Chris Stevens marblehead@wickedlocal.com @MheadReporter

The word "hypnotism" generally conjures up a world of magic, a gently swaying watch, or a Vegas floor show. But none of those reflect what local hypnotherapist Lisa Abbate truly brings to the table.

“No Vegas, no barking like a dog,” she said with a smile. “I do more with helping people make changes in their lives.”

Hypnotherapy is basically about getting into a different brainwave state, Abbate said.

“It is simple, but not always easy.”

Abbate said she’s always been interested in how the mind works, metaphysics and why some things are easier for some people than others. She discovered hypnotherapy when her husband became ill.

“A few years ago my husband got cancer,” she said. “And what helped me navigate his illness was hypnotherapy.”

A self-proclaimed "recovering" technical writer, Abbate said she decided to make the leap and change careers after a friend pushed her to pursue her growing interest in hypnotherapy.

“I was in a small mastermind group with like people,” she said.

A mastermind group helps members achieve success by offering brainstorming, peer accountability and support in a group setting. Abbate said as result of the class and the nudge from a friend, she found a hypnotherapy teacher that she liked and forged ahead.

“Actually I talked to (the teacher) for a year before I finally committed,” she said.

Now a certified hypnotherapist from both the Thomas Institute of Hypnosis and the National Guild of Hypnotists, Abbate has an office on Spring Street. There she sees clients for things like anxiety or weight issues or wanting to eat healthier.

“It’s usually about a life change, that next crossroads, “ she said.

When someone comes to Abbate for help, she said she’ll speak with them via phone several times before booking an actual appointment. The idea is to listen so she knows exactly what it is they want to work on.

“Then I’ll write up a session,” she said.

That is where her technical writing experience comes handy, she admitted. The National Guild of Hypnotherapists, of which she is a member, has basic audio sessions, but Abbate said she likes to focus in on and hone the details for what any given client needs.

Then it becomes about making the client relax. Getting a client to shift from a beta brainwave state, one of waking consciousness, to a deep meditative state is important. That shift opens the door, making one more receptive to positive thinking, which is also imperative, Abbate said.

She likened it to an athlete in training. Athletes can practice for many hours in a day, but if they don’t believe in themselves -- if they can’t see themselves actually winning -- they are less likely to succeed, she explained.

“But if you combine physical practice with mental practice, creative visualization and positive mindset -- thinking in the right direction -- you are more likely to get there,” Abbate said. “Change your thoughts and you can change your life.”

To get you to that state of acceptance, Abbate has clients slip into a pair of headphones and relax in an anti-gravity chair in her cool, green office space. The headphones help block the outside noise with soft background music, allowing the client to focus on Abbate’s voice. Session lengths vary.

Abbate said most adults will benefit from a session, but they have to want to be there. Don’t come as a skeptic wanting her to prove hypnotherapy works.

“I really want to work with people who want to make a change,” she said. “I can support change, whether it’s trying to get to a next step or eating healthier or pain management.”

She views her practice as a way to heal without drugs, but quickly adds that she is not inherently against the use of drug therapy.

“I tell people to do what works for them,” she said.

While most of her clients come by word of mouth, Abbate is also working with Kilroy Chiropractic Health Associates in Swampscott. And while a session with her is not covered by most insurance, those with a healthcare savings account might be reimbursed if they have a doctor’s note, Abbate said.

To see if hypnotherapy might work for you or to seek a consultation, contact Abbate at 978-836-7687 or check out innershifthypnosis.com.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself,” Abbate said. “It’s about creating yourself.”