State Laws for Hypnotherapists in Ohio

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 Ohio, practicing psychology, which includes hypnosis for therapeutic purposes, requires a license. Hypnotherapy for vocational and avocational self-improvement might not fall under this definition.

Many unlicensed individuals advertise hypnotherapy services online in Ohio.

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.)

There was a notable case involving a divorce attorney who hypnotized and molested clients, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence and several civil lawsuits.

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 117 hypnotherapists practicing/advertising in the State of Ohio.

Laws and Regulations

Section 4732.01 | Psychologist definitions.

Ohio Revised Code /Title 47 Occupations-Professions /Chapter 4732 Psychologists As used in this chapter:…

2. “The practice of psychology” means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any service involving the application of psychological procedures to assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or amelioration of psychological problems or emotional or mental disorders of individuals or groups; or to the assessment or improvement of psychological adjustment or functioning of individuals or groups, whether or not there is a diagnosable pre-existing psychological problem. Practice of psychology includes the practice of independent school psychology and the practice of school psychology. For purposes of this chapter, teaching or research shall not be regarded as the practice of psychology, even when dealing with psychological subject matter, provided it does not otherwise involve the professional practice of psychology in which an individual’s welfare is directly affected by the application of psychological procedures.
3. “Psychological procedures” include but are not restricted to application of principles, methods, or procedures of understanding, predicting, or influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, conditioning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions, or interpersonal relationships; the methods or procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, counseling, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, group process, psychological psychotherapy, or hypnosis; and the methods or procedures of administering or interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, or motivation.

Rule 4732-5-01 | Psychological procedures which create a serious hazard to mental health and require professional expertise in psychology.…

2. The following psychological procedures are a serious hazard to mental health as that term is defined in paragraph (L) of rule 4732-3-01 of the Administrative Code and require professional expertise in psychology:
   4. Hypnotic techniques for diagnostic, treatment, or other psychotherapeutic purposes…

Notes

1. It is unclear whether hypnotherapy involves “the application of psychological procedures” – which is required to be part of the “practice of psychology” under 4732.01. Also, the phrase “the application of 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 procedures in fields, for example, like advertising, human resources, training programs, etc. Further, hypnotherapy for vocational and avocational self-improvement is different from “assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment or amelioration of psychological problems or emotional or mental disorders –- or assessment or improvement of psychological adjustment or functioning” which is required to be part of the practice of psychology under 4732.01. Also, hypnotherapy for vocational and avocational self-improvement seems to be different from the “hypnotic techniques for diagnostic, treatment, or other psychotherapeutic purposes”, which require “professional expertise in psychology” under Rule 4732-5-01.
2. It cannot be the case that the things listed under 4732.01 – 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 Ohio has gotten into legal trouble just for practicing hypnosis or hypnotherapy.
4. Google searches reveal a number of unlicensed individuals advertising hypnotherapy services in Ohio.
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 have seen references to some action in 1978 when allegedly the Ohio State Medical Board took the position that only licensed doctors and other licensed professionals could use hypnosis for medical purposes – and that an unlicensed person (such as an unlicensed hypnotherapist) cannot use hypnosis for medical purposes even if that person has a referral from a licensed Ohio medical doctor. However, research did not reveal any more information to provide additional details or confirmation of this.
7. We are aware of a case in which a divorce attorney in Ohio hypnotized clients and molested them. In 2016, that attorney was sentenced to 12 years in prison for hypnotizing six female clients after pleading guilty to five counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted kidnapping, all with a sexual motivation specification. He also faced six related civil lawsuits.