Greetings!

Ever wonder about hypnosis? How about hypnosis and sex? Or how people have sex in their sleep? Welcome to the June issue of the newsletter! Read on for your amusement and, dare I say it, pleasure.

Hypnosis allows control to be taken away from you. You are always in control when you are under hypnosis. A therapist can't make you go into hypnosis any more than walk across the street on a red light in front of a speeding diesel truck. If you don't want to go into hypnosis, you won't. If you are willing, then you will take yourself into that state through self-hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a cure for medical disease. If you have a medical illness, hypnosis can be a good adjunct to your regular treatment. It is not used in lieu of treatment. It is a technique like biofeedback or relaxation that can help you manage symptoms.

Hypnosis doesn't work. Tell that to the thousands of people that have successfully used hypnosis for everything from fear of flying to help for vaginismus. Studies show that hypnosis works because the brain doesn't really discern between real and created images and sensory information. As you imagine it, so it is.

Hypnosis can be used for sexual problems in the following ways:

• Attaining orgasm. A woman can imagine herself allowing natural sensations to carry her to climax.
• Erectile dysfunction. A man can visualize himself able to have intercourse without loss of erection.
• Premature ejaculation. Learning to numb one's finger can help a man learn that he has control over sensations in his body.
• Inhibitions. Men or women can use visualization to imagine participating in and enjoying sex.
• Dyspareunia (painful sex). Women can use hypnotic techniques to manage pain and visualize having pain-free sex.

What happens in hypnosis? Well, you know how you might drive down the highway for awhile, blink, and realize you don't know how you got where you are? You were in hypnosis. One part of your brain was watching the road and taking care of you so your body could relax. The other part of your brain used the time to daydream. That state is recreated by teaching you to relax very deeply, so that you are open to suggestions.

To learn more about hypnosis, you can visit the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. Also last year I was featured in an article about hypnosis for the Orange County Register; the text of the article is still available at the OCPA website. If you have any questions, please email me.

Lybrel is the name of a new oral contraceptive pill (OCP) that is taken for 365 days of the year, with no placebo pills. This OCP was created specifically to halt a woman's normal menstruation. Predictably, editorialists sounded off throughout the land. Click sexual health news to read some of their takes on this new approach to the experience of being a woman. I'd love to hear your comments. I will leave a short posting on my blog, and you can post your thoughts there. I also have some really weird sex therapist stories posted if you want to get a little personal look at my job.

I have two new therapists joining the Institute this month, both of whom want to give devotion to helping people experience healthy sexuality. Michael Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist. A former high school teacher who currently works for the County helping people overcome addictions to alcohol and drugs, Michael is especially interested in working with individuals and couples struggling with the effects of compulsive sexual behavior.

Francesca Cancian is a marriage and family therapist intern who expects to be licensed this fall. A retired UCI professor, she has an interest in developing one's sexual potential across the lifespan. Both are members of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors & Therapists. I am very much looking forward to working in community with them.

Christine Seeberger, M.A. will be moving to the next phase of earning her doctorate as her training period ends. She has been a very passionate therapist in her work with women with sexual pain disorders, and I wish her luck in her future endeavors.

My friend and mentor Stephen Braveman, MFT, DST has many specialties, one of which is working with men who have been sexually abused. In conjunction with the Monterey Rape Crisis Center, Stephen and the men in his survivors' group produced a public service announcement video about this important topic.

I know I have many colleagues as subscribers, and I invite you to submit brief items for mention in the newsletter.