A good hypnotist near you can help you deal with a wide variety of issues, ranging from things like anxiety, chronic pain, weight loss, insomnia, and other sleep disorders, to matters like dealing with irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and quitting smoking. It is estimated that about 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders, making this the most common mental illness in the country. Likewise, over 50 million adults in the U.S. have a sleep disorder. Ignoring these disorders can lead to a variety of health issues including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart attack, depression, and stroke. On the other hand, retaining the services of a hypnotist near you provides you with a safe, non-intrusive, and long-lasting solution for these issues.
However, it is important to note that hypnosis-related treatments can only be effective if they are carried out by a qualified and equally professional hypnotist. As such, it is important to ask certain questions when searching for the right hypnotist near you:
Are You Licensed, Registered, or Certified?
Hypnosis is an unregulated profession in most parts of the United States and usually does not require licensure, registration, or certification to engage in. However, some states, including Washington, Connecticut, and Colorado require the mandatory licensing or registration of hypnotherapists that wish to practice within their jurisdictions. You can contact your local consumer protection office to find out the specific licensing or registration requirements for hypnotists in your state of residence.
If there are no mandatory licensing or registration requirements for hypnotherapists in your area of residence, then you should look out for hypnotists that are members of professional associations, such as the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (A.C.H.E.), the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ACSH), the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists (AAPH), or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH). This is because most of these associations have a code of ethics that the members must abide by while engaging in hypnotism. Also, these associations provide training and certification opportunities for their members, which point to the credibility and expertise of the hypnotist that you intend to hire. Note that it is still a good idea to look out for association membership as well as professional certifications even if you reside in a state that regulates the practice of hypnosis.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hypnotist?
The cost of hiring a hypnotist generally depends on your location, the type of hypnosis, and the experience level and reputation of the hypnotist. Nonetheless, you can expect to pay an average rate of $75 to $250 per one-hour hypnosis session. However, you can cut down these costs by doing any of the following:
- Buying a multiple-session package: Generally, you would be able to reduce the hourly cost of your hypnotherapy sessions by buying them as multiple sessions, rather than individually. However, before doing that, ensure that you are comfortable with the hypnotist and the proposed approach before paying for these multiple sessions at once.
- Hiring a hypnotist that operates on a sliding scale: Operating on a sliding scale means that a hypnotist will charge you based on your income. As such, you can get discounted prices for your hypnosis sessions if you are a student or a low-income earner.
- Hiring a junior hypnotist: Hypnotists just starting out their career will typically charge less than hypnotists with years of experience, and generally charge less for their sessions as a way to increase their level of experience and also build their client base.
What Are the Common Hypnotist Expenses?
When you hire a hypnotist near you, you may incur certain additional expenses excluding the standard session fees. Such expenses include communication and transportation costs:
- Communication costs: Regular communication is a common requirement when undergoing hypnosis treatment. This usually involves phone and video calls, text messages, emails, and other forms of communication, all of which will cost you money.
- Transportation costs: Hypnosis sessions are typically in-person and they will involve either your hypnosis coming to your location for the session or vice versa. Either way, this results in transportation costs to cover any bus fares or gas fees. Note that if the hypnotist has to come to your location, you may also have to pay a convenience or service fee in addition to covering the hypnotist's transportation costs.
Before beginning any sessions with a hypnotist near you, you should always find out whether you will have to pay any additional fees and what the exact nature of these fees is. Doing this reduces the chances of any payment-related misunderstandings and arguments occurring in the future.
Who Will Do The Work?
Many reputable hypnotists have their private practice with junior hypnotists working for them. In situations where these hypnotists have a large patient base, they may be unavailable to personally attend to every case by themselves. As a result, it is important to inquire about who will be doing the actual work of handling your hypnosis session when you wish to hire any hypnotist near you. Find out whether the hypnotist has the necessary knowledge, skill, and experience to do a good job. You should also request proof of certification or licensure where necessary to verify the qualifications of the hypnotist.
What Qualifications Should a Hypnotist Have?
While there are typically no minimum educational requirements for hypnosis, many professional hypnotists are licensed health care, mental health, or medical practitioners who have a master's or doctoral degree. These education qualifications are usually a requirement for obtaining hypnotherapy certifications from professional organizations such as the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists (AAPH), the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (A.C.H.E.), and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ACSH). Other requirements typically include completing between 40 to 100 hours of hypnotherapy training, at least 20 hours of individually supervised training, and acquiring 3 to 5 years of experience practicing hypnosis. Note that in states that regulate the practice of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, hypnotists may also be required to sit for and pass a state-administered licensing examination.
Will You Provide References?
It is essential to ask for references before hiring a hypnotist near you so that you get an idea of the hypnotist's level of knowledge and experience. You could ask for recommendations for a good hypnotist near you from your physician, dentist, psychologist, chiropractor, or other medical personnel. When a hypnotist is referred to you, you should subsequently ask for a list of references that you can contact to get first-hand opinions and reviews on their experience with the hypnotist in question. Additionally, you should also check third-party review sites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review to find unbiased reviews of the hypnotist's services.
Quick Facts about Hypnotists
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Expert Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnosis
What Is Hypnosis? Is Hypnosis Real?
Hypnosis is a trance-like state in which your level of concentration and focus is heightened. It is a genuine form of psychological therapy that can help people to manage and treat various health issues. It is a real type of treatment that has the capacity to change a person's perceptions and sensations, create vivid hallucinations and also change a person's perception of pain. During a hypnosis session, a certified hypnotherapist or hypnotist guides the patient into a deeply relaxed state. The hypnotherapist may then make certain suggestions that can help the patient become more open to therapeutic improvements.
