This Document Includes: 2023 Campus Security Report

Hypnosis Motivation Institute
18607 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 310 • Tarzana, California 91356-4154
1-818-758-2700 • Hypnosis.edu/Resident/

Publication Date: Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 Last Revised: Mon, Mar 18, 2024

Welcome to the Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), (College)

All of the Instruction staff and employees are committed to your right as a student to enjoy a safe and healthy learning environment. There are many benefits to be gained by participating actively as an HMI student. Along with the benefits come the responsibilities to respect the rights of others and be a productive member of the community.

This Student Handbook brings together the most important policies that affect student life. You are also responsible for knowing College policies, particularly those that address Academics and Student Conduct. Revisions of policies and program updates often occur during the year, so you are advised to consult the website for the latest information.

The faculty and staff are here to support and challenge you to achieve at the highest levels, both in and out of the classroom. We want you to succeed in all of your academic and co-curricular endeavors. Please seek us out and let us share in your success!

Sincerely,
George J. Kappas, MA, LMFT

As a prospective student, you are encouraged to review this catalog prior to signing an enrollment agreement. You are also encouraged to review the HMI School Performance Fact sheet prior to signing an enrollment agreement.

The admissions process and all programs offered are in English. Students must be able to speak, read and write English at a level that enables them to understand the catalog, and catalog addendum.

If English is not the student’s primary language, and the student is unable to understand the terms and conditions of the enrollment agreement, the student shall have the right to obtain a clear explanation of the terms and conditions and all cancellation and refund policies in his or her primary language.

Successful completion of HMI’s Hypnosis 101 Foundations in Hypnotherapy Course establishes the student’s language capabilities and their eligibility to complete their residency training.

It is the mission of HMI to continuously explore, within ourselves and others, how our subconscious mind can influence our behavior, affect the events of our lives, and empower us to achieve our dreams and goals. Our philosophy is based on the belief that the subconscious mind is a goal machine, dedicated and driven toward the fulfillment of a programmed path.

Our primary tenet is that all of the events of our lives, including “luck,” both good and bad, is a manifestation of the energy that emanates from our subconscious mind. This energy continuously strives to fulfill the agenda for which it is programmed. Through research, education, and the clinical application of this tenet, HMI aspires to better the world by fostering a greater awareness of these principles, and the development of one’s subconscious mind to be more congruous with their conscious desires.

HMI is Committed to these Broad Institutional Goals

1. To provide a program of hypnotherapy training that is educationally sound, up to date, of high quality, and demonstrably effective.
2. To publicly state and clearly demonstrate that HMI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
3. To maintain fair, ethical, and clearly stated advertising, admission, and enrollment practices by accurately and fairly representing HMI and its services to all people.
4. To provide effective student services that recognize individual differences and ensure successful student retention, graduation, and success in professional and personal goals.
5. To demonstrate the value of HMI’s training through satisfied students and graduates.
6. To ensure proper and ethical administration of all financial aspects of the institution.
7. To embrace voluntary self-regulation, which is inherent to the accreditation process.
8. To demonstrate a commitment to the people served by HMI through local community involvement and participation and well as Increased public awareness of Hypnotherapy and its benefits through public education.
9. To demonstrate the effectiveness of HMI hypnotherapy training by producing well trained professionals who are capable of conducting private practices that are both ethical and beneficial to the public.
10. To promote hypnotherapy continuing education and training programs of the highest quality and integrity that:
    1. Upgrade the image and professional standing of Hypnotherapists and Hypnotherapy in the health sciences and the community at large by promoting higher educational and professional standards.
    2. Increase acceptance of Hypnotherapy in the health-care field by promoting greater awareness and acceptance in the medical community and health-care institutions.
    3. Increase public awareness of Hypnotherapy and its benefits through public education, advertising, and community services.

HMI School Mission Statement

It is the Mission of HMI’s Hypnotherapy School to:

• Continually strive to provide the highest quality and most up to date Resident and Distance Education training possible that is educationally sound and demonstrably effective.
• Administrate, advertise, and operate the school in a manner that meets the spirit and standards of accredited schools and to ensure that standard through ongoing voluntary participation in the accreditation process.
• Recognize student’s individual differences to produce competent and satisfied graduates that are prepared for self-employed private practice in hypnotherapy and/or applying hypnotherapy techniques in their existing profession.
• Instill in graduates the motivation to pursue the spirit of service to the community that HMI embodies.

Key Indicators for Achieving Our Goals and Fulfilling Our Mission

HMI relies on the following key indicators to determine how well we are achieving our goals and fulfilling our Mission:

• Happy and satisfied students and graduates who have met the requirements for certification in hypnotherapy and feel prepared to begin helping others.
• Happy HMI employees and staff who are dedicated to the mission of HMI.
• Compliance with all laws and standards.
• Continued improvement and innovations in the educational content and its delivery.

Students enroll in HMI’s Training programs for these reasons:

• Gaining the skills to start a self-employed private practice.
• Meet the requirements for certification as a Master Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA).
• Adding Hypnosis skills to an existing healthcare or complementary profession.
• Self-improvement/self-knowledge.
• Helping family and friends.

The course prepares students to become a “hypnotherapist” as described in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles of the U.S. Department of Labor. It should be noted that HMI’s Founder, Dr. John Kappas, authored the original definition contained in the DOT for hypnotherapist, which remains in effect today.

079.157.010 HYPNOTHERAPIST: As defined in DICTIONARY OF OCCUPATIONAL TITLES published by the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

“Hypnotherapist: Induces hypnotic state in client to increase motivation or alter behavior pattern through hypnosis. Consults with client to determine the nature of problem. Prepares client to enter hypnotic state by explaining how hypnosis works and what client will experience. Tests subject to determine degrees of emotional and physical suggestibility. Induces hypnotic state in client, using individualized methods and techniques of hypnosis based on interpretation of test results and analysis of client’s problem. May train client in self-hypnosis conditioning.”

Diploma Program Learning Outcomes

1. Develop hypnotherapy techniques.
2. Evaluate client needs.
3. Obtain the skills necessary to start a self-employed private practice.
4. Meet the requirements for certification as a Master Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA).

AOS Program Learning Outcomes

1. Critically examine foundations and main concepts in integrative psychology.
2. Demonstrate multi-cultural awareness and sensitivity to issues of diversity in psychology.
3. Develop the capacity to make distinctions between theoretical models and treatment approaches.
4. Evaluate the relationship of integrative psychology to hypnotherapy contexts.
5. Compare and contrast contemporary approaches to integrative psychology as they inform individual and group practice.
6. Demonstrate the capacity to present practice material from clinical internship.
7. Describe differences between psychotherapists and hypnotherapists in ethical scope of practice.
8. Discuss basic diagnostic categories and distinctions in psychology.
9. Develop the capacity to present cases using concepts from integrative psychology.
10. Discuss how self-reflection and awareness of strengths and growing edges impacts applied practice.

The Hypnosis Motivation Institute is a dba of Behavioral Science Centers, a California, Public, non-profit corporation, 501(c)(3) classification, and is governed by the Board of Directors, George Kappas, Sandy Kappas, John (LJ) Kappas and Richard Ortiz.

HMI is licensed to operate an Accredited Institution by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) at P.O. Box 980818, W. Sacramento, CA 95798- 0818, www.bppe.ca.gov, Toll Free 888-370-7589, 916-431-6959 or fax 916-263-1897. Any questions a student might have regarding the school catalog or catalog addendum may be directed to the BPPE.

The Institution does not at this time have a pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not filed a petition within the preceding five years and has not had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it within the preceding five years that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

The Hypnosis Motivation Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). ACCET is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. ACCET is located at 1722 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Phone: 1-202-955-1113; Website: ACCET.org.

HMI’s educational facilities include a 10,000-square-foot, professional suite, containing private hypnotherapy offices/Instructor Zoom broadcast stations; clinic reception office; clinic waiting room; student services, admissions offices; financial aid office; business office; staff lounge; four Video classrooms, two of which contain a video production facility; video post-production facility; multiple management offices and male/female restrooms. HMI’s facility was new as of February 1989 and was built to accommodate the handicapped. The clinic lobby and entrance are under 24-hour electronic surveillance. The school entrance, hallways and classrooms are under 24-hour electronic surveillance.

The following is the criteria for selection of candidates for admission for all of HMI’s education programs. HMI reserves the right to reject an applicant and refund all deposit and tuition fees paid by said applicant. HMI does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, ethnic origin, or religion. Hypnosis 101 students are considered applicants for the first eight weeks of enrollment and until such time they have met the requirements for admissions listed below.

