When starting out, hypnotherapists can make several mistakes that are often the result of not being adequately supported as they progress through their careers, or due to a lack of business training.
You might think that the most common mistakes are things like overpromising results or not setting clear enough goals for their clients, and yes, they can be mistakes we see. However, anyone who has received certified hypnotherapy training will have covered those topics in depth, so they should be well-prepared and trained in those areas.
The mistakes we see are things that aren’t commonly taught, and ones we help ensure our students avoid. Why? Because the longevity of their business relies on it.
And we’re in the business of results and seeing our students fly and thrive!
We’re incredibly proud to have trained some amazingly talented hypnotherapists who are now successful in their own practices. Many are still part of our ongoing hypnotherapy training and coaching memberships and are always happy to share their knowledge and experiences with other students. All because they avoided these four mistakes.
So let’s cover them so you can avoid making the same mistakes, and so you know exactly what to look for if you decide to become a hypnotherapist and pursue a career in something as rewarding as hypnotherapy.
Becoming a hypnotherapist – mistake number 1
Waiting to be certified before you start practising hypnotherapy
There’s a common misconception that you can only practice hypnotherapy once you’re certified. However, the best way to learn and build confidence is to start practising as soon as possible. And you can do that ethically if you follow our framework.
From module three of the Hypnotherapy Diploma, you can apply for insurance as a student to cover you for your sessions, and charge ½ the usual price while you practice.
We also ensure that you have the necessary contracts and paperwork in place.
Everyone has to start somewhere, and waiting until AFTER you’ve qualified means you don’t have anyone on hand to reflect to, ask questions and get support on your sessions. There are going to be questions, and you’ll undoubtedly want some coaching in those first years, so take advantage of having your tutor accessible to you while training and start practising straight away. Not only that, but you can also begin to make back the costs of your course (some people have it fully covered before they even certify!).
We encourage this on our Hypnotherapy Diploma, and we’ll support you along the way.
Becoming a hypnotherapist – mistake number 2
Spending lots of money on a new website
You may have already started dreaming about business names, logos, colours and your website. A fully designed website can cost upwards of 2K. Yes, it looks professional when professionally done. Still, unless you know how to do SEO (that’s search engine optimisation), or you’ve got another layer of visibility planned in your marketing (and by that we mean advertising yourself in some way), your website is going to collect dust instead of potential clients.
Your dream clients aren’t going to find you from your website alone. You need to factor in social media, networking, possibly advertising and more.
It’s essential to have more than one platform to increase visibility and be seen by your potential clients.
If you have zero business support as part of your Hypnotherapy Diploma, you’re likely going to struggle to know how and where to start. So it’s easy to understand why most people opt for the shiny website.
By all means, get the website, but before you go spending thousands on it, ask yourself is it worth it?
Decide on other ways you can get visible and concentrate on those first, gaining some clients under your belt. Look for local networking groups, share on your Facebook profile and set up a business profile on Instagram.
You do need to actively put yourself out there to get clients – but if you do your Hypnotherapy Diploma with us, we’ll help you with the steps needed in our included business module.
Becoming a hypnotherapist – mistake number 3
Not investing in further training
I always tell my students this is just the start for them. There is always more you can learn, and people you can learn from. You can learn from your peers, you can learn with advanced courses, and you can learn with coaching and mentoring. Whatever you do, don’t stop learning! CPD is standard in most supervising bodies. It’s good practice to keep up your professional development and work on your skills AND yourself.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is new hypnotherapists staying stuck in the past. Afraid to move on. Science is always advancing. We are always learning new things about the brain. And your life will change too. New life experiences shape who you are and how you show up in the world. We all need a bit of support from time to time.
So make room for both personal and professional development. The BEST hypnotherapists, the booked out and highly successful ones, are constantly advancing and learning.
Becoming a hypnotherapist – mistake number 4
Generalising in all areas of hypnotherapy
Once you’ve had a few clients, you might find you have a particular niche that you’re drawn to. It might be because of your personal lived experiences, for example.
Whatever that thing is, specialise in it. Become known as the ‘go-to’ in your area for that niche.
One of the mistakes we see people make is covering all bases. And there is nothing wrong with that, but if you have 20 hypnotherapists in your area, it’s hard for a potential client to differentiate between you. You’ll generate more work by specialising and being known for one particular thing. It’s marketing 101 – market to everyone, and you’ll market to no one. So stand out in your niche.
You’ll still get people coming to you for everything else; I’m absolutely not saying refuse to see people who aren’t in your niche!
But if you make it abundantly clear on your website and in your marketing materials that you cover a niche, you’ll see an uptake in your services, especially when people are searching in more complex ways through things like Chat GPT.
Imagine someone asking ChatGPT:
‘I’m looking for a grief counsellor who also specialises in ADHD’
If your website meets these criteria in the copy, platforms like ChatGPT will be able to identify it and place you at the top of their list.
So there you have it. Our top 4 mistakes that new hypnotherapists make, but no one really talks about:
- Waiting to be certified before you start practising hypnotherapy
- Spending lots of money on a new website
- Not investing in further training
- Generalising in all areas of hypnotherapy
If you want to become a hypnotherapist and hit the ground running with our support, get in contact today for a free discovery call. We run free taster sessions throughout the year too, and can let you know when the next one is planned.
If you’re keen to start now, you can get immediate access to our online certification – the exact same modules as the hypnotherapy diploma, except you work at your own pace. Perfect for those who are unable to attend in person.
Our in person hypnotherapy training near Nottingham is set in the most beautiful training venue, a converted light and airy barn in the Nottinghamshire countryside. If you’re interested in training in person, our Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma takes place a few times a year.
Let’s make your dream of becoming a hypnotherapist and creating change in the world come true!