Dr. Holstein provides individual, marital and family therapy. She specializes in clinical hypnosis and guided imagery. Her practice emphasizes health and wellness, stress and pain management, sports performance, life coaching, and women’s issues. She enjoys public speaking, as well as conducting motivational workshops and leading retreats. Additionally, Dr. Sue is a well-known corporate speaker and trainer.

Susan has over 20 years of counseling experience. Before opening her private practice, she served as a vocational rehabilitation specialist, a staff psychologist, and program manager at several large hospitals.

“Dr. Sue”, as she is affectionately known, believes in a practical, relaxed and down-to-earth approach to counseling. She combines her training and experience with old-fashioned common sense to help her clients achieve happiness and an overall sense of wellbeing.

Dr. Sue has created the center for Mind•Body•Spirit to provide comfort and support for people facing life’s daily challenges.

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“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”.

-Author Unknown

Click to learn more about Dr. Sue’s Areas of Specialty:

Clinical Hypnosis

Anxiety / Fears / Phobias

Study Techniques and Test Anxiety

Sports Psychology

Training / Corporate Workshops

Wellness Retreats

Life Coaching

Clinical Hypnosis

Dr. Sue With Good Friend The Amazing Kreskin

“The technique has been accepted by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association”

-Martin Orne, M.D.
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania (11/2006)

“The purpose of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique is to help you understand and gain more control over your behavior, emotions or physical well-being”

-The Mayo Clinic (12/2003)

Hypnosis is a natural state of awareness/consciousness that we all experience each day just before falling asleep at night and before waking up each morning.

Many people also experience a state of hypnosis while they’re driving to and from work. Have you ever found yourself arriving at work and suddenly realizing that you can’t remember passing the last few blocks? This is hypnosis – a state of highly-focused concentration -- so focused in fact, that on a conscious level, you are less aware of everything around you.

• WILL I LOSE CONTROL WHEN I'M "UNDER" HYPNOSIS?

“…hypnosis is not mind control. It’s a naturally occurring state of concentration; it’s actually a means of enhancing your control over both your mind & body”.

-Dr. David Spiegel, Assoc. Chair of Psychiatry
Stanford University School of Medicine (09/2004)

No. In fact, the client is more in control when in a state of hypnosis. What does this mean? Using the driving example can better illustrate this concept, as follows:

While driving in this zone of focused concentration, most people never miss a turn or run a red light. In fact, if someone crosses into your lane, suddenly your attention is front and present – you are responding quickly and appropriately. In the few minutes prior to recognizing your situation, you couldn’t even tell where your body was in space, or where your hands were on the wheel. Yet, when the need arises, your conscious mind is present, allowing you to respond quickly in order to keep you safe.

Because your conscious mind is always present, as in the above example, a hypnotist cannot make you say or do anything that you would not normally do. Hypnosis allows you to utilize your natural ability to create change. A hypnotherapist guides you, but cannot and does not force you into making changes.

• HOW DOES HYPNOSIS WORK?

The way hypnosis works is not entirely clear. Like yoga and meditation, one goal of hypnosis is physical relaxation and mental quieting. However, unlike yoga and mediation, once a person reaches that relaxed state, hypnosis allows the individual to create the desired changes within.

The state of hypnosis enables the subconscious to work more effectively to create change. This occurs because your conscious mind is at rest -- the conscious, critical thinking is quieted. Once you are in a relaxed state, the hypnotherapist makes individual suggestions for change.

• CAN EVERYONE BE HYPNOTIZED?

Yes, provided the individual is a willing candidate. This does not mean however, that you can achieve the results that you want just because you can be hypnotized; the process is not, as one may think, “Come on hypnosis, make me do it.” In order to achieve the desired results, you must be willing to do the work. Not only does success require an individualized program, it also requires a concerted effort between therapy sessions.

People have different strengths in working with the subconscious. Some persons respond more quickly and more easily to this approach. For others, it takes practice, as well as the establishment of a trusting relationship with the hypnotherapist. Trusting the therapist is a key component of successful hypnosis.

• WILL HYPNOSIS REALLY WORK FOR ME?

