The debate of hypnosis hypnotherapy has been alive for many years now. In order to fully comprehend the debate, we need to go back to understanding the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Hypnosis is when a person undergoes a hypnotic trance-like state where they become more alert than in their everyday life, open to suggestions that they may otherwise disregard. Hypnosis can be administered by someone who may or may not fully understand the subject's mind. Some hypnotists may not even be qualified at all.

Hypnotherapy hypnosis is administered by a person with extensive training in their discipline, a professional who has spent years studying hypnotherapy and gained all the necessary qualifications to be a certified hypnotherapist. It is here that the debate lies – who is performing hypnosis and what education do they have to support their practice?

As mentioned in a previous article, the myths that surround hypnosis have been created from a false and inaccurate perception of how hypnosis works and for what purpose it should be used. We have all seen many times on the television a 'hypnotist' on stage that pulls individuals from the audience to hypnotize them. Often we see the selected members of the audience barking like dogs or sitting embarrassed as they believe the remaining audience can see them naked on the stage. These are silly and rather reckless displays of behavior by the 'hypnotist' and it is these examples that create a false perception of hypnosis. Like with doctors and dentists, it is the ultimate choice of the client to choose the right therapist for themselves.

It is important to be aware of this debate when researching qualified therapists. Would you rather choose the therapist that completed the weekend course in hypnosis or the therapist with endless years of rigorous training? I know which one I would choose.