The admissions process and all programs offered are in English. Students must be able to speak, read and write English at a level that enables them to understand the catalog, catalog addendum and all enrollment materials. If English is not the student’s primary language and the student is unable to understand the terms and conditions of the enrollment agreement the student shall have the right to obtain a clear explanation of the terms and conditions and all cancellation and refund policies in his or her primary language.

Successful completion of the HMI’s Hypnosis 101 Course establishes the student’s language capabilities and their eligibility to complete their advanced course enrollment.

Personal Interview: Each applicant must complete an online Admissions Application and have a personal interview on Zoom with an HMI Admissions Representative. During this process, the Admissions Representative will determine the applicant’s interest, openness, and appropriateness for a future in counseling others and assist the candidate for selecting which HMI education program is best suited for them. This is the first step in becoming an “applicant” to the program. An applicant must successfully meet all of the following criteria in order to transition to enrolled student.

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Successful completion of the Hypnosis in History course.
3. Completion of HMI’s online Admissions Application
4. Recommendation of Admissions Representative based on interview.
5. Completion of all tuition arrangements and/or Financial Aid paperwork and requirements.
6. Attendance at all scheduled classes during the “applicant” period.
7. Applicant must possess a computer, zoom equipment, wireless internet, and knowledge to properly access and utilize HMI’s online educational interface as well as the ability to accurately represent oneself as a professional student on Zoom, with clear picture, sound, light, quiet space, and appropriate background for a classroom environment.
8. Applicant must maintain a working email and phone capable of receiving text messages.
9. Successful completion of the Hypnosis 101 course.
10. Sensitivity to the ethics and responsibilities of counseling others.
11. Applicants financial and life situation provides stability to support their ability to attend and complete one year of course work.
12. Applicant must exhibit emotional and mental health appropriate to the counseling field.
13. Applicant must provide verification of high school completion, equivalent GED, Bachelors or Master’s Degree. Applicants without these educational verifications will not be eligible for Title IV aid or admission to the school. If the institution has reason to believe that the high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the institution will evaluate the validity of a student’s high school completion. Any educational degree provided for verification that is submitted as a part of your enrollment process must be in English or translated by a company specializing in transcript translation and must be evaluated by a company that states the degree’s “equivalency to a degree” obtained in the United States. The cost of the translation and evaluation is to be paid by the student.
14. HMI Enrollment Guarantee – Your decision to pursue a career helping others as a Hypnotherapist is one of the most important decisions in your life today. Now you can make that decision with a feeling of confidence and security with the following guarantee: If at any time during the first sixty days of your enrollment, you, or HMI, determines the HMI school/program is not the right match, then your enrollment application is cancelled and there is no cost or obligation to continue, or explanation required by either party.

Additional Requirements for Admissions into HMI’s AOS Degree Program

1. Successful completion of HMI’s one-year, Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma program.
2. Completion of AOS online Admissions Application.
3. Recommendation of AOS Admissions Committee based on performance during the applicants first year of study.
4. Completion of all tuition arrangements and/or Financial Aid paperwork and requirements.

Reasonable Outcome Expectations – Employment Disclaimer

HMI strives to provide its students with the most thorough and complete hypnotherapy training possible. HMI’s training focuses on developing the skills of helping others. The reasons for enrolling and professional outcomes that individual graduates achieve from the education they receive at HMI vary greatly. HMI does not prepare students for “employment” in hypnotherapy, and there are no “employment” opportunities. HMI prepares students only for “self-employment” through their own marketing and development of a private practice.

The development of a private practice in hypnotherapy, or any other private-practice field, requires diligent effort and a reasonable period of time for development. A graduate’s marketing results vary according to the level of effort invested, as well as his/her professional appearance, personality, and presentation.

HMI makes no representations that a majority of its graduates have careers in hypnotherapy. Although HMI follows the guidelines of its accrediting agency, with respect to surveys of its graduates (no sooner than 30 days after graduation), HMI does not conduct surveys of its graduates with respect to their post-graduate experiences over extended periods of time. As a consequence, HMI is unable to provide any data on the following:

1. The number of HMI graduates who support themselves from their work in hypnotherapy;
2. The average gross revenues of HMI graduates per week, per month, or per year; or
3. The average number of hours per week that HMI graduates work in the field of hypnotherapy.

HMI estimates that only a small percentage of its graduates go on to see more than 25 clients per week. HMI also estimates that a larger number of graduates see in the range of one to 20 clients per week. HMI estimates that perhaps the largest percentage of graduates do not use their training to see clients in a professional capacity at all, but rather apply the information and skills acquired in their existing professions toward personal self-improvement, or in interacting with family and friends.

As required by its accrediting agency, HMI requests of its graduates to sign a “Graduate Placement Statement,” no sooner than 30 days after graduation. This form contains the following statements that the graduate is:

1. “Satisfied with the professional training received from HMI.”
2. “Prepared to begin offering hypnotherapy services.”
3. “Making satisfactory progress in their pursuit of self-employment in hypnotherapy and/or fields related to the hypnotherapy offered at HMI.”
4. “Making satisfactory progress toward building a client base and earning training-related income.”
5. “Am satisfied with self-employment as a hypnotherapist.”

HMI reports on the number of graduates who sign these forms in the accompanying Student Performance Fact Sheet located in the Student Guide, Catalog Addendum. The Student Performance Fact Sheet provides the most up-to-date information regarding student satisfaction. This survey, however, cannot be relied upon to represent the views or success of any graduate or group of graduates subsequent to the time these forms are signed, in that HMI is not able to stay in contact with all graduates after graduation, and is neither required by current law, nor accrediting guidelines to do so; nor does it continue to survey graduates over extended periods of time. The survey results provided are for student applicant’s review. The results of his/her personal, professional outcome may vary.

HMI’s hypnotherapy programs prepare students in the art, philosophy, and techniques of hypnotherapy. Unlike other trade schools or vocational training programs, the opportunities available in the field of hypnotherapy are unique. There are no “jobs” available in the field of hypnotherapy, as there might be for other trades. Some of the opportunities and/or objectives for hypnotherapy training are:

1. For individuals who wish to start a self-employed private practice by themselves or in association with other professionals.
2. For professionals in related fields who wish to use hypnotherapy techniques in conjunction with their current profession. Examples would include doctors, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, teachers, counselors, and other healthcare professionals.
3. For individuals who wish to learn hypnotherapy techniques to help themselves, their family members, children, friends, or wish to learn hypnosis for general interest.
4. For those who wish to teach self-improvement courses and/or self-help seminars to the public or corporate entities.

Students enrolling with the goal of a self-employed private practice in hypnotherapy must recognize that a self-employed private practice takes time and due diligence to accomplish. Success in private practice relies on the personality of the individual as well as their professional skills and personal abilities to start and maintain their own business.

Private practice starts with a few hours per week and builds slowly and gradually. Therapists in private practice set their own hourly rates and typically charge enough to compensate for the part-time nature of the profession. HMI does not and cannot promise or guarantee employment, nor level of income or wage rate to any student or graduate.

The school prepares students only for self-employment and does not and cannot provide placement services. HMI does however offer “placement assistance” in the form of extensive core classes in the 501 Residency program, i.e. Advertising and Promotion, Business Course, Speech Class, and the use of the HMI Clinical facility to begin building a private practice.

“The transferability of credits you earn at Hypnosis Motivation Institute is at the complete discretion of an institution to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the certificate you earn in Clinical Hypnotherapy is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer. If the credits or diploma that you earn at this institution are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your coursework at that institution. For this reason, you should make certain that your attendance at this institution will meet your educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer after attending Hypnosis Motivation Institute to determine if your credits or diploma will transfer.”

HMI does not award credit for prior experiential learning. HMI will accept the transfer of credit from another institution provided it meets the following criteria:

1. The student must submit a written request for credit transfer accompanied by an official transcript and course catalog from the school in which the credits were earned.
2. The student must have earned a 2.0 or better for all courses/credits to be considered for transfer. The courses/credits must be for the study of hypnosis or hypnotherapy.
3. The credits considered for transfer must not exceed 12 credits.
4. The institution from which the credits were earned must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education and Accreditation.
5. The number of credits transferred will reduce the cost of tuition by a prorated amount. This prorated amount may reduce the amount of Title IV assistance the student is eligible to receive.
6. All courses/credits transferred must be determined by HMI’s Director to be the equivalent of the course content provided at HMI.
7. The Institution has not entered into an articulation agreement with any other college or university.

All decisions regarding the acceptance of transferred credits will be provided in writing to the student. The student has the option to appeal all decisions in writing to HMI’s Director. All decisions regarding this appeal will be provided in writing to the student within 30 days of request.

Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma Program Course Costs/Discounts

• First Semester Cost: $8,649.00
• Second Semester Cost: $8,648.00

Total Cost of Program: $17,297.00 Student payments may be made to the HMI Business Office in the form of money order, cashier’s check, or credit card, (Visa or MasterCard). All workbooks for the program are included in tuition and provided in PDF format only. Continuing Education Students (CEU) may enroll in the first semester (Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma Program only) at the first semester cost listed above. CEU students are not eligible for Federal Grants or Loans, scholarships, or discounts.

Course Costs/Discounts

• First Semester Cost: $8,648.50
• Second Semester Cost: $8,648.50
• Total Cost of Program: $17,297.00

Tuition Discounts – Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma Program

Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) offers the Community Service Work Study Program as well as the following tuition discount programs. The goal of these programs is to make the cost of hypnotherapy training at HMI more affordable to students in need. These programs are offered to all eligible students, without exception, based on the criteria listed for each. HMI does not discourage any student from utilizing any or all Federal Aid they may be eligible for. The use of tuition discounts does not limit or restrict the student’s access to Federal Financial Aid. The criteria used to determine eligibility is applied uniformly for all applicants applying during the same enrollment period.

HMI’s Financial Aid Director meets with every student to assist them in understanding what programs they are eligible for and to help them maximize their options to reduce their tuition costs.

Family Discount – A $500 discount per student will be given to all students who enroll with the following family members and begin on the same start date.

1. Legally Married Spouses
2. Legal Domestic Partners
3. Legal Children
4. Legal Siblings

Community Service Work-Study Program – HMI’s Community Service Work-Study Program is offered to all applicants as a supplement to assist in reducing the cost of tuition. The goal of this program is to make the cost of hypnotherapy training at the Institute more affordable to those students who may not otherwise have the funds to cover the cost of their education. The eligibility criteria for this program is discussed in your appointment with the Financial Aid Director. Reporting your fulfillment of this agreement: All pro bono services must be logged in the HMI online Client Contact log and marked as “Pro Bono”. The log will tally your total Pro Bono sessions. When you have reached the number of sessions required by your agreement, take a screen shot or photo of the client log Pro Bono Total and email to RichardHypnosis.edu. Please note that all no charge clients are considered “Pro Bono” clients regardless of whether you got them on your own or HMI referred you the client.

Additional Costs of Internship

HMI Interns should plan ahead for the additional costs associated with establishing a private practice during the 501 course and after graduation. The following is a list of the additional costs that are either recommended or required for private practice and should be anticipated by the student. All costs listed are HMI’s best estimates at the time of this publication and are subject to change.

Hypnotherapist Certification

Becoming a “Certified Hypnotherapist” is the goal of many HMI students. HMI recommends the American Hypnosis Association (AHA), as a certification body.

American Hypnosis Association Fees

The American Hypnosis Association (AHA) is a continuing education organization that is owned and operated by HMI Director, George Kappas. Membership is recommended and offers a variety of benefits, including newsletters, events, video rental library, hypnotherapy-related seminars, and conferences. The AHA sponsors monthly conferences and specialty workshops for fees ranging from $20 to $995. The approximate cost for initiation and first year’s dues is $179. Membership in the AHA provides HMI residents the opportunity to earn elective credits required for graduation.

Professional Liability Insurance

All residents (501 students) who see clients in HMI’s clinic are required to obtain and maintain professional liability insurance (not included in the cost of tuition), before they can begin seeing clients and during the time they continue to practice at HMI. Residents are responsible for obtaining their source for insurance. Insurance providers require each applicant to be a member of a professional association and to be certified by an organization. While the American Hypnosis Association (AHA) provides this requirement, other professional groups may also. Costs vary, but a Resident can expect to pay approximately $175 per year for insurance, with a $1-million/$3-million coverage.

Advertising and Promotion

HMI Residents learn to advertise and promote their private practice. It is recommended that each student plan to invest in advertising and promotion expenses. Students entering a self-employed, private practice should anticipate that many strategies for developing a clientele do require an investment and are not included in the tuition of HMI.

Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Mind-Body Psychology Course Costs/Discounts

The total cost of HMI’s second year of study is $17,379. Student payments may be made to the HMI Business Office in the form of money order, cashier’s check, or credit card, (Visa or MasterCard). All workbooks for the program are included in tuition and provided in PDF format only. After federal grants, scholarships and discounts eligible students may receive, the average out-of-pocket cost to the student is reduced to approximately $10,392. That tuition is then divided into monthly payments of approximately $100 per month, beginning 18 months after you start your course. Prices are subject to change. If a student defers the payments on their diploma program and combines their financial aid for the first year and second year programs, their first payment of approximately $191 per month will begin 6 months after completion of their AOS degree, or approximately 30 months after they first enroll as a student at HMI.

Associate of Occupational Studies, (AOS) Continuity Discount

HMI Students who start their AOS Mind-Body Degree program within 90 days of the completion of their first year, Clinical Hypnotherapy program, are eligible for the AOS Continuity Discount of $100. This discount is effective as of June 20, 2023.

Cancellation Policy: You have the right to cancel and obtain a 100% refund of all monies paid if you cancel your enrollment after you sign the enrollment agreement and within 60 days after the first class you attend. Cancellation occurs when the student gives notice of cancellation by mail, fax, email, telephone, or person. Your notice of cancellation does not require a particular format, but the student must clearly state that he/she wishes to cancel the agreement and the date the cancellation is to take effect.

Refund Policy: All refunds and/or return of Title IV funds are made within 45 days of the Date of Determination (DOD). All withdrawal calculations and/or Return of Title IV calculations are performed using the student’s last date of attendance.

Official Withdrawal: The Institute may terminate a student by applying the Institute’s attendance, conduct and/or Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at which time the Date of Determination is made within the attendance policy guidelines by the Director of Academic Services.

Unofficial Withdrawal: If a student ceases attendance without notification, the Date of Determination is no later than the 15th day after the student’s last date of attendance.

Non-Return from Leave of Absence: Should the student not return from the leave of absence the Date of Determination is no later than 3 days after the expected date of return from leave of absence.

Student Requested Withdrawal: The Date of Determination is the day the withdrawal request is made by the student to the school.

All tuition monies will be refunded to the student for the following reasons:

1. If an applicant is rejected for enrollment by the Institute during the cancellation period.
2. If the program for which the student enrolled is cancelled.
3. If an applicant cancels prior to the start of scheduled classes, or never attends class.
4. If the student cancels his/her agreement for the course of instruction on or before midnight of the sixtieth day after the first class attended by the student.

If a student withdraws or is dropped from the program after 60 days of the first class attended, and has attended 60% or less of the semester, the school will remit a pro-rata refund. The Student’s net tuition is divided equally between two (2) semesters (26 weeks each). Refund calculations are calculated per semester. Days in which the student was on an approved leave of absence are excluded from the pro-rata refund calculation.

The pro-rata refund amount shall be computed by multiplying the amount the student has paid for instruction by a fraction. The fraction is the amount of instruction time which the student has not received, but for which the student has paid, divided by the total amount of instruction time for which the student has paid. If the student paid less than the amount due under the schedule, they must pay HMI the balance within thirty (30) days from the date of determination. After having attended more than 60% of the semester, there is no refund.

If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund, and that, if the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the monies not paid from federal student financial aid program funds. If any portion of your tuition was paid from the proceeds of a loan, the refund will be sent to the lender or an agency that may have guaranteed the loan. Any remaining refund amount will first be used to repay any student financial aid programs from which you received benefits, in proportion to the benefits received. Any remaining amount will be paid to you.

Return of Title IV: As required by federal regulations, schools are required to perform a “Return of Title IV Funds” (R2T4) calculation when a borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time in a program of study for which the student has been paid. Under this requirement, Title IV funds must be returned if the total amount of funds the student received from the Title IV HEA program is greater than the amount of assistance earned based on the length of time the student was enrolled in the payment period. A portion of the refund will be returned to the programs from which the student was funded. If a student should default on a federal or state loan, both the following may occur; (1) The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may act against the student; including garnishing an income tax refund; and (2) The student may not be eligible for any other government financial assistance at another institution until the loan is repaid.

