There is no universal agreement on a definition, however Hypnosis is widely considered to be a mind/body state where the body is normally relaxed and the part of the mind that does things automatically (often called the subconscious or unconscious mind) is focused and alert. The experience is similar to, if not the same as meditation or deep relaxation and many people find themselves more open and willing to accept positive ideas and suggestions.

There is no universally recognised feeling or sensation which could be categorically called a ‘hypnotised feeling’. Feelings of heaviness, lightness, tingling in the hand, arms or legs, seeing vivid colours and many other feelings and sensations have been reported, none of which are unpleasant or uncomfortable in any way. Hypnosis requires the consent of a willing participant to be effective, as all Hypnosis is ‘Self-Hypnosis’.

Hypnotherapy is a unique form of Psychotherapy (a process that allows a person to come to a fuller understanding of their abilities, difficulties, motivations or worries in conjunction with the therapist.-BBC Health, June 2000), carried out whilst the client is in a state of hypnosis, which attempts to enable the client to access their own inner resources, for the purpose of understanding and resolving problems and issues which are affecting their daily life.

This could take the form of using positively phrased suggestions, guided imagery, metaphors or stories with an embedded meaning, de-sensitisation, regression (using the mind’s ability to imagine going back in time to childhood or adolescence to recover or re-discover forgotten or suppressed memories or experiences, which could be affecting how you feel at present).

There are many other ways of interacting with the client whilst they are in Hypnosis and the Hypnotherapist should work with the client’s motivation and belief that change is possible, to help them achieve their stated goals or outcomes. Please remember, the client can not be made to do anything they don’t want to do or is contrary to their code of morals and values.

All of our training courses and workshops are certified by Croft Academy, with either an Attendance Certificate, a Certificate of Skills or a Diploma. The professional Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, for example, meets or exceeds National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy and the criteria laid down by the UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations.

Croft Academy is also independently accredited as a recognised training provider by the following UK based premier governing bodies for the profession:

• The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy
• The General Hypnotherapy Standards Council
• The Hypnotherapy Society
• The National Council of Psychotherapists

We feel that it is important for our students to be eligible to join UK based professional organisations rather than those based in the USA, as they understand UK legislation, and the services they provide, such as annual conferences, subsidised insurance etc. are easier to access.

Yes it is, under certain circumstances and for certain levels of training. Most Student Membership is free but the National Council of Psychotherapists charges a small fee to cover administration costs. Often, some form of certification is also provided. Full details will be provided, where appropriate when you apply for or download a prospectus.

Most definitely! Founder and Co-Principal, Kevin Flynn, began training Hypnotherapy students in 1999 and was joined by ex-graduate and now Co-Principal, Pauline Alnwick, in 2002. They have almost 20 years combined experience in successfully training Hypnotherapy students and over 25 years of working with clients in their own Hypnotherapy practices.

Firmly established in the North of England, students have travelled from all over the UK to attend our Hypnotherapy training courses – a testament to the quality and reputation of the Tutors and the innovative and creative training they provide. Our Diploma Course in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy is also available anywhere in the UK, provided there at least 12 students from that area wishing to attend. This innovative and unique service is provided because we are passionate about training and are happy to come to you, if travelling to our home base proves difficult.

That really depends on what you want to get from your time with us. If you’re just a little curious then try the Hypnosis Taster Day, which is informative, interactive and fun! If you have some small problems or issues you want to deal with yourself then our Easy Self Hypnosis workshop will give you a basic understanding of self - help techniques. The Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis, gives you a thorough grounding in how to apply Hypnosis for self development and to use with friends and family for basic relaxation and stress issues. It is an ideal starting point to lead you into weekend 4 of our professional Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, whereby you can learn everything you need to know to work with a wide range of psychological and emotional issues, and set up in professional practice if you wish.

Don’t forget, there are workshops in Past Life Regression and Thought Field Therapy for both the general public and for qualified therapists, as well as self – development workshops for anyone on a wide range of interesting topics.

