription, and responsibility of a healing arts practitioner. The referring practitioner is responsible, severally or jointly, for any injury or damages resulting from incompetence.
Licensed School Recognition: The Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy was the first Florida school licensed by the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education (License 3448) to offer career diplomas for “Hypnotherapist,” “Clinical Hypnotherapist,” and “Transpersonal Hypnotherapist.”
Occupational Title: The occupational title “Hypnotherapist” was acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Florida law does not prohibit the use of this occupational title by trained professionals.
Local Regulations: The Florida Attorney General’s office has advised that local governments may also regulate the practice of hypnosis as an occupation or profession. Some cities and counties have their own requirements.
Advertising Restrictions: Practitioners who are not licensed healing arts professionals should not hold themselves out as licensed practitioners or use titles protected by licensed professions. Terms like “heal,” “treat,” “cure,” or “diagnose” should be avoided by non-licensed practitioners.
Training Requirements: For licensed professionals using hypnosis, the Florida Society of Clinical Hypnosis (FSCH), a component chapter of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), offers approved training workshops. ASCH certification requires licensure or certification by the state, minimum of 40 hours of ASCH-approved workshop training, minimum of 20 hours of individualized training with an ASCH Approved Consultant, and minimum of two years of independent practice utilizing clinical hypnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it legal to practice hypnosis in Florida without a license?
A: Florida distinguishes between therapeutic and non-therapeutic hypnosis. Under Chapter 485 Florida Statutes, hypnosis for therapeutic purposes (treating human ill, disease, injury) requires either being a licensed healing arts practitioner or working under the supervision, direction, prescription, and responsibility of such a practitioner. Non-therapeutic hypnosis (motivation, self-improvement, habit change, performance enhancement) may be practiced without healing arts licensure, as long as the practitioner does not claim to be licensed or use protected professional titles.
Q: How can I verify if a Tampa hypnotist is properly qualified?
A: For licensed mental health professionals (LMHCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists) who offer hypnotherapy, verify their license through the Florida Department of Health at flhealthsource.gov. For non-licensed hypnotists, verify certifications through organizations like the National Guild of Hypnotists, IACT, IMDHA, or American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. For graduates of Florida-licensed schools, credentials can be verified through the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education. Always ask practitioners about their specific training hours and certification status.
Q: Will my health insurance cover hypnotherapy in Tampa?
A: Insurance coverage for hypnotherapy in Florida depends on the provider’s credentials and your specific plan. If a licensed mental health professional (LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, or psychologist) provides hypnotherapy as part of their licensed practice, some insurance plans may cover the service under mental health benefits. Hypnotherapy provided by non-licensed practitioners is typically not covered. Contact your insurance provider directly to verify coverage for specific practitioners and conditions.
Q: What is the difference between therapeutic and non-therapeutic hypnosis in Florida?
A: Under Florida law, therapeutic hypnosis is defined as hypnosis used in the treatment of any human ill, disease, injury, or for any other therapeutic purpose. This type of hypnosis requires either a healing arts license or working under a licensed practitioner’s supervision. Non-therapeutic hypnosis includes uses such as motivation, confidence building, stress reduction, habit change (like smoking cessation when approached as a habit rather than a medical condition), sports performance, and general self-improvement. The distinction can be ambiguous, and practitioners should be clear about the nature of their services.
Q: Can I see a hypnotist in Tampa for smoking cessation without a medical referral?
A: This depends on how the service is framed. If smoking cessation is approached as habit change and motivation rather than medical treatment, non-licensed hypnotists may offer this service without a referral. However, if you have smoking-related health conditions or want hypnosis as part of medical treatment, working with a licensed practitioner or obtaining a referral from your physician is advisable. Many Tampa hypnotists offer smoking cessation programs as self-improvement services. Licensed mental health counselors and other healing arts practitioners can offer smoking cessation as part of their practice without the therapeutic/non-therapeutic distinction concern.