Your mind is the most powerful medicine you have. I'll show you how to use it
Medical hypnotherapy with Dr. Ann Marie — a medical doctor turned clinical hypnotherapist in Fort Lauderdale. Evidence-based care for the physical conditions your body has been trying to tell you about.Virtual sessions worldwide • In-person in Fort Lauderdale
Let’s clear something up first
When most people hear “medical hypnotherapy,” they picture a swinging pocket watch, a stage show, or something vaguely mystical that couldn’t possibly belong in a conversation about real health conditions.
I understand why. That’s the image we’ve been handed.
But that’s not what this is.
Medical hypnotherapy is a clinical, evidence-based approach that’s now recognized by major medical institutions for specific physical conditions. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends gut-directed psychotherapy, including hypnotherapy, in its clinical guidelines for managing IBS. The North American Menopause Society recommends clinical hypnosis as a Level I evidence-based treatment for hot flashes in its 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement. The research has been published in The Lancet, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, and peer-reviewed journals of pain medicine and women’s health.
You’re not losing control. You’re not asleep. You’re not being manipulated. You’re awake, aware, and more in charge of your own body than you probably realized was possible.
Your emotions are not separate from your body
Every thought you have and every emotion you feel creates a measurable physical event in your body. Not a metaphor. Not a vague “mind-body connection.” An actual chemical cascade that changes your immune function, your hormones, your heart rate, your digestion, your pain perception, and your inflammation levels — in real time.
When you feel happy, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Your stress hormones drop. Your immune system strengthens. Your digestion improves. Your pain threshold rises.
When you feel afraid, anxious, or threatened — even by a thought — your brain releases cortisol and adrenaline. Your heart rate increases. Your digestion slows or stops. Your immune function is suppressed. Your muscles tense. Your gut becomes hypersensitive. Inflammation rises.
This isn’t alternative medicine. This is physiology.
And here’s what that means: if your body is stuck in patterns of illness, pain, dysfunction, or chronic symptoms that don’t respond to medication the way you’d hope — it may be because the underlying chemistry keeping those patterns in place is being driven by something your conscious mind can’t reach.
Your emotions are not “in your head.” They are in your cells. Your nervous system. Your immune response. Your gut lining. Your muscles. Your inflammation markers.
Which means there’s another way in.
Medical or health related areas I can support you with…
Chronic Pain
When pain outlasts the injury
Pre-Surgical or Procedure Prep
Reduce Procedure Anxiety
Chronic Illness Support
Living Well Alongside Illness
Menopause & Hot Flashes
Mid-life Transitions
Irritable Bowel Disease
Gut Directed Hypnotherapy
Insomnia or Sleep Disturbances
Rest your mind rest your body
Why my medical background matters here
I went to medical school because I believed medicine would have the answers. For many things, it does. For others, I watched it fall short — not because doctors didn’t care, but because the tools we were given couldn’t reach the layers where so much suffering actually lives.
My MD background means I understand what your symptoms might be telling you. I know when hypnotherapy is appropriate and when something else needs to happen first. I know the medical system from the inside, and I’ll never ask you to abandon care that’s helping you.
Ready to see if this is right for you?
Book a free phone consultation. No commitment, no pressure – just a conversation about what you’re going through and weather this approach can help.
FAQs on Hypnotherapy for Medical or Health Related Issues
Is medical Hypnotherapy the same as stage hypnosis?
No. They share a name and almost nothing else. Stage hypnosis is entertainment — it relies on performance, social pressure, and highly suggestible volunteers who want to participate in a show. Medical hypnotherapy is a clinical process used to help people manage specific physical and emotional conditions. You stay fully aware, fully in control, and you can end the session at any moment. The only thing the two have in common is the word “hypnosis.”
Will I lose control or be "put under"?
No. This is the most common misconception, and it’s worth saying clearly: you cannot be hypnotized against your will, and you cannot be made to do anything that conflicts with your values. Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and deep relaxation — closer to the feeling of being absorbed in a good book or movie than to sleep or unconsciousness. You hear everything. You remember everything. You’re in charge the entire time.
Will hypnotherapy replace my medications or my doctor?
No, and I wouldn’t want it to. Medical hypnotherapy is complementary — it works alongside your existing medical care, not instead of it. I’ll never ask you to stop taking prescribed medications or leave your doctor. What this work often does is help you get more out of your current care, reduce symptoms that medication alone hasn’t fully addressed, and in some cases, work with your doctor to gradually reduce medications as your body responds. Any changes to your medication should always be made in partnership with your prescribing physician.
What's the difference between you and other hypnotherapist?
A few things. First, I’m a medical doctor. That means I understand your conditions from both sides — the clinical reality of what you’re dealing with, and the subconscious patterns that may be driving or maintaining it. I can speak to the gut-brain axis, central pain sensitization, the hormonal mechanics of menopause, and how medications interact with your nervous system — because I trained in all of it. Second, I came to this work after being a patient of it myself. I know what it’s like to sit in a doctor’s office feeling like no one has an answer. Third, I work slowly and carefully. This isn’t a mass-market quick fix — it’s a relationship, and I only work with people I genuinely believe I can help.
What Could I expect on a Phone Consultation?
During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss your specific confidence and self-esteem challenges. What situations trigger your self-doubt? What would change in your life if you had unshakeable confidence? What beliefs about yourself do you want to transform?
I’ll explain how hypnotherapy works, what you can expect during sessions, and answer any questions or concerns you might have. Many people worry they won’t be able to “be hypnotized,” but the truth is, if you’re willing and open, you can benefit from hypnotherapy. Hypnosis is a natural state that everyone experiences—it’s simply that focused, absorbed state you enter when watching a movie or driving on familiar roads.
Does it work for everyone?
Honestly, no — and I’ll always be upfront about that. The research shows that most people benefit significantly, but results vary depending on the condition, your willingness to engage with the process, and how your nervous system responds. Some people feel meaningful shifts after the first session. Others need several sessions before the changes become noticeable. During our free phone consultation, I’ll give you my honest assessment of whether I think this approach is a good fit for what you’re dealing with.
How many session will I need?
It depends on what you’re working with. For some conditions like specific phobias or procedure prep, one to three sessions can be enough. For IBS, the research protocols typically involve 7–12 sessions. For chronic pain or longer-standing patterns, it often takes somewhere in between. I’ll give you a realistic estimate after our consultation, and we’ll reassess as we go — I never ask people to commit to more sessions than they actually need.
Can we do sessions virtually?
Yes. Virtual sessions work just as well as in-person for most conditions — the research on telehealth hypnotherapy shows comparable outcomes. Virtual sessions are available worldwide. If you’re in the Fort Lauderdale area and prefer in-person, that option is available too.