Dr. Moali has interviewed dozens of super-interesting people. Please check out her list of topics and guests!
And here are more media links about my work with erotic hypnosis as a sexual and romantic enrichment technique.
Jeremy Glass describes his experience in Thrillist (and no, his brain wasn’t really “fried.”) This was in 2014, so one hopes he is now sufficiently recovered.
The intrepid Krissy Eliot describes her experience as “The Big Bang” in the Bay Area Reporter (2015). Really, I’m flattered!
My friend, the late Dr. David Pittle, interviewed me a few years ago on his podcast series, Joyful Authentic Living. Scroll down for the session with me. We touch on erotic hypnosis. He interviewed many other excellent people as well. I really miss David. Until last week, I had no idea he’d passed in December 2017.
I’ve also been asked to present at the third annual Western Erotic Hypnosis Unconference, (Oct. 8-12 in Belmont, CA) but this is not yet confirmed. Part of the delay in confirmation apparently has to do with my request that the conference add “please be considerate and refrain from using fragrances” language to their awareness, website, etc.
(CatalystCon already has “fragrance-free” as a standing policy for their entire conference! Why is this important? See this link to the late Julia Kendall’s list of the most common toxic chemicals found in scented products. )
A new independent survey reveals the erotic world of 225 people who use hypnosis to create enjoyment and variety in their personal lives. Sexologist Amy Marsh will present preliminary statistics and key findings on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1:30 PM PST, during a free webinar hosted by Creative Sexuality Education Corp:
Highlights include the popularity of hypnotic orgasms and the satisfaction they bring. 54% of survey respondents “frequently” use hypnosis to create or improve orgasms, while another 34% do it “sometimes.” 55% said they were “very satisfied” with hypnotic orgasms, while 25% were “somewhat satisfied.”
The survey also shows that erotic hypnosis enthusiasts give high priority to trust, consent and safety issues.
“The brain really is the most powerful sex organ. People who play with erotic hypnosis are using their imagination to dramatically improve their sex lives.” Dr. Marsh added, “Some of these techniques could be adapted and taught to many others, including people with physical impairments and other health concerns.”
Amy Marsh, EdD, DHS, CH, CI is a board certified clinical sexologist, AASECT-certified sex counselor, sexuality educator, certified hypnotist, and certified hypnosis instructor. She teaches a 300-hour certificate course in sexological hypnosis at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS) in San Francisco and is an online instructor at Sex Coach U and Creative Sexuality Education Corp. In private practice, she specializes in using hypnosis to address sexual concerns. Marsh has also researched objectum sexuality and has been published in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality. Her findings resulted in appearances on Good Morning America, Tyra Banks, National Geographic Taboo, and other media.
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If you’d like more information about the topic, or to schedule an interview with Dr. Marsh, please call 510-277-0440 or email dr.amymarsh@hushmail.com
For the last few days I have had the deep joy and fascination of creating and launching a baby survey, and watching it grow by leaps and bounds. I’ve been considering a survey of erotic hypnotists for quite some time, but for some reason last week, I just up and did it. My research question was a variation on the classic sexological inquiry: “what do people do? And how do they feel about it?” I wanted to know what erotic hypnotists and their subjects do with hypnosis in their personal lives, and how happy they are with the results. And I wanted to know their key concerns and issues. Demographics too, just a few…
I started with ten questions, and an upper limit of 100 responses (due to the fact that I was using the free plan on Survey Monkey). However, due to the rapid and enthusiastic response from people on some erotic hypnosis groups, circumstances quickly warranted an upgrade so that I could collect more than 100 responses. As of this morning, Jan. 6, I have 219 completed surveys – and have had to delete at least three times that number of incomplete offerings created by people who look, but don’t answer. (This last has been somewhat tedious.)
On Jan. 4th, in honor of World Hypnotism Day, I held a free webinar at Creative Sexuality, to talk about “Five Ways Hypnosis Helps Couples” but ended up focusing less on techniques and more on what was coming out of the survey. I used a lot of the comments given by survey respondents. A recording of this presentation should be posted soon, both on the above link, but also on Creative Sexuality’s YouTube channel.
On Jan. 11th, I plan to hold another free webinar at CS to share the rough numbers and some key highlights with the erotic hypnosis community. I’ll post a link to that when it’s up – but I figured that would be a fun way to present some of the data, and as it will also be recorded, more than just the webinar attendees will get to watch.
I’m not ready to write anything else about the data yet, but it’s so juicy, so wonderful, so fruitful, and above all, so much fun!
Erotic hypnosis workshops taught by Dr. Amy Marsh.
I predict that erotic hypnosis will be the hot new erotic trend of 2014. There are so many great things you can do with it, for yourself and with your lovers.
Consenting adults use personal erotic hypnosis to enhance and enrich their sexual relationships. Erotic hypnosis is so versatile you can adapt it to any scenario: romantic; tantric; edgy; and even kinky. Erotic hypnosis can help you increase (or decrease) all kinds of sensations, boost your fantasy life, and add multiple dimensions to any sexy role play. Use erotic hypnosis as foreplay or to intensify the hottest parts of your sexual encounters. Use it alone (erotic self-hypnosis), with a partner, or in a group. Like a trusty vibrator, erotic hypnosis can go just about anywhere…
Here are just five of the many great ways you can use erotic hypnosis:
1. Getting in the Mood. If you’re too stressed to even think about sex, ask your partner to indulge you with a long, soothing progressive relaxation induction that gradually shifts into sensual, arousing imagery. This is as simple as reading a script, though you can certainly ad lib as you learn more about basic hypnotic techniques.
2. Getting in the Groove. In order to become aroused and sustain that loving feeling, you need to stay on the right side of your parasympathetic nervous system (until you’re close to orgasm, which is when your sympathetic nervous system kicks into high gear). You can use hypnotic relaxation techniques to increase your sexual self-confidence and banish performance anxiety.
3. Getting in Touch. When you’re “entranced,” it’s easy to experience an increase in sensual awareness and sensation by simply listening to your lover’s suggestions and succumbing to the power of your imagination. Trust me, your body will respond. Hypnosis plus touch is also a potent combination.
4. Getting Hot! Deepen your sexual experiences on all levels – sensations, fantasies, variety, role play, and even hypnotic orgasms. Basic hypnotic skills can take you there.
5. Getting Kinky. You can create wild and elaborate fantasy scenarios without spending a dime on equipment and toys. Use hypnosis to imagine and rehearse something you might want to try in the future, or to provide an extra dimension for your present fun and games.
Erotic hypnosis also has a lot to offer people who have chronic illnesses and/or physical impairments that might make some sexual activities difficult. With erotic hypnosis, you can take your mind – and your sexual responses – where you body might not physically follow.
Of course, erotic hypnosis should only be used in a responsible way, with a lot of trust and a lot of talking beforehand – working out most of what you want to try and experience, in advance, and getting clear consent for every part of it. There’s much more to be said on this topic – and about the basic hypnosis skills you must acquire – but for now, this is a glimpse into the benefits and uses of recreational, erotic hypnosis.
Probably my favorite memory of this last weekend’s Gender Spectrum conference (besides a really nice lunch-time conversation with a sexology colleague and her husband) was the “slap-bracelet” incident. Let me explain.
I was doing something I’ve never done before. I presented three times in one weekend! Twice for the teen conference (back to back sessions on Saturday) and once for adults (first thing on Sunday morning). For those who don’t know, the Gender Spectrum Family Conference, which is by and for people who are transgender or otherwise gender variant (and their parents and allies), is probably one of the most awesome annual occurances on the planet – for me, far more significant than Burning Man – because a new world really is being birthed by GS conference attendees and organizers, throughout the year, 24/7, parent by parent, child by child, activist by activist, teacher by teacher, and so on. When I’m at this conference I’m living briefly in a world almost entirely without hate, though hate and fear knocks on all our doors.
Gender Spectrum includes Kids Camps and a Teen Conference. And I’ve always loved the fact that the kids are there, wandering shyly in search of their parents or friends, or swirling through the corridors with their pals. They are all free to be themselves in an accepting environment that should exist naturally for them (and all children and youth) all the rest of the year. And so they dodge past the grownups in the halls with computer cases and tote bags, and race after their group, eager for the next activity or adventure. And the teens – serving as panelists, speaking truth to adults – and otherwise making their presence felt… I always feel in awe of them. They know so much.
So, though I’ve presented before at the Gender Spectrum Conference, I’ve never been honored with presenting a program to the teenagers. I must confess I was a bit nervous! I even had my younger kid (age 16) check out my slide show beforehand, and give me some tips on what works for his age group, and what doesn’t. After that, I figured that if I flopped I could blame it on him!
