Why Trust Matters in Hypnotherapy (and a bit about me)

If you’ve found your way here, there’s a good chance you’re curious about hypnotherapy - but also, quite understandably, a little cautious.

That makes sense.

Unlike many areas of healthcare, hypnotherapy in the UK isn’t formally regulated in the same way as professions like my profession, Mental Health Nursing, or others like Clinical Psychology or Medicine. There’s no single governing body or protected title, which means that in practice, anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist, regardless of their background or level of training (jacquinhypnosisacademy.com).

That doesn’t mean hypnotherapy isn’t valuable (it absolutely can be) but it does mean that who you choose to work with really matters.

About me

Before I ever trained in hypnotherapy, I spent many years working in mental health services within the NHS, as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.

I started out as a mental health nurse, training at the University of Manchester through a course that combined academic learning with hands-on clinical experience. From there, I worked in some of the most acute areas of mental health care - psychiatric intensive care, inpatient wards, and crisis teams, supporting people at some of the most difficult points in their lives.

Over time, my career developed into patient safety and service improvement roles across several NHS trusts, as well as managing an acute inpatient ward. These roles were less about delivering therapy directly, and more about asking difficult questions:

• What went wrong?

• What could have been done differently?

• How do we make care safer, more consistent, and more ethical?

That background shapes how I now work in hypnotherapy, because this isn’t just about techniques - it’s also about responsibility.

So… does hypnotherapy actually work?

This is one of the most common (and vital) questions.

The honest answer is: it can be effective for certain issues, particularly things like pain management, anxiety, and habit change - but it isn’t a magic fix, and it isn’t the right approach for everyone (Hypnotherapy Surrey).

There is a growing evidence base supporting hypnosis as a legitimate therapeutic tool. For example, the British Psychological Society has described hypnosis as “a valid subject for scientific study and research and a proven therapeutic medium” (hypnotherapy.training).

Systematic reviews have also found it can be beneficial in areas such as pain, psychosomatic conditions, and behavioural change (PMC).

But, evidence in therapy is rarely about guarantees. It’s about likelihood, suitability, and the skill of the practitioner.

Where trust really comes in

Because the field isn’t tightly regulated, there’s a wide range of approaches, training backgrounds, and claims out there.

Some practitioners do excellent, thoughtful work. Others may overpromise outcomes or make claims that aren’t supported by strong evidence. In fact, UK advertising standards have ruled against hypnotherapy claims where there wasn’t sufficient clinical evidence to support them (ASA).

That’s why trust really matters in this industry. But importantly, that shouldn’t be blind trust - but informed trust.

When you work with someone on your mental wellbeing, you’re often sharing things that are personal, vulnerable, and incredibly important. When you open up, you need to know that the person sitting with you:

• understands mental health, not just techniques

• knows when hypnotherapy is appropriate, and when it isn’t

• works within clear ethical boundaries

• takes your safety and risk management seriously

My approach

My background in regulated healthcare means I come into hypnotherapy from a slightly different place.

I’ve worked for years in environments where risk, ethics, and accountability are not optional, but they’re essential. I’ve seen what good care looks like, and also what happens when things aren’t done well.

So my approach is simple:

• I don’t make unrealistic promises;

• I’m honest about what hypnotherapy can and can’t do;

• I work at your pace, not mine; and

• I always keep your wellbeing at the centre of the process.

I also always align my practice with the standards promoted by professional organisations including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the National Council for Hypnotherapy - which emphasise ongoing training, ethical practice, and accountability (National Council for Hypnotherapy).

Final thoughts

Choosing a hypnotherapist should never feel like a leap of faith.

It should feel like an informed decision, based on who the person is, how they work, and whether you feel comfortable with them.

If you take one thing from this, let it be this:

Hypnotherapy isn’t just about the method.
It’s about the person delivering it - and whether you trust them to do that professionally, safely, ethically, and with your best interests at heart.

References

• ASA (2023) Health: Hypnotherapy advertising guidance. Available at: https://www.asa.org.uk (Accessed: 11 April 2026). (ASA)

• British Psychological Society (2001) The Nature of Hypnosis. (hypnotherapy.training)

• Jacquin Hypnosis Academy (2022) Hypnotherapy regulation in the UK. (jacquinhypnosisacademy.com)

• National Council for Hypnotherapy (n.d.) About NCH. (National Council for Hypnotherapy)

• PMC (2016) The efficacy, safety and applications of medical hypnosis: A systematic review. (PMC)

• Sich Hypnotherapy (2026) Is hypnotherapy effective? (Hypnotherapy Surrey)