If you've never done hypnotherapy, the first session is the part people wonder about most. Will I be "under"? Will I remember anything? What do I actually do for an hour?
This guide walks through what a first session looks like at Identity 2.0 Hypnotherapy in Dallas, from the steps before you book to what you'll take home afterward. It's written for driven people: executives, founders, traders and athletes who already know their craft and want their reactions under pressure to match it.
The short version: you sit in a comfortable chair, fully aware, and talk through one specific pattern you want to change. Then Jay guides you into a focused, relaxed state and works with that pattern directly. You stay in control the entire time, and you leave with a clear picture of what happens next.
Before Your First Session: Two Low-Pressure Steps
You don't walk into a first session cold. At Identity 2.0 there are two steps before it, and only the first is required.
1. A free 30-minute strategy call
The free strategy call happens on Zoom. You describe what keeps repeating, what you've already tried, and what you'd like to handle differently. Jay asks questions, tells you what he sees, and says honestly whether the program is a fit. There's no payment and no obligation.
2. The optional $99 Identity Diagnostic
If you want a deeper look before committing, the Identity Diagnostic includes three structured assessments: an Emotions and Perceptions profile, a 12-dimension assessment and a handwriting analysis. Jay prepares a written report and walks you through it in a 45-minute Zoom review. The $99 is credited toward the program if you decide to continue.
By the time your first session starts, you and Jay have already agreed on what you're working on. That's a big reason first sessions feel focused rather than awkward.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call on Zoom. You'll talk through the pattern you want to change and get an honest read on whether the program fits.
Book a Free Strategy Call →Where the Session Happens: Oak Lawn or Zoom
You can do your first session in person or online.
- In person: the office is at 3838 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 1000, Dallas, TX 75219. Park in the free retail parking on the surface level, take the elevator to the 10th floor, and look for Suite 1000. Give yourself a few extra minutes the first time.
- On Zoom: you'll need a private room where you won't be interrupted, a comfortable chair, headphones and a steady connection. Clients outside Dallas, from Fort Worth to out of state, often prefer this.
The structure of the session is the same either way. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes.
The First Session, Step by Step
Settling in and getting specific
The session opens with conversation, not hypnosis. You and Jay go back over the pattern you're working on and make it concrete: the situation where it shows up, what you notice in your body, what you do next, and what you'd rather do instead. "I want more confidence" becomes something like "When I'm presenting to the board and get a hard question, my chest tightens and I start over-explaining."
The more specific the target, the more useful the session. This part often surprises people because it's practical and direct.
Mapping the pattern
Next, you map the pattern together: the trigger, the automatic response, and the behavior that follows. This is where the Identity 2.0 framework comes in, looking at the beliefs and identity underneath the habit rather than only the surface behavior.
The hypnosis itself
Then Jay guides you into hypnosis. In practice, that means talking you into a state of focused, relaxed attention, a bit like being absorbed in a good book or driving a familiar route without thinking about each turn. Your eyes are usually closed. You can hear everything, and you can speak, move or open your eyes whenever you want.
While you're in that state, Jay works with the pattern you mapped: rehearsing the trigger situation, building a different response, and connecting it to the version of yourself you described. Nothing is done to you that you didn't agree to. You can't be made to do anything against your will.
Coming back and debriefing
At the end, Jay brings you back to normal alertness. Most people feel calm and clear-headed; some feel a little like they've had a good nap. You'll talk about what you noticed and agree on what to pay attention to before the next session.
What It Feels Like (and What It Doesn't)
People describe hypnosis differently. Some feel deeply relaxed and a little heavy. Others feel almost normal and wonder whether "anything happened". Both are common, and neither tells you how useful the session was.
What it is not:
- Not mind control. You're aware and in control the whole time.
- Not sleep. It's a focused state, and you'll remember the session.
- Not stage hypnosis. No swinging watches, no performing for an audience.
- Not medical or psychological treatment. Jay Shaw is a certified hypnotherapist (CHt), not a psychologist or medical provider. If you're under a doctor's or therapist's care, keep them in the loop. Hypnotherapy can sit alongside that care; it doesn't replace it.
If you're weighing hypnotherapy against talk therapy, this comparison of hypnosis and therapy covers how they differ and when each fits.
How to Prepare
- Pick one target. One situation you want to handle differently beats a list of ten.
- Bring a recent example. The last time the pattern showed up: where you were, what happened, what you did.
- Skip the heavy meal and the extra coffee. You'll settle more easily if you're comfortable.
- Protect the time. Silence your phone and, on Zoom, close other apps and tell anyone at home you're unavailable.
- Come curious, not perfect. There's no "right" way to experience hypnosis.
After the First Session
The first session is the start of a program, not a one-off. Identity 2.0 runs as an 8-week program: weekly hypnotherapy sessions, reinforcement audio to listen to between sessions, voice-message support between sessions, and diagnostic testing along the way, so you and Jay can see what's shifting.
Change looks different for everyone, so there's no promised timeline. What you can expect is a clear plan, a specific target each week, and honest conversations about what's working. The full program is a premium, 8-week commitment. We'll walk through options on your free strategy call. If you're curious about investment, this guide to hypnotherapy costs in Dallas covers what affects price and what to ask any practitioner.
Ready to See If It Fits?
Start with a free 30-minute strategy call on Zoom, or go deeper first with the $99 Identity Diagnostic, credited toward the program.
Book a Free Strategy Call →Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose control during hypnosis?
No. You stay aware the whole time and can speak, move or open your eyes whenever you want. You can't be made to do anything against your will.
How long is a first hypnotherapy session?
Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes, including the conversation at the start and the debrief at the end.
Do I have to come to the Dallas office?
No. You can do sessions on Zoom or at the Oak Lawn office in Dallas, and switch between the two. The structure is the same either way.
What if I can't be hypnotized?
People experience hypnosis differently, and many feel more "normal" than they expected. Jay adjusts the approach to you. If you're unsure, bring it up on the free strategy call.
Is hypnotherapy a medical treatment?
No. Jay Shaw is a certified hypnotherapist (CHt), not a psychologist or medical provider. Identity 2.0 is hypnotherapy and performance coaching for goals you choose. If you're under a doctor's or therapist's care, talk with them first.
What does it cost to get started?
The strategy call is free. The optional Identity Diagnostic is $99 and is credited toward the program. Program pricing is covered on the free call.