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Do you believe in the power of the mind to help treat physical problems? Do you believe your subconscious holds the key in getting rid of unwanted habits? Do you have the desire to help people? If so, a career as a hypnotherapist may be the career you*ve been searching for.

As more and more people understand the power of the human mind in solving life's problems, the demand for qualified hypnotists and hypnotherapists increases. And, no wonder. The range of issues aided through the use of hypnosis is astounding. This, of course, is just a short list of the many reasons people seek the services of a hypnotist:

* Pain control

* Smoking cessation

* Weight loss

* Sports improvement

* Test anxiety

* Fear of flying

* Fear of public speaking

* Writer's block

* General anxiety

* Insomnia

* Medical conditions such as IBS, asthma and high blood pressure

A good hypnosis school or training program will provide students with the skills necessary to deal with the above issues and more, as well as prepare them to open and maintain their own hypnotherapy practices.

But, where do you find such a hypnosis school or program, and how do you know if it's a good one? First, you must acquaint yourself with the laws governing the practice of hypnotherapy in your own state. Some states may allow the practice of hypnotherapy only by licensed professionals in the fields of medicine and psychology. Other states do not regulate the field of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, so the field is wide open to those who receive a certificate or diploma from a school of hypnosis.

Secondly, you should examine your reasons for learning hypnosis. Do you wish to learn self-hypnosis for your own purposes? Do you want to learn how to just hypnotize someone for fun? Do you want to go into stage hypnosis for entertainment purposes? Do you want to open a hypnotherapy practice where you help other people realize their goals?

If your goal is simply to learn how to hypnotize people, the technique can be learned in a weekend-intensive seminar. To be honest, it's actually quite easy to hypnotize someone. It's really just a matter of technique and confidence. Why confidence? Because part of the ability to hypnotize people is getting them to believe you will hypnotize them. If you begin the induction process full of doubt and convey that doubt, they may lose their belief in you and not enter the trance state.

Should you wish to use hypnosis to help someone lose weight, overcome a fear of flying or help treat certain medical conditions such as IBS, then you'll want a longer period of training. There's a big difference in knowing how to induce trance and knowing what to do once someone is in trance. Therefore, if you want to work as a hypnotherapist, you'll want to avoid the weekend seminars, unless you supplement them with other training. Ideally you'll want to find a hypnosis school or program which requires at least 100 hours of training.

The ideal school or program would also be one in which you are physically in the classroom learning the techniques. Can you learn to hypnotize someone via an online class or DVDs? Of course you can. And, if there is no other training available in the city in which you live, then you might have to obtain your hypnotherapy certification via an online or distance learning class.

Support is another factor you should consider. Does your school or program offer a faculty which is available to answer your questions? Do they offer a mentoring program?

Ideally you*d want the hypnosis school to be accredited by some recognized accreditation body. For example, is it accredited by the Department of Vocational Education in the state in which you plan to study? Is it accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education? If your training is an online or distance learning program, is it be accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), an accrediting agency which is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education? These are good things to find out.

One such hypnosis school I have first-hand knowledge of is the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, located in Tarzana, California. They offer a year-long hypnotherapy certification program, both at their school and through distance learning. Their training includes classes on induction techniques, as well as hypnotherapy techniques for specific issues, such as fears and phobias, motivation and medical hypnosis. Their course of study also includes a mentoring program, as well as case study classes where you can present your cases and receive suggestions about treatment. Their phone number is 1-818-758-2747 for on-campus information or 1-800-479-9464 for distance learning information.

With a little digging you can find other fine hypnosis schools available, hopefully in your area. Just remember to check for accreditation and resist the temptation to go with the quickest or cheapest program available. Go with quality and your future hypnotherapy clients will thank you.