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What is Boston Hypnosis?
Boston Hypnosis is a hypnotherapy practice run by Brian Mahoney, who describes having helped thousands of clients since 2002. The practice frames hypnosis as one tool among several, with sessions tailored to each client rather than delivered as a fixed script.
What it helps with
The site lists specific issues rather than presenting hypnosis as a general cure-all:
- Anxiety and driving anxiety
- Fear of flying and fear of public speaking
- Erectile dysfunction
- Weight loss and emotional eating
- Compulsive behaviors, insomnia, phobias and nail biting appear in client stories
How it works, in the practice's own framing
Mahoney says he limits his practice so he can tailor work to each person, and the site claims nine out of ten clients succeed. Client results are presented as central: reviews average 4.8 out of 5 across roughly 22–25 ratings, with most scores at five stars. Testimonials describe work on compulsive eating, insomnia, alcohol use and long-standing problems that had resisted other approaches. One reviewer, Anish, notes initial suspicion at finding almost only five-star reviews — a fair thing to weigh when reading any review page.
Is it a fit for you?
If your issue is specific and behavioral — a fear, a habit, a pattern you can name — this style of focused, one-practitioner practice is worth a conversation. If you are looking for a large clinic, medical diagnosis or a psychologist covered by insurance, this is a different kind of service, and the site itself invites a preliminary talk rather than promising a fit. Start by reading two or three full client stories that match your issue, then use the contact option on Boston Hypnosis to ask what a typical course of sessions looks like for your situation.
How does hypnotherapy at Boston Hypnosis help with anxiety?
Boston Hypnosis approaches anxiety as something to resolve at its root rather than only manage day to day. The practice, run by Brian Mahoney, describes using hypnosis alongside other approaches in a tailored way, with anxiety as one of its main focus areas. The site also lists related issues such as fear of flying, public speaking, driving anxiety, weight loss and emotional eating, which suggests the anxiety work is often tied to a specific situation or pattern rather than treated as one generic condition.
What the process looks like
- The work is framed as individualized: the site says "all the work is tailored" and shows client videos across different issues, so two people with anxiety may have quite different sessions.
- Anxiety is listed as a primary area of help, alongside more specific fears and habits.
- The stated goal is resolving the issue, not just coping with it.
- Sessions appear to be one-to-one with Brian Mahoney, who says he has worked with clients since 2002 and limits his practice to keep results high.
What clients report
The page includes reviews from named clients. Jackson M describes Brian as caring and creative and says a few sessions helped him find hope again during a difficult period. Madeline K. of Cambridge mentions addressing the root cause of a negative pattern, in her case insomnia. Kathleen S. of Brookline says decades-old problems that resisted traditional solutions improved. These are client observations, not clinical evidence, and they cover different issues, so they should be read as individual experiences rather than guaranteed outcomes for anxiety specifically. The site reports a 4.8/5 average across roughly two dozen reviews, which is a useful signal of satisfaction but not proof that hypnotherapy will work for you.
A practical way to decide
If your anxiety is linked to a specific trigger — flying, speaking, driving, or eating patterns — this kind of targeted hypnotherapy may suit you better than general talk therapy alone. If your anxiety is severe, longstanding or tied to a medical or psychiatric condition, treat hypnotherapy as a complement to professional medical care, not a replacement. The site itself invites a conversation before committing: "Would you be a good fit? Let's talk." That initial call is the right place to ask how many sessions are typical, what happens in a session, and whether your particular anxiety pattern is one he works with. You can read more at Boston Hypnosis.
What should I expect during my first hypnotherapy session with Brian Mahoney?
Expect a conversation and a plan before any formal hypnosis. Boston Hypnosis describes its work as tailored, one client at a time, with the practice deliberately kept small so Brian Mahoney can focus on fit and results. The first session is typically where that tailoring starts: he learns what you want to change, how the pattern shows up in your life, and what you have already tried.
Likely shape of a first visit
- Intake and goal-setting. You describe the issue — anxiety, fear of flying or public speaking, driving anxiety, weight and emotional eating, erectile dysfunction, sleep, or a habit — and what "better" would look like.
- History and context. Expect questions about when the pattern started, what triggers it, and what previous treatments or self-help efforts did or did not change.
- Explanation of the approach. The site frames his method as hypnosis plus other approaches, not hypnosis alone, so he may explain how he combines them for your case.
- A first experience of trance. Many practitioners introduce a light, guided relaxation or imagery exercise in session one so you know what the state feels like. It is not sleep and you generally remain aware and able to speak.
- A takeaway. Often a recording, a short practice, or a specific thing to notice between sessions, since hypnotherapy tends to work cumulatively.
What it is not
You should not expect to be unconscious, to lose control, or to be made to do anything against your will. Hypnosis is a focused, relaxed attention state; you can end it whenever you choose. Nor is it a one-visit fix for a long-standing pattern — the client stories on the site describe work unfolding over a series of sessions.
How to decide if it fits you
- Match the specialty to your issue. The site lists specific areas rather than general "life coaching," so check that yours is among them before booking.
- Ask about session count and between-session work. A concrete estimate and clear homework are good signs of a structured plan.
- Check the rapport in the first ten minutes. Hypnotherapy depends on feeling safe and understood; a good intake should feel like being listened to, not sold to.
- Use reviews as a starting point, not proof. The site shows high ratings across a modest number of reviews, and one client, Anish, notes he was initially suspicious of finding only five-star feedback. That skepticism is reasonable — read the longer narratives, such as Kathleen S. in Brookline describing decades-old problems, and weigh whether the described experience matches what you need.
