Hypnosis might conjure images of stage shows and pocket watches, but therapeutic hypnosis is gaining recognition as a legitimate tool for treating anxiety, trauma and deeply rooted behavioral patterns — especially among parents struggling with emotional triggers they can’t seem to control.
Jaime Weatherholt, a licensed mental health therapist and certified hypnotherapist based in Omaha, is working to demystify hypnotherapy and introduce more people to its healing potential. Through her practice, Enlightened Counseling and Healing, Weatherholt combines traditional trauma-focused therapies like EMDR and brain-spotting with alternative methods including hypnosis and past life regression.
“Hypnosis is simply a focused state of attention,” Weatherholt explains in an episode of Omaha Mom Talks podcast on the Hurrdat ONE network. “It’s something everyone experiences regularly — like getting absorbed in a movie or zoning out during your commute.”
Clearing Up Myths About Hypnosis
Unlike the dramatic portrayals in movies like Office Space or stage hypnosis performances, therapeutic hypnosis is not mind control. Clients remain fully aware and in control throughout the entire process.
“You can’t get stuck in hypnosis,” Weatherholt says, addressing one of the most common fears. “You can always choose whether to accept or reject a suggestion. It’s entirely voluntary.”
These natural moments of “trance” — whether daydreaming, losing track of time while reading or driving on autopilot — demonstrate how our brains naturally shift into relaxed, suggestible states. Therapeutic hypnosis simply harnesses this ability intentionally for healing purposes.
Historically, hypnosis has been used in medical settings even before anesthesia was invented. Today, some dentists still use hypnosis to help patients manage pain and anxiety during procedures. Self-hypnosis techniques can also be learned and applied to everyday situations requiring stress management or pain relief.
How Hypnotherapy Helps Parents Heal Trauma
A significant portion of Weatherholt’s practice involves working with parents who find themselves reacting to their children in ways they don’t understand or want to perpetuate. These parents often know the strategies — they’ve read the parenting books and taken the classes — but still feel stuck in patterns that feel automatic and irrational.
“They’re doing all the right things on paper, but something deeper is driving their reactions,” Weatherholt notes. “Hypnotherapy allows them to dig beneath the surface and explore where these behaviors originated.”
Often, these patterns are rooted in childhood experiences or generational trauma, such as unresolved emotional wounds passed down through families. For mothers juggling stress, anxiety and emotional overload, hypnosis offers a path toward clarity and calm. By entering a relaxed, focused state, clients can rewire emotional responses and access their subconscious mind to heal old wounds and reclaim control.
Hypnosis is particularly effective for addressing anxiety, unwanted behavioral patterns and emotional triggers that traditional talk therapy alone may not fully resolve.
Understanding Past Life Regression Therapy
Weatherholt also offers one of the more unique, and often misunderstood, therapeutic modalities: past life regression. Using hypnosis as the entry point, she guides clients into what many believe are memories of previous lifetimes.
Whether or not someone fully believes in reincarnation, the process can provide illuminating insights into emotional patterns, unresolved relationships or unexplainable feelings that persist in current life. Some clients come seeking clarity on recurring relationship dynamics, while others are simply curious about what might emerge.
“During these sessions, clients may see vivid images, feel physical sensations, or simply ‘know’ certain things,” Weatherholt explains. “Sometimes they recognize people from their current life appearing in different roles — a child in a past life might show up as a parent in the present, or vice versa.”
This deep exploration often leads to emotional breakthroughs, new perspectives on current relationships and meaningful behavior changes.
Real Results: When Alternative Healing Works
Weatherholt shares how past life regression helped her own family. During a session, she experienced what felt like a previous lifetime in which her current husband repeatedly betrayed her, and their son died suddenly at the same age her stepson was at the time. Her stepson had been struggling with extreme anxiety and a persistent fear of dying.
After Weatherholt shared the experience with him in an age-appropriate way, his anxiety subsided almost immediately. While not everyone may believe in the metaphysical explanation, the emotional relief was undeniably real.
“That’s what matters most,” Weatherholt emphasizes. “Whether you interpret it as a past life, a metaphor from your subconscious, or something else entirely—if it helps you heal, it’s valid.”
Making Alternative Therapy Approachable
Weatherholt’s approach blends logical, Type-A thinking with spiritual openness, creating a grounded space where clients can explore nontraditional methods without judgment. Her own background as a transracial adoptee — Korean, adopted by a white family — has given her unique insight into identity development, belonging and the complex emotional landscapes that shape mental health.
Originally focused on macro-level social work and adoption advocacy, Weatherholt found her way into mental health therapy somewhat unexpectedly. Her lived experiences and work as a camp counselor and mentor for other adoptees shaped her understanding of how community and self-awareness play vital roles in healing.
For anyone feeling drawn to alternative healing practices, Weatherholt encourages following your intuition. Whether it’s Reiki, acupuncture, astrology or hypnosis, you don’t always need a scientific explanation for something to be helpful.
“If it resonates with you and helps you feel better, lean into it,” she advises.
Finding What Works for Your Healing Journey
The central message is clear: healing is not one-size-fits-all. Whether through traditional talk therapy, EMDR, hypnosis or past life regression, the key is finding what resonates with you and addresses your specific needs.
Weatherholt encourages people to remain open, curious and willing to explore different therapeutic methods. For Omaha residents interested in learning more about hypnotherapy or past life regression, Weatherholt’s practice, Enlightened Counseling and Healing, offers consultations and sessions. She also hosts The Shrink Show podcast, where she discusses mental health topics and alternative healing modalities.
Whether you’re curious about trying hypnotherapy for the first time or ready to explore deeper questions about your emotional patterns and life experiences, the growing field of alternative therapy offers new pathways to discovery, healing and personal growth.
Omaha Mom Talks is all about creating connection for moms in Omaha, Nebraska. Join your host, Jessie Gutierrez, a mental health therapist and mom of two, to explore the joys and struggles of motherhood, the importance of mental health, and the best Omaha has to offer. Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned pro, each episode brings you expert advice, community stories, and local gems to support you on your motherhood journey.
