Creating hypnosis experiences for clients’ core values

This blog explores how you can elicit and use your client’s core values to create bespoke, highly personal and effectively targeted hypnosis experiences.

Working with client core values is taught on weekend four of our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Wherever you are on your journey, and whatever your learning differences, prferences or additional needs, you will find that at HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be. To find out more about training with HypnoTC, and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Eliciting and using clients’ core values

A person’s core values are indicators of what attributes, thoughts, perceptions and actions are most important to them. Whether consciously or subconsciously, they influence and guide how someone interacts with the world around them and can have a significant impact on decision-making and how someone lives their life.

As a hypnotherapist, you can now use our Core Values Pro app to easily elicit a client’s core values.

The Core Values Pro app enables a hypnotherapist to work with a client either in-person, or online. The process enables the client to sort through and make selections from a broad range of core values, and reach their top 5 core values at the end of the process.

There are many ways in which a client’s core values can be used to enhance  hypnotherapy outcomes. One of the simplest, is for ego strengthening. The following script gives you an example of how you can create a hypnosis experience around a client’s top 5 core values.

For the client referred to in this blog, their core values were:  Confidence | Happiness | Inner focus | Motivation | Empowerment

The hypnosis experience

Hello…. My name is [your name]

The hypnosis session I am about to give you, is a time for you to relax, to let go; it’s time a delightful hypnotic rest, just for you.

I would like you to make yourself comfortable. Take a slow, comfortable breath in…and gently let it go as you close your eyes.

You can now allow yourself to settle into a position where your body can be supported fully… where nothing is required of you for the next little while… except simply listening.

There is no need to ‘try’ to relax. There is no need to make anything happen.

You can just simply notice, that… as you listen to the sound of my voice… something inside you already knows how to begin.

Perhaps, you become aware of your breathing… each gentle breath in and out, taking you deeper inside. Perhaps… it is the subtle rhythm of sound and silence around you…

In fact…you can be aware of any sounds around you… and you can let those sounds help you focus all the more on my voice and your own inner world… as you let the silence in those sounds take you even deeper…

And… as you notice these simple things, your mind can begin to soften… like the calm surface of a lake at dusk, as the wind drops and it is natural to settle and become still….

(Your path)

I’d like you to use your wonderful imagination, in whatever way that presents itself to you… whether you clearly ‘see’ what I describe, as though watching a movie… whether you get a sense of what I say… or perhaps you simply think of what I describe to you…

I would like you to imagine standing on the edge of quiet forest. Calm, tall, elegant trees, with a wide path in front of you.

You can know that this forest represents your life, as it is today…your personal world, your professional world, your inner experiences, your loves, your hopes, your dreams. All that comes together… as you…

And… as you stand at the beginning of the path, you can look behind you, and notice that there are trees there as well… Perhaps you can even focus inside, and become aware that you are not even exactly the same person you were yesterday.

Because…just like the gentle growth of the elegant trees around you, your growth happens quietly…. step by step…breath by breath.

And… now… as you begin walking along the path, you may notice something interesting. When trees shed their leaves, they are letting go of what no longer serves them. You can now notice that some leaves scattered along the ground have words written on them; old words you once carried:

“Not enough.”
“Maybe later.”
“What if I fail?”
“I’m not ready.”

There is no need to challenge or hold onto these words…just notice them.

And… as you continue walking, a gentle breeze begins to move through the forest.

That breeze represents your deeper wisdom… the part of you that already understands your strengths and abilities and all the wonderful qualities and attributes deep within you.

And one by one, those leaves begin to lift from the ground…floating…drifting away…carried effortlessly by the wind… and there is no need for you to do anything… to think anything…you simply allow what no longer serves you to be released. Without effort… without drama… just a simple letting go.

And… as those old thoughts drift away, you can notice a sense of lightness… or space… creating room for something lighter begins to grow in their place.

(Confidence)

As you continue to walk along the path, you come to a tall, powerful tree.

This tree has deep roots… roots that reach down into the earth, strong and secure.

You start to get a sense that this tree represents you…grounded, resilient, and peaceful. Whatever the weather… or the season… this tree remains steady…and perhaps…now… you begin to sense that same steadiness within yourself.

And… as you breathe, so you may begin to feel your spine is gently lengthening… your shoulders releasing and settling… your posture naturally aligning… in a way that feels both relaxed and strong… knowing that inner confidence can begin quietly…like tiny roots strengthening underground before anyone sees the growth above.

You might already have noticed that any doubts, when they appear, are only like passing birds… They might perch on a branch for a moment… but soon fly away…

Just like the strong and powerful tree…true confidence is not loud…It does not shout…it isn’t flashy…true confidence… stands tall… whatever the weather.

(Happiness)

You continue your walk through the forest… and find a wide glade… with a stream running through it.

Sit down by the stream, a rest your hand in the water… feeling the soft, cool water flow gently your skin.

Notice there are some leaves nearby… each different in their own way… gather up those that you feel drawn to.

Now imagine placing any remaining self-doubt into those leaves…every limiting belief… every criticism you once absorbed… every outdated story…Lay those doubts onto and into those leaves… and now… reach out and float them into the stream… watching them float away…becoming smaller…until they disappear completely.

Because I would like to you know that now… today… you simply don’t need those stories anymore…Who you…your identity… what you are.. is not built from past hesitation… it’s built from present choice… and now you are choosing well… using all that you are… to make positive… beneficial decisions that add to your quality of life… moment by moment… day… by day.

(Inner focus)

Imagine now that the forest path becomes brighter…the colours around you becoming more vivid… the air fresher… and curiously… the more you are aware of the world around you… the more you become aware your inner world…and how you can choose a positive mindset — not ignoring reality, but choosing perspective….

You begin to automatically look for solutions…. To interpret challenges as feedback….To respond instead of react…. It becomes easier and easier to stay present in the moment… Patience becomes natural…. Calm becomes accessible…. Inner peace is not something you chase…. It is something you allow… and you are allowing it now.

(Motivation)

As you continue walking on this wonderful journey, you reach a clearing where sunlight pours down… showing you that in the centre of the clearing is a small smooth stone.

On the stone are etched the words: “I can…I will…I do…”

You can silently say those words to yourself… “I can…I will…I do…” and just notice how they feel deep inside. Maybe, you remember that motivation is not something that is given to you… not something to wait for it to happen. Motivation is something you cultivate. Just like tending a garden.

Each healthy habit — each nourishing choice — is a seed. When you choose healthy movement for your body… When you choose to focus instead of allowing distraction… When you choose progress over perfection… Each time, you are planting and nourishing seeds.

You don’t need massive change overnight…Transformation happens the way seasons change — gradually, naturally, inevitably, the forest responds…

Just for a moment, imagine yourself one month from today…You wake with clarity….You know your priorities….You take purposeful action….Even when tasks feel challenging, you stay steady.

