There are a variety of ways to become a hypnotherapist. A person can become certified as a hypnotherapist by taking an apprenticeship with a certified practitioner, or they can go through training at their local university or community college.
However, if you are looking for a more hands-on approach to becoming a hypnotherapist, you may want to look into taking classes that focus on the basics of hypnosis and how it works.
The first step in this process is learning about the history of hypnosis and why it was developed as a practice. After this, it will be important for you to learn about the different kinds of hypnotic techniques that have been created over time so that you have an idea about what kind of methods you would like to use when treating patients.
Once you have learned the basics about how hypnosis works and what types of techniques are available for use by therapists today, it will be time for you to start thinking about how these techniques can be applied in different situations such as therapy sessions with clients who need help overcoming addictions like smoking cigarettes or alcohol consumption problems; as well as helping other people who are experiencing physical pain related conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia symptoms).
How To Become Hypnotherapist
Therapists are important medical professionals who use a range of techniques to help their patients. One lesser-known therapy specialization is hypnotherapy, which medical professionals may use with other treatments to change a patient’s behavior or way of thinking. Learning how to become a hypnotherapist can help you decide if it’s a good career to choose. In this article, we learn how to become a hypnotherapist, including the primary duties of the role, skills to help you succeed in this position and the average national salary.
Related: Therapist Cover Letter Sample
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What is a hypnotherapist?
A hypnotherapist uses hypnosis as therapy to help with a patient’s recovery or behavior modification. This can include helping patients sleep better, communicate with others and manage stress. Hypnotherapists might work with or get referrals from dentists, doctors or traditional therapists to assist a patient with developing or altering habits or advise them on other treatment options. Most medical organizations consider hypnotherapy to be alternative medicine, but hypnotherapists must still have licensure to practice in most states.
What does a hypnotherapist do?
A hypnotherapist could have the following duties:
- Meet with a patient to discuss their challenge or condition
- Explain the process to the patient to help them feel more comfortable during the session
- Guide a patient into a hypnotic state using focused relaxation
- Help them recognize, accept or change certain habits, behaviors or feelings
- Follow up with the patient to determine the effectiveness of the session
Related: 10 Career Options in Behavioral Psychology
Skills for a hypnotherapist
Here are some skills that are most useful if you’re considering a career as a hypnotherapist:
Therapeutic hypnosis techniques
The most important skill for a hypnotherapist is the ability to perform successful therapeutic hypnosis techniques. These are the methods hypnotherapists use to guide patients into a relaxing hypnosis state and help them identify their issues. Being able to perform these techniques well is vital for a hypnotherapist to help their patients, so consider studying and practicing them under supervision.
Psychology or psychotherapy experience
Many hypnotherapists begin their careers as traditional therapists or psychologists. This is useful experience because the foundation of hypnotherapy are fields of study like psychology and psychotherapy that use conversations and activities to diagnose and treat their patients. College classes and work experience can help you learn more about these fields of study and improve your success as a hypnotherapist.
Patience
Patience is another great skill for hypnotherapists to have because it can sometimes take many sessions to see a patient progress or improve. Even if the patient is cooperative, sessions may be long and quiet, and the patient might not articulate their ideas clearly. Practicing patience allows the hypnotherapist to remain calm and to keep their patient focused on the goal they are trying to accomplish.
Active listening
Hypnotherapists can also benefit from being active listeners. Listening is a large part of the job, so actively listening to patients in and out of hypnosis is important. For instance, a patient under hypnosis might say things that seem unrelated to the goal, but the hypnotherapist should still listen closely and note things that seem important to review later.
Compassion
Because hypnotherapists help patients for a variety of reasons, it’s important for these therapists to be compassionate. A compassionate hypnotherapist can help make a patient comfortable and calm, which makes the patient more likely to talk openly in sessions and make progress toward their goal. This is especially important for hypnotherapists who work with young or apprehensive patients.
Related: What Is a Recreational Therapist?
Business management
Business management is an excellent skill to have for hypnotherapists who run their own practices. This can include knowledge of finances, marketing and business law, all of which helps a hypnotherapist create a flourishing practice that reaches patients who would benefit from hypnotherapy. When a hypnotherapist is skilled in business management, they can create safe, stable environments to effectively help people reach their therapy goals.
How to become a hypnotherapist
To become a fully licensed or certified practicing hypnotherapist, follow the steps below:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
The first step to becoming a licensed or certified hypnotherapist is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. This degree can be in a field related to medicine, therapy or psychology. Getting a degree gives you a good understanding about different therapy techniques, how to successfully help patients and the current best practices for treatment providers.
2. Pursue a master’s degree
After receiving your bachelor’s degree, you may pursue your master’s degree, which is a requirement for some certifications. The degree should be in a related field and include at least 60 hours of hypnosis coursework to qualify for the National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (NBCCH) exam. The purpose of the master’s degree is to give you an environment to practice therapeutic hypnosis under the supervision of professionals.
3. Gain experience
Experience with therapy is necessary for most licenses and certifications. Depending on the license or certificate, you can gain experience in fields related to psychology or medicine, like nursing, if you have enough educational experience with hypnosis. Otherwise, you may need to gain working experience under a hypnotherapist before you can take exams.
4. Become licensed or certified
Each state has its own licensing requirements for hypnotherapists, but there are two main certification exams you can take in addition to state licensure. The NBCCH and the American College of Hypnotherapy (ACH) certifications both require at least a bachelor’s degree, while the NBCCH also require’s a master’s with hypnosis coursework. The ACH certificate allows any medical professionals to take the exam as long as they have at least 200 hours of hypnosis education. Once you pass either of these exams, you can use your certification as proof of your skill in hypnotherapy.
5. Maintain your license
To ensure that you are practicing hypnotherapy legally, renew your state licensure as frequently as you need to. State licenses help regulate the therapy industry to protect both you and your patients, so it’s a good idea to research what kind of license you need in your state and how often to renew it.
Related: How To Become a Recreational Therapist
Average hypnotherapist salary
There’s no specific salary information for hypnotherapists, though the average salary for general therapists is $71,170 per year. The average salary for a hypnotherapist varies depending on location, experience and education.
