Hypnosis helped SLO County therapist overcome fear of swimming. Now he teaches others

Looking for a change? A San Luis Obispo County therapist is teaching community members how to combat anxiety, addiction and more.

Art Kuhns, owner of Breaking Day Hypnotherapy in Paso Robles, led the workshop “Hypnosis 101” at the Paso Robles Recreation Services center at Centennial Park on Aug. 24.

Kuhns instructed the class’ seven attendees on several integral concepts, including defining hypnosis, induction, establishing rapport and what he calls “the theory of mind.”

According to Kuhns, the theory of mind is the division of the brain between the conscious and subconscious mind.

“Your conscious mind (is) where you think logically, analytically, (where you) think about ‘What I’m going to do, Where am I gonna go? Who am I gonna call?’ ” Kuhns said. “Your willpower is also in your conscious mind.”

Hypnosis allows you to access the rest of your brain — the subconscious mind — in order to create change, according to Kuhns.

During the Aug. 24 class, Kuhns instructed his pupils about the different brain waves associated with relaxation, the same as those you experience in sleep.

He then told them on how to get a subject into the appropriate state through induction.

Attendees received a booklet on different types of inductions, and spent the rest of park of the class practicing in pairs.

How SLO County therapist got interested in hypnosis

After spending years in the military, Kuhns opened a wellness center in Paso Robles, where he focused on working with fellow military personnel to treat their anxiety through reiki energy healing.

Kuhns first embarked on his journey with hypnotherapy when he tried addressing his fear of swimming.

“My wife ... wanted us to go to Hawaii, and she wanted us to snorkel,” recalled Kuhns, who didn’t swim at the time. “Being the great husband that I am, I started to take some swim lessons.”

During these lessons, Kuhns said he struggled to allow himself to stray from the poolside railings. His fear of sinking was too great, he said.

Finally, Kuhns tried a brief session with a hypnotist.

During the 20 minutes they spent together, Kuhns said, his instructor advised him to think positively about swimming and to let go his fear.

“Three days later, I go back into the pool,” Kuhns said. “And I go, ‘I wonder what happened if I just leaned back?’ ”

Kuhns said he proceeded to successfully swim for 30 minutes that day.

“I got out crying because 50 years of fear had been eliminated in a 20-minute hypnotherapy session,” he said.

That’s when he transitioned from focusing on reiki therapy to becoming certified in hypnotherapy.

As a hypnotherapsit, Kuhns now helps clients with managing anxiety, reducing stress, losing weight, quitting smoking and more.

Through his website, people can book hypnotherapy or reiki sessions in person, over the phone or via Zoom.

His next class at the Paso Robles recreation center, scheduled for Oct. 25, is called “Anxiety: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” For more information, go to prcity.com/281/Activities-Classes-Sports.

This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.