When I first started training as a hypnotherapist, I knew there would be hypnosis involved. There would be learning, case studies and exams. I had some idea of what the end result might look like. (Or at least, I thought I did.) What I didn’t know was all the other unexpected things that came along with it. The things they don’t put in the prospectus.
1. Half your friends will think training as a hypnotherapist is a wonderful idea
The other half may worry that you’re becoming rather odd. “A bit woo woo”, as it’s sometimes called.
When you tell people you’re training as a hypnotherapist, their reactions will generally vary quite a lot. Many are really supportive. Or get very excited and volunteer as practice subjects. (Have a look at how one of our volunteers felt in this other article.) They ask whether you can help them stop smoking or lose weight, or any of the other changes they have never quite got around to making.
And then there are the others. Some ask if hypnotherapy is “real” or if it works. Some ask if you’re going to make them cluck like a chicken. Years ago, someone quite literally refused to serve me in a shop when she found out I was a hypnotherapist. Apparently, she thought I might hypnotise her against her will.
The main thing to remember is that other people’s reactions tell you more about their ideas about hypnosis than about your new career.
2. Your own life doesn’t have to be perfect to be a therapist
(Though it’s best to sort out any major issues, of course.)
We all have the odd bad day. We get stressed, even though we know how to avoid it. We worry about family members. We don’t always follow the good advice we give our clients. You don’t have to become some sort of permanently enlightened being or guru before you’re allowed to help other people.
Therapists are, of course, human beings like anyone else.
What matters is acknowledging this. learning to set good boundaries and being willing to keep learning. In fact, most people come to hypnotherapy as a second career (or a third), and your life experience helps you to understand the people sitting opposite you.
3. Practising hypnotherapy on family members isn’t always as easy as you think
Most students do at least some of their practice hours at home with family and friends. And you might assume that your nearest and dearest would make ideal volunteers.
Sometimes they do. But sometimes you and your partner spend the entire session trying not to giggle. Sometimes your teenager develops an urgent need to be literally anywhere else.
Your relatives can be much more nervous about hypnosis than strangers. They know you in different roles, and they’re aware of how inexperienced you are. Clients, when you’re in practice, know you only as a professional hypnotherapist.
If you hit these problems, you can always arrange practice sessions with other people in your class.
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4. All therapists worry they’ll forget what to say
Over the years, I think all my students have had this concern now and then. But reality is that therapy isn’t like a stage act. You don’t need a constant patter. Sometimes, just offering a client silence and space to think is all they need. And if you use it to think, too, that’s fine.
No one has ever spontaneously combusted because their therapist paused for a moment!
(If you’d like to know more about this, have a look at my blog about using silence in therapy.)
5. You’ll learn a lot about yourself
Most people get into hypnotherapy training because they want to help others. What they don’t always realise is how much they’ll learn about themselves as well. I still clearly remember my first lesson in visual, kinaesthetic and auditory thinking, for example. It was when I realised I had aphantasia, and a lot about my personal abilities and challenges fell into place.
When you spend a lot of time learning about how people think, cope and change, it’s difficult not to bring that into your own life too.
6. Clients don’t read the textbooks
One of the first things you’ll discover is that real clients don’t always react the way the books and theories tell you they will.
In my very early years of practice, I worked with a client who couldn’t seem to go into trance. It was like watching someone try not to fall asleep in a boring meeting. She’d start to go and then her head would jerk up, and her eyes would pop open. It was completely involuntary, and no matter what we tried, nothing seemed to work.
Finally, I just asked her to close her eyes and imagine. She dropped instantly into deep hypnosis.
That sort of experience, having to think on your toes, is what keeps the work interesting.
7. You won’t just be a hypnotherapist
When you work for yourself, you end up wearing a surprising number of hats.
Of course, you’ll be a therapist. But you’ll also become a receptionist, administrator, marketer, accountant, and tea-maker.
If you work from dedicated premises, you might even discover hidden talents as a cleaner, interior designer and, occasionally, emergency plumber. At the time of writing, my own recent adventures have involved a blocked toilet (because someone tried to flush the bleach cage), two dozen flies suddenly emerging from behind a blocked fireplace, and a padlock on the door that seemed to spontaneously change its own entry code.
None of these things featured prominently in my hypnotherapy training.
8. There may be days when you don’t particularly want to go to work
I think this is true of all jobs. Even if you 100% love what you do, you may have those days. When it’s pouring with rain, the to-do list feels overwhelming, or you’d really just like a duvet day.
Then your first client arrives. You start talking. And you remember why you chose therapy as a career in the first place. It’s like magic.
9. You’ll never forget your first therapy client success
My first client came for weight loss. By the end of her three sessions, the most striking change wasn’t the number on the scales. Her body language changed. She had started taking pride in her appearance again. The quiet, overwhelmed woman who arrived in session one had rediscovered her confidence and self-belief.
It was my first experience of how clients can come with one goal in mind, and end up meeting others.
And I see my students experiencing the same, perhaps with their case studies, before they have even qualified.
10. Watching people change never gets old
For years, I’ve said to students that when the novelty of watching clients change wears off, I’ll quit. Yet here I am, 20+ years later.
It could be someone sleeping properly for the first time in months. Or passing a driving test after years of trying. Or finally being able to fly abroad on holiday.
It doesn’t matter how long you’re in practise, it never loses its magic.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about training as a hypnotherapist, it’s perfectly normal to have concerns.
- Can I learn to hypnotise someone?
- Will I be any good?
- What if it goes wrong?
Most therapists have probably asked themselves the same questions at some point.
But all we need from our students is curiosity, an interest in people, and a willingness to learn. Our courses don’t expect you to have any particular knowledge of therapy, hypnosis, or anything else. That comes later, when you start your training. (Have a look at our “What we look for in our Students” page for more on this.)
And who knows? A year from now, you might be the one reassuring the next nervous student that forgetting your words, dealing with blocked loos, and being thought of as a bit odd by some people are all perfectly normal parts of the journey.
About Debbie Waller
Blog Author Debbie Waller is a hypnotherapist, supervisor, and trainer with more than twenty years of experience. As well as having a busy client practice, she runs Yorkshire Hypnotherapy Training and writes books and articles for therapists who want to deepen their knowledge and develop effective practice.
Disclaimer
The information and ideas shared on this blog are based on the author’s professional experience, research, and training. They are intended for educational purposes and to support reflection and professional development. Therapists should always apply their own professional judgment and consider the needs of individual clients when using any techniques or suggestions discussed here.
While every effort is made to ensure the information is accurate and helpful, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss, damage, or difficulties arising from the use or misuse of material contained in these articles.
