Finding a Hypnotherapist or Counsellor

It is important to choose a properly trained, reputable qualified and competent hypnotherapist & the following guidance can help you:

Skills and Competence 

Make sure that the Hypnotherapist belongs to one of the main hypnotherapy organisations. I recommend Hypnotherapy Society (HS), National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), and Association for Professional Hypnosis & Psychotherapy (APHP) - under Terence Watts who wrote “Warriors Settlers & Nomads” . This is a brilliant book on personality typing, helping you resolve any difficulties you may have with other personality types, available from Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1899836489/qid%3D1148479654/026-4914440-7076405

When choosing a Counsellor or Psychotherapist it is best to use similar criteria; ensuring that they belong to one of the main Counselling organisations such as the Counselling Society or, again the APHP.

All the above organisations all have similar minimum requirements from their members: a recognised qualification including 150 hours classroom study, professional insurance, ongoing face-to-face supervision and further training.

Each one has a published list of therapists on its web site (click on the above links) so choose your therapist from these to be safe.

I don't recommend choosing a therapist who has simply qualified from an internet or correspondence course. 

The therapist should carry an up to date certificate of professional insurance covering hypnotherapy.

If you are seeing a therapist in their own home, make sure it looks professional and you are not going to be disturbed.

It is not always possible to predict the exact number of sessions but the therapist should make a plan of treatment for your condition in your first consultation.

Personal Qualities 

Good therapists will: 

• always be in the same pleasant mood, and genuinely interested in how you feel. Make sure that you feel comfortable with them & that you feel they are on your side.
• always take a medical history and will not treat you if there are any contraindications, including early pregnancy.
• request your GP’s permission to treat you if there are any other medical problems you are receiving treatment for.

Beware the therapist that:

• evades questions about their training, experience or certificates.
• keeps leading you during therapy i.e. putting ideas in your mind that are not your own, or pushing you to 'solutions' you don't recognise.
• suggests a sexual relationship, either verbally or otherwise.
• encourages a social relationship or friendship outside of the consulting room.

Free Advice

If you would like more information about anything here, please email me & I’ll try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

Updated 07/05/10