A worthwhile thread on hypnosis training and credentials. The original query was:

Looking for a good hypnotherapy school I can take distant learning. I want one that is accredited. Any suggestions?

Gil Boyne, one of the top hypnosis trainers in the English-speaking world . . . whose reputation is very solid and very well deserved . . . pointed out in his response that there is no such thing as an accredited degree in hypnosis (no BA, no MA, no PhD) as hypnosis is an unregulated, unlicensed profession (personally, I would like to see it kept that way).

John Dovelos also noted:

It’s true that many universities offering degree programs in hypnotherapy claim to be accredited. However, if you search a little deeper you’ll find that their “accreditation” comes from unrecognized (sometimes even bogus) “accrediting” agencies. In some instances, universities set up their own “accrediting” agencies which they use to accredit themselves. As you understand, this type of “accreditation” is useless and it is worse than no accreditation at all.

This is correct. I strongly agree that this sort of incestuous self-accrediting is in fact much worse than no accreditation at all as in many cases the consumer is not aware that their so-called degree or certification program is bogus (those that claim accreditation where no legitimate outside accrediting agency recognized by the local Board of Regents are – to my mind – engaging in a form of fraud or consumer cheating, no matter how “technically” they stay within the letter of the law . . . the implication and intent to defraud or claim to be more than they are is quite clear).

I would admit from the get-go that I have an academic bias. I teach doctoral, masters, and undergraduate courses at a worldclass university. However, one does NOT need a PhD or even a MA/MS or even a BA to practice hypnosis. It is an unregulated profession. Those who sell unacreddited degrees are preying on folks who may not realize they are being given a piece of paper that gives no solid professional qualification. Those who knowingly use an unaccredited degree in hypnosis in order to imply legitimacy beyond what the paper really represents are defrauding the public (my PhD is the real deal but as it is not in hypnosis or psychotherapy or the like I very clearly inform my clients and students of that fact . . . my university students call me Dr. Phillips as that is my academic title in a formal university context (my doctorate is in Comparative Literature with a dissertation on Interactive Drama), but not my clients are well-informed that I am not a psychologist or a medical practitioner and that I don’t need to be in order to practice hypnosis or hypnotherapy). Different certifying agencies or organizations within the hypnosis community may have different standards for certifying members – some are just trying to get members to pay fees and renewal dues regardless of actual skill levels while others are out to ensure that the folks who stick their piece of parchment on the wall actually have the competence and knowledge to use the skills their course implies.

As I teach graduate level courses in education methods for working teachers (folks who must have been working professional teachers for a minimum of four years with many having ten to fifteen years of classroom experience under their belts), competence training is a big deal to me as are effective methods for classroom instruction that are informative and lively while imparting skills.

When a group of colleagues asked me to headup an organization in my neck of the woods, I made it clear that our instructional model would not be all lecture but would be based upon Lecture (explain technique) + Demo (demonstrate) + Debrief (take questions and answer them on the demo and technique) + Practice (supervised student practice with multiple partnets) + Debrief (discuss practice sessions) + More Practice or Public Demonstation by Students with Feedback (depends on technique) with a final exam based upon theoretical knowledge as well as an actual live demonstration of advanced competence in all the major skills and processes. It’s a pretty strong competence-based training model and works very effectively . . . not too heavy on lecture sacrificing skills nor so skills-based the theory and understanding behind the process get lost.

Before taking a course, find out about the instructor and look for information about the course that comes from sources not on the school’s website. I guarantee that all of the testimony and feedback listed on my webpages about my trainings will be glowing . . . I have yet to see a hypnotist with anything but great feedback on their own sites (a number of them actually copy their feedback from other people’s websites as one well known trainer was recently found out on another forum). The trick is to find what other people say about the course in forums other than those controlled by the trainer. You can also ask directly about the credentials, experience, and so-called certifications or accrediting organizations.

Watch out for folks making claims they can’t back up or that can’t be verified from the outside. I live in Taiwan and know of two hypnosis training “schools” that offer “university approved credit from US universities towards advanced degrees in hypnotherapy” . . . the thing is that the US universities don’t even exist. The local schools post their names and describe them in Chinese knowing the local consumer won’t check into the legitimacy of the courses or the accuracy of the information. One very well known – actually, very famous – local hypnotist claims to have received his hypnosis doctorate from UCLA . . . hmmm, for those of you in California, how many Hyp. PhDs do you know from UCLA? The truth of the matter is the fellow got lived near UCLA for a couple years while living abroad and started (but did NOT finish) a course at HMI but the local consumer doesn’t check the “foreign” information on his site. One local organization is an “international chapter” of a US-based org. that doesn’t exist. The local Taiwanese principals knew that an “American” organization would have more prestige than a local one, giving the impression of more rigor. I have seem similar and much worse examples of this sort of thing in the US and elsewhere.

So . . . when it comes to your training . . . CAVEAT EMPTOR . . . Buyer Beware . . . just because they make the claim, that don’t make it so.

It doesn’t really matter how long the training is as long as it imparts real skills that you can put to use and that those skills are up to the task for the outcome advertised. However, if it looks like someone may be trying to make claims that are grandiose or larger than life or trying to pull the wool over your eyes or hoodwink you . . . then, keep on walkin’ . . . there are plenty of ethical trainers out there who give you the skills you need and want . . . don’t waste your time with the blowhards, braggars, and windbags. You don’t NEED to have a PhD to be a hypnotist . . . if you wish to go into a good strong training program that is unaccredited because you’ve heard good things about the program, then do so . . . but don’t let anyone (or, even yourself) tell you it is anything but the information and skills you are getting from the training.

As to distance learning. There are some good programs . . . none that are genuinely fully accredited in meaningful terms (clinical degrees usually require residency and clinical supervision which is very very rare for a distance course). However, since you don’t NEED to be accredited, check into a distance course with excellent feedback from others. You want it to be more comprehensive than one or two videotapes and you want a full exam that is actually graded (not thrown in the bin and certified once the check is cashed – we are all aware of the story of the cat that received NGH certification).

The REAL TRICK to distance learning is not the certification, accredited or not, but in the actual learning and that requires that you do more than just read the books and handouts or watch the videos. It means you actually have to practice the skills. An in-person class is so much easier to learn and master skills as you have classmates to do the supervised practice with and the teacher is there to help correct skill development . . . if you’re going it alone, you must find folks to practice with (in an appropriate context). Don’t go doing advanced methods on your uncle’s nephew’s second cousin twice removed until you have mastered the basic techniques (and even then, for advanced modes, I strongly suggest you get some supervised training).

If it’s just not possible to get in-person training, then you need to have folks to learn with . . . perhaps a study or practice group would be appropriate . . . a group of like-minded folks interested in practicing the skills they are or have learned with one another in an informal but helpful context.

Rant out.

I hope this has been helpful.

All the best,
Brian

Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [phillips@nccu.edu.tw] Executive Director, Society of Experiential Trance
Certified Hypnotherapist
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.briandavidphillips.com