How to Learn Hypnosis: A Beginner’s Guide From a Hypnotherapy Trainer

People ask me this all the time: can I learn hypnosis? The answer is yes. Anybody can learn it. You just need to be open minded and willing.

I’ve taught hundreds of people, and this guide covers what I tell them: how hypnosis is actually learned, what books, videos and apps can and can’t give you, and what it takes to turn it into a career as a hypnotherapist.

If you already know you want to work with clients, our complete guide to becoming a hypnotherapist covers training, accreditation and your first year.

Can anyone learn hypnosis?

Yes. It’s actually fairly easy to teach somebody how to do hypnosis. Most people are surprised by that.

The bigger skill is learning what to do with it once you’ve created it. Taking someone into hypnosis is the starting point. Knowing how to help them while they’re there is the real work.

How to learn hypnosis, step by step

This is the order I would suggest to anyone starting out.

1. Understand what hypnosis really is. It is a natural, focused state that most of us drift in and out of every day. It is not sleep and it is not mind control, and knowing that takes away most of the nerves.
2. Learn from someone who can watch you. Hypnosis is a practical skill. You need a trainer who can see what you are doing and correct it, in the same way you would learn to drive.
3. Practise with willing people. Start with simple relaxation inductions with classmates or friends who have agreed to it. The more people you work with, the more natural it becomes.
4. Learn what to do once someone is in hypnosis. Creating hypnosis is the easy part. Knowing how to use suggestion and reframing to help the person in front of you is the real skill.
5. Train properly if you want to help people professionally. Working with anxiety, habits or trauma needs an accredited qualification and supervised practice, such as our Foundation Diploma or full Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

Learning hypnosis vs training as a hypnotherapist

Learning a few hypnosis techniques and training to be a hypnotherapist are two different things.

Not all clients are equal. Some people need different things. A hypnotherapist learns how to change their approach and how to gauge which protocol is right for which person, rather than running the same script on everybody.

More importantly, a hypnotherapist learns to look after the ecology of the person: their wellbeing, and how a change in one area of their life affects the rest. That is your primary role. The techniques serve that, not the other way round.

Can you learn hypnosis from a book, video or app?

You can, but you don’t have anybody there correcting the bits you’re getting wrong. And it’s worth asking who wrote the book, and who they wrote it for. A stage hypnotist and a clinical hypnotherapist are teaching very different things.

Would you learn to drive a car by reading a book?

Books and videos are a good way to get curious. They’re not a substitute for practising with real people while somebody experienced watches, corrects you and shows you what to do when things don’t go to plan.

What learning hypnosis feels like at the start

When I started, it was a bit confusing. I wasn’t quite sure what it was all about.

My students tell me something similar. Hypnosis is different to what they thought it was, and somewhat easier than the stereotypical picture they’d built up in their minds. Most of the mystery disappears once you’ve experienced it and practised it yourself.

If you’re curious but not ready to commit

Drop me an email or jump on a call. I’m always really happy to have a conversation with people, set their expectations and tell them what it’s really like. There’s no pressure to sign up for anything.

If you’d like to see how our courses are structured first, have a look at our hypnotherapy training in Glasgow and live online.

The rest of this guide goes deeper into the techniques worth learning first, the different routes to study, and how people turn hypnosis into a career.

Why Become a Hypnotherapist?

You probably enjoy helping people; you take pleasure in listening to people’s experiences or challenges and providing solutions. Now you’re wondering if hypnotherapy is for you. Can you really do it and make a living out of it? The truth is, yes, you can.

Hypnotherapy is deeply rewarding as a career. In addition to helping people conquer bad habits and trauma, you also help people experience significant improvements in their anxiety states. You get fulfilled from seeing people walk out of therapy sessions feeling refreshed and happier.

Another reason is that hypnotherapy is a diverse field that offers a flexible career path. You have the potential to work as a coach, become self-employed, or work alongside other wellness practitioners. You are in control of your schedule, field, client, and pricing.

Considering you’re probably certain about becoming a hypnotherapist, let’s discuss learning hypnosis, including the techniques you’ll be taught first, and the best ways to study hypnosis.  We’ll end this post with some inside tips for developing a successful career. 

The Best Hypnotherapy Techniques to Learn First

First off, before we delve into the hypnotherapy techniques, what is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is when you get into a very relaxed state and you’re receptive to suggestions from a therapist. A trained and qualified hypnotherapist is able to guide a client safely into a trance state, rewire and efficiently bring back the person feeling in control and confident. 

These are the key techniques a hypnotherapist uses:

Induction 

This involves systematically tensing and releasing different muscle groups to induce a state of deep physical relaxation. Here, the hypnotherapist guides your breathing. This controlled breathing exercise will help put your mind and body at ease. It also shuts out the noise from internal thoughts. 

Deepening 

This stage allows the therapist to put the client in a state where the client is receptive to suggestions. The therapist begins counting down, e.g., from 10 to 0, while giving suggestions to guide your body into that state. By the time you get to 0, for instance, you’d be incredibly relaxed and fully immersed in the hypnotic state.

Suggestions

This is where the magic happens. Now in the hypnotic state, the therapist speaks in a soft tone to the client’s subconscious mind, instructing him or her to perform certain actions in line with the client’s needs.

NLP Techniques (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

NLP is a technique that involves total rewiring of the mind, shifting people’s thought processes, beliefs and behaviours.

Regression 

In regression hypnotherapy, the client is brought back to what caused the problem, that is, its origin. The therapist creates a trance state and rewrites the origin of the event that triggered the problem in the first instance. 

