1. Hypnosis for Positive Life Changes (Roy Abadi)
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy for smoking cessation, weight management, anxiety, habits, food cravings, insomnia, motivation, and performance issues. Focus on single-session resolution when possible.
Conditions Addressed: Smoking addiction (including clients who smoked for 20-50 years), weight issues, food cravings, PMS symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, motivation problems, nail biting, pain management, fears, guilt, test anxiety, performance anxiety.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions with focus on single-session resolution, 50-minute complimentary consultations, virtual and in-person sessions.
Background: Roy Abadi is an Honors graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), the nationally accredited college of hypnotherapy. He is a Certified Hypnotherapist through the American Hypnosis Association, Certification Number 010037 (valid to March 2027). He is a member of the American Hypnosis Association and a Board Member of the Hypnotherapists’ Union. He is fluent in English and Hebrew.
Location: Long Beach, California (also serves Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Diego, and Los Angeles)
Contact: https://hypnosis.edu/hypnotherapists/roy-abadi/
Session Info: Free 50-minute complimentary consultation offered. Focus on resolving challenges in a single hypnosis session when appropriate. Serves clients throughout Southern California.
2. Gnosis Therapy (Garrett M. Wood)
Specialization: Integrative hypnotherapy for burnout recovery, emotional resilience, executive functioning improvement, and subconscious transformation. Specializes in working with high-achieving and neurodivergent professionals.
Conditions Addressed: Burnout, chronic stress, emotional regulation issues, executive functioning challenges, ADHD, career-values misalignment, subconscious belief patterns, neurodivergent population concerns.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, executive well-being coaching, behavior change programs, sensory intelligence work, somatic regulation techniques, positive psychology applications.
Background: Garrett Wood holds certifications as a Certified Hypnotherapist (CHt) through the American Hypnosis Association, Certification Number 012919 (valid to April 2026). He is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), an Executive Functioning Specialist, and an ADHD Coach. He has over 18 years of experience in behavior change and mind-body wellness. He is a graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute with a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Location: Long Beach, CA 90802
Contact: (714) 328-8783 | https://hypnosis.edu/hypnotherapists/garrett-wood/
Session Info: Specializes in working with high-achieving, often neurodivergent professionals. Science-backed approach combining subconscious belief change, emotional regulation, and performance alignment.
3. Empowered Mind Wellness, LLC (Prema Saraswati)
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy and spiritual healing for trauma recovery, abuse survivors, chronic pain, and personal transformation. Holistic approach combining hypnotherapy with NLP and energy healing.
Conditions Addressed: Trauma, abuse recovery, chronic back pain, anxiety, weight issues, smoking, fears, stress, personal transformation challenges.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), spiritual healing, holistic healing programs.
Background: Prema Saraswati (formerly Mee Vaj) is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner. She has been helping clients since 2012 and has worked with thousands of people. She comes from a distinguished line of Shamanic and herbal healers in her Hmong heritage. She received the Long Beach Awards for Hypnotherapy Service from 2018 through 2022 and was named among the Three Best Rated Hypnotherapy in Long Beach in 2020. Her personal healing journey began after a series of rear-end car accidents left her in chronic back pain, which she overcame through hypnotherapy and energy healing.
Location: 5199 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, California
Contact: https://www.empoweredmindwellness.com
Session Info: Sessions available for trauma and abuse recovery, chronic pain, and various personal transformation goals. Combines hypnotherapy with NLP and spiritual healing modalities.
4. Elan Healing Hypnotherapy
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy for emotional healing, personal transformation, and wellness.
Conditions Addressed: Emotional issues, stress, anxiety, personal blocks, wellness goals.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, healing-focused hypnotherapy.
Background: Certified hypnotherapist serving the Long Beach area. Listed among the hypnotherapy providers in Long Beach through Yelp and local directories.
Location: Long Beach, California
Contact: Available through Yelp directory
Session Info: Focused on emotional healing and personal transformation through hypnotherapy.
5. Life Balance Hypnotherapy
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy for achieving life balance, stress management, and personal development.
Conditions Addressed: Life imbalance, stress, personal development goals, behavioral changes.
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, life balance programs.
Background: Certified hypnotherapist serving the Long Beach area. Listed among hypnotherapy providers in local directories.
Location: Long Beach, California
Contact: Available through Yelp directory
Session Info: Focus on helping clients achieve balance in their lives through hypnotherapy approaches.
