hypnotherapist

IPA/ˌhɪpnəʊˈθerəpɪst/
IPA/ˌhɪpnəʊˈθerəpɪst/

hypnotherapist — noun

1. a trained practitioner who guides clients into a relaxed, trance-like state in o

1.nounC1
Definition

a trained practitioner who guides clients into a relaxed, trance-like state in order to help them change unwanted habits or work through anxiety, pain, and other psychological difficulties

Example

Linh visited a qualified hypnotherapist to help her stop smoking after twenty years.

collocation: visit / see a hypnotherapist

After months of sleepless nights, Christopher finally booked a session with a hypnotherapist.

collocation: book a session with a hypnotherapist

Common collocations
  • qualified hypnotherapist
  • certified hypnotherapist
  • registered hypnotherapist
  • see a hypnotherapist
  • consult a hypnotherapist
  • train as a hypnotherapist
Synonyms
  • hypnotist

    broader and older — covers stage performers as well as clinicians; 'hypnotherapist' specifically does therapy

  • clinical hypnotherapist

    more formal label stressing medical or psychological qualification

  • hypnosis therapist

    occasional plain-English variant; less common in professional listings

Grammar Patterns

a hypnotherapist

a qualified hypnotherapist

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person seeking the service (patient, client) or an institution employing one; the practitioner is normally described with credentials such as 'qualified', 'certified', or 'registered'.

Common Mistakes

I had hypnotherapist yesterday.
I saw a hypnotherapist yesterday.
'hypnotherapist' is the person, not the treatment; you need a verb like 'see', 'visit', or 'consult'.
She works as hypnotherapy.
She works as a hypnotherapist.
'hypnotherapy' is the treatment; 'hypnotherapist' is the practitioner who provides it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three describe people who work with the mind, but they differ in method and credential. A 'hypnotherapist' uses hypnosis specifically as a therapeutic tool, often to address habits, phobias, or pain, and usually holds a recognised clinical qualification. A 'hypnotist' is a broader and older word that can equally describe a stage performer who hypnotises volunteers for entertainment, so it carries less clinical weight. A 'psychotherapist' treats emotional and mental difficulties through structured talking therapies and may never use hypnosis at all. In practice, a learner choosing the right label might say 'I saw a hypnotherapist to quit smoking,' 'A hypnotist performed at the school festival,' and 'My psychotherapist helps me manage anxiety through weekly conversations.'

hypnotherapist ↗hypnotist ↗psychotherapist

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hypnotherapist session
  • hypnotherapist appointment
  • hypnotherapist training

Phrases

  • see a hypnotherapist
  • train as a hypnotherapist
  • qualified hypnotherapist

Prepositions

  • with a hypnotherapist
  • from a hypnotherapist

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Formed in twentieth-century English by joining 'hypno-' (from Greek 'hupnos', meaning sleep) with 'therapist' (from Greek 'therapeutēs', meaning attendant or healer). The compound emerged as hypnosis became accepted as a clinical technique alongside psychotherapy.