News Maker: John Weir

Allison M. Heinrichs TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, August 21, 2008

Residence: Munhall

Family: Single

Occupation: Board-certified hypnotist and president of The Hypnosis Center for Motivation and Habit Management in West Mifflin.

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology from Point Park University and graduate of the Washington School of Clinical and Advanced Hypnosis in Manchester, England.

Background: At a motivational seminar, Weir's sister was picked from a crowd of about 350 people as a volunteer to be hypnotized. Weir watched from the audience as the hypnotist convinced his sister she was stiff as a board, balanced her body between two chairs and stood on her back. Weir then quit smoking with hypnosis and decided to pursue it as a career.

Noteworthy: Weir recently won the Charles Tebbetts Award at the 2008 National Guild of Hypnotists Annual Convention in Marlborough, Mass. The award is given for "spreading the light of hypnotism," and Weir is the youngest person to win it. Next week, he is starting a four-week workshop to help people lose weight with hypnosis.

Quote: "I feel so honored to have won this award, and it inspires me to continue my pursuits of improving the quality of my clients' lives through the power of hypnosis."

Allison M. Heinrichs can be reached at aheinrichs@tribweb.com or 412-380-5607