Choosing a Hypnotherapist

This article assumes that you have decided to go for hypnotherapy to sort something out, and seeks to answer the question, "How do you select an appropriate hypnotherapist?"

...a little extra effort shopping around for the right hypnotherapist will pay dividends...

Professional Body

You should check with prospective hypnotherapists that they belong to a reputable professional body with a code of conduct and a complaints procedure.

Unfortunately, there is a bewildering array of professional bodies and qualifications for hypnotherapy.

In recognition of this, the government set up the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC).

This body has specified minimum qualifications, and has a code of conduct and a complaints procedure.

If you are thinking of seeing a hypnotherapist, make sure that they have GHSC accreditation as a minimum: the letters 'GHR' will appear on the literature of a registered practitioner, and if they are a validated practitioner, the letters 'GHSC' should be quoted.

Word of Mouth

Having said all that, word of mouth is probably the most effective way, as long as you can talk directly to the person that went to see the hypnotherapist - don't rely on third-hand information.

Warmth and Respect

Beware of the hypnotherapist with the one-size-fits-all approach; rather, look for someone that treats you as an individual, with warmth and respect.

Quality of the Therapeutic Relationship

Qualifications and experience are important aspects to consider. However, the crucial factor is the quality of the relationship you have with your hypnotherapist; improvement is much more likely to take place if the therapeutic relationship is right.

In order for hypnotherapy to work, you need an approachable hypnotherapist that will hear what you have to say, identify with your concerns, provide insights, tools and techniques to help you move forward, and keep you safe from harm.

Of course, you can't tell whether you will have a good therapeutic relationship until you actually meet your hypnotherapist...

The Initial Appointment

The first appointment is an opportunity for you and the hypnotherapist to get to know enough about each other so that you both can make an initial feasibility assessment. The hypnotherapist needs to decide whether they have the skills to deal with the issues you are presenting, and you need to make a decision about the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

This doesn't mean that the hypnotherapist is not working hard - sometimes one session is all that is required for fundamental improvements to happen, and, with all this in mind, the hypnotherapist will often charge you for the initial appointment.

Hypnotherapists should be open and trustworthy. They should be able to put you at your ease within minutes of meeting them. The hypnotherapist should be the sort of person to whom you might be prepared to confide anything. You should find the hypnotherapist easy to talk to, even if you are a person of few words.

By the end of the initial appointment, you should know:

• how much the hypnotherapist charges
• a little about how hypnotherapy works
• what to expect when you are hypnotised
• the duration of the sessions
• if more than one session is planned, how many sessions will be required, how frequently you will meet and when reviews will take place.

Making a Decision

You are now in an excellent position to make a decision about the hypnotherapist, and I suggest that you consider the following questions. The list might seem a little daunting at first sight, but don't be put off – seeing a hypnotherapist can allow you to make fundamental and far-reaching changes to your life in a short space of time:

To summarise, make sure that the hypnotherapist is qualified and experienced, and belongs to a professional body with a code of conduct and a complaints procedure. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is paramount, and a little extra effort shopping around for the right hypnotherapist will pay dividends in the long term.

Happy hunting!