The institution will determine the percentage of Title IV funds earned by a student based on the following principles.

• Pro-Rata Schedule (Up to 60% Point): A pro-rata schedule will be used up to the 60% point in the payment period. This schedule calculates the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. The percentage is based on the number of days the student spent in attendance or was scheduled to be in attendance.
• After the 60% Point: After the 60% point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds they were scheduled to receive during that period. No unearned funds exist beyond this point.
• Post-Withdrawal Disbursement: Even after the 60% point, the institution must determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. If eligible, the institution will disburse the student any earned but unpaid Title IV funds.

The order in which Title IV program funds must be returned is as follows:

• Unsubsidized Stafford loans
• Subsidized Stafford loans
• PLUS loans
• Pell Grants
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement: If a student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, the institution must notify the student within 30 days of the determination the student withdrew. The institution will disburse any earned but unpaid Title IV funds to the student within the specified time frame.

If the R2T4 calculation results in a credit balance on the student’s account, the institution will disburse the credit balance no later than 14 days after the date of the R2T4 calculation.

Excess Title IV Funds: When performing the R2T4 calculation to determine a student’s unearned portion of Title IV funds, if the calculated amount to be returned exceeds the school’s portion, the excess funds become the student’s responsibility. The student must repay the excess funds within a reasonable timeframe. Failure to repay the excess funds may result in ineligibility for future financial aid and referred to collections.

Academic Re-entries are former students who, after applying and being approved, are re-admitted to the school. The re-entry process may take up to thirty days. A final determination is made by the re-entry committee. The following policies apply to all prospective academic re-entries:

1. Students applying for academic re-entry are subject to a $1,000, non-refundable, re-entry fee. Should the re-entry be denied the fee will be refunded within 30 days. Students are subject to any additional tuition costs and/or tuition increases upon re-entry. These costs will be determined by the Financial Aid Department. Courses required for graduation will be determined on a student-by-student basis by Student Services.

2. Send an email to LauraHypnosis.edu and request an invoice for re-entry. The invoice will be at the student’s login page under “Order History/View your Invoices.”

   After the re-entry invoice has been paid then proceed to #3.

3. All academic re-entries must apply in writing to the Director of Academic Services. The statement shall be emailed to SandyHypnosis.edu. The written statement must explain the circumstances surrounding the original separation from the school and what has changed in the students’ situation that allows them to re-enter school and progress in a satisfactory manner. The substance of the letter will determine the student’s eligibility for re-entry.
4. Each re-entry applicant’s academic record will be reviewed by the school and a determination will be made as to what course work a student needs to repeat or complete in order to graduate. How long it has been since your withdrawal from school will be considered when determining which, if any, classes, or semesters must be repeated.
5. Any student who was dropped from the program for disciplinary reasons is not eligible for re-entry.
6. All prior academic performance, conduct, and professionalism are used as a determining factor in the re-entry approval process.
7. Any student who separated from the school and did not fulfill his/her financial obligations to the school (including repayment of student loans), is not eligible for re-entry.
8. Re-entries must complete new academic and financial aid paperwork. All current policies regarding admission to the school apply to re-entries.
9. Each former student is only allowed one academic re-entry.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): FSEOGs are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional need – those with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) numbers. Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority for FSEOG awards.

FSEOG Award Policy

When awarding FSEOG funds for an award year, the financial aid administrator first selects students with the lowest expected family contributions (EFC) who will also receive Pell Grants in that award year. This group is known as the FSEOG first selection group. The maximum amount of FSEOG award is $500.00 and the minimum amount of FSEOG award is $100.00.

The amount of the FSEOG award for the first selection group will be as follows:

• EFC from 0 to 1400 = $500.00
• EFC from 1401 to 2900 = $400.00
• EFC from 2901 to 4400 = $300.00
• EFC from 4401 to 5900 = $200.00
• EFC from 5901 to 6895 = $100.00

If HMI has remaining FSEOG funds after making awards to all Pell Grant recipients for that award year, the financial aid administrator will then select students with the lowest EFCs who are not receiving Pell Grants. This group of students is known as the FSEOG second selection group.

The amount of the FSEOG award for the second selection group will be as follows:

• EFC from 0 to 9999 = $500.00

Campus-based funds will continue to be awarded in this manner until all available funds for the award year have been exhausted. Students who do not qualify in the first award year, but become Pell eligible in the second award year will be treated as first time qualified and given the above award as scheduled.

“You must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) if all of the following applies to you:

1. You are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition either by cash, guaranteed student loans, or personal loans, and
2. Your total charges are not paid by any third-party payer such as an employer, government program or other payer unless you have a separate agreement to repay the third party.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF, and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if either of the following applies:

1. You are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program, or
2. Your total charges are paid by a third party, such as an employer, government program or other payer, and you have no separate agreement to repay the third party.”

“The State of California created the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic losses suffered by students in educational programs who are California residents, or are enrolled in a residency programs attending certain schools regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The school closed before the course of instruction was completed.
2. The school’s failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license fees or any other purpose, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected within 180 days before the closure of the school.
3. The school’s failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.
4. There was a material failure to comply with the Act or this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.
5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgment against the institution for a violation of the Act.”

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 94803, 94877 and 94923, Education Code. Reference: Section 94923, Education Code.

Note: This section only applies to veterans and persons receiving VA benefits.

Hypnosis Motivation Institute is approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code.

Richard Ortiz is our Veterans Administration Certifying Official. Richard will monitor and maintain the integrity of the program ensuring the institution’s compliance in accordance with Title 38, U.S. Code.

• Reimbursement to veterans and eligible persons – For information or for resolution of specific payment problems, the veteran should call the Department of Veterans Administration nationwide toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.
• Catalog Effective 01/2024 through 01/2025.
• Credit Evaluation Policy – Students with previous training in the course to be pursued will be tested upon enrollment and given appropriate credit. Evaluation will be based upon a written exam, an oral exam, or both. Credits allowed will be recorded on enrollment record and the length of the course shortened proportionately. In addition, the student and the DVA shall be notified. Note: All prior training must be evaluated.
• For Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) students and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e) which means Post 9/11 and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments. For eligibility consideration, a Post 9/11 GI Bill student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Student must provide a VAF 28-1905 form. All persons seeking enrollment must meet the general admissions policies. Those seeking to use VA Education Benefits must submit all prior transcripts for a transfer evaluation and submit one of the following a 22-1990, 22-1995, 22-5490, or a 22-5495 to the VA. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

In addition to our school’s Attendance Policy the following has been included for Veterans:

• Attendance – Attendance will be monitored monthly for all students receiving veteran’s benefits. If at the end of any given month attendance falls below 80% of scheduled program hours, the student will be placed on probation for the following month. If by the end of the probation period the student’s overall attendance is not raised to at least 80% of scheduled hours, the Veterans Administration will be notified, and benefits will be interrupted.
• Cutting Classes – Cutting of classes will be considered as unexcused absences.
• Make-Up Work – Make-up work may be required for any absence. However, hours of make-up work cannot be accepted as hours of class attendance.
• Progress Policy – Progress will be monitored on a quarterly basis for students receiving veteran’s benefits. If a student has not met satisfactory academic progress at the time of evaluation, they will be placed on probation for a maximum of 60 days. Should the student not fulfill the requirements of satisfactory progress, the Veterans Administration will be notified, and benefits will be interrupted.
• Completion of Program – All veteran students are required to complete the program within its published length (52 Weeks/1 Year). Failure to complete the program within the specified time frame will result in termination of their enrollment certification with the VA, and benefits will be interrupted.
• Reinstatement – Students may be reinstated into the program after their appeal has been processed and approved. If approved, the student will be eligible to receive benefits.

Readmission of Service-Members – HMI must promptly readmit a service member with the same academic status as he or she had when last attending the school or accepted for admission to the school. This requirement applies to any student who cannot attend school due to military service.

HMI is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

HMI’s Hypnotherapy Diploma Program offers new enrollment periods approximately every 4 weeks for 12 months of the year. Students starting on any given 101 start date would be scheduled to graduate approximately 12 months later.

The following holidays are observed, and the school and clinic are closed: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. If a major holiday lands on a day that usually has class, the class is then moved to the next business day. For example, if a major holiday is on a Monday, the scheduled class will automatically move to next business day which would be Tuesday.

HMI now offers 100% online Interactive Distance Learning. International Students can now take HMI’s unparalleled hypnotherapy training and internship programs from anywhere in the world.

