Seven essential study skills for hypnotherapy students


So the first excitement is over - you've applied to the hypnotherapy school of your choice, been accepted and attended your first class, and now the reality hits. You’re looking at your first piece of homework for maybe 20 years and wondering what you've let yourself in for...

Even if you’ve studied more recently, our top tips will help you make the most of your training.

  1. Ten fingers or two?
    Most schools will ask you to submit written work in either printed or electronic format. This means getting to grips with your PC. Creating an essay template can be a good idea, so it automatically sets future work out in the required format, font and layout. If you're not sure how to do this there are guides online - or ask a teenager if you have access to one!
     
  2. 'To me or not to me?' and other essay questions.
    Academic essays generally have to be written with no mention of yourself ('the rat was placed into the maze' instead of 'I put the rat in the maze'). Many hypnotherapy schools prefer you to include your own experiences, feelings and thoughts about your topic. Check the school's guidelines on this - and other aspects what they're expecting - before you start and not after.
     
  3. Time and homework deadlines wait for no-one.
    Last time you studied you may have had fewer other calls on your time and most schools give extensions only for genuine emergencies. To avoid the 'homework marathon' (where you try to do the whole month's tasks on the last day) break up your homework into manageable portions soon after each module. Dip into the relevant bits of textbooks using the index, rather than trying to read them whole. Set aside specific, regular times to concentrate on your coursework, in a quiet place without interruptions or distractions.
     
  4. Organisation is the key.
    Create folders in Word, your email programme, and your internet browser favourites to keep all your hypno stuff together, and easily found. Have a file or folder to store class notes and other handouts. And remember this only helps if you keep your filing up to date!
     
  5. To thine own self be true!
    This is advice is given in Hamlet so it's not exactly new. But knowing how you prefer to learn can be a big help. Does it help most to take notes in class or just listen? Be creative in finding tasks for the independent study element so they suit your personal preferences - read a book, browse online, watch videos on Youtube or listen to TED talks. (Ask your tutor for recommendations.)
     
  6. Of friends and clients.
    Practising your therapeutic skills between classes is a must but if you're working with a friend, it's easy to get distracted and spend the whole visit socialising. Set a specific time to get together, as you would with a client. Meet them at the door in 'therapist/client mode' and do the practice session first. Catch up and have the social part afterwards, when you can both relax and enjoy it.
     
  7. Get support - and use it.
    Network with other students between classes - it's a great source of support. If you can’t meet up, then get together online, for example via a Facebook group. Find out when and how to contact your tutor for support between classes if you need it, and don’t be afraid to ask them for help.
     
Which of these helped you most? Have you got more tips? Please post your comments below.
You can also sign up for our free ebook explaining all you need to know about training as a hypnotherapist in the UK.

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Author: is an experienced hypnotherapist and hypnotherapy trainer. She is the author of Their Worlds, Your Words and has co-written the Hypnotherapy Handbook, both of which are available from Amazon.
Find out more about Debbie's services on
Yorkshire Hypnotherapy Training - multi accredited hypnotherapy practitioner training, taster days and foundation levels.
CPD Expert - accredited CPD and other therapy training (online and workshops options), expert and qualified hypnotherapy supervision

Comments

  1. That is an extremely smart written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I will certainly return.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Save any work on your computer on a regular basis,(every couple of paragraphs) because there is nothing more frustrating than getting most of the way through an essay and then accidentally hitting delete...

    ReplyDelete

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