Because motivation is connected to meaning….You remember why your goals matter…You remember who benefits when you show up fully. You begin finishing what you start…Following through…Completing important tasks…Small wins accumulate…Momentum builds…And each completed action reinforces the belief: “I am capable. I follow through. I create results.”

(Empowerment)

I would like you to take a moment to stop and feel your feet firmly on the ground.

Imagine roots extending from your body into the earth — steady, secure.

Notice, you are grounded in your values. Grounded in your strengths. Grounded in who you are becoming.

And at the same time, imagine that like trees, you too branches rising upward — representing growth, expansion, ambition.

You can be both grounded and growing. Peaceful and powerful. There is no conflict between happiness and achievement. They support each other.

As you become more aligned, you notice something important: The there is less space within you now for self-doubt… less space for negativity…yet almost limitless confidence… not fake… not forced… This confidence… feels natural.

(chime)

As you stand in that sunlight, I would like you to imagine there is another version of you, starting to appear… first hazy and transparent, and then becoming more clear. You can see that this version of you is dressed differently. As though their attributes take on a new appearance. It’s as though you can see their qualities, like layers surrounding them. Firstly, empowerment. A sense of being able to do think, do and be whatever they set their mind to.

The second layer is an engaging motivation, a desire to see just how far they can go.

The third layer, is a powerful sense of inner focus, an inner knowing and awareness of all that they are and can be.

The fourth layer is a sparkling, renewing,  happiness.

The outermost layer, is a wonderful, strong, resilient, glowing confidence.

Notice how this version of you stands…breathes…speaks… moves… as you imagine them there…notice how they take ownership of their attributes… without apology… just a simple inner knowing…

And as you notice this… something subtle begins shifting inside. I would like you now to imagine stepping into this version of you… feel what they feel… know that this is you… perhaps tomorrow… perhaps next week, or month, or year… knowing that this WILL be you…

Because the mind learns from rehearsal, each time you imagine the person you wish to be clearly, your subconscious begins organizing your behaviour toward it.

This version of you, now moves forward… into your future… and you can know that you will be in that version of you…. One day…and yet… today… you have already started.

As you imagine walking to the edge of the forest and looking back at the path you travelled… you can notice how far you’ve already come, and how you made that happen. Perhaps you allow a gently smile as your happiness begins to grow; not from comparison, but from alignment as you are becoming someone who is transforming into the person you truly want to be. Knowing, deep down, you recognize this is not a fantasy or daydreaming. This is acting on your potential… and potential becomes reality through your own consistent thoughts and action.

You can know that subconscious mind understands repetition. So from this moment forward, each time you breathe deeply, you reinforce:

Confidence.

Happiness

Inner focus

Motivation.

Empowerment.

Indeed, whenever you hear the sound of a bell chime, your subconscious mind will be reminded that you can achieve

Confidence.

Happiness

Inner focus

Motivation.

Empowerment.

(Re-alerting)

In a moment, I’ll invite you to return to full awareness.

Before I do, you can know this:

The forest remains within you.
The roots remain strong.
The sunlight remains available.

You are capable of transformation.
You are already transforming.

And as you begin to bring awareness back to your body…
Wiggling your fingers…
Taking a deeper breath…

You carry this confidence forward, bringing happiness, inner focus, motivation and empowerment into your life, more and more each passing day.

In a few moments time I will re-alert you.

I will count from one to five. And, at five, and only on the count of five, you will open your eyes and stretch, fully alert in every way. Coming back with a sense of wellbeing, mental and physical wellbeing. So ready, ONE re-orientating to the world around you, TWO, becoming more alert, THREE take a deep refreshing breath of air, FOUR getting ready to open your eyes, FIVE open your eyes, Wide awake… well done!

Would you like to become a HypnoTC Professional Hypnotherapist?

Would you like to be able to create bespoke hypnosis experiences for your clients? Then join us on our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

We are passionate about our training and providing the best quality training that we can. You are invited to find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course and ask us any questions you may have. We are always happy to help.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

The HypnoTC Team

This blog explores how rewarding a career in hypnotherapy can be.

Our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course is award-winning and designed to give you both competence and confidence. Wherever you are on your journey, and whatever your learning differences, preferences or additional needs, you will find that at HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be.

If you have yet to start your hypnotherapy training journey, or would like to refresh or upskill, do have a look at our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course and discover how you can train with HypnoTC to become a professional hypnotherapist.

To find out more about training with HypnoTC, and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

How rewarding a career in hypnotherapy can be – Insights from HypnoTC: The Hypnotherapy Training Company

At our hypnotherapy training school, we speak with people every day who feel drawn towards doing more meaningful work. Many are searching for a career that offers purpose, flexibility, personal growth, and the opportunity to truly help others make powerful changes in their lives. Time and time again, they discover that hypnotherapy is not just a profession; it is a deeply rewarding vocation.

A career in hypnotherapy offers a unique combination of emotional fulfilment, professional freedom, and long-term personal and professional growth.

As a training provider, we have had the privilege of supporting many students as they transform not only their careers, but also their confidence, self-belief, and sense of purpose.

In this blog, we explore some of the reasons why hypnotherapy is such a rewarding career choice and why demand for skilled, well-trained hypnotherapists continues to grow.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Making a Real Difference Through Hypnotherapy

One of the most powerful benefits of becoming a hypnotherapist and having a career in hypnotherapy is the impact you can have on people’s lives. Hypnotherapy works with both the conscious and subconscious mind, helping clients address issues that they have been unable to solely address consciously, or on a superficial level. This makes it an effective approach for challenges such as anxiety, stress, phobias, trauma, confidence issues, habits, addictions, and emotional wellbeing.

Our graduates often tell us that seeing clients experience genuine breakthroughs is one of the most fulfilling parts of the role. When a client overcomes a fear that once controlled their life, releases emotional pain, or finally feels empowered to change destructive patterns, the sense of purpose is profound. Few careers allow you to witness such meaningful transformation on a regular basis.

A Career That Encourages Personal Growth

Training with HypnoTC to be a hypnotherapist is a journey of personal development as much as professional qualification. During hypnotherapy training, our students learn about mindset, emotional intelligence, belief systems, behaviour patterns, and communication skills. These tools often lead to positive changes in their own lives, relationships, and confidence.

As a hypnotherapy training provider, we regularly see students grow into calmer, more self-aware, and more confident individuals throughout their training. It is a delight to observe how they evolve through the course and then on into having a successful career in hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy commonly attracts those who value self-improvement, reflection, and lifelong learning; qualities that make the career deeply rewarding long after qualification. Some student come to training with these qualities, others develop them.

Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

Another reason why hypnotherapy is such an appealing career choice is flexibility. Qualified hypnotherapists often work for themselves, allowing them to set their own schedules, choose their working hours, and design a lifestyle that aligns with their values.

Many of our graduates run private hypnotherapy practices, offering in-person and online hypnotherapy sessions, or combine hypnotherapy with coaching, counselling, or wellness services. This flexibility makes hypnotherapy ideal for career changers, parents, semi-retirees, or anyone seeking a healthier work-life balance without compromising professional fulfilment.

