Hypnotherapist

You could do a course recognised by one of the professional bodies related to hypnotherapy, including:

• National Council for Hypnotherapy
• The National Hypnotherapy Society
• British Society of Clinical Hypnosis
• General Hypnotherapy Standards Council and General Hypnotherapy Register

Courses usually involve practical workshops, plus self-study and written assignments. You may have an advantage when applying for courses if you have a background in healthcare or counselling.

Some hypnotherapy courses are aimed at qualified psychologists or healthcare professionals. You'll need a relevant degree or professional qualification for these.

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be flexible and open to change
• customer service skills
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

In this role you could:

• set up meetings with clients
• discuss your clients’ medical and social history
• suggest courses of treatment
• put your client into a hypnotic trance
• make positive suggestions and statements
• take notes and write reports on progress

You could work in a therapy clinic, from home or at a health spa.

Career tips

Most hypnotherapists are self-employed so it will help if you have some experience of running a business.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join an accredited register for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in hypnotherapy from the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks