Choosing the right hypnotherapist is an important step on the journey towards help and relief. You need to be sure that you find someone you trust to guide you into trance. They also need to have the skills and reputation you can depend upon. The trouble is that hypnotherapy in Australia is self-regulated. There is a big gap between those that are professional, regulated and reliable and those that scrape through with minimal standards. That is why it helps to ask the following questions when searching for a hypnotherapist.
Does the therapist abide by the standards of the Australian Hypnotherapists Association?
It is important to find out whether or not the therapist is a part of a nationally recognised body of hypnotherapists. For many, this means the Australian Hypnotherapists Association. There is also the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists. This is because all hypnotherapists should abide by a code of conduct – even if there is no legal obligation to do so. Those that take the time to align themselves with the industry standards of the AHA are the safest bet.
At the same time, it helps to ask if they are members of any associations. For example, are they a True Counsellor member or part of some other organisation. If so, they should be able to show a certificate of membership or registration with a valid date. Don’t just take their word for it. If they can’t provide this, does that mean that they purely work independently? If so, this could mean a lack of accountability and structure to the sessions.
Are they qualified to carry out these hypnotherapy sessions?
Qualifications are important with any hypnotherapist – regardless of their associations and memberships. You need to be sure that they have the knowledge and credentials to handle your problem. There are some that will claim that they are more than qualified to by hypnotherapists due to past trauma and a passion for the subject. This is a starting point, but not enough to ensure that they are truly qualified for the job. Official, professional training is essential.
Just like the membership certificates, they should be open about their qualifications. Again, don’t take everything at face value. They may have an authentic-looking diploma from some institution on their wall, but it may not be recognised as valid for the industry.
What can you expect from the sessions?
If the answers so far are positive, you can then start to find out a few more details about the sessions themselves. A good starting point is to ask about the duration and frequency of the sessions. Remember that the average is between 50 and 90 minutes, so those offering a speedy 30-minute service may not be that effective. Also take the time to ask what might happen if a session over-runs, or if they take notes.
What to do if the answers to these questions are negative
There are three possible responses here. You could find that you speak to a therapist that says yes to questions on associations and qualifications and offers a clear service. Their claims may check out and they could be a good fit. Then there are those that say yes under false pretences and don’t have the certification to back up their claims. Others may insist that they are perfectly respectable as an independent therapist without those memberships or qualifications. The problem with the later is that they can be pretty convincing. Some will try and assure prospective clients that there aren’t industry standards to meet. Others may try and deflect questions or dismiss them as unimportant. This isn’t the case at all.
If you come across any questionable therapists that don’t meet the criteria outlined here – or you simply want more guidance – call Core Hypnosis on 0432 808 450. We can help you in your quest to find the perfect, regulated therapist for your problem.