Choosing a therapist isn't that complicated when you know what to look for...

Choosing the right therapist that's right for you is very important. There's so many to choose from - where do you start? Here's some advice:

When considering a therapist to work with ring at least three within travelling distance -- not just the one closest to you or the cheapest!

Probably the most important consideration is purely subjective -- do you like the sound of them?

All research suggests that the single-most important factor for successful therapy is the strong relationship between therapist and client -- so ask them as many questions that you need to feel comfortable with them.

If you've done any research, you'll know that there's a bewildering list of qualifications and accrediting bodies for the field of hypnotherapy in the UK. It's true that anyone can set up a private therapy practice with no training whatsoever -- so it's definitely a situation of buyer beware.

Here's some information -- that admittedly is biased -- but could really help you!

Look for a hypnotherapist with "HPD" after their name. This stands for Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma. The HPD is an externally verified examination, accredited by the National Center for Hypnotherapists (NCH).

This exam conforms with the National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy and a Code of Ethics so you can be assured that the person who has taken this training conforms to the highest standards available here in the UK.

This will help you to avoid seeing people who do a long weekend of training and leave with a book of scripts and a certificate!

Regulation is here! Hypnotherapy and other complementary and alternative therapies have been largely unregulated -- but this is now changing. UKCHO is the United Kingdom Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations. UKCHO’s mission is to ensure that standards of conduct, ethics and practice are appropriate for public safety. When considering a therapist -- it's a good idea to check if they are registered -- www.ukcho.co.uk.

There's also a wide range of approaches within hypnotherapy -- ranging from Freudian Hypno-analysis to past life regression.

It's important that the therapist's ideas don't conflict with you own. So ask them about their approach and how, specifically, they would approach to help you with your issue.

How well they can answer this question is usually a good indicator of their knowledge base.

You'll find that many practioners call themselves 'clinical hypnotherapists'... which actually doesn't really help much... because every hypnotherapist uses hypnosis in a clinical setting... that's what hypnotherapy means -- so they often think 'clincial' sounds impressive... so you still need to ask about their approach.

Cognitive Hypnotherapy is a distinct approach.

It doesn't assume that the same approach will suit everyone with the same issue -- we don't believe in the 'one size fits all script'.

We, as Cognitive Hypnotherapists, adapt to the information we gain from the questions we ask and work within the client's model of the world -- and do not expect you to join us in ours!!! So each session of therapy is unique to the client -- and the way they see the world.

Also, we believe that hypnosis or trance is not a special state created by the therapist. A modern view of trance is that people drift in and out of it everyday - all the time! In fact, research suggests that we are 'in trance' 90% of the time!

This modern view also suggests that the 'trance state' is part of the problem the client brings with them to therapy. People can want desperately to change their behaviour -- but feel themselves lose their self-control and their behaviour works against them and their own best interest -- for example weight issues or quitting smoking.

The Cognitive Hypnotherapy approach says that the way this control is being taken from us is our unconscious mind running programming (trance state) in a way that it thinks is best -- so in a way, we, as therapists, 'de-hypnotise' the client so they can 'stay awake' and change their programming to something more resourceful.

Read more about Cognitive Hypnotherapy Approach

Also check that they:

Have public liability insurance, are an NCH Member and most importantly, someone you feel relaxed with!

Any questions? Contact me on 0794 880 1229 or email me

Building Belief Alliance | Cognitive Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis | NLP | EFT
Birmingham | Stratford upon Avon | Studley | Redditch | Warwickshire


Stop Smoking | Lose Weight | Become Phobia Free | Gain Confidence | Perform Well Be Well | Be Happy | Live a Life Less Ordinary | Smile for No Reason | Feel Joy

Birmingham Hypnosis | Birmingham Hypnotherapy 
Stratford upon Avon Hypnotherapy




Building Belief Alliance | Cognitive Hypnotherapy | Hypnosis | NLP | EFT | Birmingham | Stratford upon Avon | Studley | Redditch | Warwickshire Stop Smoking | Lose Weight | Become Phobia Free | Gain Confidence | Perform Well Be Well | Be Happy | Live a Life Less Ordinary | Smile for No Reason | Feel Joy | Birmingham Hypnosis | Birmingham Hypnotherapy | Stratford upon Avon Hypnotherapy | Stratford upon Avon Hypnosis | Leamington Spa Hypnotherapy | Leamington Spa Hypnosis | Warwick Hypnosis | Warwick Hypnotherapy |