Variety, Creativity, and Career Longevity

Hypnotherapy is a diverse and engaging profession. No two clients are the same, and no two sessions are ever identical. This variety keeps the work interesting and prevents the stagnation that many people experience in traditional careers. Indeed, how you start a career in hypnotherapy doesn’t prevent you from branching out in other dimensions. You might start working with general issues and then evolve into a specific interest or specialism, such as sport, or fertility or performance.

Hypnotherapists can work with a vast range of issues, from stress management and confidence building to trauma recovery, smoking cessation, weight management, and performance enhancement. As trainers, we also encourage graduates to explore specialisations that align with their interests, passions and skills, ensuring long-term career satisfaction and growth.

A Growing Demand for Qualified Hypnotherapists

As awareness of mental health and holistic wellbeing grows, the demand for hypnotherapy is steadily increasing. More people are actively seeking alternatives or complementary approaches to traditional therapy and medication, particularly for stress-related, emotional, and behavioural challenges.

From our perspective as a hypnotherapy training company, this rising demand highlights the importance of quality education and ethical practice. Well-trained hypnotherapists are increasingly recognised for their skills and professionalism, and those who invest in reputable hypnotherapy training are well positioned to build successful, sustainable practices and have a career in hypnotherapy that truly reflects their efforts.

Emotional Fulfilment and Professional Satisfaction

Many of our students come to us feeling unfulfilled in their current roles. After qualifying, graduates often describe hypnotherapy as the most satisfying work they have ever done. Helping others create positive change fosters a deep sense of meaning and emotional reward.

Unlike careers driven solely by targets or profits, hypnotherapy is centred on connection, compassion, and empowerment. Knowing that your work directly improves someone’s quality of life brings a level of job satisfaction that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Building Trust and Meaningful Client Relationships

Hypnotherapy is built on trust, rapport, and empathy. Practitioners form genuine human connections with clients and provide a safe, supportive space for healing, growth and meaningful change. This aspect of the work is especially rewarding for those who value authenticity and connection.

As a training provider, we place strong emphasis on ethical practice, boundaries, and communication skills. These foundations help our graduates build respectful, professional relationships that benefit both client and practitioner, contributing to long-term fulfilment and confidence in their work. These skills also have impact far beyond a career in hypnotherapy; benefitting all aspects of the student or graduate’s life.

Financial Reward with Purpose

While hypnotherapy is often chosen for its emotional and personal rewards, it can also be financially viable and sustainable. Qualified hypnotherapists typically set their own fees, control their workload, and scale their practices at a pace that suits them.

Many of our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma graduates appreciate that hypnotherapy allows them to earn a living while staying aligned with their values. This balance between financial stability and purposeful work is one of the reasons the career is so attractive to people seeking meaningful self-employment.

Opportunities Beyond One-to-One Practice

A career in hypnotherapy offers opportunities beyond client sessions. Experienced practitioners may go on to teach, supervise, write books, create online programmes, or speak publicly about mindset and wellbeing. At HypnoTC, some graduates also return to class to support future hypnotherapists.This career flexibility ensures that hypnotherapy can evolve alongside your interests and ambitions, making it a long-term and rewarding professional path.

Why Training Matters

From our experience as an award-winning hypnotherapy training company, the quality of training plays a vital role in how rewarding a career becomes. Comprehensive relevant education, practical experience, ethical guidance, together with ongoing support, empower practitioners to work confidently, responsibly and effectively.

Choosing the right professional hypnotherapy training not only enhances client outcomes but also builds practitioner confidence, credibility, and long-term satisfaction. When hypnotherapists feel prepared and supported, the rewards of the career are amplified.

Final Thoughts – A Career in Hypnotherapy That  Truly Makes a Lasting Difference

Ultimately, a career in hypnotherapy is rewarding because it matters. It addresses emotional wellbeing at a time when stress, anxiety, and overwhelm are increasingly common. It empowers people to reconnect with their inner strength and create lasting change.

At HypnoTC, from our perspective, few careers offer the same combination of purpose, flexibility, personal growth, and professional fulfilment. For those who feel drawn to helping others, working with the mind, and creating meaningful change, a career in hypnotherapy can be truly life-changing; for both practitioner and client.

Our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma Training Course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

  Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

Studying Hypnotherapy with Dyslexia: How I Found My Way to Success

One of our wonderful graduates, Frances B. Lafferty, recently wrote this guest blog about her experiences studying with us and navigating the Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course. Frances was one of two students in her cohort with dyslexia. We find that more and more adults these days are able to access learning differences assessment and diagnosis. With that information, students are able to make the most of our inbuilt learning strategies and tools, as well as requesting specific help, such as large print, or extra time in exams, according to their individual needs.

Wherever you are on your journey, and whatever your learning differences, prferences or additional needs, you will find that at HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be. To find out more about training with HypnoTC, and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Graduate blog: Frances B. Lafferty

When I began my hypnotherapy training with HypnoTC, under the expert guidance of Dr Kate Beaven-Marks and the HypnoTC team, I knew I’d found the right path. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn about myself along the way, particularly about how I learn best as someone with dyslexia.

Returning to study as an adult can feel daunting for anyone, but with dyslexia, the thought of reading theory heavy material and writing assignments felt especially challenging. Yet HypnoTC’s training was designed in such a practical and supportive way that I was able not only to manage but to truly thrive.

Learning Differently

I quickly realised that studying with dyslexia is about finding what works for you. I used colour coded notes, mind maps, and voice recordings to help information stick. Listening back to material and breaking study sessions into shorter, focused bursts made a real difference.

These techniques helped me visualise and absorb the learning in a way that suited my brain and took the pressure off trying to study like everyone else.

Support and Encouragement

One of the most empowering steps I took was being open about my dyslexia. The HypnoTC tutors were understanding, encouraging, and solution-focused. That reassurance helped me build confidence, and I never felt “less than” my peers.

Their inclusive approach meant I could focus on growing as a practitioner, not just passing assessments.

Turning a Challenge into a Strength

Dyslexia has also become an asset in my practice. It’s strengthened my empathy, creativity, and ability to think outside the box qualities that are invaluable in hypnotherapy.

I understand what it’s like to work through limiting beliefs and to build confidence from the inside out.

Final thoughts

If you’re considering hypnotherapy training but worry about learning differences, please know it’s possible with the right support and approach. The mind truly is powerful, and training with HypnoTC helped me prove that to myself.

About Frances B. Lafferty

Author bio:

Frances B. Lafferty D.Hyp, CH, HPD (NCH) is an accredited Hypnotherapist who trained with HypnoTC under the guidance of Dr Kate Beaven-Marks, Rory, and the HypnoTC team. She is passionate about supporting others to overcome challenges and fulfil their potential through hypnotherapy.

