Is now a bad time to be considering a career in hypnotherapy

Hi, I'm new here, so go easy on me!

I'm interested in taking a training course in hypnotherapy with a view to setting up my own practice in the next few years. My son is 1 and I would like to be seeing an average of 3 clients a day by the time he starts school at 4/5.

But in my research, I have read more and more that there may be a possibility in the not-TOO-distant future that hypnotherapy will be much more tightly controlled. This could suggest that any qualification I obtain now will not be held in any regard compared to a new properly regulated/accredited qualification available in the close future. It would therefore be very hard for me to attract clients to my practice as I wouldn't have a recognised qualification or much experience, or mean that I would have to fork out more money for more training to do this new qualification.

Also, it appears that the NHS is beginning to take hypnotherapy more seriously and it might be the case that students with more 'serious' medical qualifications also study hypnotherapy and it would therefore be THOSE students who would find work in any future openings in the NHS this new acceptance of the therapy might make. This would also make others without those credentials (and without much experience like a new hypnotherapist such as I) be unattractive options to clients seeking therapy.

All thoughts on this matter would be very gratefully received, as I am in a position where I need to make a decision about my professional future and I can't make it purely based on doing something that I am interested in and would like to work in, it has to be economically viable (I am a single mother, this will be my sole income).

I am also aware that many established hypnotherapists aren't keen for more people to set up practices and take away potential clients - so if you could try to be objective and give me an honest opinion that would be truly appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Denis Niblett, PhD on February 1, 2012 at 5:20am

Hi there, and welcome!

First off, many hypnotherapists would like to have an average of three clients a day; few of us do, even after a number of years in practice.

Secondly, where is hypnotherapy going with regards to regulation? Your guess is as good as anyone else's as none of us have an accurate crystal ball.

My advice would be: If you feel you want to do this then do it. No matter what you end up doing you will have gained something of use to yourself and possibly others.

And who knows, you could become a highly respected therapist. But you have to try first of all!

Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 1, 2012 at 5:39am

Hi,

I wouldn't worry about regulation if I were you. It has been talked about for years and has never happened. You goal of three clients a day is perfectly achievable if, and this is a big if, you treat is as a business. If you sit there waiting for people to call or waiting for referrals then you will starve. However if you learn everything you can about marketing then this is easily achieved. Some years ago I was seeing 40+ clients a week. How? because I advertised (properly) and I marketed my business actively with newspaper ad, leaflets, host beneficiary relationships with other business and networking.

The problem is no hypnosis training company teaches proper marketing techniques. You have to find this out for yourself or speak to someone who is already doing it.

I wish you every success

Barry

Permalink Reply by London Victoria on February 1, 2012 at 5:50am

Thank you both for your fast responses.

Yes, I do FEEL like I want to do this. Before having my son I was working as a magazine editor in london, and although the money was decent I have never been a big fan of having a boss, and I certainly now wouldn't want to be working from 7am to 7pm (including travel time) away from home.

I would like to think that 3 clients a day on average was achievable with effort put into it as a FULL-TIME job, but even 2 would be enough if I take in to consideration the quality of the worklife compared to my old office job. I'm not afraid of marketing, as a previously freelance journalist I know what it's like to put yourself out there are try and hunt down work. I have a decent business head on my shoulders, and would certainly consider this to be as large a part of running a succesful practice as actually being good at the therapy side of things.

I guess I just can't shake the thought of investing in training only to find out that that investment would have been a waste if say in a few years there becomes one officially recognised qualification which I don't have (nor much experience). But you guys have the experience, and if that's been talked about forever and is no closer to happening than before, then I guess I just need to get over it.

Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 1, 2012 at 6:27am

How's this for a coincidence. I have run a number of hypnosis trainings in the past in London Victoria! At the Thistle Hotel.

As I said I really wouldn't worry about legislation.

I am not offering trainings at the moment so I am not trying to sell you anything so if you want some advice on who to train with let me know because like everything else there are good and not so good ones.

Barry

Permalink Reply by London Victoria on February 1, 2012 at 6:44am

Thanks Barry. I didn't know if it was really the done thing to talk about training on here.

Can I ask your (and anyone else) thoughts about the following colleges?

Quest

National Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy Training Institute of Britain

It's so very confusing. All the colleges present their reasons for training with them. And with my concerns about regulation in the future, I am really looking to find a college that has a respected course that would hold good stead in the future.

If this is something that should be discussed through private message for an unbiased opinion, please do reply through that avenue.

Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 1, 2012 at 7:07am

I dont know anything about the National Institute but i am aware of quest and the hypnotherapy training institute of britain.

Quest is run by Trevor Silvestre and he is well known within the profession and has published several books on the subject. The HTIB is run by John Butler as I understand it was trained by the late, great Gil Boyne. Both of these courses would be very good however given a choice I think I would opt for the one taught by John Butler,

I hope this helps

barry

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on February 1, 2012 at 11:27am

@ Barry -

I am sorry I didn't get to meet and hang out with you when I was in London-

@ L.V.

