Clinical Hypnosis Training

Revised November, 2022

  1. Licensure Licensure rules, as required by the trainee’s state of residence, must be followed as the trainee pursues the practice of hypnosis/hypnoanalytic therapy with clients. One can be working toward hours needed for full state licensure and can count the training hours for this as long as the Trainer qualifies as a supervisor.
  2. Trainee Background and Education Requirements AAMH is a multidisciplinary organization consisting of trained professionals who have as a minimum, one of the following:
    1. MD or DO degree
    2. PhD or EdD earned from an accredited college, university or institute in the field of psychology, psychotherapy, counseling or a closely related field.
    3. MA or MS from an accredited college or university in the field of health sciences such as psychology, psychotherapy, counseling or a closely related field and currently be enrolled in a doctorate program at an accredited college, university or institute, unless the Master’s Degree is a terminal degree and allows one to be licensed to practice in the state of residence.
    4. MSW or MSC from an accredited college, university or institute.
    5. An earned Doctor of Ministry (DMin), or Master’s of Divinity (MDiv) or other equivalent graduate theological degree with a major in pastoral psychology, marriage or family therapy or equivalent program, accompanied with a current state license as a mental health professional or a clergyperson state-licensed to practice as a counselor or therapist. Must be qualified to provide independent counseling by the state and denominations where practice is located.
  3. Clinical Training in Hypnotherapy/Hypnoanalysis
    1. Levels of Training
      (Clinical Education & Training Committee will review residents as they move from level to level.)Before starting residency training in hypnoanalysis, the trainee must have completed the basic course, Hypnosis 101 (or equivalent) and the 203 Basic Hypnoanalysis course as taught by the American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysis, both within a reasonable amount of time. (See exceptions to this requirement below).

      Exceptions
      If a therapist wants to begin the residency program before the next 101 and advanced course, they can start upon approval of the CEC. The CEC will approve if they have had a 101 course from another hypnosis organization, such as ASCH to include inductions, deepening, closings, what hypnosis is, and developing suggestions. They will be required to watch a video of the virtual 203. They will be interviewed by a CEC member and the CEC will consider their application. They will be required to attend a subsequent live 101 and advanced courses. Training will be allowed to be virtual, but some time must be spent with a training analyst in any hypnoanalytic office.

