Dr. Bryan Knight replies:
There is no 100% fool-proof method of selecting the right hypnotherapist, any more than there is a guaranteed way to select the right lawyer, physician, accountant, or plumber.
Major sources for finding a reputable hypnotherapist are: physicians, family or friends, the workplace, the Yellow Pages, lists from professional associations, and The International Registry of Professional Hypnotherapists.
A doctor can refer you to a well-reputed colleague or to his or her own hypnotherapist. But there can be no guarantee that the recommended hynotherapist will be suitable for you. Personality factors, particular problems or differing ideologies may interfere with rapport. The same is true for referrals by family or friends.
Above all, do not be misled by reputation alone.
A great reputation in the therapy field is not always based on competence.
Sometimes it is fed by publicity and by professional colleagues who have a personal liking for a particular therapist, especially if he or she devotes a lot of time to their organization's interests. The colleagues may be impressed by that therapist's speeches, self-confidence and self-promotion. But do they personally know any successfully treated clients?
Trust your reaction when talking with a hypnotherapist. Shop around. Spend at least as much time to select a hypnotherapist as you would to choose a car.
The best criterion is satisfied clients. Ask the hypnotherapist for written testimonials. Any therapist who has been in business for a reasonable length of time will have letters on file from grateful clients. These will be people who have given permission for their comments to be shown to enquirers. Read and verify them.
And be sure you feel comfortable with the hypnotherapist. If you feel uneasy, it may be a sign that he or she is not good for you.
Key questions to ask yourself are:
Does he or she seem interested in my problems?
Key questions to ask the hypnotherapist are:
Experience is a good criterion. Experience not just of hypnotherapy but of life, too. To ask the hypnotherapist questions relevant to his or her experience is a smart move. Has he or she written books or articles which you could read?
Respectful hypnotherapists do not snap their fingers at you, nor speak in a condescending manner. They treat you with the importance you deserve. After all, their business depends on you, and others like you, who seek a better life.
Lack of respect also applies to improper questions, suggestions or behavior. And not just about sex. Impropriety also applies to money and morals.
In a truly therapeutic relationship you are heard, accepted, understood and guided to strengthen your inner resources. The hypnotherapist is your ally. Not your friend. Not your business partner. Not your guru. And certainly not your lover.
Above-board hypnotherapists will be delighted that you bring a friend or relative with you. Similarly, they will be pleased you wish to tape-record the session because then you can use the tape at home as reinforcement.
Hypnotherapists with your interests at heart will automatically teach you self-hypnosis. It is part of your becoming self-reliant. At the very least, the hypnotherapist should recommend a book like my Health and Happiness with Hypnosis, which includes hundreds of case histories and a detailed explanation of hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy should be tailored to you, the individual. No two problems, and certainly no two people, however similar, are identical. Settle for nothing less than personalized service.
That individualized approach requires a complete history-taking. It is of course impossible in the short time available for the hypnotherapist to learn everything about you. But he or she should know the details of your presenting problem, your family situation, important life events, health condition, fears, likes and dislikes, etc.
Do not be overly concerned with the per session fee. A very low fee per session may sound attractive, but, in monetary terms, it is the total number of sessions which will count in the end. In human terms, becoming well makes even a high fee seem like a bargain.
Beware of any therapist who has a one-track mind.
Some therapists continually find that the origin of all their clients' problems lies in childhood sexual abuse; others find that all their clients' problems arise from past lives; others find that all their clients' problems arise from birth trauma, etc., etc.
Not all of life's distresses arise from one trauma, or indeed, from any trauma. Human beings are far too complex and life, fortunately, is far too rich, for there to be one single cause of everyone's troubles.
Two questions that concern most people are, How many sessions will it take? and What is your success rate?
No one can know in advance how many sessions your problem will take to resolve. There are far too many variables, including: the personalities of you and the hypnotherapist, your talent for hypnosis, whether you really want to shed the problem, what other issues may surface, etc.
Of course, you could specify a certain number of sessions. And some psychotherapists who use hypnosis do set a fixed number of sessions. (The pressure of this deadline approach sometimes helps but there can be no guarantee.)
Be assured, however, that
hypnosis usually speeds up the therapeutic process.
What might take months or years of regular psychotherapy can usually be accomplished in weeks with hypnotherapy.To ask a hypnotherapist his or her success rate is a meaningless question. Who would tell you her success rate is 3%? In any case, should the hypnotherapist's rate be 95%, this says nothing about your chances of success. For many different reasons you may fall into the 5%.
For unhealthy habits such as smoking, hypnotherapy is 100% successful for those whochoose and decide to change.
A person using hypnosis should practice within his or her professional competence. Thus a dentist who relaxes her dental patients with hypnosis has no business engaging in psychotherapy, unless she has also been trained in that field. Conversely, a physician must be involved when a medical concern, such as pain, is being tackled.
Responsible therapists use hypnosis as a tool. Since it is not in itself a therapy, nor is it a cure-all, you are in better hands if the hypnotherapist is also able to deal with your problem without hypnosis.
Thus, if you are consulting a physician who is using hypnosis to help you control pain, presumably she will have pharmaceutical alternatives with which to help you should the hypnotherapy not work well. But if the doctor is using hypnosis to help you deal better with a disastrous relationship, she is helpless if the hypnotherapy does not work well - unless she has taken special training in couples counselling.
Licensing and governmental regulation over who is allowed to practice hypnotherapy vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many states and provinces, such as Quebec, have no rules whatever. Others are very stringent.
Remember, to find the right hypnotherapist for yourself, first do your homework about credentials and experience and then -- trust your instincts.
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September 25, 2007 - 13:37Subject: Finding A HypnotherapistThis is very informative, if you are looking for the right hypnotherapist. A few years ago, my GP recommended a hypnotherapist for my fears of hospitals, needles, and giving birth. The hypnotherapy was so beneficial, that giving birth was a pleasure! I hope that others can benefit from a competent hypnotherapist.
September 19, 2007 - 08:25Subject:Great tips on finding a hypnotherapist who is right for you. I think the most important thing is to trust your instincts; we are often told (by doctors, the media, family, etc.) that "gut feelings" are not valid reasons to make decisions or take certain actions, but I totally disagree with that. Especially when it comes to hypnosis and self-help in general, it is essential to listen to what the "little voice" inside you says!
September 18, 2007 - 10:39Subject: CommentsIf this information had been available when I first started over 20 years ago I feel I would have been able to help more clients as many seemed to recoil from Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy out of misplaced fears, thank goodness this FAQ will help to put the record straight. I do blame films and 'lower deck lawyers' as we used to call them in the Navy, no knowledge but knew everything. Anyone desiring help will truly benefit from reading this information. I wish Dr. Bryan Knight and the Hypnosis Depot as many hits as Utube and Facebook then the knowledge of the benefits of Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis and how to Self Help will be truly revealed.
September 17, 2007 - 16:25Subject: Finally!I've always been afraid of taking the plunge and seeing a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis scares me a little but you've spelled it out so well that all I have to do is follow your suggested questions and I'll know I've found the right person.
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Copyright © 1995-2008 Bryan M. Knight, MSW, Ph.D.
Dr Knight can be reached by e-mail at drknight AT hypnosisdepot DOT com, by regular mail at 7306 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4B 1R7, and by phone at (514) 827-4673.URL: http://www.hypnosisdepot.com
