What would you like to know about hypnotists? Every profession has facts that are important to know prior to accessing the service. Hypnotherapy can empower people to make changes and feel better in life. Hypnotherapy can help with to let go of anxiety, habits, fears and phobias such as public speaking and much more.
But if you are thinking about buying a service like hypnotherapy there are a few things you might be interested in.
When looking for a service, you want the best you can get. Also, you want to know how the service works, but most of all you want to know if it will suit you and your needs. Ultimately, you want it to be safe, fast and effective.
Let’s think of another service for a moment.
Let’s say you want to buy a new car. Most people would shop around or get recommendations. Some of the features that might be important are safety levels, rear parking sensors or fuel economy. So you know that if you buy that car with all the features you want plus additional benefits you will be able to get a sense of satisfaction, you will feel safe and love that driving experience while also thinking that your money was well spent.
When we buy a car we know that there are lots on the market so it’s about gathering information to make the right choices for you.
So if you are feeling stressed, have a physical or emotional problem and want to change hypnotherapy can help. It’s a service that you want to meet your needs just like any other service, it needs to be right for you.
But most people know very little about hypnotherapy or hypnotists.
The purpose of this blog is to provide you with some additional information when seeking a hypnotist.
Here are some interesting things to consider when choosing a hypnotist.
- Hypnotists can have other helping careers or can be lay hypnotists
- Hypnotists subscribe to voluntary regulation
- Hypnotist’s training will vary
- Most UK hypnotists are a member of a professional membership organisation.
- Some hypnotists provide a therapy service while others use hypnosis in entertainment
- Some hypnotists only use hypnosis while others use it as an integrative tool with other therapies.
- Some hypnotists work for the National Health System, many work privately
- Some hypnotists specialise and some are generalists
- Hypnotist’s fees vary
So let’s explain this further.
Hypnotists may have other helping careers or be lay hypnotists
Some hypnotists come from other helping professions, for example, a doctor, nurse or psychologist. They may use hypnotherapy as a tool to enhance their primary way of helping.
Other hypnotists have had other careers prior to training as a hypnotist. They may come from sales or management, and they may be a librarian or a teacher or a fireman, anything you can think of. It doesn’t matter because they decided that they wanted to help people, so they chose to learn hypnotism through a training school and can also provide a service. Lay hypnotists often practice hypnosis as a standalone complementary therapy but have key transferrable skills that can assist them and the client.
Whatever a hypnotist is or was, they can all bring different experiences and skills that can help.
Hypnotists subscribe to voluntary regulation
In the UK professions can be regulated in different ways. Professions either have statutory or voluntary regulation. Doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and many other healthcare professionals adhere to statutory regulation.
This means that they have a certain standard of training, they are monitored and are on a register. No one can call themselves a medical doctor or nurse unless they have the correct training and are on a statutory register.
On the other hand, there are many professions that are considered unregulated or adhere to a voluntary register. There are many views on whether regulation is good or bad for professions like counselling and hypnotherapy.
However, it does not follow inevitably that compulsory and centralised statutory regulation
is the most effective or efficient way of ensuring high quality care. (Enabling Excellence 2011).
Most UK hypnotists sign up for voluntary regulation and this happens through professional membership. Professions that are part of a voluntary regulation also have standards and are monitored, but it isn’t mandatory for all hypnotists to join these organisations.
Hypnotherapists and the public are protected by the Professional Standards Authority. See their checklist. Several professional membership organisations belong to this body.
Hypnotist’s training will vary
In the UK hypnotherapy training should be 450 hours and include formal assessment and practice. 165 hours of this will include direct learning. In England and Wales, this qualification is equivalent to a minimum level 4. This level was set by Skills for Health, an independent agency. UK training follows the UK National Occupational Standards and this curriculum is reviewed by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
Often professional bodies offer additional accreditation to hypnotherapy training.
It is also possible to learn about hypnosis through colleges and a few universities. The NCFE credit qualifications in hypnosis training by colleges.
However, it is also possible to get good training from another country with different standards, and it is also possible that some training does not meet UK professional standards.
Supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) is an essential addition to training.
Most UK hypnotists are a member of a professional body
Although not compulsory many hypnotists belong to a national or international hypnotist professional membership organisation. Being a member means that hypnotists are required to have a certain level of initial training, have ongoing supervision, a certain number of additional training sessions (CPD) and insurance. They are also expected to work to a code of ethics.
Anyone can check that a hypnotist is registered as a member of a professional body. UK organisations include the National Hypnotherapy Society, and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council(CNHC).
Some hypnotists provide a therapy service while others use hypnosis in entertainment
This is often where people get confused or sceptical about the service. Some hypnotists use hypnosis in entertainment and others for helping people as a therapy to help them change.
Some hypnotists are specifically trained in stage hypnosis but most in the UK are trained as therapists. Furthermore, many hypnotherapists are also counsellors, psychotherapists or psychologists or are trained to integrate good communication skills.
Some hypnotists only use hypnosis, while others use it as an integrative tool with other therapies
Hypnotherapists use hypnosis in different ways. Some use it as a standalone therapy and some use it as a tool to integrate it with other complementary therapies or in healthcare. Hypnosis is often used with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It can also be used with the Emotional freedom technique (EFT) which is often called tapping therapy.
Some approaches are very research and evidence-based and others may have a transpersonal approach considering a spiritual way of dealing with problems.
Even the delivery of hypnosis can vary between hypnotists. It’s possible to use direct or classical approaches or indirect and Ericksonian approaches. No one approach is better.
Some hypnotists work for the National Health Service
Although you will find some hypnotherapist working in NHS hospitals most work as private practitioners. Hypnotherapists can be found working in the NHS with cancer patients, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, preparation for childbirth and stopping smoking, Doctors, dentists and psychologist may also use hypnosis.
Private practitioners can offer face to face appointments or appointments online. (Usually via Zoom or Skype). Sometimes NHS doctors refer to private hypnotherapists.
Some hypnotists are generalists and some are specialists
Hypnotists train to help with lots of different problems. It’s always important for assessment to the individual’s needs.
Some hypnotists specialise. This could be in anything from stopping smoking to anxiety relief, sports performance and pain relief for childbirth.
Hypnotist’s fees vary
How much does hypnotherapy cost? This is a commonly asked question. Currently, fees for hypnotherapy in the Uk may start from around £50 for a session but most charge more.
But just like any profession, a hypnotists fees can vary. Moreover, it’s often not the best measure of the service to compare fees as some therapists provide packages of care rather than payment by the session. There can be additional benefits to the packages such as audio recordings.
The duration of the sessions will also vary as a session could be an hour, 90 minutes or longer. The number of sessions required will also vary according to the problem.
You should also consider the hypnotist’s experience, additional qualifications and specialities.
In addition, there are access costs to consider. If you access hypnotherapy in the therapist’s office then there are travelling or parking fees that will add to the overall cost.
But how much will it cost you to continue with the problem?
It’s easy to work out the cost of a packet of cigarettes a day if you are a smoker, but there are also costs incurred to having health and relationship problems or taking time off work.
Finally, just like buying that car, you can ask for recommendations and request a complimentary consultation where you can ask questions before purchasing the services. But remember you are getting more than a car or a hypnotist when you invest, you are getting an experience and your needs met.
If you want to know more interesting things about hypnotist’s or hypnotherapy, just ask.
Linda Witchell is a hypnotherapist, counsellor, coach, supervisor and trainer. Contact Linda to find out more.