Parts Therapy 

It stems from the idea that our personality is divided into different parts. Therapists capitalise on these internal parts to offer solutions to clients, cause positive changes and help them connect better with their parts. 

Venturing into hypnotherapy can seem a bit challenging when you’re just starting out.  At Piece of Mind, we reveal the secrets and techniques to make it easy for you. We teach you the basics and core of hypnotherapy through hands-on practice, face-to-face mentorship, and detailed resources that you can revisit anytime. Learn more about the skills and techniques you’ll need to know to guide patients effectively into hypnosis.

What’s the Best Route to Study Hypnosis?

Learning Hypnosis at Your Own Pace

When it comes to choosing the right online course to kick-start your hypnotherapy journey, you must look out for courses based on:

• Flexibility, the course must fit in easily into your schedule. This is especially if you are a career changer, have responsibilities or frequent engagements, or are a busy professional with a full-time job.
• Hands-on practice, including plenty of case studies. 
• Offer post-training support and mentorship.
  

The Ideal Blend: Online Training + In-Person Interaction

While online-only has its perks, you won’t receive the same quality of education as getting training in real time.

A person can be taught how to use and apply hypnosis online, but that in itself does not mean the individual will be able to effectively apply that knowledge in real-life situations.

Hypnotherapy is a practical skill. That said, working in real-time allows you to observe firsthand the techniques of seasoned hypnotherapists, how they apply hypnosis to their clients.

It’s important to practise hypnosis while allowing someone trained in hypnosis to sit in, observe, give feedback and criticise your work. Essentially, it refines the quality of your work and skills and makes you thoroughly and competently trained in hypnosis.

All in all, it’s important that your training includes a lot of practical training. It is a more ideal way of learning to use hypnosis and gives you the confidence to see clients. 

Peace of Mind offers unique blended training  that combines both online and in-person training so that students can benefit from flexibility while gaining practical experience to help them become confident hypnotherapists.

Learning hypnosis for free

Free books, videos and podcasts are a good way to find out whether hypnosis interests you. They can show you what an induction looks like and help you understand the ideas behind it. What they cannot do is watch you work and tell you what to change, and that is where most of the learning happens.

If you want to try it before committing to anything, our free hypnotherapy training taster is a good place to start. Our Tickety Boo Podcast also talks openly about mental health and how people change.

How to choose where to train

If you decide to train properly, the school matters more than the certificate. Look for accreditation, trainers who see clients themselves, plenty of supervised practice and support after you qualify. Our guide on how to choose the best hypnotherapy course in the UK covers the questions worth asking.

How to Turn Hypnosis Into a Career

Going from student to certified practitioner and making a sustainable living out of hypnosis can be daunting. However, with lots of practical training and learning from select reputable and accredited training providers, it isn’t far fetched.

Taking courses, both certificate and diploma courses, is key if you want to advance your hypnotherapy skills, attract clients and build a sustainable career out of it.

After becoming an accredited and certified hypnotherapist, you can choose to open your own practice or collaborate with other certified practitioners. 

Keep in mind that hypnotherapists aren’t just practitioners; they’re often also small business owners. Not only do you need to be skilled in therapy, but you also need to be skilled in the business aspect and in marketing yourself. And there are a number of ways to do this but you can start by:

Building a website: the website displays to potential clients what services you offer as well as your credentials, reviews and testimonials and your contact details.

Harness the power of social media: social media is a powerful tool you could use to establish an online presence and create visibility. Leverage local networking groups, wellness fairs or talks at community centres.

As a hypnotherapist, you’re your own financial manager and accountant. Do your research on what hypnotherapists around you charge to have an idea of what your charges should look like.

Becoming a hypnotherapist is feasible, and being successful doesn’t have to be hard, especially when you can draw inspiration from the stories of people who have already done it. Piece of Mind founder, Andy Griffiths, shares his path to becoming a six-figure hypnotherapist. Read this blog to find out more.

Feeling Confident to Work With Clients

It’s normal to sit and wonder, “Am I good enough?” “Could I really do this?” The truth is, you can’t build confidence if you just focus on the theory aspect. Hypnotherapy is practical, and you only build confidence from real-time experience with clients. With experience and lots of practice comes the confidence.

You have to continuously seek mentoring from experts, even after you’ve completed your courses. Being continually mentored by experts and supervised and being open to feedback and criticism helps a great deal in boosting one’s confidence.

Support from peers too goes a long way. However, if you’re serious about building your confidence, we share tips on boosting  your confidence here.

Questions people ask about learning hypnosis

Can anyone learn hypnosis?
Yes. Anybody can learn hypnosis if they’re open minded and willing. Learning to create hypnosis is fairly easy. The bigger skill is learning what to do with it once you’ve created it.

What is the difference between learning hypnosis and becoming a hypnotherapist?
Learning hypnosis means learning techniques. Training as a hypnotherapist means learning to adapt your approach to each person, choose the right protocol for them, and look after their overall wellbeing, which is a hypnotherapist’s primary role.

Can I learn hypnosis from a book or app?
You can learn the basics, but nobody is there to correct what you’re getting wrong, and it depends who wrote it and for what purpose. Most people need supervised practice with real people to use hypnosis well.

Is learning hypnosis hard?
Most students find it easier than they expected. Hypnosis is usually different to the stereotypical picture people have in their minds, and the mystery fades once you’ve experienced and practised it.

How do I start learning hypnosis?
If you’re curious, talk to an experienced trainer first. At Piece of Mind you can email or book a call with Andy Griffiths to ask questions and find out what training is really like before committing.