Getting Hypnosis in Virginia Is Easy…

Finding a Quality Hypnotist Is Not!

An article by Taylor Sherman, BCH, CI

Sometimes those wishing to be hypnotized shop around for hypnotists, as if they are commodities. One hypnotist or hypnotherapist is as good as the other one, right? WRONG!

Your hypnotist’s credentials, experience level, approach of techniques, and general personality, can have an enormous impact on the results that you get.

… In fact, it can be the difference between getting your result and feeling fantastic, or going home saying, “I tried hypnosis, but it didn’t work for me.” Use this guide to choose the best hypnotist in the Washington DC Metro Area (Virginia and Maryland included) that meets your needs.

1. Knowledge of Modern Hypnosis Techniques. You should always query any hypnotist that you are thinking of going to for what types of techniques they use to bring a person into hypnosis. What you want to hear is “Instant Induction,” “Rapid Induction,” or “Dave Elman Induction.” If they say “Progressive Relaxation” or a variation of someone telling you to relax, it is likely that the person is not very well trained and/or is not up to date on modern hypnosis techniques. Contrary to popular myth, hypnosis is not relaxation.

2. Verification of the Hypnotic State. Hypnosis has multiple levels of depth that need to be verified in an approach using tests that let both the hypnotist and the hypnotic subject know that the person is hypnotized. If your hypnotist does not test for the state, and test it rigorously then that is a sign they may not be highly qualified.

Only about 20-40% of persons undergoing hypnosis will achieve the proper depth levels during the first hypnosis that they experience. Those with highly analytical and rational minds, skeptical minds, or ADD / ADHD require a different approach. These people can still be hypnotized, but it requires a hypnotist who is both patient and specially trained for these clients.

3. Experience Level. How long has the hypnotist been doing hypnosis for? While I’ve been practicing hypnosis for over 11 years, I’m surprised that some of my peers start clinical practice after as little as 3 months of experience! Quite honestly, it’s just not enough. You want to look for someone who has been in the hypnosis field for long enough to know their material completely.

4. Training and Credentials. As a Certified Instructor of Hypnosis, I know exactly what it takes to become a hypnotist, and I know how little training some of the people out there are getting from other schools. For example, did you know that some people can market themselves as hypnotists with as little as 3 days of training?

Look for someone who has been to an in-person approved class, such as a National Guild of Hypnotists training, and who has taken steps to go beyond their initial training. All of the hypnotists at the Washington DC Hypnosis Center have attended in-person trainings with extensive practice that meet and exceed the guidelines of the top hypnosis organizations.

To ensure you are getting “the best of the best,” look for someone who has been recognized as a top member of their organization. Both Irit Horn and I have passed the NGH’s Board Certification exam and interview.

5. Wanting Your Success More Than Their Money
In the past few years, there have been a number of hypnotists who have chosen to take the egotistical “marketing and advertising” route to their hypnosis practice, making it all about business and trying to maximize the number of clients they see per day. Some of the signs you are dealing with this type of “Fast Food Hypnosis” are:

• The hypnotist’s photo is plastered on almost every page of their website, and they just can’t stop talking about themselves
• They refuse to quote you a price on the phone, instead opting for a “screening” or separate “booking” appointment (red flag)
• Guarantees to keep doing sessions even if you don’t follow through (if it seems too good to be true it probably is!)

The best hypnotists are those who truly, and authentically care for your success, and are willing to tell you the truth about what you can expect for yourself and for your results.

6. Passion About Their Work. Coming to a hypnotist should be a great experience. Choose someone who is serious about their work and who is committed to helping you. Ask your hypnotist which books or materials they have found most helpful. Their reference to you should not be a “script book.”

7. Working Out of a Professional Office. Imagine going to your first hypnosis session, not being sure what to expect, and feeling quite puzzled when your directions have taken you to a residential address! As you stumble past the mothballs and navigate around the smelly dishes in the kitchen, you are told to walk up some creaky stairs in the “home office,” and to “relax!”

Nothing could be less relaxing than that scenario! You must make sure that the hypnotist you choose works out of a professional office environment. Your doctor, lawyer, and dentist do not work out of their homes — and neither should your hypnotist.

8. A Compounding Approach. Although hypnosis has been portrayed in the media and television as a miracle done with magic wands, a one-session quick-fix almost never lasts in the long term. If you want the changes to last, the suggestions must be compounded and integrated over multiple sessions.

I hope that this guide has been informative to you when you are choosing to get hypnosis in Virginia and in surrounding areas. If you would like to schedule an appointment with the Washington DC Hypnosis Center, please give us a call at 703-779-9616 for Virginia or 301-717-1207 for Maryland.