Before choosing a therapist
It is often very confusing for anyone choosing a therapist for Hypnotherapy and CBT Therapy in North London, South Woodford, or Hertfordshire to know who to approach and who is likely to offer you the best help for their particular problem.
To that end, I have compiled a list of questions that you should ask any therapist you are considering seeing.
Your well-being is precious! So whoever you eventually see for therapy, please ensure that you have checked and are satisfied with the responses you receive.
Key points
- Choose a therapist who listens and develops a trusting relationship with you to ensure your safety and well-being during sessions.
- Ensure your therapist has proper qualifications, such as membership in accredited bodies and additional training in related disciplines like CBT.
- Speak with the therapist before making a commitment, without any pressure or obligation, to assess if they are the right fit for you.
- Consider the experience and dedication of the therapist, as extensive training and continuous professional development contribute to effective help.
- Look for reviews from past clients and recommendations from medical professionals, which indicate the therapist’s standing and effectiveness.
(Hypnotherapy)
Questions to Ask Your Therapist
Will you understand my problem?
A skilled therapist will be highly empathetic and will begin by listening more than talking. This should be the case for Hypnotherapy or Cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT).
He will be asking you questions that will help him learn about your condition, whether it’s weight loss or anxiety; help with smoking cessation or pain control; and then find the best solution for you.
Your therapist should be working hard to develop a trusting relationship with you so that whatever comes up during the sessions can be understood and handled in a manner that keeps you feeling safe and secure. He will continually seek to explain all that he is doing so as to fully involve you in your own well-being.
He will be asking you questions that will help him learn about your condition, whether it’s weight loss or anxiety; help with smoking cessation or pain control; and then find the best solution for you.
Your therapist should be working hard to develop a trusting relationship with you so that whatever comes up during the sessions can be understood and handled in a manner that keeps you feeling safe and secure. He will continually seek to explain all that he is doing so as to fully involve you in your own well-being.
Are you properly qualified? How do I know that you are competent?
It is, unfortunately, possible for anyone to simply buy a book, read it, and call themselves a therapist without actually ever having received formal training or any recognised qualifications.
At the very least, any Hypnotherapist that you see should belong to an accredited body (for example, the National Council for Hypnotherapy or the General Hypnotherapy Register), which will prove that the required training standards have been met.
Then look a little further—have they had any original articles published? Do they have an understanding of other related and relevant disciplines, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)? Have they undertaken training in other specialised fields like Stress Management, or Weight Loss?
At the very least, any Hypnotherapist that you see should belong to an accredited body (for example, the National Council for Hypnotherapy or the General Hypnotherapy Register), which will prove that the required training standards have been met.
Then look a little further—have they had any original articles published? Do they have an understanding of other related and relevant disciplines, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)? Have they undertaken training in other specialised fields like Stress Management, or Weight Loss?
Can I talk to you before making a commitment without any pressure or obligation?
You should be able to speak at length with your therapist to enable him to explain his approach to you and for you to feel satisfied that he is right for you. Ideally, this should be face-to-face; (although for the sake of convenience, this might also be carried out over the phone) and should be without any charge or obligation.
Only when you are happy with everything you have learned should you decide to go ahead. This might be at the same time as the initial consultation if this is practical for all concerned; otherwise, you should feel free to decide at a later date without feeling pressured in any way to make a decision.
Only when you are happy with everything you have learned should you decide to go ahead. This might be at the same time as the initial consultation if this is practical for all concerned; otherwise, you should feel free to decide at a later date without feeling pressured in any way to make a decision.
Why are you and not the therapist down the road who is £20 cheaper?
The very best training will take years to complete. A skilled and dedicated therapist will also undertake further training constantly throughout his career.
He will regularly attend seminars and knowledge exchange programmes with peer groups and other therapists from allied disciplines. Finally, it would also be a great advantage for him to be involved in the training of other therapists.
This helps to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of all aspects of therapy in his field. All this will have to be privately funded. If your therapist meets all these standards, then he will undoubtedly be able to offer you effective and genuine help.
He will regularly attend seminars and knowledge exchange programmes with peer groups and other therapists from allied disciplines. Finally, it would also be a great advantage for him to be involved in the training of other therapists.
This helps to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of all aspects of therapy in his field. All this will have to be privately funded. If your therapist meets all these standards, then he will undoubtedly be able to offer you effective and genuine help.
Do you have reviews from past clients that I can see?
Everything and everybody is subject to a review or feedback today, and therapists of course are no different in this regard. There are of course many different platforms, Google of course being the most obvious.
Many of my fellow therapists myself included now choose to be visible on an independently verified site such as “Trusted Practitioner” (by Trust Vega.com) which was founded by a highly regarded therapist and ensures that only genuine reviews are published.
When looking for a particular therapist for Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London & Hertfordshire, why not ask the therapist where the bulk of his clients come from? If most of the therapist’s clients tend to come from personal recommendations, or from referrals from Medical professionals, then this is a very good indication of his standing.
Many of my fellow therapists myself included now choose to be visible on an independently verified site such as “Trusted Practitioner” (by Trust Vega.com) which was founded by a highly regarded therapist and ensures that only genuine reviews are published.
When looking for a particular therapist for Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London & Hertfordshire, why not ask the therapist where the bulk of his clients come from? If most of the therapist’s clients tend to come from personal recommendations, or from referrals from Medical professionals, then this is a very good indication of his standing.
How long is all this going to take? I don’t want to be coming here for weeks on end.
Your initial consultation will enable this very important question to be addressed. The information gleaned during this time will enable your therapist to give an opinion as to the length of therapy likely to be required. We are all different, and though we may often have similar issues, there should be no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to therapy.
It would be counter-productive, for example, to promise a result in three sessions and find that we actually need five; and conversely, should the therapist guess that five sessions might suffice, then find that the work has been satisfactorily completed within three, what then? Might he be tempted to keep the client coming back regardless? Whenever I begin any programme of Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London, & Hertfordshire, my own view is to discuss this fully and openly with the client and gauge between us exactly how we feel about the progress that is being made.
It would be counter-productive, for example, to promise a result in three sessions and find that we actually need five; and conversely, should the therapist guess that five sessions might suffice, then find that the work has been satisfactorily completed within three, what then? Might he be tempted to keep the client coming back regardless? Whenever I begin any programme of Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London, & Hertfordshire, my own view is to discuss this fully and openly with the client and gauge between us exactly how we feel about the progress that is being made.
You see people with so many very different conditions, shouldn’t I see a specialist?
A professional and experienced Hypnotherapist is by definition, a specialist. The conditions listed on my website like phobia and fear elimination; or self-esteem and confidence issues, for example, may all have common root causes. The approach would be similar, however – through addressing the subconscious and by learning to change habits and behaviour.
So many of the conditions that I deal with during my Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London, & Hertfordshire are stress and/or anxiety-based though, and in these cases helping my clients to develop a sound and reliable relaxation strategy would always be part of my approach.
Though of course, as I mention elsewhere in this list, all clients are individuals with issues completely unique to themselves, and all therapy must be developed on a wholly individual basis.
So many of the conditions that I deal with during my Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London, & Hertfordshire are stress and/or anxiety-based though, and in these cases helping my clients to develop a sound and reliable relaxation strategy would always be part of my approach.
Though of course, as I mention elsewhere in this list, all clients are individuals with issues completely unique to themselves, and all therapy must be developed on a wholly individual basis.
Is Hypnotherapy taken seriously by the medical profession?
It is now widely accepted by Doctors and Health Professionals in all areas of conventional medicine; that in the battle against depression and anxiety-based conditions, the ability to relax adequately and to manage stress is vital for recovery and ongoing psychological well-being.
Hypnotherapy is an extremely powerful method of promoting rapid and deep relaxation, which leads to the alleviation of stress overload. In my own sessions for Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London & Hertfordshire, I often teach my clients the method of self-hypnosis where appropriate, which will help them to continue their recovery and strengthen their mental health for themselves – long after their sessions with me are completed.
Hypnotherapy is an extremely powerful method of promoting rapid and deep relaxation, which leads to the alleviation of stress overload. In my own sessions for Hypnotherapy & CBT Therapy in North London & Hertfordshire, I often teach my clients the method of self-hypnosis where appropriate, which will help them to continue their recovery and strengthen their mental health for themselves – long after their sessions with me are completed.
In conclusion, choosing the right therapist for Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in North London, South Woodford, or Hertfordshire is crucial for your well-being.
By asking important questions such as understanding your problem, qualifications, having a no-obligation consultation, the therapist’s expertise and client reviews, treatment duration, the therapist’s specialization, and the recognition of Hypnotherapy by the medical profession, you can make an informed decision.
Remember, your well-being is valuable, so ensure that you feel comfortable and confident with your chosen therapist before embarking on your therapeutic journey.
