On the Job: Hypnotist's work no hocus pocus

(C)Rick Wills TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, May 26, 2008

Men believe they are pregnant and act out the intense pain of childbirth and the tearful joy of holding a newborn baby.

Later, the same men act out the effects of hours of heavy drinking when, in fact, they had only water.

People will believe almost anything, if they allow themselves to believe.

"It's amazing what the subconscious mind will take in," Munhall hypnotist John Weir said. "It's like getting lost in a good book or movie."

In the past year, Weir, 26, has become a monthly regular at the Improv, a comedy club at The Waterfront in Homestead, and other venues.

"Some people think it's people all faking. It's not, and the things that he has people do are just hilarious. It's perfect for us. No two nights are ever the same," said Improv manager Aimee Arnold.

By day, Weir runs the Hypnosis Center for Motivation and Habit Management in West Mifflin.

The Point Park University graduate said that's where his real work occurs and where thousands of people have, with his help, quit smoking, learned to manage stress, lose weight and build self-confidence.

Once derided as something akin to magic, voodoo or astrology, hypnosis increasingly is recognized as a legitimate therapeutic tool that insurance companies often are willing to cover to promote wellness, Weir said.

When Anthony Ferguson, 28, of West Mifflin went to see Weir about five years ago, he had been smoking heavily for five years.

"It went well. It is one of the easiest and best things I have ever done," said Ferguson, who has not smoked at all since his hour long hypnosis session.

Getting people to stop smoking is the simplest problem Weir treats, he said, and hypnosis is an effective method for getting people to kick the habit.

"It's not necessary to smoke. So it usually takes just one session for hypnosis to work," he said. "It's phenomenal how quick it can be."

Hypnosis is three more times more effective than nicotine replacement in getting people to quit, according to a study of 72,000 smokers in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Losing weight through hypnosis is not as easy and requires several sessions, Weir said.

"Everyone has to eat, which makes weight loss different than giving up smoking," he said. "It's a matter of portion control."

But it still works, said Debbie Stahl, 50, of Hempfield, a traffic manager for a meat distribution company. She wants to lose about 100 pounds.

"I want to get my weight to 132, which is what I weighed when I was in my late 20s," she said.

In less than a month after her first hypnosis session, Stahl has lost 13 pounds.

"You just eat less of what you want. It's portion control, putting food on smaller plates, things like that. I feel like I'm doing pretty well. I cannot tell you the last time I ever felt this good," she said.

Susan Covalesky, 50 of Mt. Pleasant visited Weir two years ago for hypnosis.

"I wanted more confidence in the way I approach people. I was shy," said Covalesky, who has worked in sales for 24 years.

Covalesky said that since she was hypnotized, her sales are up and she is making more money. She was asked to speak at a company convention in Chicago, something she would have avoided before seeing Weir.

Weir swears by the power of hypnosis.

"I have had teeth pulled without using Novocain," he said.

Rick Wills can be reached at rwills@tribweb.com or 724-779-7123.