This article assumes that you have decided to go for hypnotherapy to resolve some issue such as giving up smoking or losing weight, and seeks to answer the question, "How do you select an appropriate hypnotherapist?"
You should check with prospective hypnotherapists that they belong to a reputable professional body with a code of conduct and a complaints procedure.
Unfortunately, there is a bewildering array of professional bodies and qualifications for hypnotherapy. In recognition of this, the government set up the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC). This body has specified minimum qualifications, and has a code of conduct and a complaints procedure. If you are thinking of seeing a hypnotherapist, make sure that they have GHSC accreditation as a minimum: the letters 'GHR' will appear on the literature of a registered practitioner and 'GHSC' for a validated practitioner.
Having said all that, word of mouth is probably the most effective way of selecting a hypnotherapist, as long as it is someone that a friend of yours has seen, rather than someone that you have heard of in the media.
Beware of the hypnotherapist with the one-size-fits-all approach; rather, look for someone that treats you as an individual, with warmth and respect.
Qualifications and experience are important aspects to consider. However, the crucial factor is the quality of the relationship you have with your hypnotherapist; improvement is much more likely to take place if the therapeutic relationship is right.
In order for hypnotherapy to work, you need an approachable hypnotherapist that will hear what you have to say, identify with your concerns, provide insights, tools and techniques to help you move forward, and keep you safe from harm.
Of course, you can't tell whether you will have a good therapeutic relationship until you actually meet your hypnotherapist