I want to become a hypnotist pro.... now what?

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Nelson on September 14, 2009 at 4:07pm

Hi Brian,
I would save your money and attend a live course. There's nothing like the experience of being hypnotized and then hypnotizing someone. Repeat that for a couple of weeks and you really understand the process and the subtleties. In my classes (Bennett Stellar University), we were in and out of trance for days. You really get it and have instant feedback on your skills. How do you get that on line?
Good luck in your studies.
Deborah

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on September 14, 2009 at 4:19pm

You will get a lot of opinion from teachers and students, all have had there favorite method.
I also think it is importatnt to realize that whatever method you chose to start, it will be just that, a starting point. Hypnosis education lasts a lifetime for the serious hypnotist. I read two textbooks and watched six hours of video this weekend so that I could further my education. And even though I will present at the hypnosummit this weekend I will also watch videos, and be a student. becasue rarely does anyone ever take a class, start working with clients, and then never take more classes, almost any class, book or DVD will siply be a starting point.

You indicated you are on a budget, so I will start with that. For one on a budget, a good textbook is a good starting point for onw who wants to be a professional. The best textbook on the market for understading hypnosis in my opinion is TRANCEWORK by Michael Yapko. (My new book was also designed to be a starting point "Keys to the Mind" at my webpage.) I use both the Yapko text and my book with my certification students. YOu can study these (and other) texts on your own, or in a structured homestudy or online program.

You can also watch videos. I have a complete set of Brian David Phillips videos I watch when I am driving between here and Wichita, I like his style and his teaching methods. I have also produced some basic and advanced DVD training programs. Jerry Kein also has a DVD program people enjoy. There are many others also. I would suggest buying 2-3 basic instructional DVD's along with a textbook or two.

Begin to practice the techniques as methods of self-hypnosis, then basic techniques with others, and if the fire is still going, begin to consider a full-training program in person, or a comprehensive program avialble online (not one sold as a "pitch" but an academic program like mine, Brian David Phillips, or Jerry Keins).

As you move then into living a hypnotic life (as any professional deos) start increasing your skills by getting hypnosis education at any time and place you can, and begin to seek out special areas like speedtrance, or bariatric hypnotherapy, or pain managment (from Ron Eslinger).

I also think that the HypnoSummit, will provide as much info as any basic DVD program and textbook will, and would be worth your while, especially as a newcomer. In fact, any newcomer should not miss this event. It is a great way to learn more about hypnosis, interact with a wide variety of qualified instructors (I have onlly mentioned a few in this post, there are many on this board).

On a budget you can learn. Never let anyone tell you that without a $3000 program you can't learn hypnosis. It just isnt true. The only class I charge more than $500 for is my live stage hypnosis class. In fact I can honestly tell you that in my opinion, the price of a course has little to do with quality.

Richard

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Permalink Reply by Ed Lester on September 14, 2009 at 10:37pm

When I first studied hypnosis at the end of the 90's I did correspondence courses, training weekends, nothing too thorough.

And that was fine to get started but it didn't take long to get out of my depth. I then had to find some more rigorous training fast. I went and trained with Shaun Brookhouse and and studied intensely with him and his school for 2 years. This was the best thing I could ever have done.

If you work full time as a hypnotherapist, market yourself well and get good results with clients, you could soon be earning 50 -100k per year.

For that reason, I say don't short change yourself on training.

Save up your money, get a loan, whatever you need to and do a real training course, with real people to work with and a seriously reputable trainer who has a good record of graduating students who go on to have successful careers. That really is the benchmark.

You'll do yourself such a big favor if you get the training decision right. Online or distance learning can be great for dipping your toes in the water but in my experience, the truly successful professionals all trained professionally.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on September 16, 2009 at 8:14am

Ask yourself this question:

"If I were going to send a family member to a hypnotist for something very serious, what kind of training would I want that person to have?"

Go get that training. I say "go" because some of it NEEDS to be hands on in a classroom. Some can be done at home through books, videos, online courses, etc. but that won't be enough. Hands on training and feedback is absolutely necessary, in my opinion, to be great at this. You can either learn the hard way by doing things wrong with clients and figuring out what works best, or you can have an experienced pro show you.

As I've said before, as have many other people, cross train. Study with people who disagree with each other. Find many different schools of thought before you decide what is right or best for you. When you find an instructor, ask them how long they were in private practice. Ask what percentage of their former students are actually in full time practice.

Remember that hypnosis educators are just like every other job in the world: there are people who are good at it and bad at it. Finding good training matters, so do your homework.

Good luck,
Scott

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Permalink Reply by Craig Eubanks on September 16, 2009 at 8:47am

Hi Brian,

I would also advise you to start studying marketing and basic business skills now. Do it in parallel with your hypnosis studies. And, you are in luck because there is a wealth of free info for you as well as some great books for about $10-$15 each on Amazon.

Start by going to my website and reading the over 120 articles I've written on marketing for Hypnotists.

www.HypnosisMarketingTips.com

Then, scour hypnothoughts for what successful hypnotists are doing that works. (make damn SURE they are actually successful! There are people on this site who post way more than they do hypnosis.)

Two really good groups on this site for useful info are:

1. Internet Marketing for Hypnotists
2. How to Build a Private Practice

I contribute to both of them, and I run and moderate the Internet Marketing Group.

I also recommend you get an "accountability partner", someone else who is in a similar situation as yourself. Make commitments to each other about when you will have a specific task done such as doing a talk on Hypnosis at the local Rotary or Chamber of Commerce. Then hold each other accountable.

