Dr. Steven Gurgevich, with wife Jody and 2-year-old daughter Elise in tow, traveled from Gary, Indiana, to Tucson, Arizona, in 1969, with graduate school and a teaching job lighting the way. After working his way through Purdue University in local steel mills and gas stations, a nice clean teaching job sounded like heaven. So did the 80-degree winter temperatures.

Arizona agreed with the Gurgevich family, and Steven completed graduate school with two master's degrees, a doctorate and lots of teaching experience. He established his private practice, Behavioral Medicine, Ltd., in 1973, specializing in mind/body medicine, most particularly hypnotherapy. But Steven's interest in things hypnotic began long before he even thought about college.

"Steven Gurgevich is an effective and compassionate teacher and practitioner of hypnotherapy, someone who really understands how to take advantage of the mind/body connection to promote health and healing."     –Andrew Weil, MD

A 15-year-old Steven stopped to watch a radio broadcast one day on his way home from school. Separated from the on-air DJ by a glass partition, he was drawn to one of the guests, a hypnotist sporting a Vandyke beard and a long black cape. The hypnotist was telling the DJ how he could hypnotize anyone. Then, with a dramatic sweep of his hand, and a glaring stare of his penetrating eyes, he pointed at Steven and said, "I could even hypnotize HIM." With that, the now very frightened teenager ran all the way home. Once his fear subsided, his curiosity led him to the library, where he checked out several books on hypnosis, including "Medical Hypnosis" by Lewis Wolberg, MD He soon learned that hypnosis could help him overcome his fear of injections and accomplish dental procedures without anesthesia. Later, he would add more achievements to his hypnotic repertoire.

In 1984, Jody, Steven's wife, was diagnosed with scleroderma, a debilitating autoimmune disease. A rheumatologist told her she had only two years to live. The couple knew that eventually Jody would be disabled, so traveling became an important ingredient in their lives, with trips to Austria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Switzerland, Tahiti and Hawaii. Jody's disease did progress to a point where she lost most of the use of her hands and could no longer walk without assistance. Still, she refused most Western medicines and their horrific side effects, electing instead to use "alternative" medications and treatments. Those treatments included hypnotherapy for pain and well being. Outliving her prognosis by over a decade, Jody made her transition in 1996, just three months after she "walked" down the aisle at her beloved Elise's wedding.

Currently, Steven's professional life consists of a variety of projects. He is a member of the faculty at the University of Arizona's College of Medicine, where he is the Director of the Mind-Body Clinic and teaches mind/body medicine to physicians at Dr. Andrew Weil's Program In Integrative Medicine. He is a faculty member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and he also trains physicians at the Pediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine Center at the University of Arizona. His private practice, Behavioral Medicine, Ltd. (newly named, Sabino Canyon Integrative Medicine, LLC), begins its 33rd year in 2006 and continues to provide Steven with valuable clinical experience. Now, Tranceformation Works! becomes the newest member of the psychologist's extended professional "family."

Steven's 35 years worth of professional credentials are too numerous to list here, but you are encouraged to look at his curriculum vitae (resume) through the Credentials link.Steven's personal life now includes his wife, Joy, and her now 19 year old daughter, Maeve. Joy and Steven married on August 4, 2000. In additon to practicing together at Sabino Canyon Integrative Medicine, they also work together at the Program in Integrative Medicine. They live by Sabino Canyon National Park, where they tend to their organic garden and holistic home.You can read more about Joy at the Joy of Food page on this website.

Our children include Dr. G's daughter, Elise Gurgevich, PhD, son-in-law Donald Butts, and grandson, Demetri. Joy's children are: Matt Shaughnessy and his wife, Connie, and grandson's Christian and Luca; Brennan Shaughnessy; Meghann Shaughnessy (yes, the professional tennis player); and Maeve Shaughnessy.

To read an interview with Steven at Sounds True... click here.

Rememberance... Always With Us
This website was born of a creative partnership with Lotus Perez. Our Precious Lotus passed away on January 7, 1999, unexpectedly. She was widely respected as an accomplished and brilliant editor/writer. And she was a wonderful friend. Lotus is greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. She remains here with us in Spirit… and in our hearts always. S.G.

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