Frequently Asked Questions:

Hypnotherapy Training

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1. Questions About our Approach
2. Questions About Course Format
3. Questions About Payment & Booking
4. Questions About Accreditation and Practice

Questions about our Approach

What approach to hypnotherapy do you use and why?

The UK College have always adopted a cognitive-behavioural approach to hypnotherapy.  That means we draw mainly upon modern research on hypnosis that emphasises the role of cognition and other ordinary psychological factors in determining responses to hypnosis.  We also draw upon elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as this, unsurprisingly, is the therapeutic approach most compatible with the cognitive-behavioural model of hypnosis.

What do you mean by ‘evidence-based hypnotherapy’? Is training based on research carried out by the college?

It means we do our best to base our teaching upon a critical reading of contemporary research published independently in the main scientific journals of the hypnosis field, such as the International Journal for Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis (IJCEH).  We also draw upon recognised empirically-supported treatments (ESTs) such as CBT and integrate elements of these approaches with hypnotherapy.  Likewise, our courses explicitly refer to various modern textbooks which present a credible evidence-based approach, such as Essentials of Clinical Hypnosis: An Evidence-Based Approach (2006) by Lynn and Kirsch.

What is the difference between cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy and CBT? Can I call myself a Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist if I have your diploma?

No. Cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy is a modality of hypnotherapy and not classed as a CBT training. Both approaches share similar theories and concepts and therefore complement each other well. Cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy also assimilates certain evidence-based techniques from CBT. Likewise, another major modality of hypnotherapy, “hypno-analysis”, draws upon theories, concepts, and techniques from psychoanalysis. However, this is a hypnotherapy diploma and not a CBT practitioner training. You will, nevertheless, learn about certain aspects of CBT during the training, of course. If you are interested in CBT training without hypnotherapy, have a look at our sister website for information on our introductory CBT certificate course.

Do you teach NLP/Ericksonian techniques?

No. Our training has always adopted an evidence-based orientation and these methods lack sufficient support from research on hypnotherapy. Our college is known for adopting a predominantly cognitive-behavioural orientation to teaching hypnotherapy.

Do you teach past-life regression as part of the diploma?

No. Past-life regression is a “new age” technique and not normally considered part of mainstream clinical hypnotherapy. It is not included, for example, in the official National Occupational Standards for hypnotherapy published by Skills for Health. Our college adopts an evidence-based orientation and past-life regression lacks sufficient support from research to be considered part of this approach.

Does the diploma training cover specific treatments e.g., for smoking cessation/weight loss/IBS etc?

The diploma focuses on teaching generic techniques for treating the widest range of problems and mainly focuses on anxiety, the most common presenting problem in hypnotherapy. We sometimes also run separate workshops on more specific topics.

How successful is hypnotherapy compared to other forms of therapy?

Hypnotherapy is one of the most evidence-based interventions available in the field of psychological therapy. It is supported by a broad range of research spanning a period of over 150 years, including modern meta-analysis, systematic reviews, laboratory experiments, brain imaging data, and individual clinical trials. The International Journal for Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis (IJCEH) is an excellent source of hypnosis research material, and a free subscription is available to REBHP Members.

Questions about Course Format

Why is it possible to do your course in such a short period of time when others take a year or more?

Basically, our course is a one-year hypnotherapy diploma which has been compressed into intensive modules you can attend over consecutive days – the total number of classroom hours is actually greater than on many “one-year” courses.

Most hypnotherapy training courses require approximately 120-150 hours of classroom training. Our course runs “intensively” over three seven-day blocks, whereas other courses may require one or two days of attendance each month. We are required to meet the same standard of training, but we have chosen to do so in a shorter space of time because that format is more popular with students who do not wish to travel each month, or who want to complete their qualification without delays between each module.

I am already qualified in Hypnotherapy. Can I start the diploma at stage 2 or 3 and miss out stage 1?

No. All students need to complete all three stages of training (21 days) to acheive the Diploma in Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy. The main reason for this is that the approach we teach is very different to those such as Eriksonian, NLP or hypno-analysis etc. even at the introductory level. It can’t therefore be assumed that hypnotherapists will have sufficient experience or training in the cognitive-behavioural approach to be able to meet the relevant learning outcomes. As an alternative, most of our modules can be taken as standalone workshops for use as CPD.

Is there anything that you recommend I read in preparation for my training course?

