Not Just Any Hypnotherapist Will Do

Finding the best hypnotherapist can be tricky. There are many unaccredited programs that give people a ‘Certificate of Completion’ without adequate training.

Add to that the confusion about a Certificate of Completion’ and a ‘Certified Hypnosis Practitioner,’ it is daunting. Many hypnosis practitioners wrongly believe their ‘Certificate of Completion’ is the same as a ‘Certified Hypnosis Practitioner.’

A ‘Certificate of Completion’ means that the person has attened the number of hours that a hypnosis training program required. Some programs are only 12-hours of training taken over two days. A “Certified Hypnosis Practitioner’ has 60 to 100 hours of training, plus 100 hours of supervised work and have passed a rigorous exam and presented a recorded example of a session or similar criteria.

The following organizations require members to meet high standards of training and appropriate education qualifications to be ‘Certified.’

National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc. (NGH) World’s Largest Association. https://ngh.net/
The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists (NBCCH) http://natboard.com
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) http://www.asch.net/Public/GeneralInfoonHypnosis/UsesofHypnosisinMedicin...
American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) http://hypnotistexaminers.org/ There are many helpful, professional, well-trained hypnotherapists. It’s important to do some solid research before choosing the best hypnotherapist for you.

In addition to confusion about Certification and Certificate of Completion, the focus of training can be significantly different. Some programs and Certification are based on posthypnotic suggestion modalities only.

Posthypnotic Suggestions are statements or commands spoken to the person while in a trance state. The theory is the person will act on the suggestion. This is sometimes used to help people achieve goals such as losing weight or eliminating an addiction or other unwanted behavior.

While Posthypnotic Suggestions work for periods of time, the root cause that prompted the unwanted behavior or symptom still resides in the unconcious. Thus, left there to manifest in other ways.

Emotional distress/symptoms from A to Z do not heal with Posthypnotic Suggestions. Time , marriages, children, success, wealth, buying a bigger house, or faster car, changing jobs or relocating will not resolve it.

When a child is emotionally, physically and/or sexually abused, it is a deep, pervasive and profound soul injury. One is robbed of his or her innocence, core identity and trust. It is ‘violence’ that does not require force. The child is thrown into a state of shock. For some the memories remain conscious, while others drive them into the unconscious level.

The behavior and physical symptoms are coping mechanisms that are carried into adulthood and impacts the person’s life on every level, including the cellular and soul level, trapped energy, etc. Thus, a deep healing process at the unconscious, cellular and soul level is required.

If a professional asks: “What is wrong with you?” or “What happened to you?” Asking, “What is wrong with you?” or “What happened to you?” implies blame, sickness and fault. Asking, “What did you experience growing up?”–allows the person to begin the process of discovering the source of their pain and healing the mental/emotional and cellular wounds.

The following questions will assist you to choose the best professional for your needs.

What is your approach to the recovery process? The basic recovery process is: Discovery, Heal, Discovery, Heal. Processing feelings and uncovering the layers of pain. “Going into the Pain to get out of the Pain.” “There is no gain without pain.”

If the professional is unable to give you a process similiar to this, thank the professional for their time and call another professional.

Do you allow short phone conversations (10 – 15 min.) between sessions? If the answer is, “NO.” Thank the professional for their time and call another professional. Being able to have short phone conversations between sessions is paramount to the survivor’s ability to develop the deep level of trust required to complete the healing process. Furthermore, people aren’t only in pain on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The recovery process is a 24/7 proposition, the professional’s support between sessions is important to recovery.

What are the critical emotional issues in the recovery process? The correct answer is: Anger/Rage, Sadness, Fear, Guilt, Shame, and Humiliation. Everyone is different, therefore, you might not have all these emotions. However, the professional needs to know them, to be able to adequately meet your needs. If the professional is unable to readily list these 6 emotions, Thank the professional for their time and call another professional.

What tools and techniques do you use to facilitate the recovery process? If the professional is trained in sexual abuse recovery, he or she will name all of the following techniques: Guided Imagery, Therapeutic Journaling, Dream Analysis, Using Affirmations, Using the book, “The Courage to Heal Workbook” by Laura Davis, Hypnosis/regression, Cell Memory Releasement.

The following techniques, or some variation, are optional, but highly recommended:
-Meditation
-Exercise
-Dance
-Music
-Movement Therapy

What is the difference between treating ‘symptoms’ and treating ‘root cause?’ Treating symptoms focuses on the symptomatic coping mechanisms the survivor uses to survive the pain, i.e. drug/alcohol abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, co-dependency, PTSD, ADD, ADHD, OCD, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, arthritis, cancer, MS, sexual addiction, etc. Treating ‘root cause’ focuses on the experience the survivor endured–the Mental/Emotional, Physical and/or Sexual Abuse and the ensuing aftereffects. Uncovering the pain and healing the emotions associated with that pain.

Note: Question above regarding the emotions indigenous to sexual abuse. See aftereffects list. Aftereffects of Sexual Abuse/Assault

Last, but not least, if the professional fails to answer any one of these questions with similar or exact answers thank him or her for his or her time and call another professional. If you are unable to find a professional through the yellow pages or referral contact www.drdorothy.info and Ask Dr. Dorothy.