You can find out more about Frances, and our other Alumni, on our new Alumni page.

Would you like to become a HypnoTC Professional Hypnotherapist?

We are passionate about our training and providing the best quality training that we can. You are invited to find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course and ask us any questions you may have. We are always happy to help.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

The HypnoTC Team

A Pathway to Professional Growth

As hypnotherapists, we invite our clients to turn inward, explore their experiences, and develop new ways of being. To work effectively at this level, it’s essential that we also do the same for ourselves. Reflective practice is one of the most valuable tools we have for professional growth, ethical awareness, and maintaining presence with clients.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

What Do We Mean by Reflective Practice?

Reflective practice is the deliberate process of examining our professional experiences in order to learn from them. It’s about moving beyond “how did the session go?” and asking deeper questions such as:

• What did I notice in my own responses during the session?
• How did my choices as a therapist shape the outcome?
• What patterns do I see across my client work?
• What might I experiment with or refine in the future?

When done regularly, reflection helps us become more attuned to both our clients’ needs and our own inner landscape as practitioners.

Why Does Reflective Practice Matter for Hypnotherapists?

Hypnotherapy isn’t just about technique—it’s about the therapeutic relationship, responsiveness, and presence. Reflective practice supports us in:

Strengthening self-awareness
We all bring unconscious assumptions, triggers, and biases into the therapy room. Reflection helps us notice these and prevent them from interfering with client work. Regular reflection enables you to identify patterns and ways of thinking that either help or hinder your work as a hypnotherapist.

Developing professional skill
Reviewing sessions helps us identify what worked well, what could be adjusted, and what tools or approaches we might want to explore further. By exploring where your strengths and limitations are, you are better able to invest your time and resources into targeted training that most specifically meets your needs.

Supporting ethical practice
Reflection allows us to consider our decisions in light of professional standards, ensuring we act in the best interest of the client. It can be easy to allow personal perspectives to come into our therapy work, after all, we are human. Yet reflection can identify where we, and our clients, may benefit from some separation of our views from our practice.

Protecting our wellbeing
Taking time to process emotionally demanding sessions prevents us from carrying unresolved material and reduces the risk of burnout.

How Can a Hypnotherapist Develop Reflective Practice? 

Every therapist will find their own rhythm, but some effective approaches include:

Reflective Journaling
After each session or at the end of the day, take a few minutes to note observations, emotions, and questions. Over time, this creates a valuable record of your growth.

Supervision and Peer Reflection
Regular supervision provides a safe, structured space to examine cases, explore challenges, and uncover blind spots. Group supervision and peer reflection groups can also foster mutual support and fresh perspectives.

Structured Models
Using models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle or Kolb’s Learning Cycle can provide a framework for reflection, helping you move from describing events to identifying concrete actions for improvement.

Mindful or Somatic Reflection
Many hypnotherapists find value in noticing the body’s signals, practicing self-hypnosis, or using mindfulness to reflect with curiosity rather than judgment.

How Do I Incorporate Reflection into My Hypnotherapy Practice?

To gain the full benefits, reflection needs to be intentional and consistent. Consider:

• Scheduling 10–15 minutes post-session for reflection.
• Dedicating a notebook or digital journal specifically to reflective notes.
• Revisiting reflections monthly to spot patterns and growth areas.
• Bringing reflections to supervision to deepen the process.

Final Thoughts

Reflective practice is not a luxury—it’s an integral part of ethical, effective hypnotherapy. By looking inward with honesty and curiosity, we refine our skills, protect our wellbeing, and ultimately offer more to our clients. Just as we encourage clients to develop new perspectives, reflection allows us to do the same, ensuring our practice continues to evolve with depth and integrity.

Our hypnotherapy course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

  Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

Is Hypnotherapy Your Future? Discover the possibilities at our free Learn Hypnotherapy Taster Day.

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Could I become a hypnotherapist?” Or maybe you’re already searching for the right course to help you make a real difference in people’s lives.

Perhaps you are already qualified, but looking for additional knowledge, skills or greater confidence.

Wherever you are on your journey, our HypnoTC Learn Hypnotherapy Taster Day is the perfect starting point — a warm, welcoming, and insight-packed experience designed to give you clarity, confidence, and a real taste of what it’s like to work in this fascinating and life-changing field.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Why join our Learn Hypnotherapy Taster Day?

Choosing to train as a hypnotherapist is a big decision. Whether you’re seeking a fulfilling new career, adding to your therapeutic skillset, or simply curious about how hypnosis works, joining a Taster Day gives you real value — not just information, but an immersive hypnosis experience. By the end of the day, you will have some real insight into whether training in hypnotherapy in right for you.

At HypnoTC, we’ve crafted our Taster Day to be fun, interactive, and incredibly insightful. By the end of the day, you’ll even know how to hypnotise someone (yes — really!). You’ll walk away with some awesome practical tools, powerful insights, and the knowledge you need to decide if this path is right for you.

What You’ll Learn and Experience

Here’s just a glimpse of what’s in store:

• What hypnosis is — and what it isn’t!
• Different approaches to hypnotherapy
• What a hypnotherapist’s career and lifestyle really look like
• How to choose the right training (and avoid common pitfalls)
• Our unique, hands-on teaching approach
• How to build confidence and competence as you learn
• Qualifications and accreditations that actually mean something
• Support systems (from peer groups to expert tutors)

And yes — you’ll learn and practice a full hypnosis protocol that you’ll be able to use straight away.

Finally, we are going to share with you, three powerful hypnotherapy “secrets” that supercharge your effectiveness.

Meet Dr Kate Beaven-Marks – Your Expert

The Taster Day is led by our Director of Studies and Principal Tutor, Dr Kate Beaven-Marks — a world-renowned expert in hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Her doctorate focused on teaching and learning hypnotherapy from a professionalism perspective.

Dr Kate’s decades of experience across therapeutic, academic, and training settings, includes having taught on and take on the role of lead examiner for the UK’s only Hypnotherapy Master’s Degree. She has written multiple books on many hypnosis-related topics, as is a highly sought-after speaker and mentor; known for her clear, fun, and practical teaching style.

Dr Kate’s deep expertise and passion for helping others succeed is at the heart of everything we do at HypnoTC. She is the lead trainer on all HypnoTC courses, supported by a fabulous team. All teaching assistants and student support assistants have already been through HypnoTC training. Want to learn more about Dr Kate and the HypnoTC team? Click here for more.

Our Spectacular Venue

Our Learn Hypnotherapy Taster Day takes place at the elegant Royal Horseguards Hotel in London — a luxurious and inspiring space that sets the tone for a day of growth, connection, and learning. Our course is one of the strongest courses worldwide (according to our students) and we have students travel to us from all over the UK, Europe and, at times, even further afield.

Our venue is superbly located near mainline (Charing Cross, Waterloo, Victoria, Kings Cross, Paddington) and underground stations (closest is Embankment, Westminster and Temple are nearby). We are also a short journey from Victoria coach station. For those coming to us by air, travel is easy from all London airports, particularly Heathrow and London City. Eurostar at Paddington is also a convenient travel option.

