What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness, focus or concentration. Hypnotic states are characterised by an extremely pleasant state of relaxation during which metabolism , heart rate and breathing rates slow and brain waves change to alpha waves – a wave associated with a quiet, receptive state. Meditation, day dreaming, being engrossed in a good book, movie, or driving for distances without being aware of the usual landmarks are all examples of alpha states.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is the application of therapy during hypnosis to modify or change behaviour: smoking, over-eating etc. Hypnosis involves accessing the power and the resources of the unconscious mind to unlock potential and to discover solutions to difficulties which the conscious mind has been unable to deal with.
Read about the effectiveness of hypnosis
Training for hypnotherapists
At present, anybody can set up in practice as a hypnotherapist, without undergoing any formal training. One way to ensure that your hypnotherapist or hypno-psychotherapist has been properly trained is to ensure that they are a member of the National Society of Hypnosis, Psychotherapy and Mindfulness.http://www.hypno-psychotherapy.net/ or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/
NSHP members have trained to the syllabus requirements of the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, or have equivalent (UKCP) training. The National College provides a thorough training in hypno-psychotherapy, with comprehensive coverage of hypnotherapeutic techniques integrated with a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches. The National College is one of the oldest hypnosis and psychotherapy training schools first achieving external accreditation in 1993. It adheres to the National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy (the Principal and Managing Director were members of the working group who wrote these), and incorporates the Professional Occupational Standards produced by UKCP. National College graduates are also eligible to join the Complementary and Healthcare Council www.cnhc.org.uk – the UK voluntary regulator of complementary therapists.
The National College’s Diploma course is a genuine, validated post-graduate course which has been recognised as such by the Open University since 1977. Additionally , the Master’s level study required for the National College’s Advanced Diploma counts as 50% of Bath Spa University’s MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice.
NSHP members are strictly regulated in respect of:
- Qualifications (and their disclosure on request)
- Terms, conditions and methods of treatment
- Client confidentiality
- Professional relationships
- Research and publications
- Practitioner competence
- Personal and professional behaviour
- Post-qualification supervision