# So, how can you tell if a hypnotist is any good? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598 "2009-10-21T13:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/1 "2009-10-21T13:39:10Z")
A long while ago I asked for opinions about hypnotism, specifically for getting my ass up in the morning and running. I’ve done a little reading which suggests that the AMA seems to think it does work for some things (I mean, so does the placebo effect - but then, if something was just as effective as the placebo effect I’d be on it like white on rice, you know? Dignity be damned.) and I thought maybe I’d give it a shot. It makes me kind of uncomfortable - not, you know, chiropracter/homeopathist uncomfortable, but not the sort of thing I’d normally do. On the other hand, if it works, it works. So, how do you tell if you’ve got a good hypnotist? I contacted a place nearby my workplace that has a nice webpage and says they’re certified by the Institute of Psycho-Linguistics and the National Guild of Hypnotists, whoever they are. They have nothing against them on the Better Business Bureau website. And? I mean, I don’t know anybody who’s ever gone to a hypnotist, as far as I know. (Hypnotist starts to look _really_ weird once you type it a few times.) I kind of wish they weren’t male hypnotists - is that weird? I haven’t even met the guys, just gotten a voice mail from one of them. It’s in a respectable part of town, with a bunch of lawyers and such. So… how can you tell? They offer a free orientation/consultation visit, which I figured I’d go ahead and schedule. What on earth am I looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/2 "2009-10-21T15:49:48Z")
I don’t know if it’s any indication, but I just remembered something in that day-long natterfest we had to sit through on Staff Education Day about alternative health discounts with our insurance… this place is indeed a participating practitioner and I get 20% off. Of course, who knows if that list of providers is vetted. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/3 "2009-10-21T16:01:05Z")
“DING” Report back. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/4 "2009-10-21T19:08:49Z")
So… nobody? Nobody can give me any indication of whether I should worry about getting hypno-raped? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/5 "2009-10-21T19:32:43Z")
I’ve only been hypnotized once, and that was by a psychologist. And I once knew a psychology student who claimed he knew how to hypnotize people. You might want to screen for degrees in psychology. That way you at least have a better chance of getting someone with a sense of ethics and some formal training. The worst you have to lose by going to a quack is your money. It’s not like you’re suddenly going to start knocking over banks or stripping in public. Unless you really want to, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/6 "2009-10-21T19:37:43Z")
I have been hypotized several times and even trained to hypnotize others. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, the hypnotist will help you relax and control your breathing to get into the hypnotic state, but trust me on this, YOU can break it and wake up anytime you want to. Hypno-raping will not take place; you will do nothing you don’t want to do, you will go as deep as you allow yourself to go. So, yes go to the orientation and check them out. But, a comparison to placebo is not out of line. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/7 "2009-10-21T19:55:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve only been hypnotized once, and that was by a psychologist. And I once knew a psychology student who claimed he knew how to hypnotize people. You might want to screen for degrees in psychology. That way you at least have a better chance of getting someone with a sense of ethics and some formal training. > > The worst you have to lose by going to a quack is your money. It’s not like you’re suddenly going to start knocking over banks or stripping in public. Unless you really want to, of course. I would consider that a good outcome, because it would mean that at least the technique was effective. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/8 "2009-10-21T20:06:04Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I would consider that a good outcome, because it would mean that at least the technique was effective. 🙂 Good point! I said I’ve been hypnotized once. Actually, twice. The second time was NLP, which a lot of people consider really controversial. But I thought it was quite effective. There’s another alternative, though. Write me a check for a year’s salary. Then send me an e-mail every day telling me how far you ran. On the day I don’t get an e-mail, I’m cashing the check and buying something really nice for myself. (I’m only half kidding about that last bit. I was on the fence about doing something – buying a non-refundable plane ticket instilled me with the commitment to do it.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/9 "2009-10-21T20:40:57Z")
After talking to him, you’ll just _know_ that he’s good. Better than “Cats”. You’ll go see him again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/10 "2009-10-21T20:55:37Z")
That’s true - you wouldn’t want to go to a _poor_ hypnotist. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/11 "2009-10-21T22:08:44Z")
[Check their professional certification?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8303126.stm) > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Better than “Cats”. Well, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Iridescent\_Orb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@Iridescent\_Orb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iridescent_Orb)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/12 "2009-10-22T05:49:43Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So… nobody? Nobody can give me any indication of whether I should worry about getting hypno-raped? Interesting coincidence that this thread appeared next to **Have you ever been involved in a threesome?** … ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/13 "2009-10-22T07:55:10Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > There’s another alternative, though. Write me a check for a year’s salary. Then send me an e-mail every day telling me how far you ran. On the day I don’t get an e-mail, I’m cashing the check and buying something really nice for myself. I know people who have done that, except the check is to an organization that you don’t support. (One that you think doesn’t need more money and definitely is not getting yours.) First day of no running, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is getting a big fat check. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/14 "2009-10-22T09:20:39Z")
Wasn’t there a Mythbuster episode on hypnosis? I had it done twice or thrice for counseling. It’s basically to get me to relax and not to focus on my anxiety. The counselor just asked me to recall with details a place that I was comfortable in (my bedroom in a flat which I used to stay in) and recall good memories and ask me to describe it in detail. There was some relaxation exercise thrown in too. I was seeing a fully certified psychologist at the local hospital. I think besides calming down, hypnosis doesn’t really help me much for anything else, like doing the laundry or cleaning up my messy room 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/15 "2009-10-22T15:31:08Z")
Yeah, I’m not sure how effective hypnosis is for changing behavior, but it’s balls for relaxation. And it’s one of those things that when it’s done to you once, you can do it to yourself whenever you want. I’m not sure about NLP for behavior either, but it’s great for changing negative beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/16 "2009-10-22T17:19:55Z")
Well, I went in for the consult - the hypnotist was a really nice, cool guy, so I made an appointment for next week. He used to work for the NSA, though - he _says_ not as a hypnotist, but what do you _expect_ him to say? 🙂 What he said made a lot of sense to me - he didn’t promise results, because he said that if I don’t _emotionally_ want to get out there and run, at best it’s a patch and it won’t stick. So we’re going to work on it and see what happens. I’m excited about it, really. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/17 "2009-10-22T19:20:07Z")
Good luck. I will be interested in to hear the results. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/18 "2009-10-23T02:48:51Z")
Never mind. Wasn’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/19 "2009-10-23T13:43:54Z")
On the one hand, if only other authors of bad jokes would do that. On the other hand, it’s a horrible tease, isn’t it? I vote you should have instead come up with something funny to replace your not-funny, whatever it was. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598/20 "2009-10-23T13:50:48Z")
Bear in mind that that first “free” consultation works just like a chiropractic “free” examination-you will be told about how lucky you are to have come in because of all the problems you never knew you had. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-can-you-tell-if-a-hypnotist-is-any-good/514598.md?page=2)