Because of this, HMI no longer offers I-20 Student Visa services. Also note that International Students are not eligible for U.S. Federal Financial Aid programs.

HMI’s Hypnotherapy Training Programs

• 720-Hour Hypnotherapy Diploma + 720-Hour Mind-Body Psychology Degree Program
• 300-Hour Non-Internship Hypnotherapy Training Program

The HMI Student Services Department is the hub for all student activity and information. The Student Services hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Students are encouraged to email during open hours. A full staff contact list with emails and phone numbers are located at the student’s online home page. All technical issues may be reported seven days a week to TechSupport@Hypnosis.edu. HMI’s main phone is 818-758-2720. The Student Services is here to answer all students’ questions on their academic progress and/or school policy and scheduling.

Student Housing: Hypnosis Motivation Institute does not provide on-campus housing and is not responsible for assisting students in finding or obtaining off-campus housing.

HMI’s online interactive distance education does require a certain level of technical efficiency and equipment. We understand that our students are training to become hypnotherapists and not computer specialists. However, with the majority of hypnotherapy services now being provided on Zoom and 100% of HMI’s education being provided via a combination of streaming video lectures and interactive Zoom classes, students must rise to a certain level of computer and Zoom proficiency. Don’t despair, we are here to help and guide you every step of the way. Please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance.

For any technical questions, especially time sensitive technical needs, e.g. you can’t find your video, your quiz or the link to the Zoom meeting that is about to start, please DO NOT email or call the school. Instead, SEND A TEXT immediately to 1-818-213-1066.

We strongly suggest you add his name and number to your contacts on your phone now for quick reference when you need it. In the text be sure to include your full name and what technical assistance you require. He cannot help you without your full name and explanation of what is needed.

It is the intention and goal of HMI that every student, prior to their graduation, receive individual attention, training, and feedback on their practical skills of hypnotherapy induction and suggestions, with emphasis on the elements of the “First Session” with their clients.

To achieve this goal, HMI’s Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy requires the successful completion of a “Practical Skills Review (PSR).” To assist with this requirement, HMI provides students with three private meetings with a PSR Mentor of their choice (from the list of approved PSR Mentors on HMI’s website).

These meetings are provided to help students prepare for and complete their PSR, as well as: to assist with overcoming resistance or fears, provide answers to questions, coaching on aspects of becoming a successful Hypnotherapist, and assist with motivation and encouragement to complete this important requirement for graduation. This personalized attention to students’ hypnotic inductions and suggestion-giving skills provides a unique opportunity to fine-tune their proficiency in working in a clinical setting with their clients. In addition, it is HMI’s hope that each student finds that their PSR Mentor also serves as a personal role model for their successful Hypnotherapy career.

Students’ PSR must be completed before receiving any Pro Bono clients from HMI and no later than 30 days prior to their graduation date. These first session elements include:

1. Pre-Induction Speech
2. Theory of Mind
3. Literal or Inferred Arm Raising Induction with Suggestion for Re-Hypnosis
4. Reactional Deepening Technique
5. Heavy Light Deepening Technique
6. Progressive Relaxation
7. One Inferential Suggestion
8. One Literal Suggestion
9. Count Up and Out of Hypnosis
10. Finger Spread to Test Post Suggestion to Re-Hypnosis, then Count Up and Out

In addition to working with their PSR Mentor, students are encouraged to utilize these resources to practice their proficiency with these techniques:

• Careful review of the “Blueprint for Success – Building Blocks of the First Session” links located in the 101 and First Consultation class workbook.
• During weekly Practicum Workshops.
• By reviewing hypnotherapy sessions in the Elective Library and attending 501 Case History Series classes when available.

The PSR is a pass-fail demonstration, with a minimum score of 35 points (out of a possible 50) required for passing. During the student’s PSR, their PSR Mentor will gauge the student’s proficiency on a scale of one to five points for each of the ten elements.

PSR Mentors can hypnotize their students to provide a clear example and experience of a first hypnotherapy session as well as help them reduce stress, increase confidence and generally prepare them for a successful hypnotherapy career. Other areas of focus can include:

• Strategies for launching a successful practice and attracting success.
• Overcoming any roadblocks or barriers to successful completion of your training.
• Proficiency in other areas of practice including subsequent sessions, additional hypnosis techniques, etc.
• Passing your PSR Review.

Instructional Videos

• Blueprint for Success – Building Blocks of the First Session
  • Modern Version – Featuring HMI Instructor, Ted Moreno
  • Vintage Version – Featuring HMI Founder, Dr. John Kappas
• Practical Skills Review (PSR) Example with Elaine Perliss

A Clinical Hypnotherapy diploma and transcript are issued for the completion of the entire course. Additional or replacement transcripts may be issued at the cost of $25 each. Duplicate Certificates may be purchased for $75. Official transcripts sent to an educational institute are at no charge. The institution retains a transcript permanently and maintains pertinent records for a period of 7 years from the student’s date of completion or withdrawal. The institution maintains records relating to federal financial aid programs as provided by federal law.

HMI Clinical Hypnotherapy Graduates are invited to attend a really fun online Zoom Graduation and Awards Ceremony. Graduates are also provided a link for their family and friends to watch. Graduates that choose to participate receive a graduate gift box with Cap and Gown, and HMI surprise gifts and memorabilia. There is a $50.00 charge to participate. You will receive an invitation at the appropriate time.

Clinical Hypnotherapy Graduate Benefits

HMI provides a wide variety of important benefits to graduates. We provide these benefits with the goal of being your partner in success for what we hope will be many, many years to come. These benefits, which become available to you on your HMI Personal Home Page as soon as you are officially listed as a graduate, include but are limited to:

1. One year of access to review your 101, 201, 301 and 501 course videos.
2. One year of access to a selection of HMI 401 Elective videos.
3. Lifetime access to Case Conference after graduation for advice and direction with clients.
4. Lifetime access to your Student Portal for access to your student workbooks.
5. Diploma, Graduate Transcript, and AHA Certificates to download or print at later dates.
6. Client Contact Log for you to continue to use for HIPAA friendly online client note management system.
7. Student and Graduate Facebook Group to network and stay connected with other HMI Graduates.
8. AHA Membership and Certification (Annual Fees Required).
9. HMI Graduate Directory (AHA Membership Required).
10. Important Hypnotherapy, HMI Text, and Email Announcements (keep your email and phone records current).

AOS Degree Graduate Benefits

AOS Graduates have all the same benefits as Clinical Hypnotherapy Graduates with the addition of 24 months access to all first and second year core classes starting from the time they graduate AOS.

Unlike other vocational colleges, the opportunities available in the field of hypnotherapy are for self-employment. The self-employment opportunities available are in hypnotherapy private practice, and/or teaching seminars or classes to the public on hypnotherapy and/or related subjects. Such self-employment opportunities require diligent effort by the graduate after completion of the training. HMI cannot and does not offer or guarantee any placement or employment and does not offer placement services.

See additional information in the section above, titled “Reasonable Expectations.” HMI does however offer “placement assistance” in the form of extensive core classes in the 501 Residency Program, i.e. Business Practices, Social Media Marketing, Speech Master, and the use of the HMI Clinical facility to begin building a private practice.

Since the advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hypnotherapy services have primarily transition to online services using services like Zoom. To represent oneself at a professional level in the counseling field, the student must be prepared to make an investment in a computer, camera, microphone, and special lighting equipment. HMI does provide guidance and education in purchasing and using this equipment, but the purchase expense is the student’s responsibility and not included in the costs of tuition. If and when it is safe to do so, some students may also choose to rent office space for their private practice. HMI does not provide office space. The cost of renting office space is solely the responsibility of the student and is not included in tuition.

Students enrolled in the Clinical Hypnotherapy or the Associate of Occupational Studies Programs must meet both “Qualitative” and “Quantitative” standard in order to successfully complete/graduate from the program. This policy applies to Title IV and non-Title IV students. All students enrolled in these programs are considered full-time.

Qualitative Standards: A Student must maintain an accumulative Grade Point Average of (C), (70% = 2.0), or better.

Quantitative Standards: At minimum, a student must complete the following at 25%, 50% and 75% of the program in order to graduate within the maximum timeframe allowed:

Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma Program

12-month program, maximum time frame 18 months.

• 25% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 60 hours
• 50% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 240 hours
• 75% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 360 hours

AOS Degree Program

12-month program, maximum time frame 18 months.

• 25% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 60 hours
• 50% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 240 hours
• 75% of Program: A student must complete a minimum of 360 hours

Increments for Evaluation: A formal review of student progress (qualitative and quantitative) is conducted at these percentage points. However, HMI may place a student on probation at any time during enrollment, if necessary.

