With so many hypnotherapists out there, how do you choose a hypnotherapist who is right for you?
This clear, concise guide to choosing a hypnotherapist may help, because it will tell you about some of the important things to look for when choosing a hypnotherapist.
The Right Kind of Hypnotherapy
Because the word ‘hypnotherapy’ is really an umbrella term that can refer to a wide range of different therapies, how do you know what sort of hypnotherapy is right for you?
Well, essentially, hypnotherapy can be broadly divided into two groups... the types of hypnotherapy that treat the ‘symptom’, and those that treat the ‘cause of the symptom’.
The types of hypnotherapy that treat the symptom (for example ‘suggestion therapy’), are generally thought of as more of a management of the symptom, whereas hypnotherapy that looks to resolve the root cause of a problem (such as Pure Hypnoanalysis for example) can help you to resolve the problem completely.
Testimonials
Testimonials shown on a website can give you a good insight into the quality of work carried out by a hypnotherapist, as they are, effectively, recommendations by previous clients.
However, when you are reading testimonials, you need to satisfy yourself as to their validity. Don’t always accept testimonials at face value... they only mean something if they are the genuine words of a previous client.
For example, all of the testimonials on this website are independently verifiable by the International Association of Pure Hypnoanalysts (IAPH). We also hold the original documents on file at our Cambridgeshire office.
The testimonials shown on a therapist's website should also respect the client’s confidentiality, and, in our opinion, any testimonials that give a client’s name or specific location for example, should also declare that the client has given permission for this information to be shown.
Therapist Training and Professional Associations
Because (at the time of writing) hypnotherapy is an unregulated form of therapy in the UK, the quality of hypnotherapy training varies widely. So how do you know if a hypnotherapist is properly trained?
One way, is to make sure the therapist is a member of a professional association that requires its members to:
- Abide by the code of ethics and / or code of practice of the association
- Achieve a specific level of training
- Undergo regular hands-on training wherever possible
- Commit to, and to maintain, a pre-defined level of ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (to make sure the therapist’s knowledge and skills are as up-to-date as possible)
- Hold professional indemnity insurance
- Maintain an adequate level of Professional Support as well as Personal Support (often known as ‘supervision’)
- Hold a current Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check (For more information on CRB checks, see http://www.crb.gov.uk/)
- Maintain the client’s confidentiality at all times
- Represent hypnotherapy in an accurate and realistic manner in promotional and advertising materials
Transparency & Clarity
Make sure the therapist (or the therapist’s website) makes everything perfectly clear.
- What sort of hypnotherapy do they use?
- What training have they had?
- Do they offer an initial consultation?
- Will it be a course of therapy, or a one off session?
- What are their qualifications?
- What professional body are they members of?
- What are their fees?
Rapport
Hypnotherapy is based on trust, rapport and the ‘good vibe’! - You need to satisfy yourself that you are comfortable with the therapist.
Contact the therapist:
- Do they respond quickly?
- Do they sound friendly?
- Are they informal (or formal) enough for you?
- Do they answer your questions?
At the end of the day, you’ll need to feel comfortable with your hypnotherapist, so that you be nice and relaxed during the sessions.
Location
Even if you get on well with the therapist over e-mail or on the phone, there will come a time when you’ll need to travel to meet them, so their location is important.
You also need to be sure that you are close enough to be able to see them fairly easily (especially important if it’s going to be a course of therapy).
If you feel comfortable with a particular therapist when talking to them over the phone or via e-mail, you may even feel it’s worth travelling a little bit further to see them.
Related Pages
- Pure Hypnoanalysis
- Suggestion Therapy
- Our Training
- Book a Free Initial Consultation
- Practice Locations
- Find a Therapist in Your Area
- Contact Us
Paul Douglass
Avon Hypnotherapy
Visit our hypnotherapy practices - Avon Hypnotherapy, Cambridgeshire, UK and North London
Find a hypnotherapist in your local area - Find a Hypnotherapist
Train to become a hypnotherapist - Hypnotherapy Training
Download hypnosis audio files to your PC, Mac or iPod - Hypnosis Downloads and our dedicated Hypnosis Downloads Website
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