• What is hypnosis?
• Most likely, you have already experienced it.
• A rich history of treatment.
• Why hypnosis?
• Why Dr. Sheldon?
• A rich range of treatment possibilities
• What about children?
• Your personal treatment plan
• Experiencing hypnosis
• You're in control
• True stories

What is hypnosis?
Take a deep, refreshing breath and picture yourself enjoying a favorite spot - perhaps at home, in the mountains, or on the beach - feeling deeply relaxed and entirely comfortable. Now imagine learning to use this profoundly calm feeling to naturally and safely relieve pain, change a troublesome habit, or correct a health problem without medication side effects or treatment risks. Hypnosis is a natural, established medical treatment that allows you to open up your unconscious mind to new suggestions for healing and change. It is effective in treating a wide range of health problems that affect both body and mind. It is safe, generally free from side effects, and can be used in combination with traditional medical treatments.

Best of all, hypnosis is a skill that is uniquely yours. Once you have it, you can use it - both now and in the future.

"... the study of hypnotic phenomenon is now squarely in the domain of normal cognitive science, with papers on hypnosis published in some of the most selective scientific and medical journals."
Scientific American,
July 2001

Most likely, you have already experienced it.
Have you ever lost yourself so completely in music, a book, or a movie that you became temporarily unaware of the passing time? Or perhaps you have lost control of your car on ice and felt the next few seconds pass as if in slow motion? Most of us have experienced these everyday hypnotic moments. That is one of the reasons why medical hypnosis seems so natural, so right - because it builds on an experience that almost everyone has already had.

A rich history of treatment.
Hypnotherapy is an ancient treatment that has been used by physicians since the 1700s. The American Medical Association has formally recognized hypnosis as an accepted medical treatment option since 1958. Scholars continue to actively study it at major universities - and every day throughout the country, physicians, dentists, and psychologists use it to help their patients.

Why hypnosis?
Why do medical doctors use hypnosis? Simply because experience has taught them that some illnesses do not respond well to traditional approaches. Conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety or fears, and persistent habits may be difficult to control with medications. When medicines or surgeries fail, hypnosis can bring the mind and body together to create a powerful tool for natural and effective healing.

"In the past I have successfully used hypnotherapy to control bleeding in surgery. Because of my experience with hypnotherapy, I asked Dr. Jonathan Sheldon to hypnotize me for control of severe pain and insomnia following a spinal cord and brain injury after a serious bicycle accident. Spectacular results followed four sessions with Dr. Sheldon. As a physician and now a patient I endorse his hypnotherapy in clinical situations where the patient may benefit from this effective modality of treatment."

John Altshuler, MD

Why Dr. Sheldon?
Jonathan Sheldon, MD has practiced medical hypnosis since 1995. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and is Board Certified in family practice, with a Certificate of Added Qualification in geriatrics. In addition to his work with hypnosis, Dr. Sheldon practices family medicine with his wife, Heather Sowell, M.D. at their office in Denver.

Hypnosis is also offered in Colorado by unlicensed therapists. These therapists may have little or no professional training outside of hypnosis techniques, and only a limited understanding of the body, disease, and the impact of other health issues on your well-being. When you are considering hypnosis, a good rule of thumb is to choose a practitioner on the basis of professional credentials you've heard of - such as MD, DDS, PsyD, or PhD.

Dr. Sheldon is a licensed physician with a broad understanding of the body and its function in both health and disease. He has practiced Zen Buddhist meditation since 1968, and brings to his work a deep understanding of the unity of body and mind.

"... Over the next hour he would take me places I didn't know existed. By looking closely at, of all things, my thumbnail. He said he could snatch all my fears and toss them out the window. And he pretty much did.

"Even when his medical assistant, the one with the big smile and soothing 'It'll be OK' walked in with the needle, I didn't as much as flinch. She didn't try to hide it or do the secretive in-a-flash loop from behind her back and into my right bicep. No, I just sat there, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. 'Are we ever going to do this?' I finally asked. 'We're done,' he said.

"The good Dr. Jonathan Sheldon of Englewood is, well, good."

