State Laws for Hypnotherapists in North Carolina

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 North Carolina, practicing psychology, which includes activities like counseling, psychotherapy, and hypnosis, requires a license. However, the law does not explicitly restrict hypnosis solely to licensed psychologists. Many professions use basic psychological principles, and the law broadly defines these principles, making it unreasonable to reserve them exclusively for licensed psychologists.

Many unlicensed individuals in North Carolina 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.)

One hypnotherapist planning to move to North Carolina inquired with state agencies and faced extensive requests for information from the North Carolina Psychology Board, which deterred him from practicing there. However, no other actions against unlicensed hypnotherapists are known.

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 73 hypnotherapists practicing/advertising in the State of North Carolina.

Laws and Regulations

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 90. Medicine and Allied Occupations § 90-270.136. Definitions The following definitions apply in this Article:…

8. Practice of psychology. – The observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, or modification of human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior or of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal effectiveness, behavioral health, or mental health. The practice of psychology includes, but is not limited to: psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning; counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavior analysis and therapy; diagnosis, including etiology and prognosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorder or disability, alcoholism and substance abuse, disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological and neuropsychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability; and psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation. Psychological services may be rendered to individuals, families, groups, and the public. The practice of psychology shall be construed within the meaning of this definition without regard to whether payment is received for services rendered.…

Notes

1. It is unclear whether hypnotherapy involves “the application of psychological principles, methods and procedures” – which is required to be part of the “practice of psychology” under § 90-270.13. Also, the phrase “the application of psychological principles, methods and 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 principles in fields, for example, like advertising, human resources, training programs, etc.
2. It cannot be the case that the things listed under § 90-270.13 – such as hypnosis – are meant to be exclusively reserved to licensed psychologists. Otherwise, only licensed psychologists would be permitted to evaluate intelligence (something teachers also do), assess abilities (something coaches, counselors, art critics, and many others do), etc.
3. We are not aware of any cases in which a person in North Carolina has gotten into legal trouble just for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy.
4. Google searches reveal a number of unlicensed individuals advertising hypnotherapy services in North Carolina
5. 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.
6. We are aware of one case in which a hypnotherapist was planning on moving to North Carolina. He contacted various North Carolina government agencies, including the North Carolina Psychology Board, to ask if he was allowed to practice hypnotherapy without a license, if he needed any permits, if there were any restrictions on his ability to practice hypnosis in North Carolina, etc. As a result, the North Carolina Psychology Board asked him to submit a substantial amount of information about his training, the issues he addresses, the modalities he uses, etc. The North Carolina Psychology Board was then planning to consider all of his submitted information at one of its next meetings so it could respond to his inquiries. The requests for information were so onerous and extensive that the hypnotherapist decided to move to another state instead. If this hypnotherapist had not made the inquiries, it could be that the North Carolina Psychology Board would never have even noticed he was practicing hypnosis. We are not aware of any other actions taken against any other unlicensed hypnotherapist or hypnotist by the North Carolina Psychology Board.