DRAKE EASTBURN is a Board-Certified Hypnotherapist, co-founder of Eastburn Hypnotherapy Center and the Eastburn Institute of Hypnosis, as well the former Director of Education for the School of Integrated Hypnotherapy. He is a sought-after author and the official hypnotist to the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team due to his highly-regarded work in sport hypnotherapy. With more than 40 years of experience in hypnotism, he is on a mission to educate people on the reality and impact of hypnosis.
Together with his wife Lynsi, Drake also teaches foundational classes in hypnosis through their institute in Colorado and globally. The training includes advanced methods such as Regression Therapy, Resolving Repetitive Body Focused Behaviors (trichotillomania, nail biting, skin picking, etc.), and state-of-the-art smoking cessation. His passion for sports led him to professionally work with athletes from almost every sport, including football, golf, and cheer over the past three decades. As one of the most prolific authors in contemporary hypnotism, Drake has written seven books on the subject, several of which are used in hypnotherapy training globally. Drake’s most recent book, The Hypnotist’s Bible—A Reference and A Journey, was released December 15, 2022. Find Drake on www.hypnodenver.com.
Welcome everybody, welcome to Spiritual Biz Chat for Spiritual Biz Magazine, and today we have joining us a board-certified hypnotherapist Drake Eastburn. Welcome, Drake, thank you for being with us, how are you doing today?
DRAKE EASTBURN: I’m doing great and it’s a pleasure to be with you today.
It’s a pleasure to have you here, Drake! You have 40 years of experience in the field of hypnotism serving people around the world and maintaining a thriving full-time private practice with multiple offices in the Denver metropolitan area. Could you share the story behind your personal journey down the path to your current life’s purpose and work?
DRAKE: Absolutely. I started on my hypnosis journey in the early 70s with the Silva Method as a part of my own personal growth. I had come from a very negative dysfunctional family and I wanted to be a better person. The Silva Method promoted, “Change your mind, change your life,” and that certainly proved to be true for me. Not only was Silva a way for me to explore my own journey into hypnosis, but it was about putting my subconscious mind to work in new ways. I was a migraine sufferer back then and I learned hypnosis methods to become free of migraines forever, and I have helped many others to be free of that issue as well.
I went on to pursue other classes that Silva had to offer as well as various possibilities. I found some hypnosis classes offered through Denver Free University (now Colorado Free University) and I became good friends with the instructor of those classes and one of the other students. The three of us went into business, using hypnosis methods to create abundance.
I continued taking classes and gaining credentials until I came to the conclusion that I could make a living doing hypnosis. I hung out my shingle and soon I was the biggest name in town. I became associated with a school and later I became part owner and director of education at another school. In 1999 I met my wife, Lynsi at a convention in New Hampshire and we got married and soon started our own school. We have taught our methods here in the states, but also in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean. We have a global clientele.
How inspiring! You have probably met plenty of skeptics along the way and had to debunk all kinds of misinformation and myths about hypnosis. What is the most common and surprising question you have ever had to answer and put some clarity on?
DRAKE: There certainly have been skeptics along the way and myths to deal with. I talk about these myths extensively in my book What Is Hypnosis (Really). One of the ones I find curious is when someone says that they are afraid to be hypnotized because they will reveal all of their secrets. It makes me wonder, what are people doing out there where they have all of these secrets? Also, why would they automatically divulge where they buried the bodies or the stolen money? Not only that, why would I care what they did, and who would I tell? As your hypnotherapist, everything that is said and done during a session is held in confidence anyway.
Another one that I hear a lot is, “I don’t believe in hypnosis.” The nice thing is that hypnosis doesn’t care. If I drop my pen will it fall to the ground? Of course, it will. Gravity doesn’t care if you believe in it, it still works, and hypnosis doesn’t care if you believe in it either. It still works.
The official hypnotist to the USA Olympic Cycling Team… How did this title come about? And how is working with athletes different from working with people of other professions?
DRAKE: I have worked with Olympic Cyclists off and on for some time. A few Olympics back I had the privilege of working with the entire male cycling team and part of the female team. I was working with SlipStream Cycling out of Boulder, Colorado, and other cyclists. My good friend and physiologist Dr. Allen Lim was with that team and then became the coach for the Olympic cycling team and he was the big motivator in making this happen.
