people about hypnotherapy and how it’ s just the facilitation of that internal process that supports what the client wants to accomplish, whether it was smoking cessation or dealing with pain or anxiety issues.
“ I worked with children and adults. One of my best experiences was as a volunteer, leading guided relaxation and meditation classes at the Senior Center. It’ s something I look forward to resuming later on after I retire.”
According to younger sister Sheila Tobin,“ One year when I had qualified for the Boston Marathon and Maureen was practicing hypnotherapy, I confessed to being nervous about the race. She took me through some guided visualization sessions that we tape-recorded. I reviewed the tapes daily, right up to the day of the race, and I ran my best marathon ever.”
Celebrating Life Together
“ Maureen is the go-to person in my life for serious things, but she knows how to let go and have fun,” Sheila said.“ I was coming up on my 50th birthday, which happens to be the day before the Fourth of July, and I said to Maureen,‘ I always wanted to have a parade.’ For my birthday, she threw me a party and surprised me by creating my very own parade, with music, guests carrying streamers and horns, the works.
The newest member of Maureen’ s family is her dog, Sophie, a rescue that she discovered at the San Martin Animal Shelter.
“ When I took this 6-month-old puppy home, she was timid and shy,” Maureen said.“ She quickly became more like Marley, from the movie. A trainer came and worked with us. I’ d been doing everything wrong, and I learned a lot. Now we’ re doing just fine.”
Maureen’ s son Ryan, who works in Quality Assurance at Apple, said Maureen has always encouraged him to do his best. Especially during transition times like heading off to college.
“ At times like that she’ s always supportive and a big proponent of positive thinking,” Ryan said.“ She showed us how to balance work and home life and set healthy boundaries.
“ She’ s big on holiday celebrations, which was fun growing up. Halloween at our house was full-on crazy decorations including tombstones in our front yard and mom dressed up as a witch. Every year at Christmas we go to a tree farm, cut down a tree, and have some hot chocolate. Then we take it home, decorate it and have some laughs doing a white elephant gift exchange.”
Daughter Lauren graduated from Cal Poly this year and now works for her sorority’ s national organization on the campus at Yale University. She describes her mother as a great role model.
“ She has showed me that a woman can have power and do anything she sets her mind to. I know I got my sense of determination from her. Sometimes life can bring disappointment or setbacks, but she always finds the silver lining.”
When you talk to people whose lives intersect with Maureen’ s, you can’ t help but see glimmers of the Tobin Touch everywhere.
“ Maureen is the go-to person in my life for serious things, but she knows how to let go and have fun.”
Sister Sheila Tobin
Her Playfulness
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 gmhtoday. com