If you are thinking of trying hypnosis or hypnotherapy, one of your first questions might be: How can I find The Best Hypnotherapist near me!
But that might not be your only question. Before you go searching for a hypnotherapist, you’ll want answers to all of your questions about hypnotherapy — what it is, what conditions it can treat, what to look for in a hypnotist — and most importantly, how hypnotism can benefit you.
What Is Hypnosis?
When most of us think of hypnosis, we think of a whimsical performer waving their arms and putting an unassuming audience member into a dreamlike trance. However, while there is certainly a time and place for performative hypnosis, the field of hypnotism is much more than that.
Hypnosis is simply an altered conscious state, much in the same way that dreaming or daydreaming is. According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), hypnosis is a “shift in consciousness [that] enables us to tap into many of our natural abilities and allows us to make change more quickly.”
It is in this altered state that we may be more open to suggestions from others. Additionally, it encourages us to change our thinking patterns so that our mental health struggles become more manageable. As ASCH describes it, hypnosis can be used for “unconscious exploration, to better understand underlying motivations or identify whether past events or experiences are associated with causing a problem.”
A properly trained, licensed hypnotist — which is what you’ll want to look for as you search for a “hypnotist near me” — uses therapeutic methods to help you manage your mental well-being, overcome addiction, or help you work through mental health issues such as anxiety or PTSD. Certified hypnotherapists tend to carry medical or healthcare degrees and many are also licensed therapists who use hypnotherapy to complement their therapy practices.
Not everyone can be successfully hypnotized, but if hypnosis works for you, a trained hypnotherapist can gently guide you to work through challenges and meet your life goals. Coupled with typical therapeutic methods, like cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy, hypnotherapy can be a way to help you manage behaviors and break unhealthy patterns that may have been holding you back in life.
Where Can I Find A Hypnotist Near Me?
Now that you have a better idea of what hypnotherapy involves, what it can treat, and what to look for in a hypnotherapist, it’s time to find a hypnotherapist near you. You can do a quick Google search for “hypnotist near me,” but you’ll likely be flooded with results, some of which may be helpful and others that may not.
It can be difficult to know which sources to trust, which is why it’s best to start by looking at hypnotist directories from organizations that are known to be trusted and reputable. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) has an online directory where you can search for a hypnotist near you. Psychology Today’s directory lets you search for hypnotists in your area as well. You can also contact the The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and the The American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists for information about their directories.
In addition, you can ask friends, family, or a local online community group for recommendations. If your therapist doesn’t offer hypnotist services, they might know of someone who does and can recommend that person as well. When I was looking for a hypnotist near me, I used a number of these sources and it’s very helpful to get a personal recommendation, because it can make you feel confident that you are in good hands.
