Hypnotherapist vs. hypnotist?

Question

what is the difference between these two?

Answer 1

Well, I believe the difference is in how there certified.

A hypnotherapist actually can help you talk things out as well as hypnosis.  They use a variety of techiniques to complement the hypnosis. Aka there a therapist that uses hypnosis to help you.

A hypnotist can probably do the same things, but to me its someone who just does hypnosis.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Also to me a hypnotist would only help you with lets say, stop smoking, while a hypnotherapist seems to me that they would be much more caring in more personal problems.

Answer 2

Very different, and thanks for asking!

A hypnotherapist is a person who uses hypnosis as a method of therapy with the purpose of helping people solve their problems. Hypnotherapists are in some countries very well qualified and strict restrictions sometimes apply. For example until very recently only medical doctors and psychologists could use hypnosis in Norway.

A hypnotist uses hypnosis as entertainment. It's stage hypnosis, like Paul McKenna does on television for example. (Paul McKenna is also a hypnotherapist, by the way). A hypnotist may also be highy qualified but does not use his knowledge to help people solve their problems.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

All hypnosis is really self-hypnosis -- something that every human has the ability to do.  In fact, most of us do it every day.  When we are so mesmerized by the T.V. that we don't hear someone talking to us, it's hypnosis.  It's a state of total focused attention, sometimes called the "alpha brainwave" state, and we all move through it every time we fall asleep and every time we wake up.

A "hypnotist" is a person who has the ability to consciously guide themselves, or another human being, into the state of hypnosis.  Usually, (but not always) someone that refers to themselves as a hypnotist has studied and/or taken courses on the subject, and/or has been "certified" as a hypnotist.  This would include laypeople who are simply interested in learning as well as "stage" hypnotists who use the process as a form of entertainment -- often comedic.

A "hypnotherapist" is a hypnotist who has received additional training in a field (or fields) that would qualify that individual to professionally help others by means of hypnotherapy.  Common forms of hypnotherapy are used to motivate people with addictions,  for weight control, positive thinking, reading and study skills, test-taking, and relaxation.  Some hypnotherapists work with patients who are unable to take anesthesia and even for childbirth.  There are many professionally degreed doctors, dentists, psychiatrists, psychologists, etc., who have additionally become certified as hypnotherapists to enhance their own healing skills.

There is nothing "magical" about it.  The person seeking therapy must truly want to achieve their goal(s), and a capable hypnotherapist may be able to help using an array of tools such as visual imagery, positive suggestion, and teaching the individual how to use self-hypnosis to enhance and achieve his/her own achievement goals.

One must NEVER EVER seek out a hypnotist for matters such as pain control, physical maladies or emotional problems without first getting checked-out medically.

Watch a juggler sometimes -- or watch an Olympic contender - or watch someone performing Tai Chi -- look closely at their faces and you will see, first hand, the look of focused concentration which is either naturally achieved or professionally taught to effect his/her personal best to the task at hand.