Choosing Hypnotist

Selecting a Hypnotist

by: Paul Gustafson RN BSN CH

A good direction to take when looking for a qualified hypnotherapist is to find someone who is also a licensed healthcare provider such as a physician, registered nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist or a social worker. These individuals are educated and certified in their field and are more likely able to offer professional quality care.

You should also ask your primary physician for a referral. Although most doctors know very little about hypnosis it is a good base to cover and they may just surprise you with a referral. Another resource might be holistic health centers, where there are usually several modalities of holistic practitioners under one roof.

Online you can use sites like superpages.com which offer searches based on the category and distance from your home. From there you can research websites, office rates, qualifications and also get a feel for their level of professionalism, at least as it is presented on the internet.

From the initial phone conversation with a prospective hypnotherapist you should be able to gauge if they are generally interested in your concerns, how long they have been in business and what their qualifications are. You might ask if they are affiliated with any particular organizations. There are many reputable governing organizations which have their own code of ethics. An example would be The National Guild of Hypnotists.

You should also ask if the sessions will be specific to your needs and if you will be receiving a recording of the session for home reinforcement. Many hypnotherapists do not record the sessions and only offer a generic reinforcement tape while others offer nothing at all.

Also ask if they will teach you how to self-induce hypnotic trance which is a great way to help you own the process even more and it also helps you to become an independent practitioner giving you the opportunity to add new control and freedom to other areas of your life all on your own.

Another helpful question is to ask how many sessions you will need. The hypnotherapist should be able to give you a good idea of how many. You should also ask for references. I have a long list of satisfied clients who gladly make themselves available to anyone who is curious about my services.

If you get all the right answers to these questions and feel good about the person you are speaking with, the last thing is to make sure their rates are in line with the area they practice in. This varies greatly from one part of the country to the next. Don’t let a few dollars dictate your decision. If you feel good about how they describe their services and they seem to respect you and your concerns don’t let a few dollars get in the way of a positive experience.

Now that you have chosen a hypnotherapist the last step is to evaluate their office. If they got passing grades so far the chances are pretty good that the office experience well get good marks as well. Their office could be in an office building or in their home. You will know right away if it is clean and professional in appearance. You should feel safe and protected. The hypnotherapist should make you feel welcome and cared for. There should also be a comfortable place for you to relax during your session.

If everything meets your approval just relax and enjoy yourself. Hypnotherapy is a wonderful experience on many levels. You may discover great clarity and understanding. You may experience new freedom, control and fulfillment. In life we all follow the path of our most dominant thoughts, hypnosis lets you choose your thoughts and reframe your world.