Nell Stillwell: Santa Maria Founding Family Member Pioneers Hypnotherapy
When conjuring up a picture of a hypnotist, most people bring to mind a man in a garish cape and turban waving a pocket watch in front of his audience before proceeding to make them cluck like chickens whenever the word “pineapple” is uttered. According to Orcutt-native and hypnotherapist Nell Stillwell, this is a false image.
A member of the founding families of Orcutt, Stillwell is the great-granddaughter of John Thornburg and the granddaughter of Ben Stillwell. Before stumbling upon hypnotherapy she was studying to be a Marriage and Family Therapist.
“I was training to be an MFT, but I found that I started focusing on everything in a diagnosing kind of way,” says Stillwell, “I was picking things apart and when you do that you only find the negative and I am a very positive person.”
“I wanted to focus more on the positive strength of the mind,” she continues, “and I started to learn about hypnotherapy. At first I thought it was a new-age term for hypnosis but it’s not. I was so interested in the power of the mind and I realized I could really help people.”
Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapy. Stillwell uses this combination to get her clients where they want to go and centers on the positive parts of a person.
“Here is an example,” she says, “A person wants to quit smoking. Inside of them they have two sides – the smoker and the non-smoker. It is my job to empower the non-smoker until it takes over.”
In addition to helping smokers kick the habit, hypnotherapy can also help with blocks, memory-recall, study habits, anxiety, insomnia, and stress.
“Hypnosis brings a laser-like focus,” says Stillwell, “It’s similar to the ‘highway hypnosis’ that we have all experienced where you drive somewhere and when you get to your destination you don’t really remember how you got there.”
To Stillwell, this “zoning out” is our conscious mind taking a rest while our subconscious mind takes care of us. “It’s very natural and it’s something we all experience – we’re just not always aware of it.”
Her favorite subject, Stillwell could talk about hypnotherapy all day. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says, “and I get really excited. I enjoy it just as much if not more than my clients!”
Besides being extremely excited about what she does, Stillwell is also highly qualified. “It’s important for people to know that there is a lot of extensive training that hypnotherapists have to go through,” she says, “I earned my Master Hypnotist and Hypnotherapy degrees from the International Hypnotherapy Training Institute in San Francisco and learned alongside people from all over the world – it was great!”
“We have a union,” she goes on, “and we are ethically bound in the same way any health practitioner is. The American Medical Association recognizes our field and has since the 1950’s.”
When deciding where to take her own practice, Stillwell considered more progressive areas but eventually settled on Orcutt. “I wanted to bring this opportunity to Orcutt and fill a need,” she says.
Bringing a rather unconventional business to the area is both “scary” and exhilarating. “I am sort of a pioneer!” she says, “and I get that spirit from my great grandfather – he was a pioneer. I think he would give me a big pat on the back right now.”
In another pioneering move, Stillwell has also taken up laughter therapy to combine with her hypnotherapy and is on her way to becoming a certified laughter coach. “Everyone says having a good cry can be relieving,” she muses, “but having a good laugh can be a very positive, cleansing experience.” Not to mention a lot more fun!
To learn more about hypnotherapy, Stillwell urges people to do a little research in the internet. Or stop by Clarity Hypnotherapy at 127 West Clark Ave., suite 213, in Orcutt or call (805) 264-7753
When conjuring up a picture of a hypnotist, most people bring to mind a man in a garish cape and turban waving a pocket watch in front of his audience before proceeding to make them cluck like chickens whenever the word “pineapple” is uttered. According to Orcutt-
A member of the founding families of Orcutt, Stillwell is the great-
“I was training to be an MFT, but I found that I started focusing on everything in a diagnosing kind of way,” says Stillwell, “I was picking things apart and when you do that you only find the negative and I am a very positive person.”
“I wanted to focus more on the positive strength of the mind,” she continues, “and I started to learn about hypnotherapy. At first I thought it was a new-
Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapy. Stillwell uses this combination to get her clients where they want to go and centers on the positive parts of a person.
“Here is an example,” she says, “A person wants to quit smoking. Inside of them they have two sides – the smoker and the non-
In addition to helping smokers kick the habit, hypnotherapy can also help with blocks, memory-
“Hypnosis brings a laser-
To Stillwell, this “zoning out” is our conscious mind taking a rest while our subconscious mind takes care of us. “It’s very natural and it’s something we all experience – we’re just not always aware of it.”
Her favorite subject, Stillwell could talk about hypnotherapy all day. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says, “and I get really excited. I enjoy it just as much if not more than my clients!”
Besides being extremely excited about what she does, Stillwell is also highly qualified. “It’s important for people to know that there is a lot of extensive training that hypnotherapists have to go through,” she says, “I earned my Master Hypnotist and Hypnotherapy degrees from the International Hypnotherapy Training Institute in San Francisco and learned alongside people from all over the world – it was great!”
“We have a union,” she goes on, “and we are ethically bound in the same way any health practitioner is. The American Medical Association recognizes our field and has since the 1950’s.”
When deciding where to take her own practice, Stillwell considered more progressive areas but eventually settled on Orcutt. “I wanted to bring this opportunity to Orcutt and fill a need,” she says.
Bringing a rather unconventional business to the area is both “scary” and exhilarating. “I am sort of a pioneer!” she says, “and I get that spirit from my great grandfather – he was a pioneer. I think he would give me a big pat on the back right now.”
In another pioneering move, Stillwell has also taken up laughter therapy to combine with her hypnotherapy and is on her way to becoming a certified laughter coach. “Everyone says having a good cry can be relieving,” she muses, “but having a good laugh can be a very positive, cleansing experience.” Not to mention a lot more fun!
To learn more about hypnotherapy, Stillwell urges people to do a little research in the internet. Or stop by Clarity Hypnotherapy at 127 West Clark Ave., suite 213, in Orcutt or call (805) 264-
-- Rebecca Ross reporting
