How Do You Choose A Hypnotherapist?

With so many Hypnotherapists out there, how do you decide which one will be the right one for you?

As with most things, word-of-mouth is often a good place to start. With so many people turning to therapists when needed, you are very likely to know someone who has had a good experience with a Hypnotherapist.

In the absence of that, the internet may be your next recourse. There are many online directories that exist specifically listing Hypnotherapists or within a selection of those practising a diverse range of complementary therapists. Each therapist will have a profile they themselves have written. Their qualifications will also be listed and possibly some information about where they trained.

Many online directories also give people the possibility of leaving a review. so you can read through those and get a feel for the therapist in question and how they might work. I myself have a listing on Treatwell and you can read my reviews here.

Most training schools also have a list of their qualified therapists and will give a small amount of detail about them and their location. I myself belong to the General Hypnotherapy Register and am listed on their website. There are a number of other Hypnotherapy associations which you will find through Google.

In addition to ensuring that your potential choice of therapist is trained and qualified, feeling comfortable with a therapist is a very important factor in successful treatment. You are going to be talking to them about issues that are important and sensitive to you, so you want to be as assured as you can be before visiting them for the first time that you will be taken seriously and properly heard.

Sometimes I have had clients come to me who have been to a Hypnotherapist prior to coming to me who say the treatment was unsuccessful. In most cases when asked, they have said that they did not feel comfortable with the therapist.

I would suggest that you try to speak to the therapists you have selected as possibilities by phone before making a final decision. This will give you some idea of whether you feel they are likely to be empathetic and understanding of your needs. I would suggest this even if you have a referral from a friend or someone else you trust.

Most therapists will be happy to speak to you by phone and address any concerns you might have about whether hypnotherapy is right for your particular issue, or about hypnotherapy itself. Do not expect however to discuss at that point what strategies the therapist will use with you as a more detailed discussion in person is required for that.

It is important to note that if you go to a therapist recommended to you that you understand that your treatment may not proceed the way theirs did. Just because they only needed one session for example, doesn’t mean that the same will be true for you. The exception to this is stopping smoking treatment which for various reasons we aim to resolve in a single session.

Each person is an individual. What needs to be addressed will be unique to you and people respond differently to therapy. The important thing is to want to resolve your issue and, bearing in mind that hypnotherapy is what we refer to as a brief therapy, if it takes a few sessions, so be it.

Hopefully these pointers will help you with choosing your therapist. Take your time!