New Hypnotherapist or Psychotherapist?

As I have been involved in the field of talking therapies for almost twenty years now, from time to time I get asked by newcomers to our profession, what professional body should I become a member of. 

When I first received my diploma eighteen years ago, I joined the society that was recommended to me.
In 2006 cost of living expenses it was a noticeable dink in my monthly finances and over the year it was expensive. 

I paid my dues but by month eleven I was asking myself if the professional body I had joined was actually doing anything for me.

I had not received a single enquiry despite being listed in their therapist directory, and it wasn’t as if I was one amongst many therapists.  In fact I ought to have stood a good chance because I was one of around ten listed therapists covering Kent.

There was no cpd to speak of and no real benefits worthy of the fees I was paying and so I changed to what is widely acknowledged to be the biggest professional register of hypnotherapy practitioners serving the UK. I stayed with them until about two years ago. 

During that time,apart from being designated an approved supervisor and senior practitioner, you hardly heard from them, that was anything other than the usual same monthly newsletter telling members where they could access paid cpd.

In eleven years I did not receive a single enquiry as a result of paying to be on the therapists register.  By then I was highly disappointed and disgruntled and I started wondering why bother paying to belong to a professional body at all that seemed to offer little or nothing at all for professional support. All that seemed to be of any value at all was the  few downloadable logos that I could put on my website and social media posts. 

A number of my professional colleagues felt the same way and openly said why bother, they all seem to be the same and I thought so too …  Until…. 

I received an email from Georgina McKinnon and  Emma Evans who were not only good friends but my supervisors and co-owners of TranceFormers Training who I had done some CPD via also.

The email I received in 2020 explained that Georgina & Emma had taken over the running of the APHP from Terence Watts who had originally set it up in 1999. Emma  and Georgina understood only too well the frustrations that many other therapists felt and outlined their vision for the APHP which they have certainly delivered on over the last four years.

For the very reasonable annual subscription fee you pay, you receive as a member an amazing package for the money.  Just last year alone, I attended twelve free cpd training events free of charge!

Last year and this year I benefited from the very  generous professional liability insurance that Emma and Georgina negotiated with one of the countries leading indemnity insurers of therapists.
I benefited from the same like for like cover as my previous insurance company, but, I saved myself over £200.00 per annum.

On top of that, there is a members website which is completely free at the point of delivery where you can create your own personal profile about the services you deliver.

When you join the APHP you get world wide representation and there are numerous generous discounts on certain packages, for example if you qualify for membership of the NRPC, the National Register of Psychotherapists and Counsellors and guaranteed fast track registration to the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
The APHP are an official verification authority.

Additionally there is a great blog facility where you can contribute articles that are available for the public. 

The APHP website is very well presented and is very easy to navigate and very professional. 

The team at the APHP are totally enthusiastic and very, very supportive.

Last summer in 2023 the APHP held an online conference which was a very reasonable fee to attend and which was a weekend event with several highly respected figures in the therapy world as keynote speakers. 

For me personally I am more than happy to be an ambassador for the APHP simply because of the fantastic professional support and extraordinary value for money that membership bestows.

Author. Trevor R Wales. 
#Hypnotherapy #BWRT level 1 & level 2 Advanced.  #Sanomentology #talkingtherapies  #online #psycotherapeutic #counselling.  #APHP & #CNHC registered. 

Two decades experience of working in the field of complementary therapies. Serving the community of #Cornwall and worldwide to English speaking people through talking therapies since 2011. Proud #cornwallambassador since 2022, promoting #mentalandphysicalhealth for all wherever you are.

You can reach me either by phone on +44 7740 190261 or alternatively email me at info@trevorwaleshypnotherapysolutions.co.uk