How To Choose A Hypnotherapy Course

If you want to train as a hypnotherapist, there are many Hypnotherapy courses and training organisations to choose from.  It’s easy to get confused and feel frustrated.  At Hypnotherapy Info, we aren’t affiliated to any one particular organisation but we can give you our top tips for what to look for:

Hypnotherapy, not Stage Hypnosis

Make sure that the course teaches Hypnotherapy and not stage hypnosis, if you want to help people.  The course will probably include an explanation of stage hypnosis because you will have to explain the difference to many of your patients.

Accreditation

Check the course is accredited by an external organisation.  Check with that organisation to discover what the guidelines and standards are.  There is no governing body for hypnotherapists in the UK, yet.

Interview/Appraisal

Most institutions will want to meet you before enrolling on a course to ensure you are the right type of person.  Be honest about any personal issues you might have.  Very few issues will prevent your enrolment but the organisation needs to be sure that the course is safe for you.

Number Of Hours

As part of the accreditation, the minimum length of training or number of hours is probably specified.  Do not expect to become a hypnotherapist in just a few weekends.

Classroom Based

Never enrol on a correspondence course.  You need practical training, with trainers who can listen to you, give you tips and answer any questions you might have.  You need to be able to practice in a safe environment under instruction.  Of course, there is theory behind the practice and you are likely to have homework and assignments.

Instructors

Who will be teaching you?  Find out their experience and background.  You don’t want to find you’re being taught by someone who has just qualified from a course themselves and has only been in practice two weeks themselves.  Instructors need to be able to draw on a wide range of case examples and history.

Supervision

It is helpful to ensure that you can get some one to one time with your tutor, during which you can go through any material you may be struggling with.  Similarly, once the course has finished, it is useful if they offered continued support and supervision once you start practice.  Nobody has ever left a course knowing everything they need to know.

Testimonials

Many brochures and websites offer testimonials, but it is difficult to find out how genuine they are or if they are genuine, how do you know if they are simply from the friends and family of the instructors?  Ask to speak to past students so you can find out exactly what you need before enrolling

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Check what courses are on offer once you have qualified.  It is important to keep up to date with new developments and techniques, and also to keep fresh.  It is easy to get into a rut when in practice, using the same techniques, perhaps forgetting the odd useful item.  CPD also gives you the chance to meet other hypnotherapists and exchange ideas.

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