Hypnotherapist
What is the work like?
As a hypnotherapist, you would aim to access deeper parts of people’s minds to help them overcome a wide range of psychological and physical conditions, including:
- anxiety
- panic attacks
- phobias
- sleep problems
- lack of confidence
- stress-related physical conditions
- unwanted habits such as smoking or overeating.
You would bring about a state of deep relaxation in your clients, and then make suggestions to their subconscious mind to help them alter negative patterns of behaviour and thinking. Some people may need several sessions for the treatment to be successful.
Your work would involve:
- setting up an initial consultation with your client
- discussing their medical and social history
- recommending a course of treatment
- inducing a hypnotic trance
- making positive suggestions and statements.
You might choose to combine hypnotherapy with other types of psychotherapy and counselling techniques.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To practice as a hypnotherapist, you should gain a qualification that is recognised by one of the professional associations for hypnotherapy, such as:
- the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)
- the Hypnotherapy Society
- the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC), through the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR).
You can find a list of recognised courses on each organisation’s website.
You do not need formal qualifications to get onto most hypnotherapy training courses, although it may be useful to have experience and qualifications in healthcare or counselling. Contact the course providers for entry requirements.
Some hypnotherapy courses are at postgraduate level and aimed at qualified psychologists or healthcare professionals. You will need a relevant degree or professional qualification to get onto a course at this level.
What further training and development can I do?
Although there are no laws about the training and registration of hypnotherapists, the main professional associations are working to regulate hypnotherapy and create standards of practice.
Joining an association should prove that you are competent to practice, which should help your career. Each association has its own eligibility rules for joining, but in general you will need a recognised hypnotherapy qualification and a certain amount of supervised practice. See the NCH, GHR and Hypnotherapy Society websites for full details.
You should keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career, for example by researching new techniques, and attending conferences and short courses.
Where can I go for more information?
PO Box 421Charwelton
Daventry
NN11 1AS
Tel: 0800 952 0545
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
Lymington
SO41 6WP
Tel: 01590 683770
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
As a self-employed hypnotherapist, income depends on the hours you work and the number of clients you see. You would typically charge an hourly rate of anywhere between £40 and £100.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Most hypnotherapists are self-employed and run their own practices. This means that you could choose your own working hours, although you would often provide evening and weekend appointments to suit your clients.
You could work from your own home, or from offices in a shared practice, private hospital or clinic. You may also practise hypnotherapy in some NHS hospitals.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- the ability to build trust and rapport with patients
- good listening and communication skills
- maturity and emotional stability
- understanding and sensitivity
- a non-judgemental attitude
- the desire to understand and help people with their problems
- a calm and professional manner
- honesty and integrity.
What opportunities are there?
There are a few opportunities within the NHS but these are mainly for qualified medical practitioners.
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