Hypnotherapy has become popular among patients with chronic health conditions, so more therapists and doctors are becoming certified in this practice. Medical and mental health practitioners can become certified hypnotherapists by earning a graduate degree in their field, finding a school that suits their needs and goals and eventually establishing a practice of their own. When you establish yourself as a hypnotherapist, you will need to create a strong business network, web presence and client base in your community.
EditSteps
EditBecoming Certified as a Hypnotherapist
- Earn a graduate degree in a medical or mental health field. Before you apply to a hypnotherapy school or classes, you need to earn a degree and establish a background in either traditional medicine, counseling and social work, psychiatry and psychotherapy, or behavioral sciences.[1]
- Hypnotherapists work with clients who suffer from a variety of medical or mental health conditions such as chronic pain, addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma. You need the medical know-how before hypnotizing people with deep-seated trauma or addictions.[2]
- Check your state requirements for becoming a hypnotherapist. Certification requirements differ based on the state you live in, and these laws are also subject to change, so check with your state in which you practice your current medical profession before starting certification. Some states regulate hypnotherapy and others do not.[3]
- You can read about updated state requirements on the Hypnotherapists’ Union website.[4]
- For example, in the state of Colorado you need to be licensed or to be listed in the Unlicensed Psychotherapist’s Database. On the other hand, Connecticut requires you to be registered to practice hypnosis.
- No matter what state you live in, the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists still requires you to earn a graduate degree in your field as a prerequisite to certification. Mental health and medical practitioners need to earn a graduate degree in their academic discipline from a regionally accredited educational institution. For example, medical practitioners must hold a Master or Doctorate degree.
- Degrees earned at accredited institutions are recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation’s database and are accepted by the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists.
- Apply to take certification classes at a hypnotherapy school. Research local schools online and visit their websites to apply or request an application to be sent to you in the mail. For instance, if you want to be certified through the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, request an application through their website.[5]
- The board offers networking and certification opportunities to mental health and medical professionals, so it’s an effective way to get to meet more colleagues and find job opportunities.
- Research hypnotherapy schools for cost and location. Many people are limited geographically or financially when they’re looking for schools to attend, so you may find going to a local school preferable to traveling.[6]
- Find out if the school is state approved or medical association approved for certifying nurses, therapists and doctors in hypnotherapy.
- Visit the schools you’re considering. Schedule a visit during an open house or ask to sit in on a class to observe the instructors’ styles and the quality of the material taught.
- Attend certification classes in hypnotherapy. Once you've earned your graduate degree and been accepted to a hypnotherapy school, you will be required to take a total of 50 or more hours of classes to become a certified hypnotherapist.
- You must take at least 18 hours of hypnosis courses, which include supervised in-class practice, as part of the required 50 hours.
- To receive a Diplomate certification, you’re required to use hypnotherapy for 3 years and successfully treat patients with it for a total of 150 hours.
- If you want a Fellow certification, you’re required to use hypnotherapy for 3 years and successfully treat patients with it for 250 hours.
- Apply to receive your certification after completing all of your classes. To get your certification, you must send an application to a board of hypnotherapists, such as the American College of Hypnotherapy. This application must contain your transcripts and verification of completion of a training program in hypnosis or clinical hypnotherapy.[7]
- Once your application is approved, you'll receive your certification to work as a hypnotherapist.
EditEstablishing Your Hypnotherapy Practice
- Get a business license to practice. If you’re discovered working without a business license, you can be charged a large fine for every day you’re not working with a business license. A business license costs $100 for the year, and it shows you’re legitimate.[8]
- To receive a business license, you need to visit your local city hall in the district that you live in to fill out paperwork.
- Choose a business name. When choosing a business name, make sure it’s linked to the URL of your website. Think about what a client enters into a Google search when they’re looking for hypnotherapists.[9]
- If someone is looking for help with an addiction issue, you want to make sure the name of your practice shows up in a Google search for addiction therapy. What they enter in the search is, “I need to quit smoking,” or “I have a drug problem.” So include those keywords in the name of your practice or web address if addiction is your niche.
- After you choose a name, you need to reserve it, so make sure no one else in your region is using the same name. There are small business lawyers who can do this for you, and you can do it online. Reserving a name usually costs about $30-$50.
- Have an alternative name for your business if it’s already taken.
- Get an office for your practice. You can either rent an empty office space available in an office building, or you can use someone else’s office with their permission, of course.[10]
- If you know a counselor who would be willing to split office rent with you on the weekends or evenings, that would be a win-win for both of you.
- Create a hypnotherapy space in your home by converting a garage, den or home office into a room where you can take clients for comfortable hypnotherapy sessions.[11]
- Schedule a time to work with hypnotherapy clients every week. Think about what kind of hours or what days of the week you want to work on your practice, and work around your regular job schedule.[12]
- For example, if you get out of work at 3, then meet with clients from 6-10.
- After-work hours are ideal for clients, because they can see a hypnotherapist the evening and benefit from deep relaxation at the end of the day. Weekends are also doable for a lot of people, as well.
- Create a website for your practice. Design, or have someone else design, a logo and a color scheme for your website, business cards, letterheads and advertisements.[13]
- Network with other hypnotherapists. Networking groups are helpful, because they connect you to more clients and job opportunities. There are a few different options for networking with other professionals, such as joining a business networking group or professional hypnotist groups to meet others in your region or worldwide.[16]
- Some groups are geared toward hypnotherapists, such as the Professional Hypnotherapy Network. You can become a member online.[17]
- Organizations such as the International Alliance of Professional Hypnotists provide resources for professionals online and also host conferences.[18]
- Another way to establish your presence is by renting an office next to psychotherapy and counseling offices, acupuncture clinics or a physical therapy office.[19]
- Advertise and market where potential clients will find your ads.[20] If you treat children with ADHD, put your ads where you know children with ADHD and their parents will see them. Same applies to if you treat addiction, so put your ads where people with addiction may see them, such as clinics or drug rehab centers.[21]
- You can also advertise online, where patients searching for help with their chronic conditions can find you.
- Some hypnotherapists help people lose weight, so advertising at a gym or health center would be ideal.
- Mental health hypnotherapists can advertise in psychiatric clinics.
- Teach classes and seminars on hypnotherapy. In addition to generating income for you, group sessions and seminars benefit other therapists or doctors who are curious to learn about hypnotherapy, past life regression and inner child work. Some people find it more comfortable to learn hypnotherapy in a group setting.[22]
- Offer to give talks to special interest groups, charities and local organizations. They’re usually open to hosting your lecture on the benefits of hypnotherapy.[23]
- If you like to perform, showcasing your hypnotist skills onstage will expose you to potential clients.
EditTips
- Introduce yourself to healthcare professionals in your community. They may recommend you to their patients, as hypnotherapy is widely recognized and accepted by the medical community as treatment for certain health issues.[24]
EditSources and Citations
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