Okay, you know about my training and credentials... and perhaps you're wondering:  "What's this guy really like?  What kind of person becomes a hypnotherapist?"

Thanks for asking...

"Colleen Wheeler":  The Hypnotherapist Who Never Was

Born "Sean Timothy Wheeler" in the suburbs of Detroit back in October of 1974, I was Richard and Patricia Wheeler's second little boy.  Apparently, if I had been a girl (as my mother both privately and publicly had hoped), my name would have been "Colleen."  Fortunately for my 8th grade basketball team, my mother would have to wait before buying all those cute little pink outfits.

Future hypnotherapist on the right

As kids, my brother Kevin and I (pictured above) spent most of our time playing sports, getting good grades and fighting at least once a day.  Kevin, who was three years my senior, was kind enough to let me win at basketball and ping pong every now and then... unless, that is, our Dad was videotaping the event, in which case he would destroy me mercilessly for all the world to see.

Future Detroit Tiger... I mean, Clinical Hypnotherapist, at bat

Redheaded Irish Temper

Perhaps a product of being on the losing end of games and fights more often than not, I had what many psychologists refer to as an "Irish temper," which was amplified due to my fiery red hair.  In fact, I staked my claim as the only class president in the history of St. Damian Elementary to be kicked off the school bus three times in one year.  That's what can happen when they call you "Richie Cunningham" and "Carrot Top" for all those years.

The temper subsided when I reached high school, due in part to the birth of my sister.  My Mom finally got her wish (though about 15 years late) when Erin Wheeler was born in April of 1990, and immediately rushed out and bought as many girly clothes, bonnets, dresses and "sockies" as she could find.

Best Summer Job... Ever

Erin hypnotizes me with a plastic spoon on her first birthday

I quickly became the cheapest babysitter my parents could find, and thus gained plenty of experience changing diapers, cleaning up drool and watching Disney movies.  As a high school kid nearing driving age, it was a blessing to get paid for staying home and watching cartoons all summer long.

Learning is Fun in the Warm Florida Sun

Having endured enough long, cold Michigan winters to last a lifetime, I took advantage of all the scholarships, grants and loans I could get my hands on and departed for the University of Miami (FL) in 1993.  It was there that I majored in communications (coincidence?), political science and wearing shorts in December.  It was also there that I witnessed my first stage hypnosis shows, which made a very strong impression on me.

I often hypnotized my friends with my t-shirt

When I graduated from college, I followed the most logical path and found a job working with CNN.  So I loaded up my Ford Thunderbird with everything I owned and drove from Detroit to Atlanta in the summer of 1997.  I enjoyed my job and, for the most part, enjoyed my life at the time... but there was something missing.

Taking the Stage in Atlanta

In 1999, bored with the weekly routine of working, going to movies and what-not, I was in search of a creative outlet.  Hypnosis?  Nope.  Improvisational comedy.  I began taking improv acting classes at Whole World Theatre in the spring of '99, and remained involved through the end of 2005.

Still, I felt as though something in my life was missing.  I didn't always feel as confident as I wanted to feel on stage.  I felt nervous in front of the camera while working as an anchor at CNN.  I felt very self-conscious at times in social situations with strangers, and often felt out of place at parties or around familiar faces.  That Irish temper still surfaced from time to time (especially on I-285 during rush hour).

Hypnotherapy: The Final Frontier

That all changed in January of 2001, when I had my first experience with a hypnotherapist.  My nervousness disappeared.  My confidence returned.  I felt more comfortable in my own skin.  I became a better actor.   That temper?  Haven't seen it since.  Quite simply, even though I'd had a pretty good life up to that point, I really began enjoying life more than ever.

Two years later, I graduated from Hypnosis Institute International and became a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist.  Pure Hypnosis, LLC, was born in the spring of 2003.

My first "stop smoking" client hasn't had a puff since his first session.  My first "weight loss" client lost 25 pounds during the first two months (and yes, has kept it off).  My first "intense lifelong fear" client was over it after one session.  Since then, there have been countless other success stories just like them.

This may sound like boasting (and indeed it may be), but the point is that I have found change through hypnotherapy to defy many beliefs people have about what is possible.  I have proven to myself that, after a lifetime spent preparing for one career, you can do a complete u-turn and experience even more success in a completely unrelated field.

I recently celebrated my 30th birthday. Already I've worked with hundreds of clients, some of which are twice my age, helping them discover new ways to look at their problems, new ways to think.  And you know what, you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Sometimes, you can even get those old dogs to remember how great it felt to be a puppy - filled with energy, playfulness and enthusiasm.

And don't get me started about how much fun it is to teach those puppies...