Top 10 tips for choosing the right hypnotherapist for you

Research. Do your research into the different types of hypnotherapy, then decide which type you feel best matches your requirements. The main types are suggestion, clinical (this tends to be the most integrative type of hypnotherapy which draws on a range of psychological approaches), psychoanalytic and cognitive behavioural.

Some therapists specialise in regression work addressing past issues as far back as your childhood and other therapists stick to how you are currently thinking and feeling in the here and now (cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy). Some hypnotherapists also have other skills and qualifications which they can draw on such as life coaching and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). 

Tip 1

Tip 2

Compare hypnotherapists websites for a detailed explanation of what they cover or specialise in as well as the age group of clients they work with. Some specialise in working with young people and others may have enhanced training with a certain category such as emotional trauma, pain or the virtual gastric band etc.

Tip 3

Ask them about their qualifications and find out which professional body they belong to. The largest professional bodies are the NCH (National Council For Hypnotherapy) and the GHR (General Hypnotherapy Register). Look out for the CNHC Logo on their details. This means they are a member of the Complementary Natural Healthcare Council. The key function of the CNHC is to enhance public protection by setting nationally agreed standards for registration.

You can rest assured that if a person is a member of the CNHC they have been trained to a high nationally recognised standard and adhere to a high code of ethics and practice. Look out for certain letters after a hypnotherapists name such as the HPD, and Acc, this indicates a higher and more senior level of qualification and professional practice.

Tip 4

Listen to your potential therapist's voice on the phone when you first get in touch. Does their voice sound soothing to you? Could you listen to it for 45 minutes? For many hypnotherapists, their voice is their greatest tool.

Tip 5

Ask about fees, these will vary greatly, usually with the more experienced therapists charging more. You can also expect to pay more the further in towards Central London you go. This is usually due to a higher outlay of costs for the therapist. Remember your session is just a part of what the fee covers; it also covers administration and research/preparation time of your session as well as note keeping once the session has finished.

Tip 6

Ask how many sessions you are likely to need. This can vary greatly too, so do your sums as it can prove to be more costly in the long run if you see a cheap therapist for double the amount of sessions. The average number you may be told is between five and six or up to 12 for longer-term intensive work.

Tip 7

Look out for reviews or articles written about or by the therapist that interest you and recommendations such as those that appear on yell.com. These are written by past patients and can give an accurate representation of value for money, depth of experience and final outcome or treatment etc.

Tip 8

Word of mouth or recommendation is always a good way to find a local therapist, perhaps you know of someone who has experienced it or you can visit a local medical or complementary clinic to find out if there is someone suitable practising there who may be able to help you.

Tip 9

Speak to your GP. Your GP will have a list of highly qualified hypnotherapists provided by the CNCH for you to get in touch with. They may even be willing to cover the cost of your treatment.

Tip 10

Listen to your inner voice, if you feel during your first session that your therapist is asking you the right sort of questions and you feel comfortable opening up to them then this is a good sign. If you don't feel comfortable, go ahead and say so, there are plenty of excellent therapists out there who all work slightly differently within their own sphere of competence, it's about finding the right one for you.