Influencers of Modern Hypnotherapy
The Hypnotherapy Lineage at Hypnotherapy Academy of America is Rich with Wisdom
Gil Boyne (1924-2010)
Tim Simmerman-Sierra and Gil Boyne
Gil Boyne’s groundbreaking methods forever changed hypnotherapy. His vision extended beyond techniques, emphasizing the spiritual nature of the human psyche. Boyne’s belief that the Creative Intelligence within each person holds the answers to life’s challenges led to the development of his transformative approach, Transforming Therapy®. Focused on rapid results, Boyne’s methodology empowered clients to access their innate problem-solving abilities. His profound commitment to this philosophy led him to open the first state-licensed vocational training in hypnotherapy and establish the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners.
Boyne’s connection to HAA is deeply rooted. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tim completed numerous hypnotherapy certification courses, including Gil Boyne’s hypnotherapy certification training in 1992.
Between 2003 and 2008, Gil taught at the Hypnotherapy Academy of America and mentored Tim Simmerman-Sierra, HAA’s lead instructor. Recognized as Boyne’s protégé, Tim carries forward his legacy of excellence and innovation into our hypnotherapy education.
Dick Sutphen (1937-2020) Hypnotherapy Education
Pioneer of the Self-Help Movement
Dick Sutphen was a western Zen master teacher, hypnotherapist, and a trailblazer in the self-help movement. Unlike traditional teachers of Zen and esoteric wisdom, he lived the Western lifestyle—running a small business, raising a family, and navigating the challenges of modern life. This made Sutphen's teachings uniquely relatable and accessible, resonating deeply with those seeking practical tools for self-mastery.
Over the course of his career, more than 250,000 people attended Sutphen's seminars, workshops, and practitioner training courses. His programs were centered around empowering Westerners to achieve their potential by blending ancient Eastern teachings with actionable strategies for modern life.
A prolific author, Sutphen penned 24 books on self-help, spirituality, and human potential. His bestseller, You Were Born Again To Be Together (1976), sold over a million copies and solidified his status as a leading voice in personal transformation. Known as “America’s leading past-life therapist,” Sutphen conducted the first-ever nationally televised past-life regression therapy session on The David Susskind Show and made frequent appearances on programs like Good Morning America and The Phil Donahue Show.
Tim Simmerman-Sierra began studying with Sutphen in 1979 and attended his professional practitioner training course in 1989. Two decades later, Sutphen entrusted his legacy to Tim, passing on all rights to his training materials to inspire future generations of hypnotherapists.
In 2019, the International Board of Hypnotherapy, represented by its directors—Dr. Robert Sapien, Tim Simmerman-Sierra, and Ángela Simmerman-Sierra—honored Sutphen with the IBH Humanitarian Award for his lifetime of service to humanity. His teachings are now carried forward through the Hypnotherapy Academy of America hypnotherapy certification program and continue to transform lives.
Tim and Angela want you to benefit from Sutphen's extraordinary contribution to the field of hypnotherapy and enduring inspiration, offering you a legacy of tools for transformation, enlightening insights, and coaching techniques to help individuals achieve self-mastery and unlock their potential.
Dave Elman (1900-1967)
Dave Elman’s revolutionary contributions to hypnotherapy stemmed from his natural ability to observe human behavior and create practical, effective techniques. Without formal medical or psychological training, Elman developed rapid hypnotic inductions that enabled extraordinary states of consciousness, including hypnotic anesthesia. His methods laid the foundation for procedural hypnosis and advanced pain management techniques. Elman’s straightforward, results-oriented style of analytical hypnotherapy resonates throughout HAA’s curriculum. His innovative approach enables students to facilitate the rapid disappearance of long-standing symptoms, making him a cornerstone of modern hypnotherapy education.
Edgar Barnett, MD
Dr. Edgar A. Barnett began his medical career in England, practicing under the National Health Service before emigrating to Canada in 1966. There, he continued his work as a certified medical practitioner in Kingston, Ontario, where he served as Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at Kingston General and Hotel Dieu Hospitals, and lectured at Queen’s University.
In 1975, Dr. Barnett made a life-changing decision to transition from general practice to dedicate himself fully to analytical hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. His deep contributions to the field earned him leadership roles such as President of the Ontario Society of Clinical Hypnosis and Vice President of the American Board of Medical Hypnosis. He was also honored with a Diploma from the American Board of Medical Hypnosis and later elected Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
A gifted teacher and international lecturer, Dr. Barnett presented workshops across Canada, the UK, the USA, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, and Australia, and chaired a global hypnotherapy conference in Budapest, Hungary. In 2006, he introduced his innovative Rapid Reintegration Procedure (RRP)—a method praised for its clarity and effectiveness.
In 2013, Dr. Barnett served as keynote speaker for the International Board of Hypnotherapy Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his insight and gentle spirit left a lasting impact. In 2014, he entrusted the Hypnotherapy Academy of America with the rights to his book Analytical Hypnotherapy: Principles and Practice, cementing a cherished professional relationship built on mutual respect and dedication to high standards in clinical hypnotherapy education.
Dr. Barnett passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate care, scholarly contribution, and clinical excellence. His teachings continue to guide and inspire practitioners around the world.
Gerald Epstein, MD
Gerald Epstein, MD
Dr. Gerald N. Epstein, known lovingly to many as Dr. Jerry—was a trailblazer in integrative healthcare and a revered pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine. As a psychiatrist, he devoted his life to helping others reconnect with their innate power to heal, using the imagination as both compass and cure.
Long before it became widely accepted, Dr. Jerry recognized that the mind and body are reflections of one another, and that healing begins in the realm of thought, image, and intention.
His work was deeply shaped by his years of study under Madame Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem, where he was initiated into the therapeutic and sacred use of mental imagery. From that point forward, imagery became his primary tool for healing physical and emotional ailments, restoring balance, vitality, and connection to the soul.
Ángela Simmerman-Sierra, who met Dr. Jerry after her miraculous recovery under the care of Dr. Dulcey, became his lifelong student. Their bond was tender and true. In 2014, she introduced him to her husband, Tim Simmerman-Sierra, forming a meaningful triad rooted in healing, reverence, and shared purpose.
Dr. Jerry and Ángela affectionately called each other “Mi Corazón.”, and although he passed in 2019, his legacy lives on in her heart, her work and in the healing of thousands.
Joaquín Dulcey, MD, CMS-CHt, FIBH
Neurosurgeon • Holistic Practitioner • Associate Instructor
With a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Dulcey has shaped the landscape of healing by integrating the precision of neurosurgery with the power of the mind.
He earned his medical degree from Universidad del Cauca in Colombia and holds specializations in both Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Neurosurgery. He served as General Director and Chief Medical Director-Neurosurgeon at San José University Hospital in Popayan, Cauca. For 18 years, he served as Director of Neurosurgery at San Pedro Hospital in Pasto, Nariño.
His commitment to compassionate care led him to explore the mind-body connection, and he became a dedicated student of hypnotherapy, guided imagery, and holistic medicine. One of his greatest inspirations in this realm was Dr. Gerald Epstein, whose teachings on healing visualizations deeply resonated with him and informed much of his later work.
Now in his 88th year of age, Dr. Dulcey continues to offer pro-bono medical care and hypnotherapy, bringing his vast wisdom and soulful presence to those in need. His integrative approach and unwavering service have made him a quiet yet profound force in the evolution of modern hypnotherapy.
He remains a deeply respected Associate Instructor at the Hypnotherapy Academy of America, where he continues to inspire students and practitioners with his insight, humility, and enduring devotion to healing.
Ángela Simmerman-Sierra considers it one of her life’s greatest honors to carry forward the healing legacy of Dr. Dulcey.
Robert Dilts
Robert Dilts has been a central figure in the development of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) since its inception in 1975. A student and collaborator of John Grinder and Richard Bandler, he also studied personally with Milton H. Erickson, M.D., and Gregory Bateson, deeply shaping his systemic and humanistic approach.
His groundbreaking contributions include foundational models such as Neuro-Logical Levels, Sleight of Mouth Patterns, Belief Change Cycles, and Generative NLP—tools that have become essential in therapeutic, educational, and leadership contexts worldwide.
Robert has authored and co-authored numerous seminal works, including The Encyclopedia of Systemic NLP and NLP New Coding with Judith DeLozier.