So, the first session was packed with the older teen group, at least 20 kids! A lively, amazing bunch. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more engaged, fun and funnier group. The topic was “Beat Stress with Easy Mind-Body Self-Help Skills,” and so it was pretty interactive. The kids were intrigued with hypnosis too – and because several of them really wanted to be hypnotized, I did a short, progressive relaxation induction at the end, with a few suggestions for feeling great, empowered, and so on. I had a wonderful time. I hope they did too.
After lunch, a quieter experience though again, quite delightful! Only three girls – younger teens – and two camp counselors in attendance. It was nice to go through the same program again, in a more conversational way, and to also bring the counselors into the dialogue. All three girls had very different fashion styles. I really enjoyed seeing how they were bringing their personalities into the world in such individual ways. One of the girls mentioned that she had several nervous habits, and toward the end, she began rolling and unrolling her slap bracelet, and slapping it back into shape. Now I am easily distracted by repetitive noises. I lose my focus. It’s kind of weird, actually. And so I had to ask her to stop. She was too apologetic when I mentioned my predicament. I regretted having to say something, because there seemed to be a delicacy in our rapport. I felt like she may have been admonished too often, too many times, by teachers. I didn’t want to be just another grown-up stepping on her expression.
Anyway, I think well of her, and of all the youngsters who attended my two presentations. What they went home thinking and feeling about my sessions, I’ll never know. I hope some of what I taught will be useful for them. I am not sure why I feel that this is one of my favorite memories, but it is. There’s some lesson for me, perhaps, that I haven’t fully realized.
I enjoyed the next day’s session with the adults – another great bunch, another great learning experience. The handout I used is here, at the link below.
I have one other experience to share. My experience at the conference was marred by quite a lot of exposures to fragrances, both in other sessions and in corridors between sessions. I left early both days, in order to take care of myself – and so I really didn’t get my “money’s worth” from the conference in terms of being able to attend all sessions. And I am sorry to say that one woman was quite snippy with me in response to the sign I posted, asking for fragrance-free attendees in my Sunday workshop. That encounter left an ugly taste. But – really – shared air space is important. That’s why we don’t let people smoke inside anymore. And though I was probably the only person with environmental illness in attendance, I can’t have been the only person who suffers from asthma. They too, must have found this challenging!
I attended the last session in a face mask, unfortunately sitting in the front row and hopefully not unnerving the speakers. Usually I sit way at the back, as far away from other people as I can manage (for air space), but my sexology colleague wanted to be right up front and I wanted to sit with her. Next year, I’ll be asking the conference organizers for a fragrance-free sentence added to my workshop description, should they accept a presentation proposal from me.
Mostly, though, I am just so grateful to have had the chance to participate once again in this amazing event. It means a lot to me to participate. I live in such an isolated manner. Kudos to all who organized, spoke, and attended!
I used to have a hat with this logo, purchased from the Environmental Health Network of CA
The short answer is: it’s another part of my sexological “bag of tricks.” But I think this question also requires a longer explanation.
All sexologists, sex counselors, sex coaches, and sex therapists develop a menu of therapeutic strategems, tips, techniques, and recommended products, books, and media to share with our clients. Most of us give classes and workshops on everything from orgasms, oral sex, erotic massage, tantra, coping with pelvic pain, aging and sexuality, and so on. We’re always looking for new, effective ways to assist our clients and students with their sexual concerns.
We also often give our clients “homeplay” exercises to do between sessions. For couples, there may be a sensate focus series, non-demand touch exercises for building trust and somatic awareness, first used by sex therapy teams like Masters & Johnson and Hartman & Fithian, and still in wide use today. For a man with rapid ejaculation, there may be a program of mindful masturbation exercises designed to build his capacity for “lasting longer.”
As a sexologist, I often use hypnosis in my practice, and I teach self-hypnosis and other mind-body skills to my clients. And this is good. But there’s more that can be done!
For the last couple of years I’ve envisioned a well-designed mini-course in erotic hypnosis techniques which could be just as helpful as many of my other sex counseling staples. I’ve been working on the design of this course and have now refined it so that it is user friendly, based on wisdom culled from both the hypnotic world as well as the sexological one.