Hi,

I was teaching in London (in the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel) in Oct. 2011 and I had a chance to discuss regulation with Terence Watts who is the Chair of APHP. Terence was closely involved with the creation of the new core curriculum and my understanding is that there are no NEW reguations coming in for hypnotherapy in the UK - Voluntary Self Regulation has just been instigated and is Government backed. FYI - All of the UK schools accredited by APHP run training courses that meet the minimum for the student to be able to register with CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council - www.cnhc.org.uk) once they have graduated.

You can contact the APHP for more info if you like:

admin@aphp.net

Warmest regards,

Michael

Permalink Reply by London Victoria on February 1, 2012 at 12:44pm

Barry - thanks for your thoughts. I talked with Trevor and his wife today with regards to training with Quest, and I came away feeling very positive about that college. I have yet to make contact with John Butler, but I've read many people vouching for him as a trainer.

Michael - That's very interesting. Actually, the Essex Institute would be a possibility for me as far as travel goes. I hadn't realised that Terence Watts there was also the chair of the APHP. Although, there are so many different bodies in hypnotherapy, I don't trust myself to know which ones I should be getting excited about trainers being affiliated with! How would you guys rate him and the Essex Institute as an option for me?

One thing that confuses me, is trying to figure out if a college that centers it's syllabus around it's director's own 'brand' of hypnotherapy is a good thing or not. The Quest Institute (just for one example) is a diploma in Cognitive Hypnotherapy, which sounds great, but should I really be investing in one 'method' when I as a newbie don't really know if that method is valid even though it sounds pretty good to me and the syllabus looks to be pretty intensive in covering lots of differente areas.

Oh, so many questions! Thank you for being patient.

Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 1, 2012 at 12:56pm

Hi,

You are always going to get the situation that training companies teaching their own brand of hypnotherapy. Despite what some people may think they all work. I think the key is to pick a route that you feel the most comfortable with and stick with it. The problem is if you take trainings in two different methods because this leads to confusion, especially in your early years.

I always used to tell my students not to take any other courses or read any other books for quite a while after their training so that they could become confident in what they have learnt and not get distracted by other opinions. Once you feel confident in one way then it's ok to look at other methods.

I am sure that if you train with either Trevor, John or Terence you will learn valuable skills that will help you to build the career that you desire.

Barry

Permalink Reply by London Victoria on February 1, 2012 at 1:47pm

Well you can't say fairer than that. I think I have just missed the start of the course at the Essex Institute, so will continue to consider Quest and the NTIB. (Neither of which are accredited by the APHP... oh this is so confusing!)

Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 1, 2012 at 2:19pm

I wouldn't be overly concerned about whether or not they are accredited by the APHP. The reality are there any MANY hypnosis associations and they will all tell you that theirs is the best.

I can honestly say that the three courses that I mentioned will give you very good levels of training. I mentioned that I would opt for John Butlers course and the reason is that I am a big fan of several of his influences Gil Boyne, and Dave Elman but as I said the other courses are great too. Speak to the trainers and go on who you feel most comfortable with and you will be fine.

This is a really rewarding profession that can give the joy of helping others and you can fit it in around your present lifestyle

barry

Permalink Reply by Lindsay Shepherd on February 2, 2012 at 12:28am

I looked at many schools before I trained, I made my choice on the syllabus and the trainers own style and my personal beliefs. For example, there are schools who present a quite spiritual emphasis, those who concentrate on past lives etc. that is not for me, so would have been the wrong choice.

There are so many organisations, don't worry about being just looking for APHP. I am registered with the GHR, THA and soon NCH, these are not linked to schools though they do have lists of reccommend ones.. You could also look at schools who offer the HPD Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma, this is an is independently verified qualification. I believe the schools mark the work and then pass it on for final verification, you could check how it works. I know of Trevor's training and heard good things, I trained with Adam Eason School of Theraputic Hypnosis in Bournemouth and found it very good indeed. My practise is doing well and I have always felt well equipped to work with clients, from day one of quailifing in fact. There were people on my course who had trained elsewhere and found the training so poor they needed to restart. I would also suggest that the trainer should still be seeing clients regularly, some people qualify and set up a school, never having seen a client! Ask how they keep themselves up to date with current thinking, studies etc.

As far as regulation is concerned, it's been discussed for years, I can't see it happening anytime soon. Voluntary self regulation exists but to be honest, anyone can register as long as they are insured so it's not really regulation is it!

Yes, there are a lot of hypnotherapists around, a lot don't make a living, that's a lot to do with the fact that they may not be considering they are running a business. So many I know bang up a website, sit back and wait for clients - it won't happen, you have to run it like any other business. I would be very happy to have lots of well trained, professional hypnotherapists around. It's good for all of us.

Talk to the principals of all the school you are considering, see who you click with and go from there. Please feel free to message me if I can help you further.