Progress Reports: A student can view their progress report at any time via their online interface.

Consequences of Failure to Meet SAP Standards

Probation: If the student has not met the minimum qualitative and quantitative standards, they may be placed on probation and/or counseled. Students are notified in real-time at their student login if they are failing to meet Satisfactory Progress. Students placed on probation are notified by their assigned student counselor and email.

Length: The probation will last a minimum of 14 days.

Conditions: By the end of probation, the student must achieve the minimum qualitative and quantitative standards for that period or otherwise meet the terms of their probation. Students who fail to meet the terms of their probation will be notified by their assigned student counselor and by email.

SAP Status during Probation: Any student on probation at the mid-point is considered a student not in “satisfactory progress,” for the purpose of Title IV funding. No second disbursements will be made to the student’s account until satisfactory progress is achieved.

Consequences: Should a student not fulfill the requirements of satisfactory progress during the probationary period, they may be dropped from the course of study for which they enrolled, and Veterans Benefits and Title IV funding will be interrupted.

Appeals: Students wishing to appeal the unsatisfactory academic progress determination or resulting withdrawal must do so in writing, within 10 calendar days of receipt of notification from the school. The written request must include an academic plan of study demonstrating how the student will overcome the situation(s) that caused the lack of academic progress in the first place.

Mitigating Circumstances: If the student is appealing the unsatisfactory progress determination on the basis of mitigating circumstances, appropriate documentation should be included with the written appeal. Such documentation might include a physician’s statement, accident report, or other substantiating statements.

School Official Who Decides: All appeals must be made to the Director of Academic Services. The Director is responsible for making any final decisions regarding appeals.

Timeframe for Reply: The student will be notified of the decision to reinstate within 30 days of receiving the student’s appeal. If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal, the student may pursue additional avenues as outlined under “Formal Complaints,” located in the Student Guide, Catalog Addendum.

Reinstatement: Students dropped for lack of satisfactory progress may be reinstated into the program after their appeal has been processed and approved. The maximum time frame to complete the program is 18 months.

Incomplete Grades: A grade of zero is assigned to any classes, exams or assignments not completed and is counted toward the student’s accumulative Grade Point Average.

Course Withdrawals: Credit for those courses a student completed before withdrawing from the course of study may be considered as hours completed, in the event of an academic re-entry.

Course Repetitions: Any course repetitions are not credited.

Remedial Courses: HMI does not offer remedial courses of instruction or credit programs under remedial instruction.

Qualitative Standards: A Student must maintain an accumulative Grade Point Average of (C), (70% = 2.0), or better.

Quantitative Standards: A student must complete a minimum of 80% of the total hours offered.

Attendance: For satisfactory progress, students must have a Zoom Meeting Attendance no less than once per week. If a student goes 10 days without a zoom meeting attendance, they will receive a “10-day out-of-attendance notice.” Students who receive in excess of two “10-day Out of Attendance Notices” are subject to loss of eligibility to receive Honors and other Awards. Any student not in attendance for a period of fourteen days will be dropped from the program. Zoom meeting attendance credit is granted for Core Class Q&A’s, Practicum Workshops, Case Conferences and AHA In-Person or Zoom Meeting Seminars.

Tardies/Early Departures: The HMI online system tracks the login time for each student. Students are expected to arrive to Zoom class on time. If a student arrives to Zoom class later than 15 minutes after the Zoom class has begun, the student will not receive credit for the class. Should a student need to leave their Zoom screen for a break or any other reason, they should leave their video on so the Instructor may observe them leaving and returning. Their absence from the Zoom room is not to exceed 10 minutes or it is assumed they have left the class and will not receive credit.

Class Makeups: Classes 101, 201, 301, and 501 and AOS Lectures and Q&A’s are all recorded on video. These recordings are available to students for class make-up or class review. Students do not get additional credit for reviewing the class on video if they attended the class in person. Making up a class on video provides the student with academic credit for that class but does not provide the student with attendance credit such as a last date of attendance.

Grade Point Average: GPA is calculated at the end of each Semester. The average GPA for all semesters becomes the overall “Grade Point Average” (GPA) for the entire course and is reported on the student’s transcript. GPA for each semester is calculated as the average of all Course Scores for that semester.

Course Scores: There is a quiz for each class/lecture. Quizzes for 101-301 courses are designed to prepare students for the exam(s) for each course.

Quizzes become available to students after they watch the video and after the scheduled Q&A for each class/lecture. It is suggested the student complete their quiz immediately after they attend the Q&A for each class.

After each Q&A the quiz is scored a "zero" until which time the student completes the quiz. Student have until the scheduled exam class for each module of each course (101-4P, 201-8, 201-16, 301-8, 301-16, 301-24 and the end of each 501 module) to complete their quizzes for that module. Students do not get credit for completing a class video until they have completed the quiz for that class.

Any quizzes not completed before the exam for that module will be remain a “zero” score and will be added to the calculation of the student's total course score. For the 101, 201 and 301 courses, quizzes count as 10% and exams count as 90% of your total course score. For the 501 core classes, all of the quizzes are weighted equally, and your course score is the average of all quizzes.

The questions missed on the quiz/exam will be automatically provided to the student along with tips on what part of the video or workbook to review for the answer to the missed question(s). Please note that every question on every exam has been reviewed and confirmed to have been answered in either the video lecture or the written workbook for that lesson.

A student has two attempts at any given class quiz or final exam. A student must score 70% higher on any given quiz or exam to pass. Quizzes scoring 70% and above may not be taken more than once. If a score is less than 70% on any given quiz/exam the student will be given one more opportunity to take that quiz/exam again. If they fail the quiz on the second attempt, they will receive a score of zero and that score will be used in the overall average.

It should be noted that all failed quiz scores are factored into your Quiz Score Average. The more quizzes you fail, the lower your Quiz Score Average. Final Exam score fails also are averaged into your Exam Score Average. If a student fails their Final Exam on the second attempt, there are no further attempts allowed and the student will have failed the course.

Student Attendance/Progress Expectations

After students complete the 101 course and enter the balance of the program they should expect to be responsible for the following workload:

1. Attendance of two classes/lectures per week via either a Live Zoom or makeup streaming video.
2. Attendance of a minimum average of 5 hours of elective course per week.
3. Attendance of 2 Practicum Workshops per month.
4. Must be in attendance of at least one Live/Zoom class per week, which can include any of the following:
   • Live Zoom Q&A
   • Zoom Practicum Workshops
   • Live Zoom Lectures
   • Zoom Case Conferences
   • Live Zoom AHA Seminars

Clinical Hypnotherapy Program/Grading

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AOS Degree Program/Grading

Classes 101, 201, 301, and 50, AOS Psych Lectures and Medical Hypnosis Lectures are all recorded on video. These recordings are available to students for class make-up or class review. Students do not get additional credit for reviewing the class on video if they attended the class in person.

After a student is marked as having attended any of these classes, they will be provided the video link on their HMI Student Page login that allows them to review the class lecture on video. This is a great way to review and enhance your learning process, even after graduation. After graduation, graduates have six months from the date of graduation to review all their class videos via your online student interface.

Student Comments/Quiz Feedback

Quiz Feedback: Your sincere comments/feedback are required for every online quiz you complete. Please be advised that your Comments/Feedback will be viewed by Instructors, students, and staff, unless you mark the comment “private”. If your experience was less than positive, you can relate that in your comments by making suggestions in a respectful and diplomatic way. Students should remember that providing diplomatic feedback, that is respectful of other people’s feelings is a skill required of every therapist – the quiz comments provide you with the opportunity to exercise that skill. Students who find themselves unable to provide respectful feedback will not receive credit for those completed quizzes. Elective course feedback must include comments that reflect on the content of each lesson and demonstrate that you watched the video(s).

Quiz Questions Complaints/Challenges: Students are welcome to submit any complaints/challenges to quiz questions by email to Esther@Hypnosis.edu. Students should consider that the success rates for all quiz questions are tracked by HMI and have all historically been answered correctly by other students at the rate of 75% or better. That does not mean that an Instructor did not miss something in their lecture or that the quiz question could be made clearer. We do appreciate your feedback on any quiz question you think should be changed. HMI does NOT however, change quiz scores or give credit for challenged quiz questions regardless of the circumstances. All quizzes are taken once with one opportunity to retake the quiz. We understand that some students want to achieve a 100% score on every quiz and become concerned if they feel they have unfairly missed a question. Please keep in mind that all your quizzes combined equal only 10% of your total course score. One individual quiz question therefore represents a small percentage of your overall course score. All questions on the Final exams for each course come from the quizzes themselves, so think of the quizzes as preparation for the final exam.

