Introduction
In this powerful and revealing episode of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, I, Neeti Keswani—Business Storytelling Coach, Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and host of Luxury Unplugged—welcome a very special guest: Ryan Kristenson, a professional hypnotist, coach, and former intelligence operative. With over two decades of experience in counterterrorism and counter-proliferation, Ryan now dedicates his work to helping people rewire their subconscious mind, break through limiting beliefs, and unlock inevitable success.
Whether you’re navigating burnout, feeling stuck in self-doubt, or striving to elevate your mental game, this episode is your deep dive into the tools and techniques of modern hypnotherapy. We explore how hypnosis works, its benefits and risks, and why rewiring your subconscious is like brain surgery without the scalpel—transformative, precise, and life-changing.
1. What is Hypnosis and How Does It Work?
Hypnosis isn’t about losing control—it’s about gaining conscious access to the unconscious mind. As Ryan explains, hypnosis is a focused state of relaxed awareness where the critical, analytical mind temporarily steps aside. In that state, you can access the deep-rooted beliefs formed during childhood and rewrite them.
The real magic lies in this: before the age of six, most of our core beliefs are formed without logical filtering. We draw conclusions emotionally and store them in the subconscious. Later in life, these outdated beliefs become mental roadblocks—whether it’s around money, self-worth, love, or success.
“Your subconscious doesn’t judge truth based on logic. It judges truth based on what it already believes,” Ryan shares.
Hypnosis allows us to bypass the critical factor, access the emotional core, and reprogram the subconscious with clarity and intention.
2. What Are the Different Types of Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a versatile modality with several forms. Ryan walks us through the most common types:
- Traditional Hypnosis: Involves direct suggestions to change behaviors or thoughts.
- Ericksonian Hypnosis: Uses metaphor and storytelling to access the subconscious more gently and indirectly.
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): Combines language patterns with visualization to shift belief structures.
- Parts Therapy: Focuses on resolving internal conflict by dialoguing with different “parts” of the self.
- Regression Hypnosis: Revisits past experiences to uncover and reframe emotional root causes.
Each style serves a purpose. Ryan’s approach often combines several, customized to the client’s unique belief system and emotional triggers.
3. How Did Ryan Kristenson Transition from Intelligence to Hypnotherapy?
Ryan’s journey is anything but typical. With 23 years in military and intelligence operations, he initially explored psychology as a post-retirement path. But after experiencing a personal hypnosis session in a men’s group, he felt a profound emotional shift—as if 30 pounds of emotional baggage had suddenly been lifted.
“It wasn’t dramatic, but it was powerful. Like carrying a heavy rucksack and suddenly putting it down.”
That moment ignited his journey. He got certified in early 2020, went full-time by October, and began helping others with the same tools that changed his life.
4. How Can Hypnosis Help Rewire Limiting Beliefs?
Limiting beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “Success is hard for me” are often planted during early childhood experiences. Ryan explains that the subconscious forms these beliefs without nuance or context—based on emotional patterns, not logic.
Through hypnosis, he helps clients:
- Access early memories linked to limiting beliefs
- Trace the emotional logic behind them
- Disprove outdated conclusions
- Create a new subconscious narrative aligned with their goals
“It’s almost like brain surgery—only we’re rewiring thought patterns instead of neural tissue.”
This deep work doesn’t just change behavior. It alters the lens through which you see life.
5. What Are the Most Common Hypnosis Tools and Techniques?
Ryan’s toolkit includes both classic and advanced hypnotherapy methods:
- Inductions: To relax the conscious mind and invite deep focus
- Anchoring: Linking a physical gesture or word with a desired emotional state
- Visualization: Guiding the client to picture their ideal future or release stuck patterns
- Timeline Therapy: Revisiting past experiences to shift their emotional charge
- Reframing: Changing the perspective on a core memory or belief
Each technique serves a purpose—not to erase the past, but to recontextualize it with empowerment and choice.
6. What Are the Benefits of Hypnosis for High Performers?
From tech entrepreneurs to executives, many of Ryan’s clients are high-functioning professionals who feel stuck. Hypnosis offers them:
- Mental clarity under pressure
- Faster emotional processing
- Deeper sleep and recovery
- Focus without burnout
- Authenticity in leadership and relationships
It’s not about performance hacks. It’s about aligning your inner story with your external goals—so success becomes inevitable, not exhausting.
7. Are There Any Risks in Hypnotherapy?
While hypnosis is generally safe, Ryan emphasizes that it should always be:
- Client-centered, not coercive
- Used with clear ethical boundaries
- Avoided with individuals experiencing active psychosis or certain trauma conditions without clinical supervision
That said, for the vast majority, hypnosis is gentle, powerful, and highly effective—especially when guided by a skilled practitioner.
8. What Does Hypnosis Feel Like?
It’s not mind control. It’s mind clarity.
Most people describe hypnosis as feeling calm, present, and slightly detached, similar to that dreamy state right before you fall asleep. You’re aware, but also open. Your mind slows down just enough to hear what’s underneath the noise.
That’s the doorway to transformation.
9. How Does Ryan Use Hypnosis in Coaching?
Ryan’s coaching isn’t just about motivation—it’s about mental rewiring. He blends:
- Strategic questioning to identify belief blocks
- Subconscious repatterning through hypnosis
- Daily practices to reinforce new neural pathways
- Emotional clearing to restore personal sovereignty
“My job is to get clients from stuck to unstoppable—by aligning their mind, story, and strategy.”
10. How Can You Start Using Hypnosis for Success Today?
If you’re curious about self-hypnosis, Ryan recommends starting with:
- Guided meditation or self-hypnosis apps
- Visualization exercises with music
- Journaling prompts like “What do I believe about success?”
- Working with a trained professional to accelerate change
Success isn’t about hustle alone—it’s about internal permission and alignment. Hypnosis simply opens the door to the part of you that already knows what you’re capable of.
Conclusion
Hypnosis isn’t magic—it’s mental mastery. And as Ryan Kristenson shows, with the right tools and intention, you can go beyond performance and into peaceful power.
Whether you’re healing emotional wounds, breaking patterns, or simply stepping into your next level, hypnotherapy gives you the clarity and courage to rewrite your inner story.
Because when your subconscious is aligned… success becomes inevitable.
About Neeti Keswani
Neeti Keswani is a Business Storytelling Coach, Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and creator of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast. She helps conscious professionals and purpose-driven entrepreneurs align their brand, voice, and vision from the inside out.
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