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Getting the Help You Need Safely
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Each year I see a number of clients that tell me they have been adversely affected by another practitioner, who it seems was uncaring or insufficiently trained.
In order to help you choose a properly trained and genuine therapist I have compiled the following guidelines and advice:
Skills and Competence
The short cut method:
Check that the therapist belongs to one of the major hypnotherapy organisations. I belong to General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), and Association for Professional Hypnosis & Psychotherapy (APHP) - under Terence Watts. There are others of course, and following my own research a full list can be found in my book.
These organisations are largely agreed on requirements for membership and progression, such as substantial classroom study, professional insurance, supervision for new members and further training.
Actually ask to see an up to date certificate of membership, or go to the organisation's website and get the therapist's name from their list of practitioners (use the appropriate link above).
If you are interested in a therapist from another organisation (not included here or in my book) use the following checks:
The therapist should have undergone a course of at least 120 hours of classroom study over approximately one year. In my opinion, correspondence or Internet courses are not sufficient. Do check that your therapist has undergone such training!
The therapist should carry an up to date certificate of professional insurance that covers hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. Ask to see it!
Do take note of whether the outfit seems professional, especially if you are seeing someone in their own home. Ask yourself: am I really able to relax in this environment?
It is an advantage if the therapist also has an up to date (within three years) CRB enhanced disclosure, but (through no fault of their own) these are proving difficult to obtain for individual practitioners.
Personal Qualities
This is very important. The "good therapist" is always in the same pleasant mood, and genuinely interested in you. There is no hidden need to control, mother, seduce, feel powerful, feel needed, or utilise the therapy situation for anything other than a genuine desire to help you get better.
Any of the following should sound the alarm:
You feel no warmth or empathy from the therapist. Think: if you don't sense that the therapist cares about you at all, they probably don't.
The therapist reacts emotionally, is easily upset, or seems to need something from you.
The therapist seems to want to control everything, turns your questions around, or you find him/her dominating or overpowering.
The therapist does not seem to want to show you his/her qualifications and certificates.
The therapist seems to be against medication for your condition.
The therapist keeps suggesting or directing you to memories, interpretations or solutions you do not recognise. This is called 'leading' and has the potential to negate any success you might have had, or even make things worse. Think: if you can't remember something, it probably never happened.
The therapist suggests a sexual relationship, either verbally or otherwise.
The therapist encourages a social relationship or friendship outside of the consulting room.
Do you need a specialist?
Many minor problems can be dealt with effectively by any properly trained therapist. But if you suffer from a more serious problem, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, you will do best to find someone who specialises or is particularly experienced with your kind of problem.
Free Advice
If you would like further explanation of these points please email me using the following link. I will try to answer any questions within 24 hours.
info@counselling-swindon.com
Contact me.
~ hypnotherapy Swindon ~ hypnotherapists Swindon ~ hypnotherapists wiltshire ~ |
