What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?

When looking through adverts for hypnotherapists, you may see the term ‘clinical hypnotherapy’. That sounds quite grand, but what is it exactly?

Sometimes the term is simply used as a definition for ‘professional hypnotherapy’ but it’s usually seen as a little more than that. In Germany, it is illegal for hypnotherapists to try to treat anything medical, such as cancer or IBS, however in the UK there is no such distinction and so clinical Hypnotherapy is sometimes seen as ‘what we wouldn’t be allowed to do in other countries’.

The Institute of Clinical Hypnosis defines clinical Hypnotherapy as Hypnotherapy used for therapy. In other words, when hypnosis is used for anything other than confidence, relaxation and perhaps past life regression.

Hypnotherapists themselves sometimes prefer to call themselves clinical hypnotherapists as they believe it sounds more professional and will attract clients, although others hold the view that ‘clinical hypnotherapy’ perhaps sounds too ‘medical’ and may put clients off.

So the answer to the question seems to be that there is no defined answer, although it appears that the general view amongst hypnotherapists may agree with that of the Institute of Clinical Hypnosis.

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