London College of Clinical Hypnosis

Fitness to Practise

Currently the Health Professions Council (HPC) regulates 15 health professions. They set the standard for training, professional skills, behaviour and health, with the titles for those professions being protected by law. The HPC requires ‘Practitioner Psychologists’ and ‘Art Therapists’ (the only psychological professions currently covered) to hold a postgraduate qualification from a British university.

At present there is no government legislation in the UK covering the practise of hypnotherapy and anyone can set up a practice regardless of whether they have undergone adequate training. Regrettably, there are no immediate plans in Parliament for Statutory Legislation such as the ‘Osteopaths Act 1993’ and ‘Chiropractors Act 1994’ which legislates those professions.

If/when Statutory Legislation happens it may be assumed the HPC will regulate hypnotherapy in a similar fashion - with a postgraduate qualification being a necessary requirement. Currently the LCCH / University of West London partnership provides the only postgraduate award in hypnotherapy available in the UK.

In the absence of impending statutory legislation the LCCH actively supports voluntary self-regulation and as such has been implementing such recommendations laid down by government. The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) is an organization supported by the Department of Health and is increasingly recognised by the NHS as a voluntary regulatory body. Graduates of the LCCH can apply to join as individuals or directly through the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH).

Training courses in hypnosis and hypnotherapy

Our clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy training courses and masterclasses in hypnosis are held throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Ireland, and around the world. In the UK and Ireland they are held at our regional centres Birmingham, Taunton, Glasgow - Scotland, Leeds, London, Manchester and Dublin. (Click on a region for details of the courses held there {Fees / Dates}.)

Our Medical Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis training course is held at the London venue. Please click here for the Medical Hypnosis Diploma training schedule. (Note that the Medical Diploma hypnotherapy training course is open to suitably qualified medical personnel only. All other training courses are open to applications from all.)

International hypnotherapy training courses are held in Malaysia, Singapore, Portugal (LCCH Asia).

Defining hypnosis, hypnotism and hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is an inferred psychophysiological state characterised by increased suggestibility, and is thought to be an altered state of consciousness. Hypnotism is the study and use of suggestion with or without the presence of hypnosis, while hypnotherapy is a form of therapy in which the use of hypnotism constitutes the core of the treatment.

Skill based hypnotherapy training

Practical skills training is an essential part of all LCCH hypnosis and hypnotherapy training courses. The presentation of hypnotherapeutic techniques will be followed by a demonstration on a volunteer member of the class, and students will be required to practice each skill in small groups in order to gain experience of working with both receptive and resistant subjects. Practice training sessions are always overseen by a senior lecturer and supervisor where appropriate.

The aim of the LCCH is to train would-be practitioners of hypnosis and hypnotherapy to deal safely, confidently and effectively with the enormous variety of presenting symptoms - physical, emotional or psychological - for which their patients will seek help in the reality of the consulting room.

Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy training (Hypno CBT)

Cognitive and behavioural therapies are recognised by many clinicians as being at the cutting edge of therapy due to the wealth of empirical research carried out on them. The LCCH has developed a methodology integrating hypnosis with rational emotive behavioural approaches. This effective and active-directive process is based on the philosophy that people are not 'disturbed' by events but by the view they hold about those events. It aims to treat a variety of emotional and psychosomatic conditions. More about cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy training...

Medical hypnotherapy training

As we learn more about the way in which certain conditions are acquired and perpetuated, the resolution of maladapted behaviour patterns by therapies including hypnosis is becoming more relevant. However, medical hypnotherapy is not just restricted to maladapted behaviour, it may be used with considerable benefit for many somatic and psychosomatic conditions.