Embracing Different Styles of Hypnotherapy

One of the best things that came out of our Hypno Weight Loss Jab workshop on Saturday was the discussion—not just about weight loss (fascinating as it was), but the wider conversation about how we practise hypnosis.

Like me, there were hypnotherapists in the room who’ve been practising for many years, alongside more recently qualified hypnotherapists. What emerged very clearly was this: we all have different ways of working.

At the end of the session we found ourselves swapping views, comparing approaches, and noticing just how varied our styles were. For me, that isn’t a problem to solve. It’s a sign of a healthy profession.

Embracing different styles of hypnotherapy can keep our practices fresh and evolving

Hypnosis isn’t a single method. It’s a way of working that can be informed by many therapeutic approaches, including CBT-informed approaches, psychodynamic and analytical approaches, solution-focused approaches, and mind–body work.

That’s part of what makes hypnotherapy so powerful.

It’s also what can make it feel confusing—especially when you’re newly qualified, or when you’ve taken a new training and you’re trying to “do it properly.”

Protocols and scripts are helpful… until they feel like a cage

When you’re given protocols, scripts, and brand-new approaches, it’s easy to feel constrained by them or to feel that there's a single "right" approach, rather than different styles of hypnotherapy to explore and integrate.

You can start to wonder: am I allowed to adapt this? What if I do it differently to the trainer? What if my client needs something that isn’t in the protocol?

Here’s my view: protocols are scaffolding. They help you learn structure, sequencing, and clinical reasoning.

But scaffolding isn’t the building.

Being a therapist is about constant learning and growth, and over time you develop a way of working that is both ethical and effective—and also feels like you.

As a trainer, my role is to help you find what fits

As a trainer, I’m not trying to create copies of me.

My role is to help students feel comfortable exploring what fits with their values, existing training, preferred way of working, the kinds of clients they’re drawn to, and their strengths as a practitioner.

Because when your approach fits you, you show up with more confidence. And clients feel that.

Your style will evolve (and it should)

From a personal perspective, my work initially was far more informed by psychodynamic and analytical approaches.

Over the years my work has increasingly been informed by positive psychology and mind–body work.

Some of this reflects the learning I’ve done over the years. Some of it is rooted in my personal journey, and reflections along the way.

And that’s exactly how it’s meant to be.

We’re not static. We’re practitioners, yes—but we’re also people. Your learning, your life, your client base, and your confidence will all shape your work.

Three tips to help you integrate different approaches (and keep it feeling like you)

Tip 1: Reflection—let your work evolve as you evolve

Being a therapist is tied up with who we are as a person. We’re constantly reflecting on our experience: what we go through, how we grow, and how our views might shift as our lives shift.

So be open to the idea that practices that once felt right might not fit in the same way now. And equally, techniques that once felt out of step with you and your experience might suddenly make sense.

Allow yourself to grow as you go through your life. Your work will naturally change as you do.

Tip 2: Constant learning—because caring practitioners don’t stand still

What was evident on Saturday is that hypnotherapists really care about their practice and their clients, and that they love to keep learning.

And learning isn’t just about techniques. It’s learning new theories. Learning about the world around you. Learning from your clients. Noticing what helps, what doesn’t, and what seems to matter most in real life.

The more you learn, the more choice you have—and the more you can tailor your work to the person in front of you.

Tip 3: Stay open—especially to other people’s ways of working

This was one of the nicest things that came out of our discussions. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in practice—it’s important to stay open to other people’s ideas.

For example, I don’t use regression. That decision is informed both by my personal experiences, hearing from some clients who haven’t had good experiences, and a general shift in my work.

But after some recent interesting discussions, I want to go and revisit the research on it

.

It’s always fascinating to hear about others’ ways of working, even if it’s different to mine. Staying open doesn’t mean you have to change what you do—it just means you stay curious, and you keep your thinking flexible.

A practical way to think about it: principles over performance

If you’re trying to integrate different types of hypnotherapy into your practice, here’s a simple anchor: keep your principles steady (ethics, consent, safety, clarity, client-centred work) and let your methods be flexible (language, structure, tools, and the therapeutic lens you use).

You don’t need to perform hypnosis in one “approved” style. You need to practise in a way that is aligned, thoughtful, and responsive.