As with any kind of therapy or counseling, there are no guarantees. Much of it depends on your level of commitment. Hypnosis is not “drive-thru” therapy. It is not a shortcut. If your expectation is that hypnosis will “do it for me”, then you will not be successful.

For hypnosis to be effective, you cannot continue doing previous behaviors and expect different results. The same is true however, of any therapy. If you are unwilling to make a serious effort, then it is pointless to continue hypnotherapy. However, if you are truly committed to change, hypnosis can assist you reach your goal and while doing so, reinforce the progress that already has been made.

• WHEN IS HYPNOSIS MOST BENEFICIAL?

“We believe that hypnosis will be optimally effective when the patient is highly motivated to overcome a problem and when the hypnotherapist is well-trained in both hypnosis and in general considerations relating to the treatment of the particular problem. Some individuals seem to have higher native hypnotic talent and capacity that may allow them to benefit more readily from hypnosis.

It is important to keep in mind that hypnosis is like any other therapeutic modality; it is of major benefit to some patients with some problems, and it is helpful with many other patients, but it can fail, just like any other clinical method. For this reason, we emphasize that we are not ‘hypnotists’, but health care professionals who use hypnosis along with other tools of our professions.”

From the website of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (www.ASCH.net)

• WHAT ABOUT STAGE HYPNOSIS? EVERYONE ON STAGE DOES WHAT THE HYPNOTIST SAYS -- WON’T THAT WORK FOR ME TOO?

Stage hypnosis is fun and has kept hypnosis alive in the minds of the public. However, stage hypnosis is different, since it relies on the repressed “ham” in all of us.

For those of you who have seen a stage hypnotist, you realize that there are MANY people on stage – all volunteers who agree to go up for the pure purpose of curiosity and entertainment. In many venues, volunteers have already consumed enough alcohol to release some of their inhibitions.

Once on stage, the hypnotist is careful to assess the comfort zone of each volunteer. This means that the hypnotist moves from person to person, giving suggestions that someone feels comfortable doing and will carry out or enact on stage. Keep in mind that every volunteer is aware that if he acts foolish, it is the “fault” of the stage hypnotist.

While someone may prove to be the “star of the show”, make no mistake – this person has limits and it is the job of the stage hypnotist to recognize this is order to maximize entertainment value.

The same star of the show, in a therapist’s office, may not respond as dramatically. This is because the purpose of stage hypnosis is pure entertainment; it is short-lived and requires no effort on the part of the volunteer. Nothing could be less true of real life change and therapy in general.

• SO, HYPNOSIS CAN’T MAKE ME QUIT SMOKING, FOR EXAMPLE?

No. Hypnosis does not “make” you do anything. You have to want to change and be willing to work toward this change. Hypnosis can help with some of the obstacles to your success. In the case of smoking, for example, hypnosis can help reduce and eliminate cravings and impulses. It can also reduce the anxiety, irritability, and weight gain that is often associated with quitting.

• CAN I DO IT IN ONE SESSION?

Be realistic! Whatever your goal is, it is unlikely that you will accomplish it in only one session of hypnosis – or one session of general counseling for that matter! While some people may quit smoking with only one session, most do not. For a smoker, quitting is the easy part – maintaining abstinence is the key. The same is true for other behavioral changes as well.

• HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL IT TAKE?

Once the initial intake and assessment is completed, you’ll have a better answer to this question. Much depends upon the specific area of concern or need; that is, your “problem” area. Is it a short-term habit? Is it a longstanding pattern? Is it a physical condition? Is there an accompanying diagnosis of depression or anxiety? What have previous attempts to address these issues been like?

Every person is unique – including a person’s motivations, obstacles, level of commitment, and ability to form a trusting relationship with a therapist. All of these questions, and more, must be asked and addressed.

After that, it’s entirely individualized. It could be three weeks; it could be three months. At the end of your intake, together we will determine whether this is the best approach for you, the amount of time required, and the likelihood of your success. After that, the decision is up to you.

• WHAT IS THE FIRST SESSION LIKE?

