Hypnosis is Hypnosis is Hypnosis... Is it?

by B. Fairweather

When looking for a practitioner in any therapeutic modality, it is almost always a daunting task. Unless one has been recommended someone by word of mouth, sometimes it can be quite easy to get lost in the search.

So here are some pointers which serve to help those who are not too sure where to start looking, or what to look for..

1) Accreditation

Hypnotherapy is an un-regulated profession, which technically means that anybody can practise it no matter what their experience or education. Be sure to select a practitioner who has either 1) a qualification from a course of good national or international standing, and/or 2) is a practising member of a well known and credible professional association (do your research!).

*I personally chose to be a member of the Australian Hypnotherapists' Association (who is a member association of the national peak body Psychotherapy and Counseling Federation of Australia PACFA) who have specific education and clinical pre-requisites for membership and a strong code of ethics which members must adhere to.

2) Types of Hypnotherapy

When searching for a hypnotherapist you may come across terms like "suggestion therapy," "analytical hypnotherapy," etc. For the general public it is often hard to decypher what these terms mean.. So here is a brief look at them:

Suggestion Therapy:

This is a technique of affirmation used by all hypnotherapists to some degree. It is based on the idea of replacing negative beliefs in the subconscious mind with new positive beliefs which consequently helps a client move toward their goal. This is, however, a band-aid approach in the majority of situations where the cause of the problem is not known (which is most often the case).

For example, if you have a tree which has a disease in its root system. Suggestion therapy would involve simply trimming the branches which had been affected by that disease. Once doing that, it is likely that the tree would look better, but it also likely that the disease would move onto other branches at some point in the future. However, if you trim the branches AND deal with the root system, then you have a healthy new tree.

Analytical Hypnotherapy:

Analytical hypnotherapy is what deals with the root system - the cause.

Analytical hypnotherapy is a collective term which comprises a group of psychotherapy techniques (regression, parts therapy, etc) which are used within the state of hypnosis to help an individual come to greater insight about the cause of their situation. Once the cause is known the subconscious immediately becomes more receptive to the suggestion therapy mentioned above. Analytical hypnotherapy is more interactive in nature and involves changing perceptions and emotional responses to events. Analytical hypnotherapy is more cathartic in nature as it allows clients to express and clear emotions that have been weighing them down in a safe, secure environment.

3) Final recommendation

If you have found someone who has both qualifications, accreditation and works with the type of hypnotherapy you are looking for, then I have only one more recommendation:

Make sure they are someone you feel comfortable with, and are someone who makes an effort to understand your situation.

The success of the hypnotherapy process is greatly enhanced when the working relationship of the hypnotherapist and client is based on co-operation, respect and trust.

So best of luck in your search for a hypnotherapist. It truly is a modality of psychotherapy that delivers fast, effective and permanent results - enjoy the ride!