Maybe you’ve heard of hypnotherapy and would like to find out some general information about it. Perhaps more specifically you’d like an answer to the question; how much does hypnotherapy cost?
This article will help you to discover;
- What you should look out for in a hypnotherapist?
- How much does a hypnotherapist charge?
- What happens in an initial consultation?
- The costs associated with hypnotherapy
- What is hypnosis?
- What is hypnotherapy and what it can be used for?
How much does hypnotherapy cost?
How much a hypnotherapist charges will really depend on a number of different factors including;
- How many sessions are needed,
- The location of the hypnotherapist,
- The qualifications of the hypnotherapist and
- What the treatment is for
One-off sessions will tend to be more expensive. Many hypnotherapists will offer a reduced price if you book and pay for a number of sessions in advance. They may offer one session for free when you book 5 or more sessions in advance.
Due to the high cost of living in London and South England, a typical hypnotherapy session will cost somewhere between £70 and £125. This can easily double though if you’re visiting a hypnotherapist who has rented out a room on Harley Street.
In other areas of the UK, you can expect to pay somewhere between £50 to £85 for a single session.
Many hypnotherapists will tend to offer a single smoking cessation session. This is usually between £150 – £250 depending on the location and qualifications of the hypnotherapist. This may initially seem expensive. In reality, it is very little when you consider both the financial and health cost of continuing smoking.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy will I need?
This will again depend on a number of factors. If you are looking to stop smoking then as mentioned before, this can be successfully addressed in just one session. The session will usually last somewhere between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Phobias will tend to need around 3 sessions to be successfully treated. Most anxiety-related issues can generally be addressed within 6 to 12 sessions. Achieving freedom from general anxiety disorder will typically take 6 sessions. This will cost somewhere between £350 and £550.
Anxiety disorders such as OCD and PTSD will tend to be more complex. As a result, it is more typical for these to need 12 sessions. This will make the cost of hypnotherapy to be somewhere between £700 and £1100.
Why does the cost of hypnotherapy seem high?
The price is reflected in a number of things. To become a qualified hypnotherapist takes real dedication. It’s an expensive and time-consuming commitment. The cost of training can run into several thousand pounds. The classroom training alone is over 120 hours of contact time.
When in training the hypnotherapist will have to complete several case studies. They’ll need to research and study hypnotherapy in practice, before being awarded their qualification.
Once qualified a hypnotherapist doesn’t stop learning. They are duty-bound to keep up their training by attending both supervision sessions and professional development courses. These obviously incur a cost.
To give each client the bespoke treatment, a reputable hypnotherapist will limit the number of clients that they see. While the hourly cost of hypnotherapy may seem high, a full-time hypnotherapist will still have a small client base. They may only see 10-15 clients each week.
What should I look for in a hypnotherapist?
The term hypnotherapy is not a protected term. In other words, anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist. This is the case even if they haven’t undergone any official training. Other terms which are not protected include psychotherapist, therapist and counsellor.
You should look for a hypnotherapist who is registered with one of the main awarding bodies. This means that they have undergone an extensive training program. This ensures they have met the standards to be safe and effective.
Most hypnotherapists will display the awarding bodies’ logo on their website. The main awarding bodies for hypnotherapy are The National Council for Hypnotherapy and The General Hypnotherapy Standards Council.
Once you have discovered that the hypnotherapist is registered with an awarding body, it is probably wise to check out their reviews. This will enable you to see if they have built up a reputation for achieving results. Many hypnotherapists will post testimonials on their website and on their Google My Business account.
You need to decide if you would like to travel to see your hypnotherapist face to face in their consulting room. Another option is for your therapy to take place in the comfort of your own home. Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to both approaches. If you are considering using online hypnotherapy, then you can find out more information by using the highlighted link.
The Next Step
Many hypnotherapists will offer either a free initial chat or a more in-depth initial consultation. The consultation serves a number of purposes. Perhaps the most important one is to see if you are going to make a good partnership.