Why train with HypnoTC?

We get it — choosing a hypnotherapy training provider can feel overwhelming. There’s a huge range of options, from free YouTube videos, to £20 online courses, through to year-long in-person diplomas.

Our students often tell us that when they were looking for the best hypnotherapy training provider, it was like navigating a minefield. Our taster days give you essential information to help you make an informed decision about what is right for you.

So, why HypnoTC? We’ve created something special: a rigorous, fully-accredited, award-winning Diploma course that gives you real skills, recognised qualifications, and the support you need to succeed — whether you want to build your own practice or integrate hypnotherapy into existing work.

Here’s what makes our training stand out:

• ✅ Highest quality, substantial, relevant training content
• ✅ Highly practical and interactive training
• ✅ Expert trainers (Dr Kate and experienced practitioner-tutors)
• ✅ Accredited, high-quality curriculum that exceeds UK Core Standards
• ✅ Three meaningful qualifications upon graduation
• ✅ Small groups (max 18 students) for personalised learning
• ✅ Real-world practice and multi-layered learning
• ✅ Ongoing support during and after training

Our graduates consistently tell us the training was not only transformational — but the best decision they ever made.

Want to Prepare Before the Taster Day?

For You can dive into our wonderful hypnotic world right now. Check out:

• Our YouTube Channel – Real demos, trainer insights & more
• Our Blogs – Articles on hypnosis, therapy, confidence & careers
• The Diploma Course page – Everything you need to know about the Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma
• Our Key Info page – Course dates, fees, application forms

Like More Details?

For full information about HypnoTC and our award-winning Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma training, we invite you to peruse the detailed information on our Hypnotherapy Diploma page.

For a quick summary, including forthcoming course dates, please check out our Key Info page.

Have Questions?

We love questions. Feel free to bring yours on the day — or reach out ahead of time.

Email Dr Kate: kate@hypnotc.com
WhatsApp: 07769 697770

Or simply contact us via the HypnoTC website.

Ready to Join Us?

Places on our Diploma course fill up quickly (we keep cohorts small for quality), so if you already feel that “yes!” moment, and don’t want to wait for a Taster Day, here’s how to get started. Simply fill out a course application. We will then get in contact to discuss the progressing your application.

This Could Be the Start of Something Amazing…

If you’re curious about hypnotherapy — and wondering what’s next for you — this Taster Day could be the turning point. Whether you’re brand new or looking to take the next step, you’ll leave the day informed, inspired, and ready to move forward with clarity.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

The HypnoTC Team

From Creative Director to Hypnotherapist: My Journey of Transformation

This blog is written by Melissa de Lusignan, one of our amazing Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma graduates (June 2025).

On the last day of the training, students are asked to talk about their journey through the course. It is a wonderful time, hearing about how they have discovered things about themselves, how they have overcome challenges, and how they have grown, not just as hypnotherapists but also as individuals. With her journey presentation, Melissa creatively incorporated a multitude of techniques from the course. I wonder how many you can notice as you read her story.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

It’s never too late to be what you might have been

On the final day of our Professional Diploma Course, with the exams behind us, each of us took a few minutes to reflect on the past 10 months. There was laughter. There were unexpected tears. But most of all, there was a deep sense of connection. We all agreed our cohort was special—bound together by the support we’d given one another (and, I suspect, will continue to give).
So why was it so moving?

Although we’d got to know each other well, there were parts of our stories we hadn’t yet shared. In fact, for some of us, those stories had only just begun to emerge from the mist. That final weekend gave us the space to make sense of them—for ourselves, as much as each other.

Throughout the course, we’d explored the power of metaphor to illuminate the human experience. And as I began to reflect on my own journey, I noticed those metaphors start to weave into something new. A story. My story…

One day, last May, I found myself standing in a beautiful garden. Everything about this place was exactly right for me. But as I looked around this garden, I became aware of an area that was overgrown, unloved and sorely in need of attention. As I began to explore my emotions, I sensed a feeling of imbalance deep in the control room of my mind. My boundary, which was once strong and had always held firm, had weakened, allowing too many things that should stay on the outside to move inside. And things that should have stayed inside, to wander outside.

It was as if I was standing at the top of a mountain, gazing down into a breathtaking valley below—a place I had yearned to be for some time. I looked down at my feet, deep in the snow and reached down to pick up a handful–feeling its powdery texture in my hands, reminding me of my weakened resilience in this moment.

Just then, I noticed someone in the distance—a wise person—who greeted me with love, warmth and encouragement. Without speaking, he handed me an envelope and somehow, I knew in that moment, just what to do.

I put the envelope in my pocket and then, with renewed focus, I began compacting the snow into a firm snowball. As I stood at the edge of the mountain, I watched with amazement as the snowball rolled down the mountain, gathering in pace and size, smashing through all the barriers that had been holding me back.

As I made my way down the now clear track, into the valley, I found myself on an unfamiliar path. Before long, the path turned into a beautiful winding stone staircase, and at the top of the staircase was a door.

And on that door was a sign “HYPNOTC: Welcome to your Favourite Place of Lacrimation.” (If you know, you know…)

Much like my garden, this room felt perfect for me, radiating warmth, positive energy, and bursting with potential.

In the corner stood a bookshelf with my name on it. On the right: books full of skills and qualities I had forgotten I possessed. On the left: ten empty, coloured ring binders and matching notebooks, each labelled from Weekend 1 to Weekend 10.

Each month, Kate and Ross began to fill each these ring binders with incredible information, new skills and wonderous knowledge–like how to make someone cluck like a chicken. It was amazing!

The homework was extensive, and the Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD) loomed large. Part of me yearned to dive right in, while another part wanted to lounge on the sofa and binge-watch TV. Just as the lazy side was about to gain the upper hand, more wise figures appeared in my life, offering encouragement and friendship. Slowly but surely, the binders filled. My confidence grew. And the HPD started to feel… possible.

And with Kate’s advice echoing in my ears, I practiced my hypnotic voice, my FULL awakening as well as my direct and indirect suggestions. And whenever I said the word NOWwww, all unnecessary tension would leave my body (and any body within 10ft of me).

Over time, whenever I visited CROM (which is just off junction 10 of the M1 if you’re wondereing)—I noticed a shift in how I was feeling. My confidence had been turned right up and my anxieties dialled right down. Which, Ross reminded me, was what knobs were for.

And then, one day, I realised that the fluffy white cloud that had been mysteriously following me around since last July had darkened over time, absorbing my problems, and the cause of those problems, without me even having to think about it.

Then I saw it—a shimmer of light breaking through. The rays of sun grew stronger, dissolving the cloud. And when it was gone, the sky was a clear, brilliant blue. I could feel the warmth on my skin, dissolving blocks I hadn’t even realised were still there and filling me up with an incredible energy.