      1. Level I, Hypnoanalyst:
        1. This level is comprised of the first 120 hours of training. During this time the Trainee must undergo a personal analysis done by the Training Analyst. In the event the applicant has previously been in hypnoanalysis, the therapy would be supplemented by the Training Analyst.
        2. The text for this training, The Handbook of Brief Psychotherapy, by John Scott Sr., is to be read and studied since understanding hypnoanalytic theory is a major focus during this level of training.
        3. Additional areas of focus: proficiency in hypnosis skills, skill in formulating therapeutic suggestions, regular observation of Trainer doing hypnosis, hypnotherapy, hypnoanalysis, with much emphasis on Age Regression techniques.
        4. It is expected that at least halfway through the 120 hours, the Trainee is doing basic hypnosis with clients, including hypnotherapeutic suggestions related to stress, smoking cessation, performance anxiety, etc. Trainee will bring in some of these cases for supervision.
        5. At the end of this Level the Trainee must pass the multiple choice portion of the written exam and turn in three (3) original direct suggestion scripts.
        6. Trainee will be provided with at least 30 scripts. These scripts, as well as all others received, may not, under any circumstances, be copied, duplicated or shared with anyone. The Trainee will also receive a one-year membership in the Academy (associate membership), which entitles him/her to discounts at annual meetings and postgraduate courses.
          1. To complete the training the trainee must be approved as competent by the instructor (s) who files a report with the Clinical Education and Training Committee. The Committee reserves the right to recommend further training before giving final approval. Length of time to complete this level shall preferably be no longer than 6 months.
        7. FEE: For these 120 hours the required fee is $2500.00.
      2. 2. Level II, Hypnoanalyst:
        1. This level consists of 100 more hours of training. To be eligible for this level the Trainee must have successfully completed Level I, be attending AAMH annual conferences and be using hypnosis regularly.
        2. This level will be heavily focused on the art and skill of Hypnoanalysis. The system includes medical and psychological history techniques, with emphasis on subconscious responses and body language, and specific hypnoanalytic exercises will be taught and demonstrated, as well as the intricacies of the other hypnoanalytic tools related to age regression and much more.
        3. Trainee needs to begin using Hypnoanalysis with his/her clients, as early as possible, at this Level, if not already doing so. These cases need to be regularly brought in for review with the Trainer.
        4. At the end of this Level, Trainee must pass the second half of the written exam, which demonstrates a working knowledge of hypnoanalytic skills. Trainee must also turn in three (3) more original scripts, at least one of which would be used after an age regression.
        5. Trainee will be provided with at least 100 more scripts, many of which are related to the hypnoanalytic process. As previously stated, none of the scripts may be copied, duplicated or shared under any circumstances.
        6. Completion of Level II will follow the same criteria as prescribed in Level I, i.e.
        7. To complete the training the trainee must be approved as competent by the instructor (s) who files a report with the Clinical Education and Training Committee. The Committee reserves the right to recommend further training before giving final approval. Length of time to complete this level shall preferably be no longer than 6 months.
        8. FEE: For these 100 hours, the required fee is $1700.00.
        9. (To proceed to Level III, resident must already have clients in hypnoanalytic process or ready to begin)
      3. 3. Level III, Board Certified Hypnoanalyst:
        1. This level consists of the final 100 hours of training, which when successfully completed, results in becoming a Board Certified Hypnoanalyst. To be eligible to begin this level, the Trainee must have successfully completed Levels I & II, be attending AAMH annual conferences and be using Hypnoanalyis with clients regularly.
        2. Forty (40) of these 100 hours need to be done with a second trainer. Trainee will regularly bring in his/her cases to be reviewed by Trainers, so as to be prepared for the oral exam at the end of this Level of training.
        3. Trainee is required to write a hypnoanalytic article, on a suitable subject, acceptable for publication before training is completed.
        4. AAMH will provide Trainee with all the additional scripts needed for a basic Script library, which includes diagnostic and therapeutic scripts for a large variety of psychological and psychosomatic problems. These scripts may not, under any circumstances, be copied, duplicated or shared with anyone.
        5. At the end of Level III, Trainee will apply to take the verbal exam, consisting of 10 of the Trainee’s hypnoanalytic cases of various issues. These cases will be critiqued by the Clinical Education & Training Committee members. To complete this final stage of training, this Committee must approve the Trainee as competent. The Committee reserves the right to recommend further training before giving final approval. When approved, the Trainee is considered a Board Certified Hypnoanalyst by AAMH and will have completed 320 hours of training. Length of time to complete this level shall preferably be no longer than 6 months.
        6. FEES: For these 100 hours, the required fee is $1100.00.
    2. The fee for each level is to be paid by the trainee in accordance with a contract mutually agreed upon with the Academy as represented by its board of directors or officers. An initial payment of $500 shall be received form the trainee before training begins. Of this amount $300 is a non-refundable administrative fee. $200 is the first month’s payment for training. Additional payments of a minimum of $200 per month shall continue until training is paid in full. Any remaining balance of funds shall be prorated based on the amount of training time used against any additional payments. A re-entry fee of $150 will be charged if a person wishes to resume training after a period of approved absence.
    3. Recognition/certification:
      The Trainee will receive a certificate of completion from the American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysts, after completing each level of training and upon approval of The Clinical Education and Training Committee.Distance Training Alternative
      In order to thoroughly prepare therapists to be hypnoanalysts, we have found that it takes extensive one-to-one training. Because some therapists, who are interested in becoming Board Certified, may not live near one of our trainers, we are offering an alternative to our Traditional Training. This Program is in development, so some modifications may need to be made as the program unfolds.

      1. When two or more therapists from the same local area where there is no trainer, express an interest in training, they can request Distance Training. One or two of our trainers would then travel to their location on a pre-arranged schedule of usually two to three days at a time.
      2. Each trainee would receive personal analysis from one of the trainers. The trainees would also provide patients to be treated by the trainers as the trainees observe. At the appropriate time, as the training progresses, the trainees would begin treating patients and the trainers would observe and supervise.
      3. All required levels, hours, fees and requirements would be the same as the traditional Training Program. In addition, the trainees in the local area would pay for the trainers’ travel expenses as well as room and board. The trainees would also be required to travel to one trainer’s office who is not their Distant Trainer. This visit would be for one week (40 hours). It could be split between two trainers.
      4. As with the traditional Training Program, applicants for the residency program would be required to first attend at least one 101 (Basic Hypnosis Course) and one Advanced Training in Hypnosis course offered by AAMH.
      5. To complete the training, the trainee would be approved as competent by the instructors, who would file a report with the Education and Clinical Training Committee. The Committee would reserve the right to recommend further training before giving final approval. This Distance Training alternative should be less expensive for the trainees who live a distance from one of our trainers. It is our hope that we can reach more therapists with this alternative. For further information, please contact us and we can arrange a telephone consultation.
    4. The Practicing and Training Analyst
      1. The Practicing Medical Hypnoanalyst
        1. has met the prerequisites for training and who has had prescribed training as mentioned above or its equivalent (evaluated by the Clinical Training Committee).
        2. utilizes procedures on a regular and frequent basis in her/his clinical practice to the extent that other medical or psychological procedures are compatible with the practice of Medical Hypnoanalysis. The extent of frequency of practice of Hypnoanalysis should be a minimum of 50% of office or clinic time and/or procedures used by the clinician.
      2. The Training Analyst:
        1. must be a “Diplomate” in the American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysts and must be nominated and approved by the Board of Directors as a training analyst;
        2. must make clearly known her or his own specialty in training and educational background (e.g., medical specialty, psychology, counseling etc).
        3. has 5 years of experience in the practice of Medical Hypnoanalysis;
        4. has an office practice in Medical Hypnoanalysis that is active and offering many opportunities for trainees to observe the analysis process.