When choosing a hypnotherapist, I would consider rapport building to be extremely important for both parties. It’s possible that you may be seeing your hypnotherapist for a number of months. It’s therefore very important that you feel at ease in their company and that they are a person you can trust.
The initial consultation is a chance for you to give some more detail surrounding your condition and explain your goals. Depending on the type of hypnotherapy you choose the analysis of your condition may be quite in-depth. The hypnotherapist may ask what effect the condition is having on your lifestyle. This will help them to build up a more detailed picture.
This first meeting is also an opportunity for them to explain why you are feeling the way you do. You should feel confident in moving forward with treatment. It’s important that you understand why you are thinking, feeling and acting as you do at the moment. They should also explain to you what your therapy will entail and how many sessions they expect your treatment to take.
The consultation will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. It’s also a chance to address any concerns you may have.
You should come away from the meeting feeling that the hypnotherapist is someone you can build a relationship with. You should find them knowledgeable about your condition. They should have given you a clear picture of how they can help.
What is hypnosis?
You will probably have heard of both the terms hypnosis and trance. They can really be thought of as being interchangeable. They both describe a time when we experience a shift in our conscious awareness. It’s often described as being in a daydream. So when you gaze out of the window you have gone into trance. We go into trance roughly every 6 to 7 minutes throughout our waking hours.
You may recall a time when you met an associate in town and spent a majority of the time trying to remember their name. It’s only later when you’re in a little daydream that it pops into your head. You’ve entered into a trance. During this relaxed state parts of your mind have worked together to help recall the name. So hypnosis can be thought of as a natural state that can help us to problem-solve.
Is hypnosis similar to REM sleep?
Yes, the two are very much connected. When you are listening to your hypnotherapist or listening to a download, you will enter a daydream like state. During this time the parts of your brain that create anxiety are shut down. This allows other areas of the brain to work together to problem-solve.
You might remember a time when you have been working on a project during the day and have become stuck on a particular part of it. No matter how hard concentrate on it you can’t seem to move forward. When you wake up in the morning however you’ve solved the problem.
During your dream state, the busy, anxiety-inducing parts of your brain have been shut off. Other areas of your brain have quietly gone about their business and come up with the solution.
Throughout history, amazing things have been invented during dreams including;
- The melody to ‘Yesterday’ by Paul McCartney
- The riff to ‘I can’t get no Satisfaction’ by Keith Richards
- The periodic table of elements – Dmitri Mendelee
- The sewing machine – Elias Howe
Your dream state really can help you to come up with your own solutions to your problems.
What is hypnotherapy and what can it help with?
Hypnotherapy is simply a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help people to make positive changes to their life.
It is a very versatile type of therapy which can help people to overcome a whole range of conditions. Hypnotherapy is most commonly used to help people; lower their stress and anxiety levels, increase confidence and help people to overcome phobias It can be also used to help reduce the symptoms of IBS, improve sporting performance and enable people to achieve long-lasting weight loss.
If you would like to find out more detail about any of the above conditions, please read my blogs; The amazing benefits of hypnotherapy and what can hypnotherapy help with.
How much does hypnotherapy cost and more?
I hope that by reading this article you have found an answer to this question and understand why hypnotherapy can seem expensive. You should also have discovered what you should look for in a therapist and some of the areas that hypnotherapy can help with.
If you have any questions after reading this blog, then please get in touch. I’d love to support you while you make positive changes to your life.
Author: Ian Murton HPD DSFH AfSFH Reg NCH Reg CNHC Reg is an award-winning Solution Focused Hypnotherapist. He runs hypnotherapy sessions online from his home on the Bedfordshire/ Hertfordshire border.
Perhaps you might be interested in reading some of my other blogs;
Anxiety and Insomnia: How hypnotherapy helps
Hypnosis for fear of flying – Achieve incredible results
