1. Orange County Hypnosis – Joe Homs, CHt
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy, habit change coaching, NLP techniques, performance enhancement, stress management, fear elimination
Conditions Addressed: Smoking cessation, weight management, anxiety, fears and phobias (flying, driving, public speaking), stress-related symptoms, depression, performance blocks, language learning barriers, relationship issues
Services Offered: Private individual sessions, online sessions via video platform, self-hypnosis training, NLP integration, conversational hypnotherapy techniques, consultation screening
Background: Joe Homs holds certification from the International Association of Professional Conversational Hypnotherapists (IAPCH) and serves on its Board of Directors. He trained in conversational hypnotherapy methods and has worked with clients for over a decade. Orange County Hypnosis was established in 2010 and has served thousands of clients. Joe has a background in management consulting and computer science before transitioning to hypnotherapy.
Location: 7545 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92618 (near Irvine Spectrum)
Contact: (949) 436-4976 | [email protected] | https://ochypno.com
Session Info: Private individual sessions offered both in-office and online. Free initial consultation available. Online sessions offered at discounted rate. Sessions customized to client goals.
2. Orange County Hypnotherapy – Vrisayda P. Boggess, Ph.D.c
Specialization: Virtual Gastric Band hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy, weight management, habit control, personal transformation
Conditions Addressed: Weight loss and management, overeating patterns, smoking cessation, habit control, personal and business goal achievement
Services Offered: Individual sessions, Virtual Gastric Band hypnosis program (also known as Virtual Lap Band hypnosis), goal-setting hypnotherapy, personal transformation sessions
Background: Vrisayda P. Boggess is a Certified Clinical and Medical Master Hypnotherapist pursuing doctoral studies. She is recognized as one of the first hypnotherapists in America to specialize in Virtual Gastric Band hypnosis. She focuses on helping individuals make desired changes through accessing the inner mind for rapid transformation.
Location: 18 Technology Drive, Suite 158, Irvine, CA 92618
Contact: Website available through directory listings
Session Info: Individual sessions available. Specializes in personalized programs for weight management and habit change.
3. Orange County Hypnosis Center – Choury DeVelle
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy, meditation integration, stress relief, habit modification, subconscious mind work
Conditions Addressed: Smoking cessation, weight loss, stress-related conditions (rashes, headaches, anxiety, insomnia), unwanted habits
Services Offered: Individual sessions, phone consultations, subconscious mind programming, meditation combined with hypnosis, visualization techniques
Background: Choury DeVelle is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, teacher, and author. She founded Orange County Hypnosis Center as a subsidiary of the Quantum Meditation and Transformation group. Her approach combines hypnosis with meditation practices to address both conscious and subconscious patterns. She has written about mind-body connections and alternative healing methods.
Location: Irvine, CA 92618 (near Irvine Spectrum area)
Contact: (714) 624-1956 | https://orangecountyhypnosiscenter.com
Session Info: Free 20-minute phone consultation available. Individual sessions scheduled by appointment.
4. Achieve Health Center – Dr. Katherine Agranovich, Ph.D.
Specialization: Medical hypnotherapy, anesthesiology hypnotherapy, clinical hypnosis, trauma recovery, pain management, NLP techniques, alchemical hypnotherapy
Conditions Addressed: Anxiety, trauma and PTSD, smoking cessation, weight loss, performance anxiety, chronic pain, stress disorders
Services Offered: Individual clinical sessions, medical hypnotherapy, anesthesiology hypnosis applications, NLP integration, alchemical hypnotherapy, energy-based approaches
Background: Dr. Katherine Agranovich holds a Ph.D. in Natural Health Studies and is a Certified Medical and Anesthesiology Hypnotherapist. She maintains certifications through IMDHA (International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association), Professional Hypnosis organizations, Alchemical Hypnotherapy, and NLP. Her practice was established in 2004 and serves the greater Orange County area including Irvine.
Location: 260 Newport Center Drive, Suite 109, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (serving Irvine area)
Contact: (949) 565-4279 | (949) 702-3228 | https://achievehealthcenter.com
Session Info: Individual sessions available by appointment. Integrative approach combining multiple modalities.
5. Michael Yapko Trained Practitioners Network – Irvine Area
Specialization: Ericksonian hypnotherapy, clinical hypnosis, therapeutic integration, depression treatment, anxiety management
Conditions Addressed: Depression, anxiety disorders, emotional regulation issues, behavioral change goals, stress management, mood disorders
Services Offered: Clinical hypnosis integrated with psychotherapy, Ericksonian permissive hypnotherapy, strategic intervention, individual therapy sessions
Background: Practitioners in the Irvine area have trained extensively in clinical hypnosis with Dr. Michael Yapko, author of Trancework and other recognized texts in the clinical hypnosis field. The Ericksonian approach is permissive rather than authoritarian, focusing on empowering clients to shift internal processes and respond differently to emotions and behaviors. These practitioners integrate hypnosis with other therapeutic interventions as appropriate for each client.