HMI Resident School/IDL students have the ultimate in flexibility for attendance. Students attend a combination of pre-recorded lectures and Live Q and A interaction with Instructors, via Zoom meetings. Students are expected to complete their scheduled pre-recorded lectures each week and attend as many “Live” Zoom classes as they can. HMI offers up to 20 hours of Live Interactive Zoom classes per week. Students are required to attend no less than one “Live” Interactive Zoom Meeting per week. Students who do not attend a minimum of one “Live” Zoom meeting per week are considered “Out of Attendance.” Students who are out of “attendance” for 10 days will receive a “10-day Out-of-Attendance Notice.” Students who accumulate more than two 10-day, unexcused notices during the course of their enrollment will lose their eligibility to graduate with “Honors” and/or receive other HMI Awards.

Here are the penalties for 10-Day Out-of-Attendance Notices:

1. First 10-Day Unexcused Out of Attendance Notice: No Penalty, First Warning
2. Second 10-Day Unexcused Out of Attendance Notice: No Penalty, Second Warning
3. Third 10-Day Unexcused Out of Attendance Notice: Student is ineligible to Graduate with Honors

Excused Out of Attendance: If a student has to be out of attendance for 10-14 days, they may request a waiver of the penalty, in advance of receiving the 10-day notice. This request must be sent by email to Esther@Hypnosis.edu and provide the reason for the absence. Acceptable reasons may include, but are not limited to, illness, family issues, etc.

More than 14 Days Out of Attendance: Federal Regulations state that if a student is not in attendance/participating in a “Live interaction” Zoom class/meeting with Instructors for more than 14 days they will automatically be dropped from the program.

The following activities are used for “Live/Interactive Attendance” (counted in the Attendance Policy).

1. Attendance at a scheduled Zoom Q&A Lecture with an Instructor.
2. Attendance at a Workshop/Practicum via Zoom.
3. Attendance at a Zoom Case Conferences held Monday through Thursday from 6:00-7:00 PM and Saturday from 12:30-1:30 PM.
4. Attendance at an AHA Conference or Certification Course or attending via Zoom, provided the student has completed the course quiz.

Students are responsible for being aware of their last date of “Attendance” located on their student progress report, along with the number of days out of attendance. Plan ahead for days that HMI will be closed such as holidays. If your scheduled class is cancelled, you are still required to attend other activities held on campus as described above.

The following DOES NOT provide Attendance but does provide academic credit. For example:

1. Completing courses in the HMI Elective Library.
2. Completing 101-501 pre-recorded classes/lectures on video without attending the Live Q&A via Zoom.

Seeing clients and logging the hours in the HMI online client log.

Leave of Absence (LOA) may be granted by Sandy Kappas, Director of Academic Services (DAS).

All requests for Leave of Absence must be emailed to Sandy@Hypnosis.edu and must contain the following:

1. LOA beginning date (no earlier than the date of the request).
2. LOA return date (must be a date the school is open).
3. The reason for the Leave of Absence (medical, vacation, family issues, etc.).

Email requests may be sent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of the school being open or closed.

A Leave of Absence will NOT be granted for the following reasons:

1. During the student’s first 60 days of enrollment in the program.
2. If the student is not currently in academic progress or on academic probation.
3. If a student is scheduled to begin their second semester with 501 Indoctrination.
4. If the student has failed to complete Financial Aid.

An approved Leave of Absence is subject to the following conditions:

1. Single LOA not to exceed 30 days. Total combined LOA days not to exceed 60 days in any enrollment period.
2. No more than two separate LOAs during any enrollment period.
3. No more than one extension per LOA and it must be requested by email to Sandy Kappas, Sandy@Hypnosis.edu before the student’s expected return date.

Additional Conditions

1. The date of the email request for LOA must be on or before the student’s 14th day out of attendance.
2. Should a student fail to return from LOA, the student will be dropped from the program and a drop calculation completed.

A leave of absence is a temporary break in a student’s attendance during which the student is considered to be continuously enrolled. A leave of absence may be granted for emergency situations such as a serious illness, debilitating injury, or death in the immediate family. Extraordinary circumstances preventing the completion of the formal request and approval process (such as a car accident, unforeseen travel problems, family issues, illness, etc.), will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the DAS: However, the required documentation must be gathered, and the application completed as soon as possible for the student to be granted the requested LOA.

Any leave of absence not requested as described above will be considered unapproved, and if a student does not request an LOA within a timeframe consistent with the Institute’s consecutive absence policy, they will be dropped from the program. Please note, the Institute cannot initiate a leave of absence on behalf of a student or place an absent student on an LOA without first receiving a request from the student.

While on a Leave of Absence, students are not assessed any additional charges (above their tuition charges) stemming from the leave of absence. Upon returning from leave, the student will re-enter at the place in the program where they left, with the same satisfactory progress status they had at the beginning of their leave.

While a student is on an approved leave of absence, all Title IV funding and/or other funding will be put on hold until which time the student returns. While on a leave of absence, a student may not participate in any programs and/or activities for which they initially enrolled in (the professional hypnotherapy training course).

Some of the most successful HMI graduates over the years have enhanced their HMI education by investing in private hypnotherapy sessions for themselves, independent of their enrollment at HMI. The benefits of having your own personal hypnotherapist for personal growth as well as advice and support with your own hypnotherapy practice during internship and possibly for years after graduation would seem self-evident. Many students and graduates choose HMI Instructors for to be their personal hypnotherapists for the obvious reasons of expertise and experience.

While HMI recognizes the value and benefits of such arrangements, it also wants students to be clear on the separation between your enrollment in HMI College of Hypnotherapy and your decision to have professional relationship with instructors as independent contractors. To ensure this clarity, HMI asks students and graduates who wish to work with HMI Instructors for hypnotherapy sessions to read, acknowledge, and agree to the following disclosure BEFORE hypnotherapy services are contracted.

Student/Graduate Seeking Hypnotherapy with Instructor Disclosure Form

As a student or graduate at HMI, I acknowledge, understand and agree to the following.

1. Instructors are HMI employees only for their work as Instructors. Their independent, private practice as a Hypnotherapist is not included in their HMI employment and HMI exercises no control over their independent hypnotherapy practice or the professional relationships they develop outside of HMI. In addition, it should be clear that HMI does not financially participate nor benefit from their private practice and/or hypnotherapy services that they may provide to students or graduates.
2. Students who wish to engage HMI Instructors for private hypnotherapy sessions understand that private sessions with an HMI instructor is a relationship separate and outside of their relationship with HMI, is not included in their enrollment or tuition, nor is it required in their HMI curriculum. Any costs, expenses or financial arrangements made with the Instructor for private hypnotherapy sessions is independent and separate from tuition, any financial relationship with HMI, or Federal Financial Aid.

Both Student and Instructor agree to hold HMI harmless and indemnifies HMI from any claims, liabilities, complaints, and/or legal actions that may result from their hypnotherapy sessions or agreements with HMI Instructors operating as independent contractors.