A practical next step
Before your appointment, write down three things: the specific behavior or feeling you want to change, a recent example of it, and what you have already tried. Bring that list. It turns a vague first meeting into a focused one, and it gives you a way to judge after two or three sessions whether the plan is actually moving you.
For background on what hypnotherapy is and how it is regulated, see American Psychological Association.
Can hypnosis effectively treat erectile dysfunction?
Hypnosis can help some cases of erectile dysfunction, but it is best understood as a targeted treatment for the psychological and stress-related parts of the problem—not a universal cure. If performance anxiety, fear of failure, intrusive thoughts, or a longstanding negative belief is driving the difficulty, hypnotherapy is a reasonable option to explore. If the cause is mainly vascular, hormonal, neurological, or medication-related, hypnosis alone is unlikely to resolve it.
Boston Hypnosis lists erectile dysfunction as one of its focus areas, alongside anxiety, fear of flying, public speaking, and driving anxiety, and describes tailoring the work to each client. The site also features client-reported results across anxiety and weight loss, with a 4.8/5 rating from 25 reviews shown. Those results are self-selected testimonials, so treat them as encouraging signals rather than clinical proof for ED specifically.
How to judge whether it's worth trying
- Get a medical workup first. ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular or metabolic issues, and a doctor can rule out causes that therapy cannot address.
- Consider whether anxiety is clearly part of the pattern—difficulty that appears with a partner but not alone, or that worsens with pressure, points more toward a psychological component.
- Expect a course of sessions, not a single fix. Lasting change usually involves practicing new responses between sessions.
- Ask how progress will be measured. A practitioner who sets specific goals and reviews them with you is easier to evaluate.
A concrete scenario
A 45-year-old who has normal function alone but loses erections when a partner is involved, and who reports racing thoughts beforehand, is the profile most likely to benefit. Someone with consistent difficulty in all situations, or with new onset alongside fatigue or chest symptoms, should see a physician before booking sessions.
Trade-offs
Hypnotherapy is generally low-risk and non-invasive, and it can also reduce the anxiety that compounds the problem. The main trade-offs are time, cost, and uncertainty: effects vary by person, insurance coverage is often limited, and improvement may depend on how well you respond to suggestion and how consistently you practice.
Next step
Book a short introductory conversation with a practitioner and ask two questions: how they assess whether your case is primarily psychological, and what they recommend if progress stalls. Boston Hypnosis offers a consultation route through Boston Hypnosis. For a medical perspective, the Urology Care Foundation at Urology Care Foundation explains causes and treatments, and the NHS at NHS covers when to see a doctor.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy are typically needed to see results for weight loss?
The site doesn't state a typical session count for weight loss. What it does say is that "all the work is tailored," so the number depends on the person rather than following a fixed package. If you want a concrete estimate, ask directly during the free "Let's talk" consultation the site offers, and ask what a realistic checkpoint looks like for your specific eating pattern.
What the page actually supports
- The practice is led by Brian Mahoney and reports work with clients since 2002.
- Weight loss and emotional eating appear as a listed focus area, alongside anxiety, fear of flying, public speaking, driving anxiety and erectile dysfunction.
- Client results are presented as tailored, with video segments showing how the process differs between clients and between issues.
- Displayed review summaries show 4.8/5 across two sets of 25 and 22 reviews, with most ratings at 5. The page also notes that nine out of ten clients are successful because the practice is deliberately limited in size.
How to judge whether a short or longer course fits you
| Your situation | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| Habit-driven snacking, triggered by stress or boredom | Whether the plan targets the trigger rather than the food itself, and how soon you'd notice a change |
| Emotional eating after loss, conflict or major life stress | Whether other approaches are combined with hypnosis, since the page mentions "hypnosis and other approaches" |
| Long-standing pattern that has resisted diets | How progress gets reviewed, and what happens if early sessions don't shift anything |
The review from Lynn describes compulsive eating that hadn't responded to her own efforts, and the review from Jessica Geragosian concerns removing alcohol rather than weight. Those are individual client accounts, not a schedule. My practical read: treat session count as a question to settle in the first conversation, and ask for a review point — say, after a set number of sessions — so you can decide whether to continue rather than committing blind.
For comparison, you can see how other practitioners describe their approach at Hypnotherapy Directory or check credentials through National Guild of Hypnotists.
Is virtual hypnotherapy available for clients outside of Boston?
Yes—Boston Hypnosis presents itself as a practice built around remote work, not a Boston-only office service. Its page invites prospective clients to “Let's talk” and describes Brian Mahoney working one-to-one with people on issues such as anxiety, fear of flying, public speaking, weight loss and emotional eating. The client testimonials name places including Cambridge, MA and Brookline, plus one reviewer with an MA credential, which shows the practice draws from around Greater Boston; it does not establish availability in other states or countries.
For someone outside Boston, the practical question is not “Is virtual hypnotherapy possible?” but “Is this practitioner licensed or permitted to work with me where I live?” Hypnotherapy is regulated differently from psychotherapy, and rules vary by state and country. If you are in another country, time zones, payment methods and any local restrictions also matter.
How to decide
- Ask directly whether sessions are held by video or phone, and what platform is used.
- Confirm whether the practitioner accepts clients in your state or country.
- Clarify fees, session length, cancellation terms and how many sessions are typical.
- Ask what happens if the issue turns out to need medical or psychological care beyond hypnosis.
A useful next step is to use the site’s contact option and describe your location, your main issue and your time zone in the first message. If you want to compare a local alternative, search for a practitioner near you rather than assuming a Boston-based hypnotist can serve you remotely. For general context on what hypnotherapy involves, see NHS.
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