Peterson's is a Jewel in Magical Clifton, Virginia

Peterson's Ice Cream Depot is part of the foundation of the Clifton community.

A visit to Clifton, Virginia is a wonderfully magical journey to a time when neighbors were more like family and life was simply sweeter.  It’s hard to process the fact this quiet community is a mere 45 minutes outside of the nation’s capital.

The center of community and social activity in Clifton is arguably Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot, which occupies a prominent corner in the heart of the town’s small, yet thriving business district. 

 

Families arrive for cones.  Teens and tweens gather to gossip.  Young couples share fries and a soda.  It all happens at Peterson’s.

Family owned and operated by two generations of school educators, Peterson’s is the definition of social entrepreneurship.  Yes…it’s a for-profit venture.   

Yet, Peterson’s goes above and beyond to raise funds to support charitable organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

It’s for this reason it is a privilege to entertain Peterson’s customers on Friday evenings in the summer through my Hypnotic Experience show.  Rather than a traditional comedy stage act, I take volunteers through a simple hypnotic induction and introduce suggestions to instill feelings of confidence and well-being.

Hypnosis volunteer at Peterson's.

This is consistent with the approach I employ at community festivals and high school events:  de-mystify hypnosis and educate about how its practice can help a person achieve health, wellness and exceptional living.

Of course, Hypnotic Experience is a show, so I strive to make participation as a volunteer or audience member fun and memorable.

My next appearance at Peterson’s is this coming Friday, July 3.  I encourage you to make the drive to Clifton, enjoy dinner at one of its local restaurants and then swing by Peterson’s for dessert.  The ice cream (and entertainment) is fabulous.

Hypnotic Experience set-up on the back deck at Peterson's Ice Cream Depot.  Friday evenings are perfect for a tasty treat and fun entertainment.

Hypnosis Comes Across the River

I am a Maryland guy.  I was raised in Montgomery County.  I earned a degree from the University of Maryland.  And now I make a home with my family in Bethesda, which is a wonderful community in Maryland that is minutes from Washington, DC.

It’s for this reason that each April and May I happily donate my time to entertain at after prom parties hosted by the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) at public high schools in Montgomery County.  The kids are great, the parents are appreciative and it affords me an opportunity to support the community.

This year my “Hypnotic Experience” was part of after proms at Magruder, Blake, Quince Orchard, Rockville, Blair and Poolesville.  I also performed at school-sponsored events at Walter Johnson and Springbrook.

Hypnotized at Rockville HS after prom

A few months back my consulting business (yes…I do have a full-time job) relocated its corporate headquarters to Tysons Corner, which is in Fairfax County.   Most days I cross the Potomac River to my office in Northern Virginia.  

With the goal of replicating my community participation in Maryland, I reached out to the PTSAs at Fairfax County public schools to see if there was a way I could support their efforts.  Rather than after prom parties, I learned Fairfax County PTSAs host all night graduation parties for their seniors. 

Count me in!

Thankfully, the PTSAs at George Marshall and Oakton High Schools took me up on my offer to help this year.  This month I was part of the entertainment at their all night graduation parties and had a wonderful time.

Here is a note I received from the chair of the all night graduation party committee at Oakton:

“You are such a great guy to stay up all night long with us at Oakton High School.  Thank you!  Thank you!  You were fabulous!

Doing right for the communities where I live and work.  It’s such a feel good!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Interested in giving hypnosis a try?  Want to see Hypnotic Experience in action?  I have two upcoming shows that are absolutely free to attend:

Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot in Historic Clifton, Virginia – Friday, June 26 with multiple mini-shows starting at 6:30 PM

Arlington County Fair in Arlington, Virginia – Saturday, August 8 at 7 PM.  I headline the indoor stage at this wonderful community event.

Oakton High School included Hypnotic Experience in the line-up of entertainment at the All Night Graduation Party.

3 Considerations With Hypnosis on YouTube

A question I ask a volunteer at a high school after prom party or community festival is whether they have ever seen hypnosis before.  A prior experience helps me determine what to discuss during the pre-talk, as well as how to best structure the hypnotic induction.

Most people have had some exposure to hypnosis.  They’ve seen it in a movie or on television.  Or, they have attended a comedy hypnosis show.

Interestingly, another source of hypnosis experience is YouTube and other Web-based video sites.  A quick search using the phrase “hypnotic induction” generates more than 50,000 videos.

I took a look at videos on the initial three pages of search return and came away reasonably impressed with the quality and effectiveness of the inductions.  It could be a good way for a person to give hypnosis a try. 

However, like nearly everything on the Web, a viewer has to be guarded and cautious when engaging with one of these inductions.  Here are three considerations:

1. Know the source.  Take a few minutes to read about the person who posted the induction.  What is their background?  Are they a trained hypnotist?  Take a look at the other videos they have posted.

2. Read the comments.  YouTube is a social network that gives viewers the opportunity to post comments about a video.  Check them out.  Have other people who followed this induction had a positive experience?

3. Try it with a friend.  There is comfort and security in numbers.  Have a friend present when trying a hypnotic induction posted on YouTube and ask them to turn the video off should you have any sign of discomfort.  

After Prom Hypnosis in Action

A guest at a high school after prom party where I performed in May was kind enough to send me photos of her friends in a wonderfully deep state of hypnosis.

The hypnotic induction I use is based on guided meditation.  The outcome is a deep state of relaxation along with heightened suggestability.

Post hypnotic suggestion is a crowd favorite.  The sleep suggestion can rapidly return a volunteer into a deep and relaxed trance.

Sleep...and this student is re-hypnotized.  She is an incredibly creative and positive person, which made her the perfect volunteer.  She is what I often refer to as a great visualizer.