1. Joy Vanderbeck, PhD, CHT – Life Success
Specialization: Clinical hypnotherapy, life coaching, personal transformation, guided imagery, psychological methods, breaking self-defeating patterns
Conditions Addressed: Anxiety, stress, weight issues, smoking, self-defeating patterns, subconscious beliefs, personal blocks, life challenges, relationship issues, motivation concerns
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, life coaching, guided imagery work, psychological methods integration, personal transformation programs
Background: Dr. Joy Vanderbeck has been practicing since the late 1980s. She holds a PhD and is a Certified Hypnotherapist (CHT). She is recognized for her ability to identify areas of life that may be holding clients back from achieving their goals. Dr. Vanderbeck uses a combination of hypnotherapy, guided imagery, and psychological methods to help clients release subconscious beliefs and self-defeating patterns.
Location: 212 Parkview Drive, Arlington, TX 76010
Contact: (817) 261-6044 | https://www.joyv.com
Session Info: Contact office for current pricing and session availability. Individual sessions available by appointment.
2. Fort Worth Master Hypnosis Center – Sid Acker, BCCH, CHI
Specialization: Smoking cessation, weight management, virtual gastric band hypnosis, children’s issues and fears, sports performance for youth, anger management, personal success
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, overeating, everyday pressures, fear (especially in children), sports performance blocks, anger issues, stress, motivation concerns
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, virtual gastric band hypnosis (non-surgical weight loss), children’s hypnotherapy, sports performance enhancement, Skype sessions, phone sessions, corporate seminars
Background: Sid Acker is a Board Certified Clinical Hypnotist (BCCH) and Certified Hypnosis Instructor (CHI) with over 40 years of experience helping people realize their potential. He specializes in a personally tailored program approach and offers solutions for children dealing with fear-related issues. His sports performance program for youth has demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing performance in both sports and life.
Location: 4275 Little Road, Suite 205-15, Arlington, TX 76016
Contact: (214) 724-9554 | https://www.fortworthmasterhypnosis.com
Session Info: Available Monday through Saturday. Skype and phone sessions available for clients nationwide. Free Wi-Fi at office location. Accepts credit cards and insurance may be accepted for some services.
3. Family First Hypnosis – Celeste Hackett
Specialization: 5-PATH hypnotherapy, habit change, smoking cessation, weight loss, anxiety, depression, anger management, stress reduction, sports performance, relationship issues
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, emotional eating, weight issues, anxiety, depression, stress, anger, fears, relationship problems, golf and sports performance, test anxiety, motivation issues
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, 5-PATH hypnotherapy method, 7th Path Self-Hypnosis training, free 30-minute phone consultations, sessions available via Zoom
Background: Celeste Hackett is a Board-Certified Hypnotist who has been in practice since 2002 (business established 2006). She trained under Calvin Banyan and co-hosted a weekly WebTV show called “Cal Banyan’s Hypnosis Etc with Celeste Hackett.” She operates a state-licensed school for hypnotism and has received numerous awards. She garnered city approval from the Mayor of Plano for a proclamation marking January 4th as World Hypnotism Day. She has been featured on “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” nationally syndicated radio show.
Location: 1008 Lexington Drive, Plano, TX 75075 (serves Arlington area)
Contact: https://www.familyfirsthypnosis.com
Session Info: Free 30-minute phone consultation available. Office hours Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Zoom sessions available.
4. Maness Hypnosis – Sean Maness
Specialization: Anxiety hypnosis, performance anxiety, social anxiety, fears and phobias, confidence building, clinical hypnotherapy combined with counseling
Conditions Addressed: Anxiety (general, performance, social), fears, phobias, confidence issues, stress, personal performance blocks
Services Offered: Clinical hypnotherapy, individual therapy, in-person sessions, telehealth sessions, counseling integrated with hypnotherapy
Background: Sean Maness holds a master’s degree in counseling and combines counseling with clinical hypnotherapy in his practice. He was a featured speaker at the International Board of Hypnotherapy’s annual symposium in 2018, where he taught over 150 hypnotherapists from around the world. His personal journey with anxiety led him to pursue hypnosis training, initially completing his studies at Island Hypnosis before expanding into counseling.
Location: Dallas area (serves Arlington, Fort Worth)
Contact: https://manesshypnosis.com
Session Info: Individual therapy sessions for adults (18+) residing in Texas. In-person and telehealth sessions available.
5. Accredited Hypnotherapy and NLP Center – Banyan Hypnosis Center
Specialization: 5-PATH hypnotherapy, 7th Path Self-Hypnosis, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), hypnotherapy training and certification
Conditions Addressed: Wide range of issues addressed through 5-PATH methodology including smoking, weight, anxiety, fears, phobias, stress, unwanted habits, emotional issues
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy, 5-PATH hypnotherapy, 7th Path Self-Hypnosis training, NLP techniques, professional hypnotherapy training and certification courses
Background: The Banyan Hypnosis Center is recognized as a world-renowned training facility in the field of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. The center offers both client services and professional certification training using the 5-PATH and 7th Path systems developed by Cal Banyan.
