When people hear the word "hypnosis," they usually think of the parlor tricks used to make someone bark like a dog or dance like a ballerina. But hypnosis expert Paul McKenna, Ph.D, explains that the technique is much more widely used in everyday situations to help people overcome unwanted behavior. Paul explains, "It helps us to reprogram the mind like a computer so you can change just about any behavior in a very short space of time." Can Paul break through to the subconscious of two viewers to help them change the bad habits that are driving their spouses crazy?

"My wife spends too much money!"

Tracy, a 40-year-old mother of two, admits that she's an "ambitious spender" who finds shopping therapeutic for her whenever she feels stressed, and she doesn't worry about how she's going to pay the bills. However, her husband Chip sees the bills every month and has reached his limit with her overspending. "In terms of our marriage and our friendship," he declares, "they would be nearly perfect if Tracy could stay on a budget."

Paul's approach to Tracy's problem includes getting her subconscious mind to relate her compulsion of shopping to something that she finds revolting: smoking. But this doesn't mean Tracy won't be able to buy the basic necessities of life. "I get people to prioritize their spending," Paul says. "What I get people to do is to train their brain to notice what it is they need, what it is that's important, and everything I consider a frivolous expense. Suddenly, in that process, they automatically make better spending decisions."

How is Tracy doing after a session with Paul? She tells Rachael about a recent trip to a clothing store. "I was not the least bit tempted to get out the credit card or the check book," she declares. "And I made sure I told Chip that I went shopping and I didn't by myself a thing!" Chip confirms that Tracy's session with Paul has resulted in fewer surprises at the end of the month when he gets the credit card statement. "I think there's going to be positive improvements and it's going to help both of us," he says.

"My husband won't pick up after himself!"

Matt, 42, can't explain why he tends to leave a mess wherever he goes, but admits that this habit has been with him since birth. His wife Joanna says it's time to put an end to this childlike behavior. "He doesn't pick up after himself, he doesn't put his clothes in the laundry, doors are left open -- it drives me crazy! It's like having a fifth child."

Paul's plan of attack on Matt's subconscious is to train it to think of cleaning up after himself as a compulsion, and to associate it with something he finds pleasurable (in Matt's case, riding his bike). The result? "I can't walk away from a door without making sure it's closed," Matt tells Rachael. "If I do walk away and I think I left it open, I find myself compelled to go back and close it." Joanna is impressed with her new husband's behavior: "It's amazing!"

Related Links

Paul McKenna