Hypnotherapy

"Some recommendations on how you can find a good hypnotherapist."

Hypnosis can be a very powerful technique, even for those who don't necessarily appreciate many of the other things which may be going on during a session (hence, with someone with the necessary basic skills, a little knowledge can seem to go a long way).

However, think about the subtleties of words, and the hidden meanings that can often be accompanied with them (ie that someone with paranoia may pick up on).
Imagine talking to a child when they're feeling very vulnerable, and the impact a throw away comment said in frustration may have on their character and development.
Consider the situation of an adult woman, suddenly recalling childhood abuse that she’d learnt to ‘forget’ because she couldn’t deal with the impact on her life, just because the hypnotist had asked her to recall a time when she was….

Whilst 'under hypnosis' your mind is highly sensitive, your imagination expanded, your clarity and focus is highly developed, and the two hemispheres of your brain can virtually work as one helping your mind to become immensely more powerful (hence the success of hypnotic techniques for so many conditions, and why it’s also really great for exam revision!). However, while in this ‘hypnotic state’ your vulnerability is also heavily exaggerated. Hence anyone present with you in the room at the time must be so careful, and so professional in everything they do during that time and from then afterwards.

A wrong word, the wrong use of language, a mixed message you may not have picked up on, or the remembrance of an earlier time that would rather be forgotten, can have profound effects for all the wrong reasons on a client.

Thankfully the government is taking slow steps to regulate this area (with a few minor rules already established for stage hypnosis), and there are a few 'governing bodies' already established in this sector (with a variety of ‘selection’ criteria), but it's still a long way off before reaching the same stage of regulation seen in other sectors.

Some of the more famous names from the stage are often running huge, highly expensive group training in hypnosis, for a couple of hundred people at a time: Having read details of such ‘training courses’ and learnt more about the accreditation received, it concerns me greatly to say the least.

So please, if you are going to see personally, or communicate with (for the purpose of a session) someone calling themselves a hypnotist/hypnotherapist or someone offering hypnotic sessions. Please first get recommendations from friends or family (as most therapists should normally be unable to provide references or statements from previous clients for reasons of client confidentiality, even with client consent).

Some people are naturally easier to hypnotise than others, although some may also be much easier to hypnotise by one hypnotist, far more than by another. All sessions need a basis of firm trust and mutual respect for it to ‘work’, although with online sessions, many of your natural intuitive safety guards may not be able to work as well so it may seem easier in some regards.

If attending a professional session, some other questions you may wish to ask (if a recommendation is not forthcoming) include:

• Find out who the person qualified with
• How long that training program lasted
• How many hours one to one training they received
• How many supervised sessions they provided as part of the session.
• How many case studies they had to demonstrate.
• How many trainers they’ve worked with whilst learning.
• You should also ask for a copy of their public liability insurance (normally for a million pounds or more).
• Find out how is responsible for them (either a governing body, or mentor type person), ie should you wish to lodge a complaint against them. Should they not have a formal complaints procedure that doesn’t go beyond ‘getting your money back’, steer clear.
• You can also ask how often they attend further training (CPD) and with whom they train.
• Ask how many clients they’ve had to date, and how many clients they see a week on average.
• How long they keep client records for (should be 5 years or more).
• How many sessions it typically takes to ‘solve’ a particular problem (anything more than around 6 could be an indication of the wrong motives).
• And of course how much each session costs!
• Golden rule… If you are in any niggling doubts whatsoever, steer well clear.

If you do have any queries not answered in the above points, please do let me know.

More information about finding a great Hypnotherapist can now be found on the following website:

http://www.therapyacademy.com/howtofindagreat/hypnotherapist.html

Contact me now.