MysticMag had the pleasure of interviewing Rebekah Hughey, an integrative family medicine physician, hypnotherapist, and HeartMath practitioner. Rebekah shared her journey into the field of alternative medicine and the techniques she uses to help her clients achieve greater well-being. From Quick Coherence to Freeze Frame, her simple yet powerful tools have helped many individuals. In this interview, she discusses her experience with HeartMath, hypnosis, and Neurolinguistic Programming and shares one of her favorite success stories.
Can you share a few details about yourself and your professional background with our readers?
Sure. My name is Rebekah Hughey, and I am a native of Pittsburgh PA. I am an integrative family medicine physician, trained in Neurolinguistic Programming, Clinical Hypnosis, and HeartMath. I completed my BS in Biology at Spelman College, where I also performed neuroscience research with the National Institute of Mental Health. I received my MD from UNC Chapel Hill, and completed residency and faculty fellowship at Duke University. Throughout my career, I have worked with military veterans, civilians, patients in the hospital and in the clinic, and have also trained countless healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacy students.
How did you come across HeartMath and what sparked your interest in the field?
When I was in medical school, I took an elective in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. One of the practitioners with whom I chose to work was a counselor who used Heartmath as a tool for healing. During our first meeting, she explained how Heartmath works. She then had me place the sensor on my finger. I was in the red. Then she said, “Now think of someone you love”. Instantly, I felt a wave of warmth spread throughout my body, saw the green light, and heard the beautiful sound of coherence. That instant feedback, letting me know how my emotions and state of mind can instantly alter my physiology, was transformative for me.
What HeartMath techniques do you use?
I use Quick Coherence, Heart lock-in, and Freeze frame. For me, these are the easiest to teach and quickest to learn. A lot of my clients find the Quick coherence technique useful when preparing for meetings, speeches, or other moments during which they may anticipate feeling a little anxious. Heart lock-in is great for my clients who want a simple morning or evening practice to gradually reprogram their nervous systems to a new, more positive set point. Freeze Frame is a great tool for those prone to anger or frustration in moments of high tension, such as disagreements and crucial conversations.
Your Mindset Coaching includes hypnosis. Can you tell us a bit about how this process works?
Hypnosis is a state of inner absorption, concentration, and focused attention. It is like using a magnifying glass to focus the rays of the sun and make them more powerful. Similarly, when our minds are concentrated and focused, we are able to use our minds more powerfully. Because hypnosis allows people to use more of their potential, learning self-hypnosis is the ultimate act of self-control.
We use clinical hypnosis in two main ways. First, we encourage the use of imagination. Mental imagery is very powerful, especially in a focused state of attention. The mind seems capable of using imagery, even if it is only symbolic, to assist us in bringing about the things we are imagining. We also use hypnosis to give ideas or suggestions, based on what you have told me you would like to see happen in your life. In a state of concentrated attention, ideas have a powerful impact on the mind.
What other services do you offer?
Besides hypnosis and Heartmath, I use Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) in my coaching. At this point in my career, I mainly do group coaching, and talks and training workshops for organizations. My trainings are unique because they incorporate the tools we mentioned earlier. Participants always leave my sessions with simple, powerful tools that they can instantly apply to their lives–both personally and professionally.
How do you measure success and can you share some success stories?
I measure success differently for each person. In general, I look for the moment of self-realization. It’s the “aha” moment when someone becomes energized by the knowledge that they can change much of their physical reality by consciously changing their attention, intention, imagination, and beliefs.
One of my favorites is a woman who found herself being easily provoked to anger. By using a combination of Freeze Frame, along with a self-hypnosis technique of time expansion, she was able to increase space and time between the event and her response to it. Her ability to experience time differently allowed her the space to process her thoughts and alter her response in these stressful situations.
What’s your favorite part of your profession?
We often limit ourselves by what we allow ourselves to imagine. By using simple yet powerful tools, we can expand to become the most expansive versions of ourselves. I enjoy the instant transformation I am able to see in people when they discover the untapped potential that lies within their own imaginations.
