How Many Types Of Hypnotherapy Are There?

Who would have thought there were so many forms, styles or types of hypnotherapy…but it is true! I would have never known until I actively was searching for schools to learn hypnosis and that was after I graduated from medical school. So, to think on how confused I was, I am sure many other professionals and also the layman would be too.

To think about all the various styles and types of hypnotherapy you can compare them to the medical model

Just like in medicine you have various sub-specializations. For example, you have a cardiologist who works primarily on the heart or a nephrologist who works on the kidneys, and so on. Although in medicine all doctors start out with the same pre-requirements – everyone goes to medical school to have foundational basics. Hypnotherapy practices are not the same (read more on why in this older post – “Are All Hypnotherapist Doctors?”).

There are however many hypnotherapists who have been trained in various styles and types and are able to support the patient or client in what is most aligned with their own beliefs and needs.

I myself have done over 700hrs of clinical training and have been trained in many of the styles or types below listed. However, some hypnotherapists have been trained in one type or prefer to use only one style. If you are searching for a hypnotherapist that uses a particular style or type be sure to call them first and ask.

In this post I have split up the explanation into two sections 1) type and 2) style. The type of hypnosis can include various “styles” in it. The type of hypnosis is divided into three types which are like a timeline of past, present and the between life

• Present-life Hypnotherapy – Present life hypnosis purely focused on present life and takes into account some behavioral change desired. In looking for the root cause within the present life. Some hypnotherapists will only focus on present life but for others, they may be trained enough to take you into a past life if it leads you there for some reason.
• Past-life Hypnotherapist – This type of hypnotherapy looks at the past lives and not the current life of a client. The past life tends to have a theme within it that relates to today’s present-day issue (if there is one to be looked at). There are many hypnotherapists that have written about past life regression work such as Dr. Brian Weiss who is well known for his best-seller called “many lives, many masters” an account of a patient he worked with as well as Delores Cannon who has written various text on the subject matter. It is notable that not all present life issues lead to past life issues but some can.
• Life-between life Hypnotherapy – This type of hypnotherapy uses the in-between life. I like to explain this as connecting to your higher self or the akashic records as the life-between-life space. Usually, this type of hypnotherapy is used in conjunction with past-life regression after the death scene in order to get into this space (see timeline above).

*most common day issues related to anxiety, depression, phobia or etc are most commonly from my experience related to present life – however i have worked with some that present day issues lead to last life. It is important to simply follow the subconscious mind, the emotions beliefs or feelings we are wanting to alleviate in order for that to guide us to the root. If you need further explanation on this please contact me and I will be happy to explain or you can listen to the podcast episode on rapid Realization Podcast titles – Exploring past lives, life between lives & our soul identity

Styles of hypnosis approaches – these are various styles which can be used with any types of hypnotherapy.

• Ericksonian or confusional styles – This style of therapy simply gives indirect suggestions to help clients achieve their goals. It can be done in a confusional style so the person is not fully aware. It is based on the work of Milton Erickson, who is considered one of the pioneers of modern hypnosis. This type of therapy focuses on changing the client’s behavior by changing their thinking patterns. Ericksonian hypnotherapy is typically used to treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain management, and addiction recovery but can also be used for weight loss and quitting smoking.
• Regression – Regression work looks at past memories and events and is usually a style used to get to the root cause of toxic patterns or past traumas. Once the past event or memory is brought up the there are techniques used in this styles to discharge, re-frame or heal the memory so that it does not affect someone any longer.
• Suggestion – Suggestion hypnosis is likely what you think of when you think of hypnosis – it’s where the therapist gives suggestions to the client that will help them overcome whatever issue they’re dealing with. For instance, if someone wants to quit smoking, the therapist might give them suggestions about being healthy and feeling great without cigarettes.
• Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) is style that focuses on changing the way we think about something, changing from a negative to a positive association so that we can change our actions and behaviors. It’s often used to help people overcome phobias or bad habits.

In conclusion choosing a therapist can feel like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be! Knowing what kind of approach each therapist takes can help you decide which one will be best for you and your needs.” As always,…hypnosis is not a one size fits all profession but once you find the right therapist it can change your life!