Hypnosis Regulations in California
California does not require a license specifically to practice hypnotherapy or hypnosis. The regulation of hypnotherapy in California is governed primarily by California Business and Professions Code Section 2908, which provides exemptions for hypnosis practitioners from psychology licensing requirements under specific conditions.
Under Section 2908, persons utilizing hypnotic techniques may practice legally in California if they offer avocational or vocational self-improvement and do not offer therapy for emotional or mental disorders. The exemption also covers persons using hypnotic techniques by referral from persons licensed to practice medicine, dentistry, or psychology.
Hypnotherapists in California may legally work on issues such as smoking cessation, weight management, stress reduction, confidence building, motivation, sports performance, habit change, and general self-improvement. They may not diagnose or treat mental disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) unless they are licensed mental health professionals.
California Business and Professions Code Sections 2053.5 and 2053.6 establish the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practice framework, allowing unlicensed practitioners to offer services that do not require medical training and credentials, provided they comply with consumer protection disclosure requirements.
Required disclosures for California hypnotherapists include a clear statement that the practitioner is not a licensed physician, psychologist, or other healthcare professional (unless they hold such licenses), that hypnotherapy is complementary to and not a substitute for licensed medical or psychological services, and information about the nature of services provided.
Licensed healthcare professionals in California, including psychologists (regulated by the California Board of Psychology), marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors (regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences), may incorporate hypnosis into their licensed practices within their scope of practice.
The Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) in Tarzana, California is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training and provides extensive training programs. Graduates receive certification through the American Hypnosis Association (AHA). Many Long Beach hypnotherapists trained at HMI.
California does not mandate specific educational hours for non-licensed hypnotherapists, though voluntary certification through accredited schools like HMI or organizations like ACHE and NGH demonstrates professional training. Practitioners should maintain professional liability insurance and comply with general business regulations and truth in advertising requirements.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs handles complaints about deceptive business practices. For licensed practitioners, complaints go to the appropriate licensing board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is hypnotherapy licensed in California?
A: California does not have a specific state licensing requirement for hypnotherapists. Under California Business and Professions Code Section 2908, persons using hypnotic techniques for avocational or vocational self-improvement who do not treat emotional or mental disorders may practice without a psychology license. Hypnotherapists must comply with disclosure requirements, avoid making medical or psychological treatment claims, and may not use titles incorporating “psychological” or “psychology.” Those treating mental disorders must be licensed mental health professionals or work under referral from licensed practitioners.
Q: How do I verify a Long Beach hypnotherapist’s credentials?
A: Many Long Beach hypnotherapists trained at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), which maintains a searchable directory at hypnosis.edu where you can verify certification status and certification numbers. The American Hypnosis Association (AHA) also provides verification services. Other certifying bodies include the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), and International Board of Hypnotherapy (IBH). Request the practitioner’s certification number and verify it directly with the issuing organization. For licensed mental health professionals who use hypnotherapy, verify their license through the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
Q: Does insurance cover hypnotherapy in Long Beach?
A: Non-licensed hypnotherapy services are generally not covered by health insurance. If hypnosis is provided as part of treatment by a licensed psychologist, LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC, it may be covered under behavioral health benefits depending on your plan and diagnosis. Contact your insurance provider for specific coverage information. HSA and FSA accounts may cover hypnotherapy with proper documentation. The IRS has historically allowed hypnotherapy for smoking cessation and weight loss as potentially deductible medical expenses. Many Long Beach hypnotherapists offer package discounts and payment options to make services accessible.
Q: What makes HMI-trained hypnotherapists different?
A: The Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) is the only hypnotherapy school in the United States that holds national accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. HMI’s program requires 720 hours of training over approximately one year, which is significantly more than many other hypnotherapy certification programs. Graduates receive diplomas in Clinical Hypnotherapy and certification through the American Hypnosis Association. Several Long Beach practitioners hold HMI credentials, indicating they completed this extensive training program.
Q: Where can I file a complaint about a hypnotherapist in Long Beach?
A: For non-licensed hypnotherapists, complaints about fraudulent advertising, deceptive practices, or consumer protection violations can be filed with the California Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210 or through the California Attorney General’s Office. If the practitioner is certified through organizations like the American Hypnosis Association, ACHE, or NGH, you can file ethics complaints with those certifying bodies. If the hypnotherapist is also a licensed mental health professional, file complaints with the appropriate California licensing board. For HMI graduates, you can also contact the Hypnosis Motivation Institute regarding concerns about practitioner conduct.