Surprisingly enough, no you don’t! Apart from the Past Life Regression course for therapists, all the training and workshops are open to virtually everyone who is mentally and physically capable of studying the subject matter. The booking forms for the relevant course may contain a questionnaire to establish some basic health related information, along with your reasons for wanting to take that particular course

We have found from experience that telephone interviews don’t necessarily provide sufficient information to determine suitability for the more demanding professional training courses, so an evaluation process takes place on the first practical weekend and anyone found to fall short of the standard required, will be asked to leave at the end of the weekend, following a confidential and sympathetic discussion as to why we have reached this decision. To be honest this rarely happens, but on such occasions the matter is handled with tact and diplomacy and an appropriate refund of fees paid. This is done to uphold the high standards that we set on all of our training courses, our responsibility to the general public to ensure only the most competent students are given the opportunity to complete their training and to ensure that any student does not waste time or money pursuing a course of study which, in our experience, they are either not suited for, or have little chance of graduating from.

People from all walks of life have graduated from our professional Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy course, including highly trained medical professionals, complementary therapists, sales and management professionals, teachers, consultants, driving instructors, electricians, building site workers, taxi drivers and pretty much anybody and everybody. The ability to read, write and communicate, common sense, an open mind and a willingness to learn are the main requirements for our students. Anything else you need, we can provide it.

Once again, it depends on the course of study you undertake. The Self Development Workshops are usually self contained and any information you take away from the workshop, whether a manual and/or a CD, is for you to use as you see fit. You will be given clear instructions before you book any of these workshops as to homework or self study tasks and this will be repeated and clarified at the end of the relevant workshop. Our Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis, Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy and the Thought Field Therapy Practitioner Certification, all involve a combination of practical, hands-on training, usually at weekends, combined with self study modules, written assignments, homework and multi choice exams on most weekends.

You can study at your own pace, practice your new found skills between weekends and you can also form study groups either in person or by phone with your fellow students. Although not a course requirement, we find that many students get together on a regular basis to practise developing their growing skill and knowledge base. The format of the relevant course is available for you to download by clicking on the Courses page, either on the main menu or the large blue button on the left of the page.

Absolutely not! We pride ourselves on providing everything you need to get the maximum benefit from any of our training courses and giving you a wide range of written and audio materials to enhance your study. The professional Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, for example, provides you with a short list of recommended reading books, but they are by no means necessary for you to successfully complete this course of study. Apart from an exam fee for your final practical exam, everything you need to know in this particular course is provided for you. In fact, the materials provided are so comprehensive and the tuition is delivered in a way that’s very easy to understand, that we find that the overwhelming majority of our students feel no need to take notes during the practical sessions.

You can pay by a variety of methods. About 50% of students pay the full fee before the course starts so they don’t have to bother with remembering to pay the next instalment. For everyone else, there is usually a deposit to be paid to book your place on the course, followed by a range of payment plans which include using PayPal, standing order, cash or cheque, either on a monthly basis for the longer courses or the balance to be paid 10 days before the course starts on the shorter courses and workshops. Individual flexible payment plans are also available following discussion with our Head of Administration and Finance.

That depends on the training course that you successfully complete. The Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis is designed to provide you with all you need to know about Hypnosis and how to apply it. It is exactly the same tuition as you get on the first 3 weekends of the professional Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. It covers some basic therapeutic techniques but not enough for you to set up a therapy practice or get professional indemnity insurance.

The Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy and the Thought Field Therapy Practitioner Certification, will give you the tuition, practice and skills necessary to set up your own therapy practice, if you so desire. Manuals and advice on marketing, advertising etc. are given out and discussed during these courses and we offer 12 months free support for Thought Field Therapy Practitioner Certification and free lifetime support for the Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Monthly Professional Supervision groups are available in different locations and Continuous Professional Development courses are available either from ourselves or recommended sources.