In that moment, I reached into my pocket. I pulled out the envelope the wise figure had given me all those months ago.

I opened it.
Inside was a single, beautiful card.

It read: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Melissa de Lusignan
HypnoTC Graduate June 2025

Illustration and card by lizzie@driftwooddesigns.co.uk

Our hypnotherapy course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

  Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

5 Practical Tips For New Hypnotherapy Students

When you are new to studying hypnotherapy, it can seem a vast world to get a grip of. This blog gives you 5 practical tips to help you get started.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Tips for new hypnotherapy students

We recognise that there is a lot to consider when you are new to learning hypnotherapy. In addition to the helpful content in this blog, you are welcome to check out our YouTube series ‘Tips for New Hypnotherapy Students’, to which we regularly add videos. Some of those videos are linked here. You can also check out our other videos on the HypnoTC YouTube Channel.

Tip #1 – All about you and preparing to learn

Our first tip for new hypnotherapy students is focusing on you and how you can prepare to learn. It can be really helpful to understand the ‘big picture’ of hypnotherapy and where your training will fit.  You might like to start by doing some general research and ‘mapping the field’. You can look at the key theories that inform hypnotherapy (including behavioural, cognitive, analytical and regression) and popular approaches, such as Ericksonian hypnotherapy.

Read around the general topics and then review your course syllabus. Get an idea of where it fits into the map. In addition, find out what is coming up in each class and take some time to focus your reading around that. Also, if you get the course notes in advance, go through them, and make notes of any particular questions. Find out more, with our video…

Tip #2 – Preparing for your first day in class

Our next tip for new hypnotherapy students considers how you set yourself up to have a great first day in class. Ideally you will start to prepare well in advance of your first day, rather than leaving it to a mad scramble late on the night before. Have a really relaxed night before class, so you are at your best on the day.

Organise your leaning materials and pay attention to your preferences. Perhaps you do well with highlighting text, or using post-it-notes. You might like to keep everything in a lever arch file, perhaps even in punched pockets, or simply as loose paper in a file. Whilst organising your learning materials, remember to pack your course notes if you have them. At HypnoTC, we give our students their notes in advance, so they can look through and become familiar with them and their contents. As well as packing your leaning and course materials, you might like to pack some snacks, nibbles, or even your favourite water or soft drinks.

If you have time beforehand, you might like to check out your route to class beforehand. Travel there, locate the route to class, notice where the food and coffee vendors are and also find out alternative routes. This means that on the day, you are really reducing any risk of travel stress. Saying that, do leave plenty of time to get to class. Better to have time to relax, that arrive hot and flustered.

Finally, when you join class, stand up tall, be confident, make eye contact, smile, and be open and welcoming. Say ‘hello’ to the person next to you. Relax into the environment and be ready, willing and able to learn.

Tip #3 – Improving your hypnotic vocabulary

The third tip for new hypnotherapy students is focused on helping you to develop your hypnotic language as soon as possible. As a hypnotherapist, you will find it helpful to have a diverse vocabulary. Now is a great time to start to develop your linguistic versatility, including synonyms and antonyms for common hypnotic words, such as relax. This enables you to avoid being overly repetitive. In the instance of ‘relaxing’ you can then talk of releasing tension, becoming loose, chilling, lounging, de-stressing, mellowing, decompressing, unwinding, lazing, reposing, and even hanging loose.

A great way of expanding your vocabulary is to read books, both fiction and non-fiction, particularly books that are different to your usual reading material. Both hypnosis-related and more general. If you are not much of a reader, then this is a great opportunity to either watch movies, or listen to podcasts, either hypnosis-related, more general, or even vocabulary ones (they do exist!). You might even take a more high-tech approach and put a vocabulary app on your phone.

You can also read hypnosis and hypnotherapy scripts and notice the words that are used. In addition, you may like to listen to your fellow students, tutors and teachers, and even your clients. How do they refer to ‘relaxation’ for example. With all of this, you will soon be able to create alternative lists for reach of your common hypnosis words. Perhaps even consulting a dictionary and a thesaurus. Knowing the words is one thing, integrating them into your everyday language is another. You might like to play some word games with fellow students.

 ‘The round’ word game

In this game, ideally with several students, start with a word such as ‘relax’ and each person has to come up with a similar word. When they can’t, they drop out of the game for that word. The winner is the last one speaking. Everyone joins back in for the next word. The overall winner is the person with the most individual wins.

‘The round’ phrase game

This is similar to the word game, but using a phrase, such as ‘heavy and tired’.

The continuous story game

In this game, there is a theme, such as a progressive relaxation, and each person takes turn to deliver a phrase, without repeating what the previous people have said.

Tip #4 – Getting practice

The fourth tip for new hypnotherapy students considers how you can get lots of practice. It is certainly something you can be proactive about. Getting lots of practice will really help you to understand and learn the hypnotherapy techniques that you are taught. You can, of course, simply dive straight in to working with friends, family, or even clients. If you feel that you would benefit from a little more preparation before doing that, then the following actions may be really helpful.

Firstly, read through the technique from start to finish. Then, learn the technique. Break it down into process components, so you have an idea of the overall flow. Next, read or say the technique out loud. Notice the words and the pacing of what you are saying. When you are comfortable with this stage, record the technique and either listen to it back and/or experience it yourself. The next stage is to hypnotise a ‘something’. A teddy bear is ideal. It has a face. It makes more sense than simply hypnotising a pillow. This gives you the opportunity to say your technique out loud and direct your intention.

Now, you can move on to hypnotising people. The first step here could be asking a friend to ‘pretend’ to go into hypnosis. This takes the pressure of them and you. If possible, practice with a range of people and take time, after each person, to reflect on their different responses. You can learn so much from this. Finally, if you are able, observe others delivering the technique and also receive the technique from other students or hypnotherapists. Notice what you can and take any useful learning.

Tip #5 – How to deliver hypnotherapy scripts

Our final tip for new hypnotherapists in this blog is about your delivery of hypnosis and hypnotherapy scripts. As a hypnotherapy student, you will, at some point encounter hypnotherapy scripts, particularly at the start of your learning journey. These may be provided by your training provider, or you might find them on the internet or in hypnotherapy books. There are some easy steps that you can take to elevate your delivery and help the client (or your practice partner) to get the most out of the experience.

Firstly, consider the material you are going to be holding. If the script is in a book, maybe use a bookmark, so that you can easily find your place. If the script is in loose paper format over several pages, then perhaps staple together, or collate in some way, so that you follow the script in the correct order. This also helps reduce paper rustling sounds. Next, read the script all the way through, either silently, or, better, out loud, so that you get used to forming the words and have an idea of pacing.

When you are ready to use the script with your client, avoid having the script in your lap. Instead hold it to the side of the client, so that you can look at the client, and just glance across at the script. For the client, this will then feel as though you are speaking directly to them; rather than you hypnotising your lap.