In 2018, he received the Lifetime Contribution Award from the Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming (ANLP), recognizing his visionary impact on the field and his lifelong commitment to transformation.
Tim Simmerman-Sierra, Robert Dilts and Ángela Simmerman-Sierra
Judith DeLozier, Ángela Simmerman-Sierra, and Robert Dilts
Judith DeLozier and Ángela Simmerman-Sierra - 2013
Judith DeLozier
Judith DeLozier has been a beloved and influential presence in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming since 1975. As part of Grinder and Bandler’s original group, she helped shape the foundational models that have guided generations of NLP practitioners.
She co-authored The Encyclopedia of Systemic NLP and NLP New Coding with Robert Dilts, and has co-developed powerful applications of NLP in leadership, healthcare, and cross-cultural communication. In 2019, Judith received the NLP Lifetime Contribution Award—a heartfelt recognition of her decades of innovation, compassion, and service. Those who know Judith admire not only her brilliance, but also her warmth, humility, and deep love for animals, especially her loyal dog companion. Today, she continues to inspire awakenings through her collaborations with NLP trainers around the world.Ángela completed the Teacher Training with Robert Dilts and Judith DeLozier at NLP University, deepening her understanding of human behavior, communication, and transformation. Studying directly with two of the most influential figures in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming was a profoundly enriching experience that continues to influence her work today. Their teachings inspired her to integrate powerful models of change into both her therapeutic practice and her work as an instructor.
“If your imagination and your will are in conflict, your imagination will always win.”
— Émile Coué
Émile Coué (1857-1926)
Émile Coué was a French pharmacist and visionary whose work in the early 20th century laid the foundation for modern self-hypnosis and positive suggestion. He is best known for introducing the practice of conscious autosuggestion, a technique centered on the healing power of the mind and the repetition of positive affirmations.
His famous phrase—“Every day, in every way, I am becoming better and better”—became the hallmark of what came to be known as Couéism, a gentle yet powerful method of mental reprogramming that inspired countless healing and self-improvement practices to follow.
After years working as an apothecary in Troyes, Coué studied under hypnosis pioneers Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault and Hippolyte Bernheim, whose influence shaped his understanding of the mind’s role in healing.
In 1920, he established a clinic in Nancy, France, where he taught individuals how to heal themselves using the force of imagination and suggestion. Though he humbly claimed not to be a healer, Coué’s teachings empowered many to experience significant physical and emotional improvements.
His simple, practical approach continues to resonate today as a foundational influence in hypnotherapy, mental training, and holistic wellness.
Integral Hypnotherapy®: Building on a Legacy
Three decades ago, Tim Simmerman-Sierra, our Lead Instructor, synthesized the work of the above pioneers with insights from other leading experts in philosophical counseling, compassionate communication, human potential training, and the world’s perennial wisdom traditions. The result was Integral Hypnotherapy®, a comprehensive, evidence-based system for transformation and healing. This cutting-edge methodology empowers students to address a wide range of issues while fostering rapid, lasting change.
People from 36 countries and all 50 U.S. states have chosen HAA to master this approach, recognizing the Hypnotherapy Academy of America as a leader in professional hypnotherapy education.
Our mission is to ensure that every student leaves equipped with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make a profound difference in the lives of others.
We feel blessed and proud to preserve these great teachers' legacy.
Why Choose HAA?
HAA’s legacy is unmatched, offering students access to a curriculum shaped by the most influential hypnotherapy pioneers of the 20th century. By training at HAA, students gain:
Our work is deeply influenced by Dr. Gerald Epstein, whose teachings on mental imagery, the nature of consciousness, and the Western spiritual tradition helped Ángela with her own healing.
We are blessed to carry the influence of Dr. Joaquín Dulcey, neurosurgeon and hypnotherapist, whose understanding of the subconscious helped guide its creation.
And through it all, we have created a comprehensive, science-backed system, Integral Hypnotherapy®, that bridges the wisdom of the past with the needs of today.
Explore more about our hypnotherapy background and instructors:
2132 Osuna Rd. NE, Ste B
Albuquerque, NM 87113
505-767-8030
www.HypnotherapyAcademy.com
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