When choosing the best hypnotherapist for you, there are many factors to consider. Some of these include the type of services offered, location and experience of the therapist. But most crucially of all, do they hold the relevant qualifications to be practising their chosen discipline?
If you have any questions about what kind of sessions your hypnotherapist will be offering, an excellent place to start is to ask them! Most decent therapists will provide a free telephone consultation so that you can find out as much as you can about their services before making a decision.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
There are many benefits of using hypnotherapy. Primarily, hypnotherapy can treat many issues in a much shorter time frame than other therapies. This can make it far more cost-effective in the long run.
Most good hypnotherapists will also provide bespoke audio to listen to, which can be a powerful resource for continuing your improvements between sessions.
What is Hypnotherapy Used For?
Hypnotherapy can be used for a variety of conditions and problems. Some common examples of what hypnotherapy can help with include:
- Treating addiction
- Improving confidence
- Overcoming negative thoughts and anxieties
- Releasing depression, anxiety, or other emotions that have been holding you back
Tips To Find The Best Hypnotherapist For You
So, what are some ways to find the best hypnotherapist for you? Here are some tips on choosing the right one:
1) Find someone who is qualified in treating your issue. All hypnotherapists in the U.K are required to hold the HPD – Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma. This is the very minimum requirement for someone to practice hypnotherapy professionally in the U.K. If they don’t hold this certificate, hang up the phone and move on!
2) Are they supervised? Newly trained hypnotherapists are required to be in contracted supervision for the first 3 years of practice. After that time, most hypnotherapists voluntarily choose to remain under supervision, but it is no longer a legal requirement.
If your chosen therapist has been practising for less than 3 years and is not supervised, hang up, and move on!
3) Once a hypnotherapist has gained their HPD, they will want to join a member body to show that they uphold the very highest standards of healthcare professionalism.
To join these organisations, a hypnotherapist has to prove that not only do they hold the HPD, but they are currently supervised and they are professionally insured.
By joining these organisations, your hypnotherapist is proving that they adhere to a strict code of ethics, meaning they will be providing you with the best care they possibly can.
There are many member bodies for a therapist to join, but I will outline the ones I think are most important.
(If you are reading this video outside of the U.K., it will be good to research the equivalent organisations in your own country!)
Some Hypnotherapy Organisations That The Best Hypnotherapists Should Be A Member Of
NCH (National Council of Hypnotherapy)
All hypnotherapists in training will have to become a member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy (NCH). It is the only organisation that can offer the HPD certificate, via the Northern Council of Further Education.
When a therapist has earned this qualification, they are legally allowed to practice hypnotherapy, as long as they are insured and under contracted supervision.
Once a therapist had earned their qualification, membership is voluntary.
CNHC The Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council
The CNHC is an organization that aims to provide the industry standard when it comes to complementary and natural healing. It was set up in 2008 in conjunction with the government’s Department of Health (DoH). so that the public would know that registered practitioners were meeting the highest possible standards of practice.
All CNHC hypnotherapy registered users will have completed a thorough set of examinations in order to become certified. Registrants are also bound by a very strict Code of Ethics, ensuring you will always be working with someone who meets the highest possible standards (in the U.K).
QCHPA (Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapy Practitioner Association)
QCHPA is a certified hypnotherapy training school specialising in Cognitive Hypnotherapy. They offer a variety of services, including individual sessions, therapist training and workshops. If someone claims to be a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, they should ideally be a member of the QCHPA.
What is Cognitive Hypnotherapy?
Cognitive hypnotherapy is one of the more popular variations of hypnotherapy. The goal of cognitive hypnotherapy is to help you uncover the thoughts and feelings that are stopping you from moving forward in life. This type of treatment is highly effective because it involves not only your conscious mind but also your subconscious mind, giving you a chance to address those deep-seated beliefs that have been keeping you from living a happy life.
Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapy is also the only hypnotherapy organisation in the U.K. that has an ongoing research study into its effectiveness.
Quest Institute
The Quest Institute is possibly the best hypnotherapy training school (although I am biased!).
Here, therapists are trained to help clients work through past trauma and learn to live with a healthier self-image that is conducive to a happier life. You can even learn how to live more creatively so that future challenges can be overcome with flexibility.
The Quest Institute can be a great place to start your journey towards recovery. You can find their Therapist Finder here: https://www.qchpa.com/therapist-finder/#!directory/map/ord=rnd
How Well Does Hypnosis Work? Research
In a preliminary study of Cognitive Hypnotherapy, 71% of patients reported recovery after an average of six sessions. This is opposed to 42% of patients who used other talk therapies, such as CBT.
This research uses the same measures as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services (IAPT) to verify the efficacy of Cognitive Hypnotherapy.
Positive suggestions and reconnecting you to the resources you already have can provide these outcomes rapidly, enabling you to make long-lasting improvements that will give you greater happiness, freedom, and fulfilment in your life.
Because of this, Cognitive Hypnotherapy treats individuals rather than labels, unlike the majority of other therapies.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/MHRJ-08-2014-0030
How To Choose A Hypnotherapist: Conclusion
The process of finding a hypnotherapist is similar to finding any other professional practitioner. You can start by asking friends or family who they recommend. Or by Googling to see if there are any recommended practitioners near you.
When you find someone suitable, it’s best to ask them directly if they specialise in any particular area, and what their qualifications are. Make sure they hold the HPD certificate and are insured and remember to ask what professional bodies they are a member of.
It can sometimes be useful to follow a therapist on social media for a while. This helps you get a sense of who they are, and if you feel they are the right person for you.
Finally, it’s important that you feel comfortable with the practitioner as well as their methods. Most hypnotherapists will be happy to chat over the phone or by email to answer your questions. After all, your life and your well-being are what is most important here, so never feel embarrassed to ask as many questions as you like!
If you would like to know about how hypnotherapy, please feel welcome to call me at 0208 789 0992, or contact me HERE.
