Hypnosis is the ancient art of inducing a trance. Suggestions are offered to the client's unconscious mind while they are in a suggestible altered state of consciousness.

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We have all experienced a trance. The most common form is daydreaming. Anyone who has been deeply engrossed and focused on a single task e.g. a repetitive task, reading or watching a good film will recognise a similar state. Another example would be chatting with someone with whom you have good rapport and losing track of time. Hypnotherapists deliberately induce this relaxed state and then offer hypnotic suggestions.

While a client is in an altered state of consciousness their unconscious mind is available to therapy. The unconscious mind is hidden beyond our awareness. In addition to its more positive aspects, it is where impulses, habits, negative emotions and memories, and irrational thoughts reside.

In most forms of therapy. e.g. psychotherapy, the therapist makes suggestions at a conscious level. The conscious mind, whilst rational, can also be defensive, overly critical, overcome with negative thinking, and not always in the mood for change. When in a trance, the clients' conscious mind relaxes, allowing the therapist to communicate with a more receptive unconscious mind.

Smokers are well aware (conscious) that smoking is harmful and yet find themselves compelled to smoke. For smokers, conscious awareness of health warnings, increasing social unacceptability, the cost, smell on clothes, etc. do not override the unconscious habit. Hypnotherapy and NLP tackle the unconscious desire to smoke.

People with phobias know (are conscious) that the thing they fear is not really a threat. Still, their unconscious fear rises when the stimulus is present. Hypnotherapy and NLP build confidence and can tackle the cause, such as a memory of being frightened as a child.

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Relaxing, pleasant,  peaceful and creating focused attention. Lightness, heaviness, or tingling sensations are often reported.

It works for most people and most problems most of the time. It is not a magic wand or miracle cure. It is a partnership with the therapist acting as a facilitator. The therapist is catalytic, empowering the client to achieve their goals. Some effort by the client is usually required. Just like medicine, and other talking therapies, it may not bring about the desired change in some people.

Hypnotherapy has a constantly growing scientific evidence base. For some issues, we have randomised controlled trials - the type of research conducted to test whether medicines work. We also have lots of qualitative research, case studies, therapists' own observations in the therapy room, feedback from clients after therapy, and clients returning to solve another issue or recommending hypnotherapy to other people.

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Anyone who has experienced a daydream can be hypnotised. People with severe learning difficulties, cognitive problems, and very young children can be hypnotised but doing useful therapy can be limited by language and comprehension. Hypnotherapy is talking therapy. A client can refuse or resist going into trance but this is rare as they're paying for a service! We teach you how to handle any nervousness they may have about trance, coping with an emotional issue, etc.

A good result normally lasts and hypnotherapists aim for a sustainable result. If the client returns, the reasons for this are dealt with. We have to ensure clients are not reliant on our help to maintain the solution. The effects of therapy can then last a lifetime, such as overcoming a phobia or habit. Sometimes a more reasonable outcome is management rather than cure, such as coping with chronic pain or tinnitus.

Normally 50 minutes to 1 hour per session. 

There are many variables, such as client motivation, the severity of the issue, complexity and number of presenting issues, support systems outside of therapy, etc. For most issues, client's will attend for 3 to 6 sessions.

Hypnotherapists who graduate from a reputable school like ours can register with professional associations and receive a health fund provider number. Scores of health fund providers recognise these organisations as upholding standards of ethics, ensuring members are well-trained, insured, supervised and so on. 

Hypnosis and trance are 100% natural and safe. We all experience trance regularly. A client cannot get 'stuck' in a hypnotic state and they always remain in control. Clients can choose to go deeper or terminate a trance at any time. They always remain aware of themselves and their surroundings and they can speak at any time. Only untrained, or poorly trained, hypnotherapy practitioners can be unsafe.

Of course, hypnotherapy brings many positive ones such as a client feeling more relaxed, realising their potential, problem-solving, feeling happier, less fearful, more content and/or sleeping better! A small number of people with very low blood pressure can feel a bit faint and they can recline to alleviate this. Temporary pins and needles and numbness can occur as well as a mild 'hypnotic hangover' similar to a temporary mild headache, for those who may have been deeply relaxed, processed a lot, or disengaged too quickly from their trance. Hypnotherapy, therefore, has a better track record than many approaches and medications.

No. In fact, regulation was tried and reversed.

Some unethical schools are putting out misinformation that regulation is around the corner. The AHA (the largest and oldest hypnotherapy association) has not been informed of anything of the sort. We have this in writing. We recommend asking the school for evidence in writing.

Other schools claim that only their courses would guarantee the future of a hypnotherapist if regulation were to occur. No school could make this claim because no one knows what regulation would look like or what any new course requirements would be.

Also, in the therapeutic world, 'grandfathering' rights are often given to people who have already qualified. Alternatively, people are given time to add to their training to make up for any shortfall. Again, ask the school claiming this for evidence, in writing, and all will become apparent.

A further untruth is that only their course will allow the student to obtain a Health Provider Number for clients to claim on their medical cover. Most validated courses lead to this status. Some schools claim that insurance companies won't recognise other courses. At the time of writing, according to one of our validating associations, only one insurance provider out of hundreds has any interest in particular schools or courses.

In fact, sadly, most insurance companies don't cover hypnotherapy. Of those that do, they only cover a small number of presenting issues. And of those few presenting issues, most insurance companies only pay a very small proportion of the costs anyway. The truth, then, is that this provider number means less in practice than people often think. Again, we suggest asking for evidence in writing if wild claims are being made.

If a school does send any wild claims in writing, please consider forwarding them to their validating professional association and complain.

You can be reassured that our diploma will qualify you to work with the paying public.

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