Choosing a training school
When choosing to train as a hypnotherapist, we are well aware that you have many choices and that it can be very confusing and difficult to determine which course would suit you best. To help, the National Council of Hypnotherapy have listed some factors that you may like to look for when searching the Internet or looking through prospectuses. We have set out below the questions and our answers.
Does the course equip you to practice? Some schools divide their courses into, for example, foundation, certificate and diploma. Others may be highly theoretical with little practical application. Ensure that, if you wish to go into practice, that you will be able to do so.
After the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy training you will be fully able to practise as soon as you have successfully completed the course. The course has a large practical element. Further more you will be working with real clients during your training.
How much support do the course tutors offer you? All NCH accredited schools have at least two tutors, and even though you may have one primary tutor, there should always be someone else that you can go to with questions or comments. Support in between training days is important too. Is this offered? What about continuing support when you have completed the course?
At the end of the course you will be invited to become a member of the Institute which means that you will have ongoing supervision and assistance from our qualified team.
Ask about the venue and the school simply running from somebody’s home and do they just rent the venue for the time of the course.
At the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy we have dedicated air-
What are the qualifications of the course tutors? These will vary, but it is worth checking out their original training, how much continuing development they undertake and any other relevant qualifications they may have (for example in training or assessing). Also, how experienced are they as hypnotherapists?
All our trainers are fully qualified (details on this web site) and have years of clinical experience.
While there is no regulation of the profession of hypnotherapy in the UK, there are National Occupational Standards. Does the course you are looking at adhere to these standards, and can the school demonstrate this?
Yes all our courses adhere to the National Occupational Standards.
What external validation is there for the course? Most hypnotherapy training is run through private schools, some of which have their own professional body and so, in effect, accredit themselves. Some however, are truly externally validated not only by independent professional bodies but also by an awarding body. Awarding bodies are given this designation by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in England, the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority in Wales, the Scottish Qualifications Authority or the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland.
We are accredited by the National Council of Hypnotherapy and our HPD course is fully accredited and externally validated by the NCFE. The HPD is equivalent to a NVQ level 4.
Do the course tutors see real clients? Some trainers start a school because they can’t make it as practitioners. Current practice is a very important element of the teaching process.
Both main tutors run a thriving practices in London and Surrey and complete approximately 1500 client hours per year each.
We believe it is vitally important that you see demonstrations of techniques and also get to practice. This gives you the confidence to practice with “real people” as soon as you qualify. Not all trainers demonstrate, and not all give you a chance to practice and build your confidence.
Most of the techniques you will learn will be demonstrated by the tutors.
The UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations insists that schools train to minimum standards of 120 hours face to face and 450 hours of total study time. Does the course you are considering meet this criterion?
Our HPD course is 200 hours of face to face training in small groups with a complete study time of 500 hours.
It is important that you are able to see a full syllabus before you start the course and that this has sufficient depth to enable you to start in full practice as soon as you qualify.
Our syllabus is as above. The HPD course training manual which every student receives is over 600 pages and documents fully all the techniques and procedures in the course.
Does the course include business and practice management? This is important as you could qualify as a wonderful hypnotherapist, but if you don’t have the skills to attract clients, you will not succeed in practice.
Yes. Our tutors have built several very successful practices over recent years and will share with you the secrets of their success.
Does the school have policies on such things as equal opportunities and appeals? Are they adaptable to special needs of students?
Yes our courses are open to all potential students who have a passion for the work.
Which professional body’s code of ethics, if any, does the school teach? They should also subscribe to a code of ethics for training itself.
We adhere to the National Council of Hypnotherapy code of ethics.
Does the course entitle you to membership of a professional body? According to the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health, professional bodies should:
- produce high quality, clear information for the public on its registrants and what they offer
- have registration requirements that include providing evidence of competence to practise
- require registrants to be insured to practise the therapy
- require or provide opportunities for continuing professional development
- have a code of conduct and practice
- have disciplinary and complaints procedures
- involve its members in decision-
making - publish its annual accounts
Check these things out.
During the course you will be enrolled as student members of the National Council of Hypnotherapy (at no cost to the student).
What is the tutor/student ratio? There needs to be sufficient personal attention.
Our class sizes are usually limited to 10 students and therefore the ratio is 1 to 5.