1. Baltimore Maryland Hypnosis (Scott Howard)
Specialization: Tobacco cessation, weight loss, confidence building, hair pulling (trichotillomania), nail biting, sports performance, public speaking, grief and loss, anxiety reduction, children’s hypnosis
Conditions Addressed: Smoking, overeating, hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting, stress, anxiety, fears, phobias, grief, loss, sexual confidence issues, sleep problems, confidence issues, performance anxiety, fear of heights, fear of flying
Services Offered: In-person hypnosis sessions, Zoom/video hypnosis sessions, custom hypnosis audio recordings, life coaching integration, QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) regression sessions, hypnosis education and certification training, group workshops, gift certificates
Background: Scott Howard holds an MA degree and MCC (Master Certified Coach) credential from the International Coaching Federation. His hypnosis certifications include NGH Certified Consulting Hypnotist (National Guild of Hypnotists), ICBCH Certified Hypnotist (International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapists), 5-PATH Certified Hypnotist (Cal Banyan Hypnosis Institute), and Master Hypnotist certification from Virginia Hypnosis Inc. and The Dave Elman Hypnosis Institute. He is a Virtual Gastric Band Practitioner certified by Sheila Granger (UK) and holds QHHT certification from Dolores Cannon. Additional credentials include a Juris Doctorate from David A. Clarke School of Law and an M.S. in Management/Human Development from Salve Regina University. He is an Approved Hypnosis Education Provider through ICBCH. His business has been operating since 2019. He personally used hypnosis to cope with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and bone marrow transplant.
Location: 833 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 (Historic Mount Vernon neighborhood)
Contact: (410) 802-6730 | https://www.baltimoremarylandhypnosis.com/
Session Info: In-office hypnosis sessions (approximately 90 minutes): $225. Extended sessions (up to 3 hours): $275. Custom 40-minute hypnosis audio file with 20-minute consultation: $125. Regular Zoom hypnosis: $165. Free 15-20 minute consultation available. Street parking available in free two-hour zones. Accepts credit cards and cash. Gift certificates available.
2. Integration Hypnotherapy (Carly Ptak)
Specialization: Regression therapy, dreamwork, parts therapy, personal transformation, subconscious change work
Conditions Addressed: Personal development challenges, unresolved past issues, emotional blocks, behavioral patterns, self-limiting beliefs
Services Offered: Individual hypnotherapy sessions, regression work, dreamwork integration, parts therapy, Gestalt techniques, Psychosynthesis, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
Background: Carly Ptak received her Master Hypnotist and Hypnotherapy certification in 2007 through the Hypnotherapy Training Institute (HTI) in California, the first state-certified and licensed hypnotherapy program in the country (founded 1978). She trained under Randall Churchill and Marleen Mulder. She is certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), which is the only major hypnosis certification organization in the US requiring its schools to have necessary state licensing. Her training includes Regression, Dreamwork, Parts Therapy, Gestalt techniques, Psychosynthesis, and EFT.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Contact: http://www.integrationhypnotherapy.com/
Session Info: Contact for current session rates and availability. In-person sessions available in the Baltimore area.
3. Baltimore Counseling Center
Specialization: Mental health counseling with hypnotherapy integration, trauma treatment, anxiety and depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, relationship issues
Conditions Addressed: Trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, mental health concerns requiring integrated therapeutic approaches
Services Offered: Individual therapy, couples therapy, hypnotherapy as part of comprehensive mental health treatment, multiple therapeutic modalities
Background: Baltimore Counseling Center employs licensed mental health professionals who incorporate hypnotherapy into their practice. Therapists hold various licenses including LCSW, LCPC, and other Maryland mental health credentials. The center offers a multidisciplinary approach combining traditional therapy with complementary techniques including hypnosis.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland (multiple locations)
Contact: https://baltimorecounselingcenter.com/
Session Info: Contact for session rates. Insurance may be accepted for services provided by licensed mental health professionals. Individual and couples sessions available.
4. Pure Metaphysics (Julia)
Specialization: Past life regression, quantum healing, spiritual hypnosis, personal transformation
Conditions Addressed: Spiritual exploration, past life questions, personal transformation goals, life purpose clarity
Services Offered: Past life regression sessions, quantum healing hypnosis, spiritual guidance through hypnotic techniques
Background: Practitioner specializing in regression and quantum healing modalities. Positive client reviews on Yelp indicate warmth and passion for the work.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland area
Contact: Search “Pure Metaphysics Baltimore” for current contact information
Session Info: Contact for current pricing and availability. Sessions focus on spiritual exploration and transformation.
