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Title: "Treating Complex Trauma with Hypnotherapy"
Presenters: Zac Dodson, MA, CCHt, QS, LMHC &
Jesse Lyon, MS, CCHt, QS, LMHC
Date: October 10, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
(Announcements, networking) 9:00 - 9:30 am
(Presentation) 9:30 - 10:30 am
Event Location/Modality: Virtual via Zoom
* The Zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.
** Students: Attendance Requirement for Professional Meeting Assignment near the bottom of the page.
Presentation Summary:
Join Zac Dodson and Jesse Lyon, co-founders of Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy, for a powerful one-hour lecture designed specifically for mental health professionals. This session will introduce the science behind hypnotherapy, dispel the most common myths that surround its use, and provide a clear, clinical definition of trauma through a modern lens.
Drawing from years of clinical practice and teaching, Zac and Jesse will share the highly effective techniques and trauma recovery system that form the foundation of Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy’s certification program. Attendees will gain both theoretical insight and practical strategies that can be immediately integrated into therapeutic work with clients.
Whether you’re skeptical about hypnosis or curious about its application in trauma treatment, this lecture will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to understand hypnotherapy not as stage magic, but as a research-backed, transformative clinical tool for healing.
Learning Objectives:
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Explain the scientific foundations of hypnotherapy and its role in clinical trauma recovery.
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Identify and dispel common myths and misconceptions about hypnosis in mental health practice.
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Define trauma through a modern clinical lens and recognize its manifestations in clients.
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Describe the Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy recovery system and its step-by-step application.
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Apply practical hypnotic techniques that support emotional regulation and trauma resolution.
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Evaluate the ethical and professional considerations of integrating hypnotherapy into trauma treatment.
Speakers Bio:
Zac Dodson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH11867). He completed an undergraduate degree in Social Studies Education in Texas before continuing his Master's in Mental Health Counseling at Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland. Zac's philosophy was heavily influenced by Carl Jung in Switzerland. Zac is not the typical psychotherapist though. He has a track record of being both pragmatic and person centered. The goals of the client are always the highest priority. Zac has experience helping people work through many difficult issues, but he has most of his experience and training in the areas of Trauma/PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Anxiety/Stress, HIV/AIDS, ADHD, Substance use, and other Addictions.
Most of Zac's experience comes from working in the areas of trauma from both sexual abuse and assault as well as military related PTSD. Zac mostly works with adults, but often sees children for ADHD. Zac also enjoys working with couples on family related stress. He regularly uses his dog Grace to help in session. Dog assisted therapy is a passion of his and has helped many people with ADHD, Trauma, Anxiety, and Stress. Zac's clients find Grace to be loving and emotionally attentive. She greets everyone who comes through the door with unconditional love and positive regard.
An interesting fact about Zac is his traveling experience. He loves traveling and views himself as a "third-culture kid" due to how much he moved as a child. Zac initially started graduate school for international relations because he wanted to get into conflict resolution and international policy. He ended up getting an internship that convinced him that he wanted to help people on a deeper and more personal level than would be possible if working for the Department of State. He then shifted his focus to Mental Health Counseling and found his passion.
Jesse Lyon is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCHt), and Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. He completed his Master’s in Counseling after years of hands-on experience in community mental health, working with survivors of trauma, children with autism, and underserved populations. Jesse’s counseling philosophy is deeply influenced by psychodynamic and Jungian principles, and his approach blends clinical hypnosis with trauma-focused therapy to bring lasting healing for his clients.
Most of Jesse’s experience comes from working with survivors of complex trauma, including CPTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and Schizophrenia, as well as individuals experiencing homelessness. He co-founded Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy, a training institute that certifies therapists across Florida to use clinical hypnosis in trauma recovery. In addition to his clinical work, Jesse owns Lyon Counseling, a private practice with locations across central Florida, where he provides individual and group counseling with a focus on trauma, anxiety, and relational healing.
Beyond the therapy office, Jesse has become widely known as a dream interpreter and mental health educator. His viral social media account, @LyonMentalHealth, has reached more than 2 million followers on TikTok alone, making him one of the most recognized voices on the psychology of dreams. He has been featured in national media, podcasts, and professional events for his expertise in how the subconscious communicates through symbolic imagery.
Today, whether he’s teaching therapists, interpreting dreams, or sitting with a client in crisis, Jesse’s work is grounded in one simple truth: your mind is not against you, it’s just misunderstood.
**Students: To fulfill your assignment, you must create your own Zoom account and use the link provided in your confirmation email. Please make sure your registration and screen name are the same. Attendance for 85-100% of the webinar is required. MHCCF verifies attendance based on registration and meeting duration. Once both are met, you will receive a Post-Presentation email within 48 hours, containing:
✅ An anonymous survey
✅ A Certificate of Attendance (required for your professor)
These requirements are strict, and no exceptions will be made for unexpected circumstances.
