I have been known to work with a number of different clients in my professional life. My resume has a varied history of pairings from nonprofit and for-profit experiences to food, medicine, technology—you name it. I tell all of the people who ask me about my work in communications that you can enter into any space with writing and marketing because those skills are needed everywhere. Marketing professionals who take advantage of this get to learn about different industries, explore and connect with new communities, and acquire and exchange knowledge about a number of different topics. One of these many different industries that I have experienced involves hypnotism. 

My very first internship happened right after I switched from the School of Architecture and Design in college at Cal Poly Pomona to English Language and Literature with a minor in Journalism. I was writing for the school paper, The Poly Post, at the time, mainly dealing with the lifestyle and opinion sections, but I also wanted experience in publishing since I knew I would eventually also want to write a book. I stumbled upon a copywriting and editorial assistant position online and applied.  

I spoke with the renowned hypnotherapist who posted the job over the phone and was able to dive into the world of hypnotism as a tool to improve your life. My task was to read and understand the book she had written and help her revitalize sales through marketing strategies. I did get deep into the weeds with psychology, but I was able to gather so much useful information to utilize in my own life. 

After the assurance from the hypnotherapist that I would not be hypnotized without my consent, I agreed to help by writing blog posts, attending related community events, and really studying her body of work. Hypnosis changes your perspective, memory, and behavior. It makes you more open to suggestions. I learned that a person under hypnosis retains control and they are not made to act against their own free will. I also heard testimonies from people who received help in psychotherapy and how it changed their lives for the better.  

I never let the hypnotherapist hypnotize me, but I did learn that you really can reprogram not only yourself but your life and your entire perspective on it. Changing how you think can change everything. You can do it with help from a licensed therapist, or you can learn how to change your world on your own and achieve whatever it is you would like to do whether it’s through meditation, journaling, movement, or some other tool.  

My random internship did expose me to the world of publishing, but it also helped satiate my interest in psychology while exposing me to knowledge about how to improve myself. It’s given me some of the tools that I have used in my personal and professional life, and it has taught me to be open and receptive to new and unfamiliar experiences. This internship, like all my other jobs, internships, and clients, are all opportunities for growth. I don’t regret any of them.