How to Become a Hypnotist: 5 Helpful Suggestions

by James Malone

Public interest in natural healing methods is at an all time high. More people want to go beyond using them for their own health needs and desire to become practitioners themselves and hypnosis is one of the more popular arts. Have you ever wondered how to become a hypnotist?

Hypnosis is a collection of talk therapy techniques that uses trance and suggestion in order to alter habitual patterns of unhealthy thought, feeling and behavior. Quite often the results are rapid, dramatic and lasting because hypnotism addresses many of life's problems at their root cause-the subconscious mind.

There are two basic categories of hypnosis practitioner, the individual who is licensed in some healthcare discipline like medicine or psychotherapy who integrates the techniques into his or her work. Then there are those people who practice hypnotism as a separate and distinct profession, often using the titles of Certified Hypnotist, Hypnotherapist of Consulting Hypnotist. The tips in this article are addressed primarily to those in the latter group.

A person who practices hypnosis is not born with a special power; rather it is a skill that is acquired through training and practice. Below are five suggestions that you may find helpful if you are considering entering this field.

Have a sincere desire to help others. Although a significant income can be generated in a hypnosis practice, your primary focus must be on the client's wellbeing and happiness. People can spot insincerity a mile away and a person in trance actually becomes more perceptive than usual. Be one of the good guys, love what you do and the money will follow.

Receive good training. There are courses in clinical hypnotism that claim you can be ready to work with paying clients after one weekend training-this is a dubious claim at best. The more respected hypnosis training organizations have set a minimum standard of 100 hands-on classroom hours for initial certification, with annual continuing education standards for recertification. Some of the better organizations are the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), the International Medical and Dental Hypnosis Association (IMDHA) and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT). There are also good online training resources, however these cannot replace the need for live instruction and supervised practice.

Research the legal limits of practice in your state. Hypnotism is not tightly regulated in most of the United States. However, you can get in big trouble if you appear to be practicing medicine or psychotherapy if you are not licensed to do so. As a general guideline, complimentary practitioners cannot diagnose or prescribe for a physical or mental illness; if you work with these conditions a doctor's referral will be needed. Nonetheless, there are plenty of folks, who struggle with "the everyday problems of everyday life," who need your help. You can do this without infringing on the rightful domain of the licensed healthcare professional. The aforementioned professional organizations can help you with these questions.

Use the skills on yourself. One of the major side benefits of a good clinical hypnosis training course is that you will learn invaluable skills related to being able to be more relaxed and confident in your own life. Be sure to practice them. As mentioned previously, the hypnotized person becomes more aware and perceptive. A tense and unhealthy practitioner is creating a sense of incongruence that will limit his or her ability to positively influence the client. Walk the talk!

Recognize the need for an entrepreneurial spirit. One drawback of a career in the natural healing arts is that unlike other professions, you usually cannot start working for someone else before beginning a practice of your own. Realize you may have to learn how to be business person as well. Chances are you may require some help with this as well. Consider establishing a relationship with an established practitioner where he can act as your mentor. There are also organizations like S.C.O.R.E. that can be a big help.

About the Author:James Malone is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant, NJ. Are you curious enough about how to become a hypnotist to learn some more? IMAGINE THAT! Might I suggest you see what you can learn from the How to Become a Hypnotist page?

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