On the Count of Ten, You Will Relax

When many people hear the words "hypnosis" or "hypnotherapy," they conjure up the image of a mesmerized person doing a chicken dance or adopting a new personality or engaging in some other comical performance.

Rosemary Conte, of Matawan, shakes her head at these stereotypes, while sitting in a grey sofa chair tucked into a small, cozy room on the side of her house.

"What makes it a hypnotic state is that you've stopped all that chatter, all that traffic or noise so now your mind is clear," Conte said.

Conte practices clinical hypnosis, emotional freedom techniques (EFT) and neurolinguistic psychology (NLP) from her home.

According to Conte, hypnosis is actually about relaxing enough to reach into the subconcious part of the mind to uncover the root of problems or stressers. 

People seek hypnosis and hypnotherapy for a wide variety of reasons. Some are physical, including smoking cessation, chronic pain and relaxation techniques for childbirth; while others are emotional, like insomnia or dealing with the emotional aftermath of abuse.

"It's actually a perfectly safe state of mind," she said. According to Conte, even in the state of relaxation the person under hypnosis is always in control. She simply guides them through their own subconcious.

Conte always had an interest in understanding brain waves and the subconcious mind.

"Even as a little girl," Conte said. "I think it goes hand in hand with being an artist."

Conte spent the greater part of her adult life as a jazz singer and a music teacher. While teaching, Conte would often use hypnosis to help people free their voices.

"I had a very busy and vibrant career," she said nostalgically.

It was her own brush with chronic pain that led her to fully immerse herself in the study of hynosis. Muscular issues that caused chronic pain made it difficult for her to perform and live the life of a musician.

"I got into this situation where it was very difficult to stand, let alone wear high heels," she said. "It is self hypnosis and meditation that get me through the day, without all those medications that turn you into a zombie."

A single mother with four children and unable to perform regularly, Conte began more formal training for hypnosis so she could make it a career.

"The segway for healing through mind work was logical for me because I loved it and I knew a lot about it," she said. "I had already used these emotional and psyche techniques as a teacher and it was very easy for me to transition into therapy."

And although it became her career, her practice stems from an inner desire to help people.

"It's amazing on a personal level. I just know I'm doing what I shold be doing," Conte said. "We all have our gifts and I've discovered mine. It makes me happy."