I am convinced of the value of this endeavor. Hypnosis is so versatile! For example, lovers could use hypnosis to:
• help each other relax before lovemaking (especially helpful in dropping the stresses of the work day or family life);
• restore and renew that new relationship sensation of being entranced with a lover; and
• to shower each other’s subconscious with ego-strengthening, affirmative, appreciative suggestions that promote confidence in each other and in the relationship. Can you imagine anything more nourishing than relaxing in a light trance state while being showered on a daily basis with words of love and appreciation, pouring right into your mind and heart?
I suggest that these are great additions to an expanded erotic hypnosis repertoire – which includes the ability to heighten sensation, enjoy “hypno-gasms,” create variety through hypnotic fantasy, explore power play, and so on. In other words, lovers can empower themselves and their relationships through the skillful, consensual use of erotic hypnosis.
Erotic hypnosis can also be a valuable tool for people who have some kind of physical impairment or disability, but who’d like to enjoy the fullest possible sex life. Think about it!
I believe too that erotic self-hypnosis is a powerful tool for understanding one’s own erotic nature and core themes. Too often people are as disconnected from this awareness as they are from their own, and their lover’s, bodies. Why not explore your own eroticism through a combination of self-hypnosis and self-pleasure, for example?
This is the potential I see – and I would like to alert my colleagues in the sexology field about this. I am launching my extended Erotic Hypnosis for Lovers courses (first one on August 17th), and am hopeful that people will realize their value. Yes, there are plenty of people exploring and enjoying erotic hypnosis and doing very well on their own – but I’d also like this modality, as a structured program, to make its way into the hands of sexologists, counselors, and therapists – as well as clients.
I’m back to making videos again. It’s so satisfying. I hope you like this one!
Speaking of videos – back in January I was taped again by National Geographic Taboo, offering sexological insights into “looners” (people with balloon fetishes), human puppy training, and shoe fetishes. There’s a “looner” in the new episode coming up on August 19th – an episode which also features famous tantric daka, Baba Dez. If anyone sees me making a comment on the balloon loving portion of the episode, please let me know. I don’t have cable TV… [Note: my comments on “looners” weren’t used in the program.]
The two pictures here are stills taken from the Taboo website.
It looks like the human puppy episode will be aired in another installment. I do not see anything about the shoe fetishist yet.
Sharing a fun, in-depth conversation with Miss Toy, host of MPerfect on SexTalk Radio. In addition to her show, Miss Toy also sells sex toys and writes a blog.
Listen to our lively podcast conversation here. We talked about sex, obesity, disability, and erotic hypnosis!
Coming across these early reviews now–which I’d frankly forgotten–I am gratified by the comments of two extremely accomplished hypnotists, Richard Nongard and Michael Ellner, and proud of the work I’ve done since to make my current Hypnosis for Sex Problems (HSP) course the very best it can be. HSP is based on that first course of mine–Intimate Hypnosis: Sexological Hypnosis Skills, which I taught as an elective certificate course at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, CA.
Later, I revised and expanded the scope of that course, and began to teach it through my Intimate Hypnosis Training Center (IHTC). I make revisions and updates every year or two, to try to stay on top of both sexological and hypnotic research and trends.
Professional Training in Using Hypnosis for Sex Problems
The early reviews
After reviewing the syllabus, here’s what two top hypnotists are saying about the Intimate Hypnosis-Sexological Hypnosis Skills certificate course which I am currently teaching as a distance-learning program through the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality:
“The Intimate Hypnosis training couse offered by Amy Marsh, EdD, DHS, ACS, CH is a comprehensive, well-organized and sexy program that will benefit a wide range of licensed and non-licensed helping professionals and the people they are helping. I highly recommend it! “
—Michael Ellner, Diplomate – International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. Author of Bedside Manners: A Pain Clinicians’ Guide to Effective Medical Communication and co-author of the Quantum Focusing guided self-help e-book series.
“I thought the course was well thought out, well planned, and comprised of valueable modules and learning perspectives. As an LMFT I can assure any professional, sex and sexual understanding is a major part of many other contributing presenting problems, and a comprehensive course like this would be valuable to anyone.”
—Richard Nongard, LMFT, CCH, Award-winning NLP and hypnosis trainer. Author of Magic Words in Hypnosis – The Sourcebook of Hypnosis Patter and Scripts and How to Overcome Hypnotic Difficulties and Medical Meditation – How to Reduce Pain, Decrease Complications, and Recover Faster from Surgery, Illness and Disease.
I am grateful to both for taking time from their busy schedules to review the syllabus! Thank you, Michael Ellner and Richard Nongard!
