5 Mistakes to Avoid When Becoming a Hypnotherapist
When you investigate becoming a Hypnotherapist, like anything else, it is important to do your research before making costly mistakes which can lead you away from your original goals. If you are looking to have a career in Hypnotherapy or to utilize your training as an adjunct to an existing profession you will want to do it right. Getting trained by an unlicensed school is a big mistake and getting too few hours is also up there on the list of ways to sabotage your own efforts. Some trainings and organizations simply maintain low standards and keep our profession from becoming what it truly can be. At the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy, we continually work to raise the standards of Hypnotherapy Training.
Mistake 1: Attending an Unlicensed School
Hypnotherapy is a federally acknowledged occupation, and most states require that trainings for Hypnotherapy are licensed by their respective state’s Department of Education. The first thing to ask a school is who licenses them. There are many companies who are credentialing bodies for Hypnotherapy, yet these are privately owned organizations and not government agencies. Many of these organizations make a lot of money by offering certifications for trainings and practitioners, yet without having to report to a government agency these organizations and training operate under the radar without proper licensure. Therefore, the first and most important piece of advice is to only attend true state-licensed career schools.
Mistake 2: Getting too Few Hours of Training
Due to the enormous amount of unregulated activity in this profession, trainings can be any length that the trainer wants, and he/she can give out certifications for “hypnotist” or “hypnotherapist” without any penalty. The trainings can be as short as one weekend, or as little as 100 to 200 hours. The uneducated consumer could take these classes, get a “certification,” and then think that they know what it means to be a Hypnotherapist. Be sure your training is at least 300 hours, and ideally something closer to 500 total. You simply do not know what you do not know until you know it!
Mistake 3: Not Considering the Business Side of a Private Practice
Many Hypnotherapy Trainings offer techniques to induce hypnosis and to make positive change, yet when the graduate has completed the training, he/she does not necessarily have any way to make a living. To know hypnosis is one thing, yet to run a successful business is another thing entirely. We strongly recommend asking the school about its graduate placement rate, if they track graduate placement, and what the school does to help its graduates to succeed. Your school should offer ample training in business and practice management, and advertising and marketing.
Mistake 4: Being Closed-Minded to Spiritual/Transpersonal Themes
Hypnotherapy is so much more than just hypnotic programming. Tapping into the subconscious mind opens unseen vistas for new practitioners. To be closed-minded and to not believe in certain transpersonal topics, such as past-life regression therapy or life-between-life regressions, limits you to the amazing content that can arise out of a client session. You do not have to believe in anything specifically to learn hypnosis and to succeed in this business yet get all of the training that you can, and be willing to understand that there is always more to learn.
Mistake 5: Self-Sabotage
Many students of Hypnotherapy soon realize that they have a lot of personal growth work to do to truly help others. To try to go through a Hypnotherapy Training without getting Hypnotherapy yourself is a very big mistake. Be sure to get at least five sessions with a graduate of a state-licensed school before or during your education so that you can have a clear mind and an open heart. It is very hard to help others through their issues when you are struggling through your own.
At the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy, we are here to help. Give us a call at 800-551-9247 to discuss your goals with us or visit us online at www.InstituteofHypnotherapy.com to learn more.
