Beware January Hypnosis Rip Offs
January 21, 2008
January is the time when we all make our new year resolutions about losing weight, overcoming phobias or quitting smoking and for many, hypnosis is one avenue they may explore. For this reason, January is probably the busiest time of year for many hypnotherapists.
However, you should watch out for quick fix, rip off hypnotists, who promise they can fix anything you desire in just one hypnosis session. Many people have already tried so many methods before they turn to hypnosis that they are desperate, and January is the perfect time for rip off merchants to come out of hiding.
Be wary of hypnotists who promise guaranteed results within a guaranteed amount of time. No good hypnotherapist can guarantee results – in the same way that no doctor can guarantee a cure. Hypnosis can appear to be magical at times, but it isn’t.
Look for reputable hypnotherapists who is registered with one of the major organisations. They don’t have to do it full time to be reputable, but they should be keeping up to date using Continuing Professional Development and be practicing regularly, not just for January!
Quick fix hypnotists give the hypnotherapy profession a bad name, giving people the wrong impression and stopping people from getting real help
I must take issue with your advice to keep clear of hypnotists who offer guaranteed weighloss, and only to use those hypnotherapists who do not belong to a national organisation,
I offer a no-quibble money back guarantee on our weight loss programmes. I can tell you now that if you follow our programme you will weigh less than you did when you started. Hypnosis is not a treatment, it is a delivery mechanism and should be used in conjuction with other therapies that manage identified problems using a holistic approach.
With regard to membership of a national body, please could you recommend a national body that gives benefits hypnotherapists apart from emptying your wallet each year and has a nationally recognised method of assessing the qualification of its members and delivering facilities for continued professional development and supervision.
Hi Robert
I think hypnotists that guarantee weight loss from their hypnosis is the issue, not companies who offer a complete programme where hypnosis is part of the treatment. I agree hypnosis is not a treatment by itself, but many hypnotherapists offer just a ‘weight loss’ hypnotherapy session where they guarantee you will lose weight – and don’t put it in the proper context that you do have to combine it with some sort of healthy plan whether that’s a healthy eating plan, exercise plan or a complete holistic approach such as the one you offer.
As to the national bodies, Hypnotherapy Info isn’t affiliated with anyone so I hesitate to recommend any in particular and would struggle to find one that offers everything we should have! I agree there are many that simply take your money and offer little in return – a newsletter if you’re lucky. It’s a shame there’s no nationally recognised body. We do recommend hypnotherapists register with at least one and to make sure that the organisation insists upon supervision and CPD. You’ll see this through several of our articles.