DLScott CH.t . CDP / AASD
Seems like every time I turn around I get asked the question, what is the difference between a hypnotist, and a hypnotherapist? Or in a similar vein, how do you get certified by the stated to be a counselor or a hypnotherapist?
These are all very good questions, and ones that you should be asking a perspective counselor when you are seeking the services of a therapist or counselor. To answer the first question, the answer varies from state to state. In Washington a Hypnotist can and often does claim the title of Hypnotherapist, but just because Washington State allows a person to call themselves a Hypnotherapist, does not mean that the person has any certification from a state board of examination towards that title.
Washington State does not certify Hypnotists or Hypnotherapists. What it does is it registers Hypnotists or Hypnotherapists based on their completion of a certified training group or school, in the hypnotic arts, (see my previous blog for the names of various schools). As far as I am aware, the letters behind my name, CH.t., stand for Clinical Hypnotherapist, although I actually did attend The
Northwest School for Clinical Hypnotherapy, back in the late eighties, and received my certification through them as a accredited hypnosis school in the state of Washington.. If someone you are seeking the services of, claims to be a Certified Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist, then they probably are, but you might want to ask the name of the school that they went to receive that certification. You may also notice that sometimes I use the title of Certified Time Line Therapy Practitioner, or Certified NLP Practitioner, a certification that was conferred upon me by the Northwest Institute of NLP. I may be prejudiced, but I believe that anyone who is going to practice in the field of Mental Health, Hypnosis, Chemical Dependency, or Psychiatry, should at least attend one or more accredited schools, complete the courses, and obtain an actual certification.
When someone claims to be a Certified Counselor, you might approach with caution. Counselors are not certified. To be a counselor use to just take an application, a few dollars, and poof, you have a registered counselor status. Recently the laws have been changing, and now, if I am not mistaken you must get your counselor registration, but to receive that registration you have to be involved in some approved certification course, such as a hypnosis school, or some other discipline such Mental Health, or Chemical Dependency.
Back in the past, when I first gained my certification as a Chemical Dependency Professional, CDP, you only needed to take a series of college courses which amounted to about eight months worth of a commitment. I did, back then, what is required of CDPs today, I spent the extra time to receive my college degree in the Social and Human Services field, the letters AASD stand for Associate of Applied Science Degree. Chemical Dependency Professionals are Certified through a state board, and as a CDP, I am obliged to follow certain guidelines, which include accumulating continuing education credits every year to make sure that I stay current in my chosen field.
I recognize that this blog was full of a lot of details, but the bottom line is this. When you are seeking the services of a CH.t. CDP, AASD, PH.d. MHT. (Mental Health Therapist), or a Certified NLP Practitioner, then please remember that not all of these certifications are granted by the state, but any counselor who is really serious about his or her craft, is going to make sure that they receive quality training from a professional school that is recognized and certified by the state to teach.
If you would like more information, or are in need of a certified, qualified Hypnotherapist, and Chemical Dependency Proffesional, then visit my website, Foundations Hypnosis Seattle, or CALL NOW 206-417-4900.