Bill Johnson
Rocky Mountain News
October 7, 1998

A rich range of treatment possibilities.
Hypnosis is used to successfully treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

• Pain, including cancer pain and nerve injury
• Control of bleeding and pain during and after surgery
• Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
• Improved healing after injury or surgery
• Headaches, both tension and migraine
• Allergies and asthma
• Stress, stage fright, anxiety and panic attacks
• Weight loss, establishing healthy eating habits
• Smoking cessation
• Phobias, including fear of needles and of flying
• Stomach and intestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome
• Sexual performance difficulties
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders
• Dental problems, including fear, strong gag response, and TMJ pain
• Pregnancy, including morning sickness and labor pain
• Improved athletic, professional and test performance
• Habits such as nail-biting and tooth-grinding
• Skin conditions such as warts, hives and eczema

What about children?
Hypnosis is as safe and useful for children as it is for adults. In fact, most children are naturally quite talented at hypnosis. Dr. Sheldon has used hypnosis in children as young as four years old.

Your personal treatment plan.
During your first visit, you and Dr. Sheldon will review your medical history and your goals for treatment. He will then create a personalized treatment plan, and discuss how you will achieve these goals. The number of sessions recommended may vary, but two to five sessions are an appropriate starting point for most people.

Experiencing hypnosis.
During hypnosis you will be deeply relaxed and calm. Dr. Sheldon will help you to intently focus your energies on achieving your goals. When the session is over, you will likely feel a refreshing sense of relaxation, renewed energy, and satisfaction at your accomplishments. In subsequent sessions you will have a variety of hypnotic experiences, all aimed at helping you to improve your skills, deepen your insight, and achieve your goals.

You're in control.
Studies show that almost 97% of people are able to experience some degree of hypnosis. You cannot, however, be hypnotized against your will. The brain wave patterns of people under hypnosis show that the mind is quite active in trance, with activity patterns similar to those seen in someone who is intently concentrating.

"Under hypnosis, subjects do not behave as passive automatons but instead are active problem solvers who incorporate their moral and cultural ideas into their behavior."

Scientific American
July 2001

"The evidence supporting the effectiveness of hypnosis in alleviating chronic pain associated with cancer seems strong. In addition ... other data suggested the effectiveness of hypnosis in other chronic pain conditions, which include irritable bowel syndrome, oral mucositis, temporomandibular disorders, and tension headaches."

National Institutes of Health
1995

True stories.

• A 51-year-old man wanted to stop smoking. Six months after hypnosis, he reported that he hadn't smoked at all.
• A 12 year old girl was so afraid of needles that she could not have dental work, immunizations, or cuts repaired. After three sessions she could tolerate giving herself a shot.
• A 30 year old nurse had four sessions of hypnosis in preparation for the birth of her first child. She stated, "I was able to stay in control of the contractions by focusing on the hypnosis techniques I had learned. The labor nurse said that I was having very strong contractions, but I would not have described them as such. Due to complications, my baby was born via c-section. This did not concern me because we had already addressed these fears during my hypnosis work. I would definitely recommend hypnosis for managing labor pain."
• A 63-year-old man underwent hypnosis in preparation for cancer surgery. He reported that he had less anxiety, less swelling, and a faster recovery than he or his surgeon expected.
• A 42-year-old woman had abdominal surgery. A week later her wound opened, and she came to the emergency room of a small hospital in severe pain. Intravenous morphine was ordered and the nurse left to gather the necessary supplies. While waiting, the patient was hypnotized. By the time the nurse returned the patient was entirely pain-free, and was chatting and joking with Dr. Sheldon.

"Having studied and practiced hypnosis for over 35 years, I believe it is extremely useful - and a major plus is that its benefits come without the side effects of medication. During the 25 years I have known him, Dr. Jonathan Sheldon has consistently shown a caring and compassionate attitude toward others. His use of hypnosis in his practice is the manifestation of a desire to provide the most appropriate, least invasive treatment to his patients."

Jed Graef, Ph.D.
1964 Olympic gold medalist