State Laws for Hypnotherapists in Maryland

Summary

Disclaimer: The following summary is a non-legal interpretation of how the hypnotherapy authors interpret the law as it applies for hypnotherapists. This is not a substitute for legal advice.

In Maryland, the practice of psychology, which includes hypnosis, requires a license. This involves using psychological methods and procedures to understand, predict, or influence behavior. However, it is unclear if hypnotherapy falls strictly under this definition, as the application of psychological methods is broad and used in various fields.

Many unlicensed individuals in Maryland advertise hypnotherapy services online.

Legal Case Highlights

As of the date of this publication, we were unable to find any known legal cases in this state where someone has faced legal action just for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy. (Unless there was a legal case in that state.)

Hypnotherapists

Important Note: Estimating the number of hypnotherapists practicing in any state is difficult if there is no state licensing or registration act in that state. This resource provides very rough estimates that are grossly under reported by Googling hypnotherapists who are actively advertising in that state.

As of 2024, there are approximately 65 hypnotherapists practicing/advertising in the State of Maryland.

Laws and Regulations

Md. Code, Health Occ. § 18-101 Section 18-101 - Definitions

1. In this title the following words have the meanings indicated…

6. 1. “Practice psychology” means to provide to any person:
      1. Any service for compensation involving the application of psychological principles, psychological methods, or psychological procedures for understanding, predicting, or influencing behavior, including the principles that relate to learning, perception, motivation, emotions, organizational relationships, and interpersonal relationships;
      2. Any service for compensation involving the application of psychological methods or psychological procedures for interviewing, counseling, psychotherapy, behavior modification, or hypnosis; or
      3. Any service for compensation involving the application of psychological methods or psychological procedures for constructing, administering, or interpreting tests of mental abilities, neuropsychological functioning, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, or motivations.
   2. “Practice psychology” includes:
      1. The application of psychological principles and psychological methods in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of psychological problems, emotional conditions, or mental conditions of individuals or groups;
      2. The use of psychological methods to assist an individual in acquiring greater human effectiveness or to modify feelings, conditions, attitudes, or behavior that is emotionally, intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladjusted; and
      3. The use of biofeedback instruments that do not pierce or cut the skin to measure physical and mental functioning.
   3. In this subsection, “psychological methods”, “psychological principles”, and “psychological procedures” include the body of information that can be derived from a graduate program in psychology, and other education or training recognized by the Board as prerequisites for a license under this title, and that does not amount to the practice of medicine.

Md. Code, HO § 18-101

Notes

1. It is unclear whether hypnotherapy involves “the application of psychological methods or psychological procedures” – which is required to be part of “practicing psychology” under Md. Code, HO § 18-101. Also, the phrase “the application of psychological methods or psychological procedures” is vague and broad so that it is unreasonable to assume that this is exclusively the domain of licensed psychologists. Almost everyone uses basic application of psychological methods in fields, for example, like advertising, human resources, training programs, etc.
2. We are not aware of any cases in which a person in Maryland has gotten into legal trouble for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy.
3. Google searches reveal a number of unlicensed individuals advertising hypnotherapy services in Maryland.
4. The law listed above is a “Titling Act” that outlines what licensed psychologists can do. It does not outline what everyone else other than licensed psychologists can and cannot do.