Finally, get yourself a copy of these books, read them, and DO what they say:

• Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (all time bestselling business & self help book)
• The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy
• Tested Advertising by John Caples (every successful entrepreneur I know owns this book)
• Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins (can be found free online)
• Pscyho-Cybernetics by Kennedy & Maltz (used by top athletes and business leaders)
• Getting Things Done by David Allen (great system for making stuff happen)

If you do this now, you could actually have your marketing plan, lead generation systems, follow up systems, office space and accounting systems all ready to go the day you completed your training. Most people come out of their training and then have an "oh crap" moment when they realize they now have to think and act like an entrepreneur to be able to actually help anyone with their new hypnosis skills.


I also very much agree with Scott, you need HANDS ON training. As Mark Cunningham likes to say "you do the drills, you get the skills"!

And, I recommend you sign up and attend the hypnosummit this coming weekend. There will be a wealth of information, including sessions on marketing and practice building (like mine).


Cheers,

Craig Eubanks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Internet's #1 Marketing Resource**
exclusively for Hypnosis Professionals!

http://HypnosisMarketingTips.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on September 16, 2009 at 9:16am

Hi Brian,

I'd get started with the HypnoSummit this weekend. (And I'm not just saying that because I'm a presenter.) There is of course no substitute for hands-on training, but there's also no substitute for getting exposure to a wide range of trainers and viewpoints when you're first getting started (in any field, not just hypnosis).

You can think of the HypnoSummit like your first trip through a buffet line...you can taste a bite of everything and then decide what you want to go back for. It's a great way to preview a trainer's work, and get your questions answered, before investing hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in a live training with someone you've never met.

The HypnoSummit has one other advantage over live training: your price of admission includes three weeks of on-demand viewing of all the sessions. Watch any of the training videos as often as you'd like, any time of day or night, for the next 21 days.

I'm presenting on low- and no-cost marketing on Sunday night at 9 pm Pacific time. I hope you can make it--consider this you personal invitation. :)

Kathleen
Client, HypnoFan, Hypnotic Marketer
@KathleenHanover on Twitter

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Permalink Reply by Ed Lester on September 16, 2009 at 10:09am

"If I were going to send a family member to a hypnotist for something very serious, what kind of training would I want that person to have?"

Scott's answer says it all.

If you adopt this attitude of dedication to your clients higher purpose right from the start, you will have a fantastic career. That's for sure.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on September 16, 2009 at 11:17am

How did Dave Elman learn hypnosis?

Who taught Milton Erickson?

What course did Richard Bandler graduate from?

Who trained Ormond McGill?

How did Harry Aarons learn?

Who is Gil Boyne certified by?



I am all in favor of live hypnosis training classes -- I teach them. But there is more than one way to skin a cat, especially with something as naturalistic as hypnosis. Books, DVD's, classes, just trying it out, are all ways of learning....

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Permalink Reply by Brian Smith on September 16, 2009 at 1:13pm

Thanks for all the responses I would love to go with the hands on training right away but I don't have the funds and I can't take on any more debt. So I'm going to have to go the books, DVD and online method for now until I can pick up some live training here in Texas after the first of the year when I'm expecting a windfall. It's less than ideal I know but I have to start from where I am at the moment. I have some experience in web marketing but I'll have to study some of the guerrilla marketing methods mentioned by Kathleen and Craig as well. Now for when I do start training who would you recommend in the Dallas Fort Worth area?

Brian

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on September 16, 2009 at 1:26pm

Richard-
While I definitely see your point, you are naming exceptional people in the history of our profession (which is kind of your point). An overwhelming majority of people can't learn the way those people did. Most people benefit far too greatly from formal education.

Mutumbo and Mbenga are to NBA players who never played basketball in their home countries. They just happen to be incredibly athletic and coordinated people over 6' 10". The way it worked for them is not the way it would work for us. Most of us aren't tall enough and/or athletic enough to get away with the late start they did. We couldn't overcome that disadvantage the way they were able to.

We can't learn how to do some things from these guys because by the definition of being exceptional, they are exceptions to the way things are. We also can't presuppose that the people you mentioned wouldn't have been even better had they received the high quality education that is out there today.

just a thought,
Scott Sandland

Richard Nongard - HypnosisGurus.com said:

How did Dave Elman learn hypnosis?

Who taught Milton Erickson?

What course did Richard Bandler graduate from?

Who trained Ormond McGill?

How did Harry Aarons learn?

Who is Gil Boyne certified by?



I am all in favor of live hypnosis training classes -- I teach them. But there is more than one way to skin a cat, especially with something as naturalistic as hypnosis. Books, DVD's, classes, just trying it out, are all ways of learning....

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Permalink Reply by Scott Morgan on September 16, 2009 at 1:58pm

Hi Brian,
I am also very new and on a tight budget. I completed the HMI Foundations in Hypnosis course online for no charge. It is self paced and you have 28 days to complete. It just got me started and motivated to get some real live training. For me it was very educational and fun. You can't beat the price anywhere online.

Good luck,
Scott Morgan

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor on September 16, 2009 at 4:55pm

There are a lot of great teachers out there and on this site. The term Hypnosis Pro if I am not mistaken is a term Cal Banyan has and uses in his business. Not sure if you where looking for that term in particular or just a coincidence. You can google him and also I have used a bunch of material from Gerald Kien with the Omni Hypnosis Center. Richard Nongard has a plethera of quality material in about any aspect of hypnosis you might be interested in and at very reasonable prices. Too many to mention now that I am posting and thinking about it. I have talked with many other hypnotists on this site that are very knowledgable and a wealth of information. I guess the key would be to find someone that you click with. A live course I would agree would be ideal but there are many DVD courses that are great also. You would need good self discipline though for them and a bunch of lovely assistants that are willing to be hypnotised for practice. Good luck in your search.

One last thing, you can join your local NGH and get to know people that have like interests to learn from and to practice with.

Bruce Taylor

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