Location: Various offices throughout Irvine, CA
Contact: Available through TherapyTribe and Psychology Today directories for Irvine
Session Info: Sessions integrated with ongoing therapy. Approach is collaborative and client-centered.
Hypnosis Regulations in California
California does not require state licensing for hypnotherapy practice. The relevant statutes provide guidelines for lawful practice without mandatory registration.
California Business and Professions Code Section 2908 exempts persons using hypnotic techniques from the psychology licensing act when they are engaged in vocational or avocational self-improvement work, provided they do not treat emotional or mental disorders. This exemption allows hypnotherapists to practice legally for purposes such as stress reduction, habit control, performance enhancement, and personal development goals.
California Business and Professions Code Section 2053.6 requires practitioners to provide written disclosure to clients. This disclosure must state that the practitioner is not a licensed physician, that the services provided are not licensed by the state, the nature of the services being offered, and the practitioner’s training and experience qualifications.
Hypnotherapists working under referral from persons licensed to practice psychology, medicine, dentistry, or other healing arts may work with a broader range of conditions under the supervision, direction, or prescription of the referring licensed professional.
The scope of practice for unlicensed hypnotherapists in California is limited to non-diagnostic, non-therapeutic goals. Practitioners may not diagnose medical or psychological conditions and should avoid claims of treating, curing, or healing diseases or disorders.
California does not mandate specific educational hour requirements for hypnotherapists, though professional certification organizations typically require 100-300+ hours of training. Many practitioners hold voluntary certifications from organizations such as NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists), IMDHA (International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association), ACHE (American Council of Hypnotist Examiners), or HMI (Hypnosis Motivation Institute).
Advertising regulations require truthfulness and prohibit misleading claims. Hypnotherapists should not advertise the ability to diagnose, treat, or cure medical conditions unless appropriately licensed.
Licensed mental health professionals (psychologists, LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs) may incorporate hypnosis into their licensed practice within their scope of training and competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I verify a hypnotherapist’s credentials in California?
Since California does not issue state licenses for hypnotherapy, you should verify credentials through the certifying organization directly. Ask the practitioner for their certification number and the name of their certifying body. Organizations like NGH, IMDHA, ACHE, and HMI maintain searchable directories of their certified members. You can also request documentation of their training hours and the institution where they completed their education. In California, practitioners must provide written disclosure of their qualifications upon request.
What is the difference between a licensed therapist who uses hypnosis and a certified hypnotherapist in California?
A licensed therapist (psychologist, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW) has completed graduate-level education, supervised clinical hours, and passed state licensing examinations. They may incorporate hypnosis as one technique within their broader therapeutic practice and can work with diagnosed mental health conditions. A certified hypnotherapist without a therapy license has completed specialized hypnosis training (typically 100-300+ hours) and holds voluntary certification. Under California law, they are limited to vocational and avocational self-improvement work and cannot treat emotional or mental disorders unless working under referral from a licensed practitioner.
Does insurance cover hypnotherapy sessions in California?
Most health insurance plans in California do not cover sessions with non-licensed hypnotherapists. However, if hypnosis is provided by a licensed mental health professional (psychologist, LMFT, LPCC) as part of psychotherapy treatment, it may be covered under mental health benefits. Some HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) plans may allow reimbursement for hypnotherapy. Contact your specific insurance provider to inquire about coverage and whether prior authorization is required.
What should a California hypnotherapist’s written disclosure include?
Under California Business and Professions Code Section 2053.6, the written disclosure must include a statement that the practitioner is not a licensed physician, clarification that the services are not licensed by the state of California, a description of the nature of the services being provided, and information about the practitioner’s training, experience, and qualifications. This disclosure should be provided before services begin and clients should have an opportunity to ask questions.
Are there any local resources for finding qualified hypnotherapists in Orange County?
The International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA) maintains a referral directory searchable by location at imdha.com. The National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) offers a similar directory at ngh.net. Psychology Today’s therapist directory at psychologytoday.com allows filtering by location and specialty, including hypnotherapy. The American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) and the Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) also maintain practitioner directories. Local chapters of professional organizations sometimes hold meetings in the Orange County area where you can meet practitioners directly.