What Do I Need To Know Before Hypnosis? Is It OK To Do Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is regarded as a safe complementary alternative to other types of therapy and it is okay for most persons to undergo hypnosis as long as it is being administered by a qualified therapist or medical care practitioner. However, it may not be helpful for people with severe mental illnesses. Nonetheless, regardless of your mental state, there are a few things to take note of before going for hypnosis:
- Sleeping and hypnosis are not the same things. Hypnosis is a high learning state where the mind is attentive even though the body is relaxed. Although a person may fall asleep while in that state, that is not the purpose of hypnosis. As such, the hypnotherapist's responsibility is to ensure that the patient remains awake and relaxed throughout the session. Therefore, even if the patient's mind wanders during the session, the patient should still be able to understand everything that is spoken.
- Hypnotherapy is not a magic wand. An advantage of hypnosis is that, compared to other forms of therapy, it is safe, efficient, and fast. However, it is not a magic wand that can create overnight improvements.
- Everyone can be hypnotized, if they are willing. It is important to bear in mind that hypnosis requires the willingness of the participant. Working with a hypnotherapist is a collaborative procedure and you cannot be hypnotized without your consent.
- The most prevalent cause of failure to induce hypnosis is a disconnection with the hypnotherapist or dealing with a person who is untrained or not properly trained. Therefore, before engaging in a hypnotherapy session, always look into the qualifications and expertise of the prospective hypnotherapist. After doing that, make sure that the hypnotherapist is someone you can understand and trust.
- Hypnotherapists are not medical doctors. Hypnotherapy is not intended to replace medical treatment. Instead, it is a consciousness tool that can help you heal faster. A hypnotherapist focuses on behavior change and self-improvement in general. They typically do not have state licenses like health practitioners and cannot diagnose or treat psychological or medical problems.
What Does Hypnosis Feel Like?
Like most other states of consciousness, such as sleeping, dreaming, and intoxication, the feeling people experience during hypnosis is unique to each individual. As such, even though the experiences of these people may have some similarities, they cannot be exactly the same, nor can the experience remain the same every time that a person is hypnotized. Nonetheless, people who have been hypnotized usually describe the feeling as calm and relaxing, both mentally and physically. While hypnotized, they typically feel more open to change and experience a willingness to experience life differently, usually in a more detached way than they normally do.
How Do I Choose A Good Hypnotherapist? What Questions Should I Ask A Hypnotherapist?
You can choose a good hypnotherapist by getting a recommendation from someone you know who has undergone the process before. You can also ask your doctor or any medical practitioner to recommend one for you. Alternatively, you can find good hypnotherapists via online resources provided by organizations like the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists. However, even after getting these recommendations, there are certain essential questions you should ask hypnotherapists before hiring them. Some of these questions include:
- Do you have any education or experience in fields like medicine, psychology, dentistry, or social work?
- How much training in hypnotherapy have you had, and from which schools?
- Is your field of expertise licensed in this state?
- What professional associations are you a member of?
- What are your rates, and is your work covered by insurance?
- In what school did you complete your postgraduate studies?
- How long have you been working in this field?
- What conditions are you good at treating?
- Do you provide a follow-up service?
- Can I speak to a few of your clients so that I am assured you are right for me?
Who Needs Hypnotherapy? What Conditions Can Hypnosis Treat?
Hypnotherapy can be used to help manage pain and to treat several conditions like sleeping disorders, digestive disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, gastrointestinal issues, phobias, sexual dysfunction, bad habits, and undesirable spontaneous behaviors. It can be also used to help improve learning disorders, sleep, communication, and relationship issues. However, it is generally not appropriate for people suffering from severe mental illnesses.
Why Can Some People Be Hypnotized And Others Can't?
Although most adults can be hypnotized, not everyone can be. The reason for this varies. Typically, people who can be easily hypnotized tend to be more trusting of others, more intuitive, and more likely to get so caught up in make-believe or non-real life situations and experiences, such as a good movie or book. As such, anyone that is open to the process can generally be hypnotized. In circumstances where becoming hypnotized seems difficult or impossible, it is either that the patient does not want to be hypnotized, is too stressed to concentrate on the session, or does not trust the hypnotherapist. However, if none of these factors are in place and the patient still cannot be hypnotized, the problem may be that the hypnotherapist is either untrained or has not been fully trained.
What Are The Side Effects Of Hypnosis?
There are barely any risks or side effects associated with hypnosis and it is usually a safe therapy option if it is performed by a qualified hypnotist or hypnotherapist. However, some people may experience certain mild to moderate side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and situational anxiety. Additionally, hypnosis can cause strong emotions when used as a method to work through earlier stressful or traumatic events and can lead to the creation of false memories.
Is Hypnotizing Someone Illegal?
No, hypnotizing someone in the United States is not illegal. However, some states like Colorado, Connecticut, and Washington require that hypnotherapists be licensed or registered in order to practice.
Is Hypnosis Good For Your Brain?
Yes, hypnosis is good for the brain. It helps the brain focus so that the patient is not thinking about other things and is therefore less self-conscious and has better control of what is going on in the body.
Is Hypnosis A Quick Fix?
The answer to whether hypnotherapy is a quick fix is not a straightforward one and depends on certain variables. In certain instances hypnosis can be a quick fix and solve the problem immediately. Other times, it takes more time and effort. Some of these variables include the patient's comfort, personal rapport with the therapist, and compatibility with the hypnotic approach. Other factors that can affect how fast hypnosis treats a problem include the patient's ability to acknowledge past unprocessed feelings, unmet emotional needs, or present concerns which the conscious mind may be oblivious of.