Find a professional hypnotherapist

Personal Referral:
The best way of finding a professional hypnotherapist is through personal referral. If you know someone who has had a positive experience with a certain practitioner, it is more likely that you will receive the same yourself. If you're not in this position, consider the following options.

Local Directories:
Search your local Yellow Pages telephone directory and find a selection of practitioners in your area. Those who are members of national registering bodies stand out in boxes with a national register logo.

National Registers:
Find a practitioner who is registered with a Nationally recognised Registering organisation. These usually have representation via the internet where you can check out Code of Conduct & Ethics, Complaints and Disciplinary Code, guidance regarding supervision of practitioners etc. Any worthwhile Registering body insists on members with less than three years of experience (after training) to be in active and regular Supervision, some would also be attending peer group support. A website that gives 8 registering organisations listed in links under www.ukcho.co.uk adhere to UKCHO's professional standards with varying Codes of Practise and Ethics.

Give yourself a choice:
Contact several practitioners if you have a choice available. Choice enables comparisons. When you telephone to arrange a consultation check whether this is free or whether there is a charge.

Expect your enquiry to receive an open and friendly reception, if for some reason it does not, go no further with the line of enquiry, try another.

Consultation:
This is an opportunity to determine whether you have been listened to, given an adequate opportunity to explain your needs and received support to deal with more difficult questioning.

Is the practitioner interested and keen to help you with your personal development? Go with what your intuition is telling you. If you are unsure about a particular choice, find someone who you can be sure about. The practitioner needs to present a calm, confident, friendly manner but also one that is of a professional nature. Avoid professional aloofness, a cold manner, blunt or humiliating comments/behaviour are definitely a signals to leave.

Questions you can ask at the Consultation include training and qualifications; insurance to practise (details available usually on request); relevant experience working with the difficulty you present; free brochure or leaflets are ideal. Terms and conditions of employment by you can include fees, appointment/cancellation policy and how to contact the Registering organisation (access to Complaints procedure)

Caution: Avoid practitioners who offer 'cures' - unless they are also medically qualified and you have evidence of this.

Because it is impossible to guarantee human behaviour, it is unethical to offer guarantee's of success as a method of selling hypnotherapy services to members of the public.  It is well advised to avoid those practitioners who do this.