As you are already a little familiar with the script, read ahead as you go, and think carefully about the words that you are using. If you find that there are words that could better be replaced, you can do so as you go. For example, if a client uses ‘chill’ instead of ‘relax’, then swapping the word out personalises the script.

Finally, think about what the words mean, and use your voice to be congruent with their intention. For example, saying ‘slowly’, slower, and ‘quickly’ more rapidly. This all helps a client to connect more fully to what you are saying.

Our hypnotherapy course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

– written by Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

Discovering Rapid Hypnotherapy Podcast

Sharing hypnotherapy knowledge is a passion of mine, so I am always delighted to be invited to join a presenter for a hypnotherapy-related podcast. This podcast is focused around the use of rapid hypnotherapy.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes the use of rapid hypnotherapy), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Talking about rapid hypnotherapy

It was fantastic to be invited to join the NCH podcast series, to talk about ‘Discovering Rapid Hypnotherapy’ and it was great to spend time talking with Tracey Grist.

The Discovering Rapid Hypnotherapy Episode

I was delighted to be invited to join the NCH podcast series, to talk about ‘Discovering Rapid Hypnotherapy’ and it was great to spend time talking with Tracey Grist.

In my episode, I talked about some of the insights I have gained from my extensive work using hypnotherapy, together with relevant research.

I talk about the circumstances and situations where I prefer to use rapid inductions, together with the significance of psycho-education before therapy. This is a vital step in the process and not an area to skimp on.

Further on in the podcast, I talk about the need for a therapist to maintain a good balance between therapeutic practice and business acumen, to be successful in hypnotherapy.

I also touch on the ever-evolving role of AI in therapy and how I support the indispensable human element in hypnotherapy.

Wherever you are in your hypnosis or hypnotherapy journey, from an experienced professional in the field, or newly curious about the infinite power of hypnosis, this podcast episode is packed with compelling discussions that can enlighten and inspire.

How do I listen to the Discovering Rapid Hypnotherapy Podcast?

You can listen to my chat with Tracey Grist here –

Listen to the podcast

What is rapid hypnotherapy?

You may already be familiar with the concept of rapid hypnosis, using quick hypnosis inductions to create the state of hypnosis, and fast deepeners to intensify that state. These are particularly useful where therapy time is limited and also where the client is expecting something rapid or dynamic. In addition to a fast entry into hypnosis, rapid hypnotherapy techniques can be employed to help a client generate change in a highly focused way.

These approaches can speedily generate habit and behaviour change, adjust unhealthy beliefs and cognitive distortions, gain beneficial insight and even make use of past resources, bringing them into the client’s present and generating coping strategies and positive, supportive models the client can employ as coping strategies.

Hypnotherapists may naturally prefer working more dynamically, may prefer to optimise available time, or need to work optimally due to the client’s beliefs or expectations.

Clinical applications for rapid hypnotherapy

Rapid hypnotherapy offers practitioners the opportunity to employ hypnotherapeutic approaches within outpatient and inpatient treatment for a wide range of clinical, dental, medical and surgical applications. A range of rapid hypnotherapy approaches are taught on the HypnoTC Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Our hypnotherapy course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

– written by Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

Persuasive Storytelling for Hypnotists, Hypnotherapists, Therapists and Communicators

As a therapist, being able to create a bespoke story, which influences and persuades your client is a skill, that you can learn. This blog will explore the applications and benefits the arise from persuasive storytelling, together with exploring a range of story formats, with illustrative examples. We also give you a clear 5-step persuasive story model that can be employed to create any therapeutic story.

At HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be, whether that involves great initial training or awesome upskill/ refresher training. To find out more about training with HypnoTC (which includes hypnotic storytelling), and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.

Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Storytelling

Story-telling to convey a message has been around for as long as we have been able to communicate. Every culture has a history of using metaphors. Yet as children or adults we tend to relax when we listen to a story. After all, it is just a story.

Around the world, people use stories for many means of communication and as a way of conveying facts, as well as emotions and feelings. The listener will draw on their own resources to make meaning and by doing so, will connect to the story more. People will remember the drama and content of the story, whilst absorbing the meaning (or, the ‘moral of the tale’).

You can listen for their clients’ use of metaphors and use them with the client. For example, if a client says they are, “Boiling mad”, ask what would cool them off. Or if they say a friend is being, “Icy cold”, you could ask what would warm them up.

Persuasive Storytelling

Persuasive stories tend to offer one or more solutions or alternative perspectives for a situation. Clients can connect to different aspects of the story, to take what is most appropriate for them.

You can use persuasive stories to help clients understand concepts, challenge or establish a belief, offer alternative behavioural responses, and, more indirectly, give a symbolic interpretation for the client to connect to.

A well-told story can shift brain functioning from beta (conscious processing) to alpha (day dreaming), build rapport and boost oxytocin (thus increasing suggestibility) and can be used to:

• Motivate action or change
• Offer potential future outcomes
• Lead, direct, persuade and influence thoughts and perceptions
• Generate new thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Lead through an experience to access resources to support transformation, healing or growth

The 5-step Persuasive Storytelling Model

The 5-step model for persuasive stories can be applies to any type of story creation.

Step 1: Context – Set the scene, introduce the context and lead character.

Step 2: The issue – Explore the problem or issue.

Step 3: Past efforts – Consider past unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue.

Step 4: The solution – What is to be done.

Step 5: Outcome – The positive benefits, rewards or advantages of adopting the solution.

Example

Step 1: Context
Michael lives in a small village, home-schooled, loves making music.

Step 2: The issue
Wants to be a musician, but is shy.

Step 3: Past efforts
Asked friends/ family for help – their ways didn’t work (e.g. suck it up).

Step 4: The solution
Wear a disguise, adopt a different ‘persona’, and busk in a nearby town.

Step 5: Outcome
Gained confidence, passed interview at music college (and made a lot of money busking).

Persuasive Story Creation

The 5-step persuasive story model gives you a process that you can follow to create your story. However, there are some additional considerations you may also wish to make.

Decide on your intended purpose

Now is the time to consider which outcome do you want to achieve from a client listening to your story? For example,

• To gain understanding of a concept
• To challenge a belief
• To illustrate what is possible
• To take the client on a journey
• To highlight how others overcome adversity

Choose your format

Consider what will be the best way to convey your story. For example,

Direct influence – A case study

You can tell a story about a past client (suitably anonymised) and how they gained benefit from a certain action or response.

Example: The unplanned haircut
For several years, a lady with long hair (below waist) resisted having her hair cut, despite suggestions from her hair stylist. She was convinced that she would look ugly with shorter hair. One day, she had an accident resulting in a tin of glass paint coating the ends of her hair. She went to the hair stylist hoping they could fix her hair but it was beyond help. So, the hair stylist trimmed 6 inches (to just above her waist). When the client looked, she realised that she looked amazing with it at that length and wished she changed sooner.