I have worked with all sorts of athletes. I’ve worked with the duffer down the street to PGA champions. I’ve worked with many young athletes and well-known elite athletes. Athletes do not necessarily differ from other occupations. No matter who comes in we do a lengthy intake process so that I can get familiar with each individual and then tailor a session that will meet their needs. There is no, “one size fits all.”
When it comes to elite athletes, I don’t make them elite athletes. They already are. What I do more than anything is give them that edge, that advantage that is going to get them across the finish line first. Often, the difference between being average and being a champion is very little.
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of young gymnasts and those involved in cheer. These are very competitive athletes and often they have had a bad experience and now they find themselves hesitating in competition or practice. Typically these things are fairly easy to deal with.
On the subject of sport and fitness… Can hypnosis even help us reach our fitness goals or desired level of health?
DRAKE: Absolutely. Years ago I was an ultra-distance runner. I ran the Pikes Peak marathon, the Mt. Evans trophy run, and my high-speed ascents on 14 thousand-foot peaks here in Colorado, sometimes running three 14ers in a day. I made use of my own hypnosis recordings to inspire me forward.
The subconscious likes to operate in patterns (habits). Once we create a habit it takes no volition for the subconscious to continue that habit, which translates into being easy. If we go to the gym once or twice a week that might help us to reach our goal, but we may not be creating a strong pattern. However, if we go to the gym five times a week we are creating a stronger habit that is more likely to continue on.
If there is some goal that you wish to achieve, then imagine yourself achieving it. Make those mental images as real as possible. The subconscious responds to hyperbole so over-exaggerate your achievements. You’re not just running in the local 5K, but you are winning the Ironman (at least in your mind).
What tools can hypnosis give us to kick our bad habits to the curb such as smoking or nail biting so we could free up energy for the new, good habits?
DRAKE: Make your subconscious your friend. Notice your own self-talk. If you tell yourself, “I hate smoking,” or “I hate my fat thighs.” Your subconscious takes these messages literally and you will continue to hate being a smoker and your fat thighs will continue growing and you will hate that even more. Try these kinds of statements instead: “I have more energy as a non-smoker.” or “It feels good to be lean and fit.”
If you have a goal in mind, like becoming a non-smoker, mark a date on the calendar for when you will end this habit. Mark off each day as you get closer to your goal date. This helps to impact the subconscious and create believability.
Things like nail biting are what are referred to as Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, and they are stress related. They could be responses to current stress or residual stress from earlier in life. These habitual responses are a way that the subconscious mind is physically attempting to displace stress. Deal with the stress in your life. We have a free stress reduction download on our website.
Have good resources such as:
Exercise,
Close friends (people we can talk to),
Hobbies and Interests.
These are things that help us to continue and take control of our lives when things are a little tough. Rather than falling back on old habits.
The year of 2023 has already started, but it is still not too late to set New Year’s resolutions. How can hypnosis assist us in their execution?
DRAKE: It’s never too late to make a positive change. Often the New Year is a time when we begin to reflect on those excess pounds we put on during the holidays, the lack of energy from a sedentary lifestyle, or that smoking habit that continues on. Those New Year’s resolutions don’t always have a very good track record. For instance, the data for people who sign up for a gym membership is dismal. Most people who get a gym membership will drop out within the first 90 days which is good news for regular gymgoers. However, those folks who make it past 90 days are much more likely to continue on. Your diet and your activity level should be about your normal lifestyle and not just some temporary imposition you must endure to make a change. The more we create good choices as our normal behavior, the easier it becomes to continue in a positive way.
Is there a final message you want to let our readers know? Or just any last little words that you have for them?
DRAKE: Yes, thanks. Make your subconscious mind your friend. Currently, the majority of clients who come to see me are suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, and stress. This is a reflection of our culture. While anxiety may have early beginnings, it is being exacerbated by our culture. We seem to be forever hearing “Breaking news, breaking news,” these words create fear and stress. Our world is full of political uncertainty, pandemics, climate change, violence, and so forth. Do yourself a favor and avoid watching the news as much as possible, and other sources of negativity. Do things that create positivity in your life, such as hobbies and interests, and participate in outdoor activities. Surround yourself with positive individuals, and take time to reflect, be quiet, and meditate.
Thank you, Drake, very much! It has been such a pleasure chatting with you today!
DRAKE: Thank you, it has been a pleasure.
