Comments on: What Does University Validated Hypnotherapy Training Really Mean?

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 11:34:06 +0000

In reply to Sherree Russell. Thanks for taking the time to write and share that Sheree, best wishes to you, Adam.

By: Sherree Russell

Sherree Russell — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 16:21:03 +0000

In reply to Linda Bromage. Hi Linda Well said !

By: Sherree Russell

Sherree Russell — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 16:19:39 +0000

Hi Adam
Having previously completed a 2 year course of training in Hypnotherapy, NLP (and Lightning Process) with the excellent Phil Parker, I also undertook the 3 year BSc in Clinical Hypnotherapy offered by St Mary’s University College, Twickenham. I support Linda’s comments regarding the knowledge base and professionalism of the course and college and the Tutors.
Although the complaint raised related to the number of taught hours – we were informed in advance that there would be a great deal of independent study necessary in order to get through the course.

It’s a shame you weren’t involved in what was intended to be a spearhead course for academic and professional credibility and training in our industry. It’s such a shame it is no longer offered but perhaps another university will be brave enough to take it on at some point in the future.

kind regards
Sherree Russell

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:36:55 +0000

In reply to Adam Eason. Thank you Adam. I whole heartedly support your endeavour to advance the professionalism of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy with emphasis on scientific evidence. I certainly look to you as a leader in this respect.

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 09:22:25 +0000

In reply to Linda Bromage.

You have every right to be proud Linda, I’m certainly not disputing the sterling efforts of individuals who have worked hard to gain qualifications such as yours. I know many who attended such classes and know how hard they worked for their qualifications.

For me though, stating that the courses are somehow superior because they are validated by a University is a misnomer and does not mean that you are certain of a better education or a better subsequent career. That’s my main point.

Best wishes to you as always, Adam.

By: Linda Bromage

Linda Bromage — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 23:47:38 +0000

The degree course was in clinical hypnotherapy. Dr Calvert, a senior psychology lecturer in Psychology at the university, taught the academic and scientific part of the course. The therapy part of the course was indeed taught by non-academics, but who had a substantial background in teaching hypnosis to the medical profession as well as other students. A clinic was being set up in the sports department and would be linked to outside GP’s for referral.
The research projects were marked by academics at the university and the external examiner was Peter Naish.
A student who had complained reported the course to the QAA about the number of taught hours. The course had been validated and approved by the correct channels at the university and it was they who approved the number of hours. The person responsible had not paid due attention to it and subsequently very quickly ‘retired: before she could be made to answer for the error.
I agree that the reading list was out of date – but that had no bearing what so ever on the third year level students undertaking their research projects. Dr Calvert gave extensive academic papers and guidance.
The student on the course who was named as a teacher was in fact a facilitator.
I am very proud of by honours degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy and the fact that my research was recognised by the University of Surrey. I was awarded a funded PhD scholarship on the strength of it.

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 10:56:09 +0000

In reply to Richard Ingate. Richard, thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to write and for sharing your experience. My very best wishes to you, Adam.

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 09:45:31 +0000

In reply to Sonny Erickson.

Yet the University validation does certainly not mean that any genuine standards are being met. I have trained people who attended University validated courses where the notion of a subconscious mind was unquestioned and treated as fact, where no mention of a neuroscientific explanation of hypnosis was given or mentioned, where major nonstate academics were not heard of, and where Freud was treated like a scientist rather than his contribution being referred to as pseudoscientific at best… For example.

You make a very valid point about people’s loyalty to their original training, it is a point I make very openly repeatedly in my podcasts. This is the reason I mention it here – because despite a usual major loyalty to their original training, people that attend my courses start to healthily question and recognise that loyalty and belief system they initially had.

Also, I’d disagree with the statement that ‘if the course you teach is a good one it will also be validated by a University’ – how is that true? How does that happen?

I appreciate, value and respect your comments, thanks for taking the time to respond.

Best wishes to you, Adam.

By: Sonny Erickson

Sonny Erickson — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:50:57 +0000

Hi There,

Surely if the course you teach is a good one it will also be validated by a University? Otherwise where is the evidence base that your course is any good or meets any genuine standards?

I realise that you have students who say your course is great and better than the others – but that is hardly evidence is it? It’s just a bunch of opinions at best and from my experience when people are invested in a particular training, with a particular training school, they are highly motivated to justify their investment. It’s a psychological trait I’m sure you are familiar with.

I believe it’s important to get hypnosis training into a proper standardised curriculum and into proper standardised qualifications that are UK wide and profession specific. The only way to do this is via proper academic accreditation.

I wish my training was accredited by a University!

p.s. I really enjoy your podcasts

By: Richard Ingate

Richard Ingate — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 16:22:04 +0000

This is just spot on. My day job is teaching English to international students at a university partnership (at the University of East Anglia). I am fairly familiar with academic life. I was also interested in a masters degree being offered by a company in the UK in conjunction with a UK university. I enquired about APL and was offered the chance to write a few essays and submit a fee (interesting concept, APL for a fee). The person who would assess the essays was a member of the company rather than the university, this person is not mentioned as having any advanced degree in the company literature. I wonder how he was going to assess my work, and what criteria he would use for that purpose. I chose not to ask. I was initially interested because this was the first company I trained with in hypnotherapy and so I had a certain bias in their favour. However,although I came away with a distinction I had no idea there was such a thing as a ‘state non state debate’, conscious/unconscious and ‘levels of hypnosis’ were taught as fact. Not the most rigorous of academic approaches. Now that was a long time ago and perhaps the courses have been changed, and I enjoyed much of what I learned at the time. However, if it is being offered as an academic qualification it needs to be a certain style. If the people involved in designing (the course modules are the existing company courses) delivering and assessing the programme (I wonder who marks the dissertation, who takes the study skills course which is mandatory at many universities?)are not members of the university but members of the company how is it possible for this to be an academic course?