Obtaining a Docorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy

[Unregistered]

Hello everyone. I came accross this site by doing a websearch. I am interested in furthering my studies as a hypnotherapist. So I see that the www.hypnosis.com web site have a link to a university offering a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

My questions are

a) How do I know if this is worth the paper it is printed on ....

b) Who recognises this program?

c) Has anyone completed this and if so what comment have they?

Thank You for your time ..

Regards
John

[Don]

Hi, John.

Disclaimer: this forum is sponsored by hypnosis.com and I am currently in the doctorate program.


In answer to your questions:

a) Well, that would depend upon what you consider to be of value. IMO, far more important than the "paper it is printed on" is what it represents.

b) Recognizes it in what way?

c) I have not completed it so I really can't comment.

However, please allow me to say this. IMO, education is valuable--not for any degree or paper, but for what I learn. As a result, I have taken many trainings, listened to tapes and CDs, viewed videos, etc. I didn't do that to have paper. I did it to learn.

I don't take all trainings or buy all audios and videos. I pick and choose what interests me and will further my understandings. So to my mind, the real questions concerning taking any course or training are 1) what do I want and expect to get out of it and 2) what do I actually get out of it.

Recently, somebody posted information about another web site where the people were offering a doctorate in hypnosis. When I checked it out it turned out that they offered five classes in hypnosis. If you took all five, and on top of that sent them $1,000.00, they would give you a doctorate. If all a person is looking for is a piece of paper, this diploma mill might be a good way to go.

I would respectfully suggest that you go to http://www.ampac.edu/ and see what they do. Then you can make up your mind for yourself.

[Don]

Hey, everyone.

I apologize for temporarily screwing up this thread. It's now correct.

[Unregistered]

Don thanks for replying. When I say the paper it is printed on I am asking the question is this program worthwhile. There are many courses , at all different levels which are not affiliated to any organisation, not regulated. So as a result anyone perhaps like the example you gave me can offer a doctorate program. The term Doctorate in my book means a high level of excellence in a chosen area. And that is what I am asking, does this doctorate program deliver/demand a high level of expertise in clinical hypnosis. So please do not be offended, I was not having a go at the program I was looking for advice.

You are currently involved in this Doctorate program. How many years of works is involved or how long have you been studying for this?

Do you find it challanging?

Who recognises this course. By that I mean is this course regulated by any state, organisation etc.

I am considering furthering my knowledge in the hopes to becoming a really good hypnotherpist in order to help people in there journey through life.

Thank You again for your time.

[Don]

Hi.

I'm not offended at all, and hope you were not, either. I was just asking for some more specifics.

Unfortunately, "high level of expertise" to one person can mean something entirely different to another person. For example, reading one or two books could give a person a high level of expertise when compared to a person who has not studied at all, but no expertise when compared to someone who has studied 100 books and practiced for a decade.

Let me give you an example. As part of my work, I have taken two classes in Ericksonian Hypnosis. One was from the perspective of Ericksonians, the other was from the perspective of NLP practitioners. I can honestly say that as a result of reading books and taking classes, I probably know more than 99% of the world about Ericksonian hypnosis. But as a result of my study I also know that I am still just scraping the surface. So am I a beginner or do I have a high level of expertise? I hope you see the problem.

Concerning the length of time it takes to go through the program. I have heard (I may be wrong) that the shortest length of time it takes is about 18 months. The longest it can take is 7 years. I've been taking a longer time due to personal issues including taking care of my brother who finally died 6 months ago, and the death of my father 3 weeks ago. Final papers for classes have ranged from about 25 typed pages to 40 pages. It's a lot of work.

By the way, you need to have a Bachelor's Degree to become part of the program, or you can obtain a Bachelor's through APU. I don't know more about that as I had already received a BA from UCLA.

