Two of the most frequently asked questions about hypnotherapy on Google are:
- How much does a hypnotherapy session cost?
- How many sessions will I need for anxiety?
These are important questions, but probably not as important as, “How much will my life be changed once I get back in control of myself, and how much is that worth to me?” First, let me answer the questions directly.
How much does a hypnotherapy session cost?
I currently charge £75 for an hour’s session. This is typical in the South East of England. There are hypnotherapists that charge £150, and some that charge as low as £50. Some give a free or reduced rate initial session.
Aside: Many hypnotherapists (including myself) charge a higher rate for a quit-smoking session (I charge £250 for a 2-hour session). Why? For quit-smoking hypnotherapy to work, you have to be really committed to the process to start with. When you have to pay a lot, you are committing yourself. And of course, when you quit smoking, you make all the money back again very quickly.
How many sessions will I need for anxiety?
It all depends! I know that this is not the answer you are looking for, but it is nevertheless true. Typically, I see clients with anxiety for between 5 and 10 sessions, and this is quite typical of other hypnotherapists.
However, there are no guarantees. I have had some clients who I have seen for 15 or 20 sessions, and others for whom all anxiety issues have gone after 2 sessions. I have given up trying to guess how many sessions a client will take, because I often get it wrong. My advice would be to be wary of any hypnotherapist who gives a guarantee of the number of sessions you will need.
To add to the problem in answering this question, hypnotherapists vary in their abilities – even with the same level of training and experience. Some will typically take longer than others.
A more important question to ask
Of course, it is important to have an estimate of how much your are going to have to pay for your hypnotherapy treatment for your anxiety. There is another really important question to ask yourself. That is:
- How much will my life be changed once I get back in control of myself, and how much is that worth to me?
This is a question that only you can answer. How much is getting rid of anxiety actually worth to you? Indeed, is it even possible to put a monetary value on it?
What other questions should you ask?
Other questions you should ask before engaging a hypnotherapist are:
Are they qualified? Are they insured? Do they follow best practice?
The easiest way to answer this is to check that they are registered with the official registers of hypnotherapists. In the UK, you should check the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) or the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH).
What do other people think?
Check out testimonials and references on independent sites such as Google My Business.
Do I get on with my hypnotherapist?
This is important – the more you like your hypnotherapist, the quicker things are likely to work. Trusting your hypnotherapist is important. And the only way you can find this out is by going to see them. Most hypnotherapists will be pleased to give your a free 10 minute chat on the phone, but the real test is the first session with them. You have to put your hand in your pocket and book in for an initial consultation – but don’t be afraid to walk away and find someone else if you don’t feel happy with the first session.
References
National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)
https://www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/therapist-finder/
Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH)
https://www.afsfh.com/hypnotherapists-postcodes/
Google My Business
Go to Google and enter “Google My Business” followed by the name of the hypnotherapy clinic. For example, “Google my business Tim Maude Hypnotherapy”
Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash
