Asking the Right Questions

Choosing to work with a professional hypnotherapist is an important decision. In order to find a professional you may want to check your local yellow pages or perform a search on the internet. However, the most important aspect of finding a professional hypnotherapist is what to look for in order to ensure you will receive professional, competent, and ethical treatment.

Full Circle Hypnosis provides you with some information that will help you make an educated and informed decision. Like any profession, there are things to be aware of when looking for the professional that will be best for you.

At the moment, the practice of hypnosis is not a regulated profession. So it is important for the consumer to have the skills and knowledge to find a competent and ethical practitioner.

Important questions to ask about their educational background:

• Where did they receive their education?
• Did their education require a practicum? If so, how many hours?
• How long was their training program? (it should be at least 400 hours)
• Are they registered with a professional hypnosis organization?

Important questions to ask about their practice:

• What do they do for continuing education?
• What are their code of ethics?
• Do they have you complete an intake and disclosure form?
• What are their professional boundaries?
• How many years of experience do they have?
• Ask about the types of issues they work with (they should have experience with your issue).

Ask questions that pertain to your goals:

• Ask them to explain how and why hypnosis works in easy to understand terms.
• Ask if they know the difference between Emotional and Physical Suggestibility.
• Refer to the section "Can You Be Hypnotized?" for more information on this.
• Ask them to explain what to expect in a session and how many sessions they think you will need.

Trust your instincts:

• Did they answer all your questions?
• Do they make you feel at ease and comfortable?
• Do you feel you can trust them?

Tips to look for:

• Look for certificates on their walls.
• Do they dress and speak professionally?
• Do they treat you with respect?

Overall, trust your instincts. In order to allow yourself to go into hypnosis you must feel comfortable with the practitioner, their credentials, their education, and their experience.

Click here to find a list of qualified hypnotherapists!