Yes. Preparatory reading is not essential, however, we do suggest that you read some material if you have time before the start of your course. Click here to read our recommended reading list. The main textbook we suggest reading is the current edition of Hartland’s Medical & Dental Hypnosis by Heap & Aravind.

How much time should I leave between each stage of training?

That depends on your circumstances. If you are familiar with the subject already and feel confident that you’re able to keep up with the course then you can complete the stages of training close together. Alternatively, if you feel that you need more time to digest the course material and do background reading then you may space the stages out more, e.g., over a period of 18 months. The training programme was specifically designed to allow complete flexibility in this regard to suit different students’ needs.

Do all the courses include practical exercises?

Yes.  We know that students value practical experience and so we have always sought to include as much practical skills training as possible within our courses, while recognising the need for covering the essential information.  We provide recommended reading and online materials and assessment for most of our courses so that more classroom time can be invested in practical work.

Questions about Payment and Booking

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. If you book at least seven days of training at the same time, you can pay a deposit of £117.50 and split the remaining fees over ten months. This is done by setting up a standing order with your bank. The cost of the modules will be added together and the first instalment must be made before you start the first one.

If you are booking less than seven days, you can pay a deposit of £58.75 per module and settle the remaining fees at least two weeks before the start of each module.

I have already done your diploma, is there any discount for attending additional modules?

Yes. Diploma graduates can attend any module at a 20% discount.

What are the entry requirements for the Foundation Certificate?

You are not required to have any previous training or experience in a therapy related subject. The Foundation Certificate modules, and all those marked as ‘OPEN’ are designed for beginners to the subject.

Students must be aged 18 or over. Students should have no history of criminal convictions or sanctions by professional organisations which might reflect upon their suitability to practice as a therapist. Students should be sufficiently fluent in spoken English to engage with English-speaking clients. Students must be in suitable mental health for training, e.g., without a history of psychotic symptoms or current mental health problems.

Questions about Accreditation and Practice

Is your diploma recognised by the NHS? Will I get GP referrals?

The NHS do not recognise hypnotherapy diplomas. The Diploma is officially mapped against the National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy published by Skills for Health, and correlated with the NHS Key Skills Framework. It is, however, currently unusual for clients receiving hypnotherapy to be funded by the NHS. Most hypnotherapy clients self-refer and pay for their own treatment privately.

Who are your courses recognised / accredited by?

Our Foundation Certificate when taken as a standalone course, and the full diploma are recognised by the British Psychological Society’s Learning Centre for the purposes of continuing professional development (CPD). The full diploma is accredited by The General Hypnotherapy Register, The Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy and The Hypnotherapy Society. The Diploma has been approved as a level 4 award by NCFE, a government recognised national awarding body. Click here for further information on course accreditation and recognition.

When can I start seeing clients?

We strongly recommend that you do not begin to treat clients for payment until you have been accredited to do so by a professional body like NCH or REBHP. Unless you are already qualified and registered to practice in an similar profession like counselling, life coaching, psychotherapy, CBT, etc., you would normally be required to complete the Diploma training and the assessment in full before being accredited to practice hypnotherapy.

How can I find out more about UK College graduates and how they have used their training?

The majority of our graduates set up in private practice once they have completed their diplomas and obtained professional insurance etc. Please see below for a few of our most succesful graduates, and click on their names to view their websites.

Clem and Margaret Turner
Pam Newbury
Olivia Rossiter

Pam and Olivia kindly agreed to take part in an interview discussing their experiences as new hypnotherapists. Click here to read their interviews in full.

Will I get any support once I have completed my training with the college?

Yes. The College will provide ongoing support for students who require help completing their assessment work. You may also obtain support from REBHP or other professional organisations. All practising hypnotherapists should have a clinical supervisor, whose role is to continually mentor and support you in direct relation to your practice with clients.

Will I get any advice on how to set up and market a therapy practice?

The Stage 1 training manual contains a short section with basic advice on practice-building. The College are also happy to provide advice and support in this area where necessary. Further advice and support can be obtained from professional registers such as REBHP or specialist organisations like Business Link and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Will I get help finding a supervisor?

Yes. Certain professional registers such as NCH maintain a database of approved supervisors and will provide members with support in finding a suitable supervisor.

Any other questions?

If you have any questions about our training courses or if you would like to request a prospectus, please feel free to contact us. To sign up for our free email newsletter, please click here.