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth area (serves Arlington)
Contact: Contact through website for appointments
Session Info: Individual sessions and training programs available. Contact for current pricing and scheduling information.
Hypnosis Regulations in Texas
Texas has guidelines for the practice of hypnosis that place it within a regulatory framework while allowing non-licensed practitioners to operate under certain conditions.
State Licensing Requirements: Texas does not have mandatory state licensing specifically for hypnotists or hypnotherapists. However, specific regulations and guidelines exist that affect how hypnosis can be practiced.
Key Regulations: The Texas Occupations Code Section 501.003 includes hypnosis for health care purposes and hypnotherapy within the definition of the practice of psychology. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists has authority over the practice of psychology, which includes hypnosis when used for therapeutic purposes. Texas Administrative Code Section 465.5 addresses hypnosis when performed by licensed psychologists.
Attorney General Opinion: Office of the Attorney General Opinion No. DM-321 (February 8, 1995) states that practicing psychotherapy, hypnosis for health care purposes, hypnotherapy, or biofeedback without a license under the Psychologists’ Certification and Licensing Act violates that act unless the practice falls within one of the exceptions.
Exceptions and Exemptions: The law does not prohibit individuals from offering advice, counsel, or guidance affecting mental, emotional, or behavioral health if they do not represent themselves as licensed psychologists or engaged in psychological services. Non-licensed practitioners may practice hypnosis for non-therapeutic purposes such as vocational self-improvement, motivation, confidence building, and habit change, provided they do not diagnose or treat medical or psychological conditions.
Investigative Hypnosis: Certification is required for “investigative hypnosis proficiency” under 37 Texas Administrative Code Section 221.7 for law enforcement purposes.
Title Protection: Practitioners who are not licensed health professionals should avoid using terms that imply medical or psychological treatment, such as “heal,” “cure,” “treat,” or “diagnose.”
Health Professional Exemptions: Licensed physicians, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists may practice hypnosis within their scope of practice.
Insurance Requirements: Professional liability insurance is recommended but not mandated by state law for non-licensed hypnotists.
Advertising Regulations: Practitioners should clearly disclose that they are not licensed to practice medicine or psychology if they do not hold such licenses. Truth-in-advertising laws apply.
Continuing Education: For licensed professionals using hypnosis, continuing education requirements are determined by their respective licensing boards. Non-licensed hypnotists have no state-mandated continuing education requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is hypnosis regulated in Texas?
A: Texas has guidelines that affect hypnosis practice. Hypnosis for “health care purposes” falls under the Psychologists’ Licensing Act and requires appropriate licensing. However, hypnosis for non-therapeutic purposes such as motivation, confidence, habit change, and self-improvement may be practiced by non-licensed individuals who do not represent themselves as providing medical or psychological treatment. The distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes is not clearly defined in Texas law, creating some ambiguity.
Q: How can I verify if a hypnotist in Arlington is properly credentialed?
A: For licensed mental health professionals who offer hypnotherapy, you can verify their license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. For non-licensed hypnotists, verify certification through national organizations such as the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT), or the 5-PATH/Banyan Hypnosis Center certification programs. Ask practitioners directly about their training, certification numbers, and expiration dates.
Q: Will my health insurance cover hypnotherapy in Texas?
A: Insurance coverage for hypnotherapy in Texas depends on your specific plan and the provider’s credentials. If a licensed mental health professional (psychologist, LPC, LCSW, LMFT) 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 to verify coverage for specific providers and conditions.
Q: Can I see a hypnotist in Arlington for smoking cessation without a medical referral?
A: Yes, many hypnotists in the Arlington area offer smoking cessation programs without requiring a medical referral. Smoking cessation is generally considered a habit-change and motivation issue rather than a medical condition. However, if you have underlying health conditions related to smoking, consulting with your physician is advisable. Non-licensed hypnotists in Texas work with smoking cessation as a behavioral and motivational issue.
Q: What is the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist in Texas?
A: In common usage, “hypnotist” and “hypnotherapist” are often used interchangeably. However, some practitioners and organizations make a distinction: “hypnotist” may refer to someone who performs hypnosis for any purpose (including entertainment), while “hypnotherapist” typically refers to someone who uses hypnosis for therapeutic or self-improvement purposes. In Texas, practitioners who are not licensed health professionals should be cautious about using the term “hypnotherapist” if it implies providing therapy for medical or psychological conditions, as this could be interpreted as practicing psychology without a license.