Direct influence – My friend John

You can talk to a client about a friend of yours (make up a story) and how they benefited from a particular solution.

Example: John and the jar
Where a client is stressed and would benefit from prioritisation skills, you could talk about your friend John who was creating an art feature for his home. He gathered together his ‘ingredients’ and then just put them in the jar in any order, so pebbles, some stones, water, sand, gravel and rocks. He didn’t fit everything in. So he started again. This time he filled the big jar with rocks, pebbles, gravel, sand and water. He realised that if he put the small bits in first (‘easy stuff’) then there won’t be room for the big stuff. If he starts with the big stuff, the rest fits in around it.

Direct influence – Paths of life and death

You can use the ‘my friend John’ approach with two protagonists. One taking a path that had a positive outcome. The other, taking a path that led to a less desirable outcome.

Example: The bus stop
You could talk about a lady sitting at a bus stop. She wants to get on a bus, so jumps on the first that pulls up to the stop. Only to find she isn’t keen on where the bus is headed. So, she heads back to the busy stop and waits for a bus that goes where she wants to be. Just because the bus stops there, it doesn’t mean she has to get on (she has choices).

Indirect influence – A true story

This can be totally unrelated to the client’s problem, but the solution, and/or outcome can be helpful for the client. For example, you might be working with someone who wants to lose weight and are held back by limiting beliefs. You could talk about Roger Bannister and how, up to that point, people didn’t believe the 4-minute mile was possible. Yet once he ran in just under the 4 minutes, others knew what was achievable so they too ran faster.

Indirect influence – A fictional story

You could either create a totally fictitious story, or talk about reading of this story in a paper or book.

Example: The stuck door
In a wonderful building, an important door would not open. 100 people tried. They pushed, shoved, even used a battering ram. Then, one wise person can along, thought about the situation, looked at the door, and then pulled the door open (solution = look at situations and consider them first).

Persuasive Storytelling – Key Points

Relatable to the client

Have an awareness of the interests and personality of the client. If they are into sport, then perhaps create something active. If they are more of a sofa and tv person, then something relaxing. If they seem extravert, you can be more dramatic with your solution or outcome than if they are introvert.

Credible

Your story has to have a component of truth or be possible. The internal logic of the story must work (make sense).

Forward-facing, positive, formative

Generally, focus on considering action rather than in-action (do something, rather than avoid doing something), and encouraging new responses, rather than prohibiting old responses.

Delivering a good story

When delivering your story, be engaged with the story and deliver it with confidence, using a story-telling using, with relevant use of drama and suspense. Include aspects of description for each of the senses (see, hear, feel, smell, taste).

Conclusion

Being able to create bespoke persuasive stories for your clients, whether during the intake, in conversation, during hypnosis or even within hypnosis resources, such as blogs and MP3s, gives your business an added dimension. A final tip is that whenever you create an awesome story, make a note of it, so that you build a repository of fantastic stories.

Our hypnotherapy course

If you would like to help others make positive enhancements to their lives and become a professional hypnotherapist,  we recommend you check our awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.

Finally, if you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

– written by Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)

Our New Year Newsletter 2025

Happy New Year!

The recent World Hypnotism Day on the 4th January has inspired me to write a New Year newsletter to update you on all things hypno, as it is going to be a busy time for HypnoTC.

Taster day, 18th January

On Saturday 18th January we have one of our popular taster days. If you are interested in training with us, or refreshing your training, you are most welcome to book a ticket (free) and come along and meet us. We love holding these events, as we get to meet some great people and talk about what we love!

Group supervision, 22nd January

Every month, usually on a Wednesday evening (6.30pm-8.30pm) I run a supervision group. You can book whichever dates best suit you and you receive a supervision certificate for your records. Sessions are open to anyone qualified in hypnotherapy, wherever you trained. The group size is capped at 8 so everyone gets time to get involved.

Hypno-EMDR Practical Skills, 6th – 7th February

Our two-day Hypno-EMDR workshop is highly practical, and is focused on giving you the skills to use EMDR within your hypnotherapy practice. Delivered live online, you learn how to work with clients using techniques suitable for online and in-person use. It runs from 9.30am to 5pm each day. A detailed PDF manual and attendance certificate are provided.

Solid Gold, 1st – 2nd March

At the end of February into March, I am travelling off to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to present at the National Guild of Hypnotists Solid Gold event on 1st and 2nd March. I am really excited to have invited to teach my methods for mastering hypnosis demonstrations and presentations. As well as how prepare planned presentations and demos, participants will find out how to confidently deliver impromptu presentations and demonstrations without notice. Will it all be me talking? Absolutely not! One of the best ways of learning is by doing, so I am cramming lots of practical opportunities into my session. There are some really interesting speakers at the conference, so I am looking forward to hearing their presentations.

Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course, 5th April

Our next 10-month Professional Hypnotherapy course starts on Saturday 5th April and we are really looking forward to meet everyone at the start of their hypnotherapy careers.

If you would like to find out more about the awesome Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma that HypnoTC , do please visit our Diploma page and have a browse through the information about our world-class, award-winning training.

Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course

Already trained?

We often get asked if we offer refresher or update training and everyone has different gaps in their confidence or knowledge, we simply offer a massive discount on the course price for people who are already qualified.

Learn How to Hypnotise course, 30th April

New for this year is our ‘Learn How to Hypnotise’ 10-week course. This course is the ideal accompaniment to my ‘Hypnosis: How Hypnotize’ book, which was published in 2024.

On the topics of books… and other stuff

New book coming

As seems to be a habit now, I spent the festive season focused on writing my next book. I now have a first draft (the fun part) and now comes the process of refining and finishing it. I am hoping for an Easter launch. As usual, nearer the time, I will run a competition to win a signed copy.

YouTube videos

We have been busy in recent months adding more hypnosis videos to our YouTube Channel. If there are any particular topics or demos you would like to see, please let me know.
There are some interesting blogs scheduled to post over the next few months, although we are delighted to receive requests for topics.

Upcoming CPD workshops

FEBRUARY – Hypno-EMDR Practical Skills

If you have missed out on our popular Hypno-EMDR Practical Skills, now is the time sign up to our workshop on 6th and 7th February, conveniently held on weekdays this time (9.30am – 5pm).

Other CPD

We also have pain management and HypnoDemo workshops scheduled so far this year. Is there anything you would like us to deliver? Feel free to get in touch with your ideas.

FREE…. Hypno-EMDR taster session

Finally, I am running a FREE Hypno-EMDR taster session on 17th January (12 noon – 1pm) where you will learn how to use EMDR’s self-applied bilateral stimulation (SABLS) for self-soothing and self-care. If you would like to join the session, please email me (kate@hypnotc.com) for the zoom link.

We love to hear from you

If you have any questions about learning or using hypnotherapy, then please do get in contact. we are always happy to help.

Get in contact

Have a wonderful 2025!

written by Dr Kate Beaven-Marks
(HypnoTC Director)