The first session is typically a one-hour intake session. Some people wonder, “What the heck for? Can’t you just hypnotize me during the first visit?”

During this initial assessment, I will gather information that will assist in creating an individualized plan. During this time, necessary information will be obtained to assess and recommend a treatment approach. We will work together to identify very specific goals as well as potential obstacles to change.

If we don’t do this, you might as well buy a generic tape in the bookstore or internet and hope it works for you.

• WHAT IS SELF-HYPNOSIS?

Self-hypnosis is learning to move into that relaxed, meditative, focused state on your own. With consistent practice, most people can learn self-hypnosis very easily. Likely, you have experienced a state of self-hypnosis several times a day without identifying it as such. There are many approaches and techniques of learning self-hypnosis.

• IN WHAT AREAS IS HYPNOSIS MOST EFFECTIVE?

There are many areas in which hypnosis can be used. Dr. Sue’s work includes the following areas:

Changing Habit Patterns (smoking, eating habits, nail biting) Anxiety

Relaxation / Stress Management Improving Self-Confidence

Pain Management (with an M.D. referral) Sports Performance

Stress-Related Disorders (with M.D. consultation) Goal-Setting

• HOW IS BILLING HANDLED FOR THIS SERVICE?

Because hypnosis is a form of individual counseling, it is billed accordingly. For pain management or other medically-related issues, you may need a prescription or referral from your primary care physician (PCP). Some insurance companies routinely require a physician referral.

• HOW MUCH DOES EACH SESSION COST?

The same hourly rates apply as for individual counseling.

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Anxiety/Fears/Phobias

“ Nothing is to be feared. It is only to be understood”

-WillaCather

The natural state of relaxation experienced during hypnosis is a valuable therapeutic tool in the treatment of anxiety and specific fears / phobias.

Human nature is such that we tend to avoid those situations that create a sense of fear or anxiety. For example, if someone has anxiety riding in an elevator, the likelihood is that one will take the stairs if at all possible. The physiological feeling of fear / anxiety is thereby avoided. What most people don’t realize is that by avoiding a fear, one is actually reinforcing the anxiety itself; the avoidance will begin to generalize (or grow) to other circumstances that resemble the original feared stimulus.

Just like other issues, the treatment of anxiety / phobias and specific fears requires assessment – a clinical intake and understanding of the problem – information about the onset of the fear, the source of the anxiety, as well as the frequency, intensity, and duration.

In addition, while we all know how WE feel when we’re anxious, not every one of us experiences a situation the same way – even if the identified fear or source of anxiety is the same. Most of us can identify with a physiological response – rapid heart rate, sweaty palms, shortness of breath, sometimes a sense of lightheadedness. However, there is a cognitive component – that is, what someone is thinking while this is occurring. Remember . . . we cannot treat the mind and body as separate. Clearly, one affects the other. The goal is to quiet the mind as well as the body.

With a combination of hypnosis, relaxation, imagery, mental rehearsal and other behavioral strategies, hypnosis can be effective in managing both situational and anticipatory anxiety (the anxiety that occurs when we are thinking about being in a feared or anxiety- provoking situation).

Some of the common areas addressed by Dr. Sue are as follows: fear of failure; fear of speaking in public; fear of flying; fear of heights; test anxiety; and panic disorder.

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do”.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

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Study Techniques and Test Anxiety

“A number two pencil and a dream will take you anywhere”
-Author Unknown

As a high school student, Dr. Sue first realized that hypnosis is beneficial for studying; she continued using these techniques throughout graduate school. By utilizing self-hypnosis, Dr. Sue quickly reaped the benefits of improved concentration, attention, and recall.

Because hypnosis is actually a relaxed state of focused concentration, it naturally leads to improved attention and concentration. Additionally, practicing hypnosis helps block out distractions, improves recall, and decreases test anxiety.

Dr. Sue shares these strategies with clients who seek to maximize their ability to retain and recall new information in both academic and professional settings. In addition to students, she has worked with professionals who are taking exams to obtain professional credentials or certification in their respective fields (e.g., accountants, law students, and realtors).

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything in school”.

-Author unknown

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Sports Psychology

“ Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling”

-James E. Starrs

Dr. Sue is a fitness/health enthusiast and advocate. Much of her practice is focused on sports psychology and fitness training. A former gymnast, Dr Sue is a health enthusiast and enjoys running, cycling, and weight training.

Dr. Sue works with professional and semi-professional athletes in the areas of golf, baseball, diving, running and gymnastics. Using a combination of techniques (physical rehearsal, mental practice, cognitive training, imagery conditioning, and clinical hypnosis), she assists athletes in building confidence and maximizing potential to gain a competitive edge. Athletes learn to optimize performance, eliminate performance flaws, and convert fear and anxiety into precision, confidence and power.

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states”.

-Carol Welch

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Corporate Workshops / Training

Dr. Holstein is a highly skilled consultant and corporate trainer. She enjoys designing and conducting employee workshops and training sessions for a variety of businesses and corporations.

Typically, Dr. Holstein will assess the specific needs of a company and then customize a program / workshop to address specific training needs. Often she is asked to incorporate individual coaching sessions as an adjunct to these programs. Dr. Sue has a casual, interactive approach to her workshops, incorporating warmth and humor into the program message.

Some of her most popular seminar topics are as follows:

Stressed to Kill

I Just Don’t Have Time!

Burnt Out and Crispy! I Hate My Job

Maximize Your Potential

Dealing with Difficult Individuals

Conflict Resolution at Work

Self Defense for Women – Feel the Fear

Six Weeks to Wellness Self-Hypnosis for Self Improvement

Work-Life Balance: It can happen!

For more information on seminars and booking, please email: officemanager@mbsgeneva.com

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Wellness Retreats

Are your employees reaching burnout? Productivity, efficiency and morale dwindling? Time to consider Dr. Sue’s customized “Wellness Day” or “Wellness Retreats.”

Dr. Sue regularly conducts both on and off-site retreats and seminars. Her retreats focus on emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing while also addressing specific work-life and home-life demands.

Dr. Sue will assist you in selecting from a “menu” of topics, services, and activities to make this event the kind of experience you desire for your employees.

For more information on seminars and booking, please email: officemanager@mbsgeneva.com

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Life Coaching

"I discovered that people are not really afraid of dying; they’re afraid of not ever having lived, not ever having deeply considered their life’s higher purpose, and not ever having stepped into that purpose and at least tried to make a difference in this world."

-Joseph Jaworski (”The Purpose of Your Life” by Carol Adriennne).

“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances.”

-Martha Washington

“Life Coach” is a relatively new term. Most states do not have legal requirements for a degree or certificate in Life Coaching. What exactly does a “Life Coach” do and how is it different from “therapy?”

Many clients ask Dr. Sue for coaching about life issues, whether it is for business / career purposes, or for relationship problems at work and/or home. Life Coaching has taken on a broad range of definitions and descriptions. It is an exciting, dynamic, and growing area of expertise.

Many people, especially men, are more comfortable seeing a “coach” rather than a “therapist.” Often, individuals want a quick and clear “plan” for making changes – whether it be personal or professional. Often “Life Coaching” is considered more of a “black and white” approach – a more clearly defined plan of action.

While “coaching” is not always about “therapy”, it does involve a closer look at the repetitive patterns of behavior that often impede and/or sabotage our stated goals. Life Coaching is often helpful when one is in the midst of “mid-life” issues.

A “MID-LIFE CRISIS” typically is defined as follows: “The time when one stops thinking about life from time since birth to time until death.” It doesn’t have to be “a crisis.” Mid-life shifts occur for most of us. It should be a time of renewed energy and growth. Most individuals, at mid-life, feel some sense of stability – in life, job, career, family, community… there is a security and contentment. Many clients say, “I’ve done everything I was supposed to do: I went to school; I achieved; I am “settled” in my life. But something is missing …. What about me?!!”

“Let us not confuse stability with stagnation.”

-Mary Jean LeTendre

While Life Coaching can be beneficial at ALL ages, for those individuals looking to make a mid-life shift, LIFE COACHING is especially pertinent!!

“You take your life into your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.”

-Erica Jong

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