Wherever you are in the world, it's important to choose a hypnotherapy training course which is the right fit for you. Luckily, in Scotland, there are some great hypnotherapy training providers and you're not short of choice. But, with all that choice around when it comes to hypnotherapy courses in Scotland, how do you go about choosing the right course?
Accreditation
If you want to study hypnotherapy for fun, or learn a few techniques to use with friends and family, an evening course or weekend course might be the right option. These courses don't require too much effort and there's no need to submit assignments. If, however, you are serious about becoming a hypnotherapist you are advised to complete a fully accredited course which meets National Occupational Standards and allows for registration with CNHC and GHR.
Local or national organisation
You'll have a choice between training providers who design and lead their own courses and provide personalised support at every stage of your training and beyond. Alternatively, some training providers run courses throughout the UK. These courses are often "single modality" and follow a structure which is easy for a large number of course tutors to deliver. You might prefer to be one of thousands of students, or you might prefer to have access to a trainer who focuses on one course at a time and can offer that personal level of support and care. Institutions that run courses throughout the UK rely on paid tutors which means that teaching quality can vary greatly.
Multi-modality hypnotherapy training
Therapeutic "modalities" refer to different approaches. The National Occupational Standards state that hypnotherapy students should learn about different hypnotherapy approaches so that they have the skills to work with individual clients and adapt their approach accordingly. The different approaches you can potentially learn include CBT-hypnosis, NLP, mindfulness-hypnotherapy, psychodynamic hypnotherapy and solution-focused hypnotherapy. So often, I have had enquiries from people who have studied a single modality, particularly solution-focused hypnotherapy, who find that their skill base is inherently lacking. I offer a wide range of hypnotherapy CPD courses, and during our workshops, those who have undertaken single modality training find it hard to keep up with students who have taken a course where various modalities are covered. Studying various modalities mean that you emerge as a responsive, adaptive therapist who can tailor your approach to your client's needs, instead of being confined within a narrow way of working.
Class size
Whether you like being part of a large or small class is often a matter of preference. For a profession which requires so much practical learning, it's advisable to be part of a group that carefully limits its class sizes. It's impossible to receive the right level of feedback within large groups, there's always the potential for certain people to dominate the group or require more attention than others. Extremely small class sizes face different challenges, including the fact that you're not exposed to enough new faces to practice your techniques fully. However, given the choice, you'll receive a far higher level of attention and input if you are part of a smaller cohort of students.
Assignments
This is linked to accreditation in as much as you will be required to do assignments in a properly accredited course. The assignments are incredibly important. They provide a safe, supported space where you learn your trade. The most important assignments you'll undertake are case studies. Working with friends, family and acquaintances, you'll practice what you've learned during the class and will gain confidence and a real skill base, with feedback from course tutors. You can charge a reduced student fee whilst you practice in this way and learn about ethics and professionalism "on the job". Whichever course you choose, if you're serious about doing this as a business, and doing it well, choose a course with assignments that include case-studies.
Gut feeling
When you go on the trainer's website, what kind of feel do you get? What kind of values are you looking for in a trainer? You might feel more drawn to a course which emphasis support and ethics. Or you might want an academic focus (of course, the two aren't mutually exclusive!). What has your communication been like with the course leader? Phoning up or asking questions by email is a good way to get a "feel" of a course, which is important. What suits you might not be the right course for someone else and, whilst you want to make sure you've based your opinion on logic, bringing in your emotional response can also act as a good guide.
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