- The Atmospheric Shift: Unlike loud, jarring acts, Poldark’s shows are noted for their “classy grandeur” and “calming, meditative qualities”.
- Demonstrations of the Impossible: The show focuses on Ideometry (unconscious physical responses), ESP and Psychometry, making it an educational yet surreal experience.
- The Therapeutic Afterglow: Volunteers often report the “best sleep in years” after participating, feeling deeply rested and surreal rather than embarrassed.
- Stage Hypnotist: Focuses on entertainment, comedy and rapid inductions. You must master the ‘Hand Clasp’ suggestibility test to identify the most responsive subjects in an audience.
- Clinical Hypnotherapist: Focuses on helping clients solve issues like anxiety, smoking cessation and insomnia. This requires a deeper understanding of psychology and patient care.
While the core skills overlap, the application differs significantly.
- Foundational Courses: Look for a Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD) or a Level 4/5 Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy.
- Training Hours: Most reputable courses require at least 120 face-to-face classroom hours and a total qualification time of approximately 450 hours.
- Specialist Pathways: If you are already a healthcare professional (doctor, nurse, psychologist), you can take accelerated medical diplomas in clinical hypnosis.
- Council Permits: You must apply for a permit from the local council at least 28 days before a public performance.
- Insurance: Most councils require a minimum of £1 million in Public Liability Insurance, though some venues or authorities may require up to £5 million.
- Safety Lines: For stage shows, you must provide a continuous white or yellow line on the floor to keep hypnotised subjects a safe distance from the stage edge.
- The 18+ Rule: It is illegal to hypnotise anyone under the age of 18 during a public performance.
- Informed Consent: You must explicitly state that volunteers can refuse to continue at any point.
- The Wake-Up Protocol: You are legally required to remove all hypnotic and post-hypnotic suggestions before volunteers leave the stage and remain available for at least 30 minutes after the show to manage any giddiness or headaches.
- Professional Bodies: Join organisations like the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) or the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR) to gain credibility.
- Mentorship: Seek out experienced masters. Poldark himself brings 30 years of global experience to his craft.
- Continuing Development: The field is always changing. Regularly attend CPD (Continuing Professional Development) events to learn new techniques like Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) or CBT-integrated hypnosis.
