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    What are the Top Traits of Professional Hypnotists?

    by Cascade Hypnosis on

    Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool for helping people overcome a variety of issues, from phobias to relationship problems. If you’re considering becoming a hypnotist, you may want to find out if you have what it takes to thrive in this profession. 

    Below are a few soft skills that I’ve seen in many of my students who go on to become successful hypnotherapists. But it’s important to know that each hypnotherapist is unique; even if you lack some of these traits, you may have other useful skills that you can bring to the profession. 

    Non-Judgmental

    One trait that many good hypnotherapists share is a non-judgmental attitude. This quality is helpful to being a safe space for clients to overcome barriers and improve their lives. It is useful for a hypnotherapist to be open, welcoming, and accepting of every client who walks in the door or calls on the phone. A hypnotherapist should not judge anyone based on their appearance, race, gender, religion, age, or mental health diagnosis. Clients will only achieve their goals if they feel supported by their therapist. As soon as they feel judged, they may stop working with you, and even if they continue to work with you, your sessions may be less effective in helping them meet their goals.

    Forward-Thinking

    Having a clear vision of the future is an important trait for professional hypnotherapists, both in client work and in your career aspirations. 

    A client comes to you because they need help making a change in their lives—for instance, quitting smoking. They want to imagine themselves being successful in that change. If you can't see yourself helping them create that change, how are you going to help them visualize it?

    It's much the same with your career aspirations. You might want to expand your practice to include online sessions or even combine your hypnotherapy practice with massage. But if you can't see yourself doing those things, how are you going to get there?

    Open-Minded

    It’s important for professional hypnotherapists to have an open mind when it comes to new ideas and concepts. With an open mind, you’ll be poised to learn and adopt the latest techniques in hypnotherapy. The ability to think about new ways of doing things is also beneficial, as this can help you respond quickly and effectively when working with clients.

    Download the list of top hypnotist traits

    Compassionate

    A caring nature is essential for a hypnotherapist. You should care about each client you work with, their mental health, and their overall wellbeing. A caring nature motivates you to put in the extra effort to improve your clients’ outcomes. A successful hypnotherapist will be considerate towards their clients' feelings, reactions, and concerns during sessions, as well as outside of session hours. 

    Understanding

    One of the more important traits of a good hypnotherapist is the ability to understand their client and where they are coming from - even if they’ve never experienced their client’s particular issue. This understanding will lead you to be more empathetic, which means that you won't get caught up in the details but take the time to really get to the root of their problem or issue. You should be willing and able to truly see things from someone else's point of view if you want to be a great hypnotherapist.

    Kind

    Few things are as important to a hypnotherapist as the ability to be kind, and this is because many clients are nervous when they come in for their first session. Kindness will help them feel comfortable, and it will help you build trust in the relationship. 

    Clients need to feel safe with their therapist and feel confident sharing information they keep hidden from others. The therapist has to be kind, welcoming and approachable at all times in order for clients to open up without fear of judgment or ridicule.

    Hypnotherapy, after all, is a very personal process, so it's vital that you as a hypnotherapist listen with empathy and understanding.

    What Else Makes a Successful Hypnotherapist?

    You can build your reputation as a professional hypnotherapist by being personable, caring, and attentive when working with clients. Showing empathy and understanding will make them feel more comfortable around you and willing to open up to your suggestions during hypnosis sessions. 

    That said, while the soft skills I listed are critical traits, they may not turn you into a successful hypnotherapist on their own. Becoming a successful hypnotherapist really requires hands-on experience, which can be attained through a professional training program. The training program you choose should provide certification from a professional hypnosis organization.

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