As with any "distant learning" system, the program is based on the study of books. Some of the texts, so far, I have found to be somewhat redundant and poorly written. Others, like many college texts, are incredibly difficult to slog through. Still others are exciting and stimulating. If you have been to college--as I know from personal experience--this is what you will usually find.

If you go through the web site I gave above, you will find this statement from APU:

"American Pacific University is accredited by the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS, COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES, an international accreditation agency based in Antwerp, Belgium.

"AMERICAN PACIFIC UNIVERSITY IS NOT ACCREDITED BY (A RECOGNIZED) AN ACCREDITING AGENCY (OR ASSOCIATION) RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

"Note: In the United States, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment."

I would add that I just found out that nobody accredits Harvard, either.

Again, I would suggest going to http://www.ampac.edu/ for more information.

One thing I will add (I don't know if this is on their web site): I went to one of their trainings and spent over a year considering whether I wanted to take the course. If you go to a training, they offer a rather large discount on the tuition.

[Unregistered]

Thank You Don for the info. I am very sorry to hear about your father and brother. That must be difficult.

Are you practicing at the moment? How much so far would you estimate the doctorate program has cost you in regards money?

I am from Ireland and I trainine witht he ICHP in Cork. Now I know the training we got came from Dr Joe Keaney who actually trainined with this Doctoral Program. So I also want to make sure that the cirriculum we got which was excellent is not what I will be getting if I sign up for the Doctorate.

So what is the first thing they send you I suppose. Can you remember.

Thanks Again Don

[Unregistered]

Just reading over what I wrote, I really am sorry for your father and brother. I am very close to mine and I feel very sorry for you Don.

[Don]

The courses from APU are not what in the U.S. are called "mail order" courses where they send you something in the mail. Rather, it is completely based on courses you take in person which are acceptable (ask first) and available books which range from ones directed to popular audiences and others directed toward professional hypnotherapists, licensed physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

For me, the tuition is not a "cost," it's an investment. I already paid off my tuition and don't remember how much it costs. I also think the costs may have gone up. Again, check the website I gave you. It includes all of the information you are looking for. I have also purchased most of my textbooks through ebay so I've saved a bunch. As you may know, some college texts can be very expensive.

I really think all of your questions will be answered if you go to that web page. If you have any questions, you can ask them. If you have any other questions after you go through all of the links on that page, I'll be glad to answer them for you.

However, I'm not trying to sound like a shill for them. If you wanted to, you could also study all of the texts that are listed and have all of the information. It's up to you. You might also contact Dr. Keaney and see what he has to say.

[Unregistered]

I just sent my application in for the Doctoral of Clinical Hypnotherapy program at American Pacific University. The Full tuition (and it is a total program fee, not course-by-course) is about $5,000. If you pay all at once, they offer a 20% discount. I put it on my Visa.

Even before I enrolled, I checked out the books for the classes. They are listed online. I found all but three on Amazon.com at a total cost of about $600+ but used for about $420. (Guess where I'm buying mine!)

Here's what I've been told so far. You read a book, write a 20 page paper based on questions from the course instructor and submit it for pass/fail grading.

There is a maximum of 2 courses per month and a minimum of 5 per year. That translates into a minimum of 15 months and a maximum of 7 years to complete the 30 courses (3-units each).

I wish hypnotherapy were taught at traditional universities, fully accredited and recognized by everyone, but alas, they are not.

You will find any non-traditional program will receive its share of criticism, including allegations that it is a "diploma mill." My advice: do your research, compare programs (APU, Breyer State University, Calamus University and others) and you'll soon see the difference. Google these schools and you'll find commentaries from all over.

Is APU a traditional doctoral program? I doubt it. Is it valuable education for the professional clinical hypnotherapist? I'll let you know in a few months.

Scott G. Shelp, RN BA CCHt
Los Angeles, California USA
www.HypnoRN.com

[Wuschel]

Dear Scott,

I wonder how it has been? Please let me know your experience with the program.
thanks
Wuschel