Clinical Hypnotherapist

The Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists defines a clinical hypnotherapist as a specialist who uses hypnosis to work with problems or conditions that the client wishes to change. A much better definition for clinical hypnotherapist is given by Judith E. Pearson. According to Pearson, a hypnotherapist is a licensed or certified mental health professional who has obtained specialized, post graduate training and certification in the use of clinical hypnosis within the context of counseling, psychotherapy, or other medical specialty.

Clinical hypnotherapists often work with doctors on many cases, however, referral is not usually necessary.

Responsibilities of clinical hypnotherapists include setting up initial consultations with patients, taking their medical and social history, recommending courses of treatment and inducing a trance-like state. By inducing a trance-like state the hypnotherapist is able to help his patient deal with a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, eating disorders, phobias, smoking habits and addiction.

Most clinical hypnotherapists around the world belong to an association in the field of hypnotherapy, some of these organizations are the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, the Australian Clinical Hypnotherapists Association, the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists, the Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists and the Association of Clinical Hypnotherapists. If you are planning to see a clinical hypnotherapist, it is much better to choose a therapist who is a member of a recognized association.

The American Council of Hypnotist Examiners is one of a handful of private organizations that offer certification for hypnotherapists. A hypnotherapist is eligible to become a certified clinical hypnotherapist if he or she has fulfilled all of the requirements for a hypnotherapist and has completed a total of 300 hours of instruction in hypnosis from a school approved by the organization.