For nearly 20 years, since 2003, we've championed an evidence-based approach to hypnosis.
We are committed to offering training courses that are based on the extensive research into hypnosis and its therapeutic application.
We provide evidence-based practitioner training, integrating the power of hypnosis with the science of CBT, giving you a clear pathway to full professional hypnotherapy accreditation and giving you ongoing support, so the career you envision becomes your reality.
Our hypnotherapy training programmes are renowned and respected within the field – and respected outside of the hypnotherapy profession by psychologists and psychiatrists (see for example our project with Great Ormond Street Hospital)
Introduction to the UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy
The UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy is a hypnotherapy training provider specialising in modern evidence-based, cognitive-behavioural theory and practice. We have particular focus on the integration of hypnosis with cognitive behavioural psychotherapies including mindfulness and attention training. Our proprietary model of cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is under the registered trademark Hypno-CBT®. The UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is a division of MindEase Limited.
Mission Statement
- Constant Innovation: to innovate by continually researching and developing the most effective and evidence-based approaches to cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy
- The Best Hypnotherapy Training Programme: to provide the best quality, most effective and most enjoyable training in hypnotic psychotherapy available anywhere in the world
- Support and Care: to deal with students fairly, honestly and supportively, nurturing their therapeutic skills and helping them develop to their full potential as therapists
History of the UK College
The College was founded in April 2003 when the HypnoSynthesis® trademark (2329434) was officially registered as the brand name for the training in self-hypnosis and personal development being taught by Donald Robertson at that time, after teaching smaller workshops and seminars for several years.
In July 2005 the name was changed to, The UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy Limited, while retaining the brand trading name of HypnoSynthesis®.
NOTE: The trademark Hypno-CBT® (2398937) was registered in 2005 as a brand name for the College’s developing cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy approach. Donald Robertson wrote a single article in 2008 describing Hypno-CBT® as a proprietary system, but subsequently returned to using the broader term ‘cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy’ in all his later publications — most notably in his 2013 book The Practice of Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy — and had withdrawn the Hypno-CBT® name from his own platforms entirely by 2012. The Hypno-CBT® model as it exists today — its theoretical architecture, proprietary clinical methods, and integrative framework — was developed by Mark R. Davis, who began using the name in his own practice from 2007, joined the College as Vice-Principal in 2008, and took full ownership of the College and trademark in 2013
In 2007 the College was awarded Centre Approval status by NCFE, a non profit government regulated awarding organisation, to deliver customised qualifications. The College engaged NCFE to work the College and developed a bespoke Diploma, a unique Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy benchmarked at Level 4 difficulty. This was the first evidence-based, externally verified hypnotherapy training of its kind in the United Kingdom,
In 2013, the ownership of The UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and the trademark Hypno-CBT® transferred to MindEase Limited, the company founded by the then Vice-Principal, Mark R. Davis. For the full story of how Hypno-CBT® developed from those origins into the distinct integrative psychotherapy model it is today, see: The History of Hypno-CBT®
The UK College continues to operate now as a division of MindEase Limited under the direction of the principal Mark R Davis — founder and developer of Hypno-CBT® as a distinct integrative psychotherapy model. Under Davis’s direction, Hypno-CBT® has been substantially developed beyond its origins into a comprehensive theoretical and clinical framework, delivered to over 3,000 students across more than 20 countries, certified by the Chinese Psychological Society, and currently being formally positioned as a new integrative psychotherapy model through a series of academic publications
In 2014 the British Psychological Society Learning Centre formally recognised the Certificate Course and Diploma Course as approved CPD for psychologists..
In 2015/2016 The UK College hosted several workshops by Dr Assen Alladin and Professor E. Thomas Dowd – both of whom are significant contributors to the development of cognitive hypnotherapy (also known as cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy).
In 2015, Mark R. Davis was invited to present at the 9th Annual Chinese Psychology Conference and Applied Psychology Summit in Beijing, alongside Dr Assen Alladin and Professor E. Thomas Dowd, to an audience of approximately 1,500 psychologists and psychotherapists. His presentation was explicitly branded as Hypno-CBT®, marking the model's first international delivery outside the UK.
In 2016, Davis returned to China as keynote speaker at a major conference of approximately 3,000 psychotherapists on the integration of mindfulness, hypnosis and cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (“Integrating the Ancient, the Magical and the Scientific”). In addition he delivered the first full 14-day Diploma programme in Hypno-CBT® in China. . During that same year Hui Bee Teh, a UK trained clinical psychologist and college alumni, joined as Asia Operations Manager and The UK College began to offer courses in Beijing, China; delivering the first ever complete training in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Hypno-CBT®) to 40 Chinese students and therapists.
In 2016 experienced CBT trainer and psychotherapist (BABCP Acc), Daniel Mirea, joined the teaching team, providing a high quality CPD workshops to continue the professional development of UK College alumni.
In 2018 The UK College teaching team expanded to include 6 new teachers: Dr Jana Martiskova, Dr William Sheate, Tim Grimwade, Mimi Fakhri MSc, Sue Sawyer and Shelley Cushway.
In 2019 the Chinese Psychological Society certified the Hypno-CBT® Diploma training programme – in the first ever certification of private psychotherapy training courses in China (together with 7 other candidates). (It is worth noting that this is a certification as a psychotherapy, not merely hypnotherapy certification.)
In 2019 the UK College launched the Online Learning format for the Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Online Diploma).
Now students from anywhere in the world could learn hypnotherapy online in their home at their own pace, and via over 100 hours of video lectures (recorded live), 15 hours intensive 1-to-1 tutoring (based on the Oxbridge tutoring model) and online supervised group practise sessions become a fully accredited hypnotherapist.
In 2020 the UK College was invited to train a group of psychologists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in the Hypno-CBT® approach. A specially designed 8 day intensive training programme was delivered to 25 psychologists of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
In 2020 with start of the pandemic the UK College immediately switched to offering trainings in the Live Webcast (by Zoom) format. This has met with tremendous success. Producing both higher satisfaction rates from students (compared in person training) and higher learning outcomes during the assessment.
In 2021 the UK College invited Dr Donald Meichenbaum PhD to teach a special workshop on trauma and resilience. This was then offered by Dr Meichenbaum and the College as a fundraiser for Covid Relief in India (£6600 raised).
In 2021 Dr Donald Meichenbaum asked for the UK College to record and produce his legacy course – summarising his over 50 years experience as a researcher, clinician, supervisor and trainer. Dr Donald Meichenbaum, together with Albert Ellis and Aaron T. Beck created modern cognitive behavioural therapy – was named one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century. Donald Meichenbaum's constructive narrative approach to psychotherapy integrates well with Hypno-CBT® model.
In 2022 the College worked with NCFE, through their customised accreditation process, to develop the new Level 5 Higher Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, an NCFE-accredited Customised Qualification benchmarked at Level 5 difficulty, bringing a new level of evidence-based and science-aligned qualification to the United Kingdom. ((Please note this is an unregulated qualification and is not a nationally recognised qualification).
Also in 2022 the Hypno-CBT® trademark was successfully registered in the United States.
In 2023 the College officially formed a Senior Advisory Board – initially comprising Dr Donald Meichenbaum PhD, Daniel Mirea, MSc, BABCP Acc, UKCP Acc and Professor David Attard (former president of the Viktor Frankl Institute.
In 2024 Chris People and Philip Makatrewicz joined the College teaching team.
In 2025 Clinical Psychologist Dr Krissie Ivings joined the Senior Advisory Board and Dr Donald Meichenbaum agreed to head up the Senior Advisory Board.