5. From the Heart Hypnotherapy (Janis Levitt)
Specialization: Clinical hypnosis, weight loss, Life Between Lives regression, past life regression
Conditions Addressed: Weight management, spiritual exploration, past life understanding, personal transformation
Services Offered: Clinical hypnosis sessions, weight loss hypnotherapy, Life Between Lives (LBL) regression sessions, past life regression
Background: Janis Levitt is certified by The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), which indicates advanced training in clinical applications of hypnosis. ASCH certification requires practitioners to be licensed healthcare professionals with additional specialized hypnosis training.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland area
Contact: Search Yellow Pages Baltimore for “From the Heart Hypnotherapy” for current contact information
Session Info: Contact for session rates. Specializes in both clinical applications and spiritual regression work.
Hypnosis Regulations in Maryland
Maryland does not have specific state licensing requirements for hypnotists or hypnotherapists. The practice of hypnosis is not directly regulated by Maryland state law, placing it in the category of states that do not appear to specifically regulate the practice of hypnosis.
Maryland Code, Health Occupations § 18-101 defines the practice of psychology and the scope of practice for licensed psychologists. The definition includes reference to “the application of psychological methods or psychological procedures.” While hypnosis might fall within this broad definition when used therapeutically, the law is primarily a “Titling Act” that outlines what licensed psychologists can do rather than restricting hypnosis exclusively to licensed practitioners.
Many unlicensed individuals advertise hypnotherapy services in Maryland. No known legal cases exist in Maryland where someone has faced legal action solely for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy. Approximately 65 hypnotherapists actively advertise services in the state.
Licensed mental health professionals in Maryland (including psychologists, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPCs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), and psychiatrists) who have additional training in clinical hypnosis may incorporate it into their scope of practice. These practitioners operate under their existing professional licenses and are subject to the regulatory requirements of their respective licensing boards.
Non-licensed hypnotists in Maryland typically practice under voluntary certification from national organizations such as the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ICBCH), or similar bodies. Standard business regulations, including truth-in-advertising requirements and general business licensing, apply to hypnosis practices.
Practitioners should avoid diagnosing medical or mental health conditions, treating diseases, prescribing treatments, or representing themselves as licensed healthcare providers unless appropriately credentialed under Maryland law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I verify a hypnotist’s credentials in Maryland?
A: Since Maryland does not license hypnotists through a state board, verification requires checking credentials with the certifying organization directly. For practitioners certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists, visit ngh.net to search their directory or verify membership. For American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) credentials, contact ACHE directly. If the hypnotist is also a licensed mental health professional (LCSW, LCPC, psychologist), you can verify their professional license through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists or the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Ask practitioners for their certification numbers and dates of certification.
Q: Does Maryland health insurance cover hypnotherapy?
A: Hypnotherapy provided by non-licensed practitioners is generally not covered by health insurance in Maryland. When hypnosis is performed by a licensed mental health professional (such as an LCPC, LCSW, or psychologist) as part of psychotherapy or mental health treatment, some insurance plans may cover the sessions. Coverage depends on your specific plan, diagnosis, and whether the provider is in-network. Contact your insurance carrier directly to inquire about coverage for hypnotherapy services. Some FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) plans may reimburse hypnotherapy expenses; check with your plan administrator.
Q: What is the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist in Maryland?
A: In Maryland, these terms are often used interchangeably, though some distinctions exist within the profession. A “hypnotist” typically refers to someone trained in hypnotic induction and suggestion techniques, often focusing on specific goals like smoking cessation or weight loss. A “hypnotherapist” may have more extensive training in therapeutic applications, regression work, and integration with other counseling techniques. Neither term is legally protected in Maryland. Both require voluntary certification from professional organizations to demonstrate competency. Some practitioners who are also licensed mental health professionals use “clinical hypnosis” or “clinical hypnotherapy” to indicate their integration of hypnosis with psychotherapy.
Q: Can hypnotists in Maryland work with children?
A: Yes, hypnotists in Maryland can work with children, though parental consent is required for minor clients. Some practitioners specialize in pediatric hypnosis for issues such as bedwetting, test anxiety, confidence building, and habit control. When seeking hypnosis for a child, look for practitioners who have specific training or experience in working with younger clients. Children often respond well to hypnotic techniques as they have active imaginations and enter hypnotic states naturally through play and storytelling. For children with diagnosed medical or psychological conditions, coordination with the child’s healthcare provider is recommended.
Q: Are there local hypnosis training programs available in Baltimore?
A: Baltimore and the surrounding Maryland area have several hypnosis training options. Baltimore Maryland Hypnosis offers NGH-approved certification training in the Mount Vernon area. Regional training programs approved by organizations like the National Guild of Hypnotists, International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT), and American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) are periodically offered in the mid-Atlantic region. Good Vibes Hypnosis Training offers live online instruction for Maryland residents. The Hypnotherapy Training Institute and similar organizations provide distance learning options with occasional in-person intensive weekends. Contact local practitioners or search the training directories of major certifying organizations for current program offerings.