• Student/Graduate Seeking Hypnotherapy with HMI Instructor Disclosure Form
  (Fillable, Save, Send to Sandy@Hypnosis.edu)

1. Student Zoom accounts must be registered with their legal enrolled name and their name must be displayed on their Zoom screen at all times.
2. Student must display their live video in the Zoom room at all times. For students that do not have live video, the Student Center will be notified, and the student will not receive credit for that attendance. Should a student need to leave their Zoom screen for a break or for any other reason, they should leave their video on, so the Instructor can observe them leaving and returning. The student’s absence from the Zoom room shall not exceed 10 minutes or it will be assumed they have left the class and will not receive credit.
3. Students are not to use chat to message other individuals during the Zoom class. This would be similar to talking or passing notes during class.
4. Students are not allowed to drive while attending Workshop Practicums and any HMI classes that require student participation. Those students will be asked to leave and will not get credit for the class.
5. A student’s Zoom presence should be representative of their professional persona to clients in private practice. They should be professionally dressed, well lit, framed and their Zoom room staged. Your Zoom presence serves as confirmation that you are ready to see clients and serve as an example and inspiration to others in the room. Students should not be lying down or otherwise in any position that would be inappropriate if they were seeing a client.
6. Students must be diligent about background noise when in the Zoom room. Students should keep their microphones muted at all times unless instructed otherwise.
7. Students are not to eat, snack, drink alcoholic beverages, or smoke during class.
8. Students should use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom when they have a question or wish to comment.
9. The online system monitors login time for each student. Students are to arrive to Zoom meetings on time. If a student arrives to the meeting more than 15 minutes late the student will not receive credit for attendance.
10. The HMI Zoom classroom is to be a safe space for all students and Instructors. Please keep it a political free zone by no comments, jokes or commentary on politics or religion in the classroom.
11. Students are not permitted to record any HMI Classes and/or Zoom meetings and are prohibited from downloading, duplicating and/or recording any pre-recorded HMI video classes. Students are not to screen-record any HMI Zoom classes or events.
12. HMI students are not permitted to bring guests, children, or spouses to any HMI Zoom classes. Only enrolled students are permitted in the Zoom classroom.
13. Three hour Zoom classes will call for a 15-minute break sometime during each class. Students are not to hold up the class or disturb the class by returning late.
14. Soliciting: HMI Students, Interns and Graduates are not to solicit for their private practice, or any other services or products, to other students, including but not limited to Zoom classes, break out practice sessions, or other HMI seminars, classes, or events.
15. Students are expected to be polite to their instructors and fellow students. HMI places high value on a professional atmosphere in the classroom and reserves the right to remove any student who disturbs the professionalism and/or conducive learning environment of the class. This includes challenging the instructors and/or hostile questions or statements.
16. Students are encouraged to ask questions but should keep in mind that no one student should dominate the class environment with questions or argumentative statements. A good rule of thumb should be that no one student should be asking more questions than other students. Additionally, we request that students speak clearly and audibly when asking questions.
17. In order to maintain a comfortable learning environment, it is important that HMI Instructors remain in charge of the Zoom Class at all times. Students are to respect any instructor’s request to turn on or off your camera, refrain from asking questions, or if you are asked to leave the Zoom room.
18. Students are prohibited from using green screens or any virtual backgrounds. Students are not to have TVs on in the Zoom rooms, and are not to be engaged in a phone call or conversations with other people in their homes during the Zoom class. Students must be well lit with good sound quality to participate in Zoom classes.
19. Students must adhere to HMI’s The Golden Rule.
20. Students must adhere to HMI’s Academic Integrity Policy.

HMI expects every student to treat the HMI Employees and other staff with respect in all interactions. HMI has a zero-tolerance policy towards any physical or verbal abuse of HMI Employees, Staff, or fellow students. We expect students to treat employees and fellow students with the same respect, kindness, and sensitivity that they would like to be treated.

HMI students are training to become counselors and interact with individuals with a variety of levels of vulnerability and sensitivity. HMI views the student’s ability to communicate with HMI Employees and/or fellow students and their ability to maintain relationships with employees and fellow students as an indication of their appropriateness to deal with vulnerable clients as well. Any breach of this rule is grounds for probation, suspension, or termination of enrollment.

HMI Students are not to engage in therapeutic relationships with other students. In addition to traditional hypnotherapy or counseling, other forms of student therapeutic relationships to be avoided include, massage, psychic readings, tarot-card readings, Reiki and other forms of energy healings, astrology readings, chiropractic, herbology, and any other relationship that is outside the exclusive scope of discussing coursework and practicing inductions. It is really in the best interest of a student’s education and harmonious relations with the other students that we require all students to strictly adhere to this policy.

Students and Instructors are to respect professional boundaries. The following are prohibited by students and instructors:

1. Email communication between student and Instructors with the exception of a request for Mentorship or Mentor exceptions below. Student questions about course material are to be directed to Instructors during class, case conference, practicum workshops or other scheduled instruction sessions. All other questions regarding academics, policies, progress etc. are to be directed to Student Services.
2. Facebook friend requests, messaging, and other social media communications.
3. Phone calls, texting, and letters.
4. Socializing in-person or online.
5. Solicitation of services, events or products from Instructor to student or vice versa.
6. Exchange of currency for anything other than private hypnotherapy services.

Exceptions to the above include communications between student and their HMI Mentor. It is up to the Mentor if they wish to offer group Mentee Zoom Meetings or authorize email Q&A support. Student’s should remain respectful of the Mentors time and ask questions in regularly scheduled classes over private Q&A. Please be mindful that it takes much more time and energy to provide a written response than to answer a question in class. In addition, no other students benefit from a private Q&A. Any other exceptions are to be requested in writing to Sandy Kappas at Sandy@Hypnosis.edu.

HMI students are not permitted to market, sell, or solicit, nor collect names and addresses of other students – on campus or off – for any services, classes, or products of any kind. Violation of this policy can result in immediate expulsion from the program for which they enrolled.

HMI students are highly motivated and interested in their studies. Should any student engage in any behavior which, in the opinion of the Director, is potentially injurious to himself or others, potentially damaging to the school or its facilities, disruptive to a comfortable learning environment, or unbecoming or inappropriate for a counseling professional, such behavior is considered unacceptable.

Any student who engages in unacceptable behavior, or for whom HMI receives a complaint of unacceptable behavior, will receive a written Student Conduct Notice. Such notice will outline the behavior in question and/or suggestions for improvement. The student then has the opportunity to respond to this Student Conduct Notice. Failure to correct problematic behavior, or the student’s engagement in a variety of problematic behaviors, can result in the student either being placed on probation or being dismissed from school. Students whose behavior is considered extreme may be dismissed from school without the benefit of a Conduct Notice.

HMI Interns are subject to an even higher standard of student conduct. HMI Interns must display attitudes, ethics, professional attire, Zoom presence and/or professional office setting that inspire HMI’s confidence and comfort in referring pro bono clients to the Intern. Any breach in that confidence can result in HMI not referring pro bono clients and or termination of student enrollment.

Academic misconduct is subject to disciplinary action. Pending resolution of the case, a student charged with academic misconduct may be asked to discontinue attending class. Reasonable measures should be taken to protect the privacy of everyone involved in a case. Cases involving other members of the College community will be handled by the appropriate authority and process.

Primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any inappropriate, prohibited, or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period and may be referred to the Director or the Director of Academic Services.

HMI expects that its students will strive for high standards of honor and good citizenship and that they will conduct themselves, both on and off-campus, in a manner that reflects credit on themselves and the College. The following, while not exhaustive, represents misconduct subject to conduct action:

1. Conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person including physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, and/or coercion.
2. Sexual Assault. Sexual assault charges involving students will be handled in accordance with the College’s Sexual Assault Policy.
3. Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment will be handled in accordance with the College’s Policy on Sexual Harassment.
4. Harassment. In this Code ‘harassment’: (a) is the use, display, or other demonstration of words, gestures, imagery, or physical materials, or the engagement in any form of bodily conduct, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, alienage, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, which has the effect of creating a hostile and intimidating environment sufficiently severe or pervasive to substantially impair a reasonable person’s participation in College programs or activities, or use of College facilities; (b) must target a specific person or persons; and (c) must be addressed directly to that person or persons.
5. Possession of a weapon. A “weapon” includes explosives, metal knuckles, and knives with blades more than three (3) inches long, firearms including guns, air/pellet guns, paint guns, gun replicas (including facsimile water pistols) or any other instrument used or designed to be used to intimidate, threaten, and/or injure any person.
6. Reckless, disorderly, or lewd conduct that occurs on or off-campus.
7. Recklessly interfering with normal College or College-sponsored activities, including but not limited to studying, teaching, research, administration, or fire, police, or emergency services.
8. Initiating or causing to be initiated any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.
9. Unauthorized entry or use of College facilities. This also includes unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys or access cards to any College premises.
10. Unauthorized or inappropriate use of College computers, e-mail, or network; or other violations as specified by the most current Computer Use Policy published by HMI Information Technology Services. It may also include unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to record any person while on College premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent.
11. Violating the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed in accordance with the Code.
12. Furnishing false information to the College or a College Official or withholding information that may impede an investigation.
13. Violation of the College Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy: Alcohol Policy.
14. Forgery, unauthorized alteration, or unauthorized use of any College document or instrument of identification.
15. Substantially interfering with the freedom of expression of others.
16. Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage, including littering, to College property or the property of others. Departments may have additional regulations and/or requirements dealing with conduct and/or use of College funds or property.
17. Violations of other College regulations, rules, or policies.
18. Conduct that could result in the violation of any federal, state, or local law.
19. Actions by a student’s guest that violate College policies.
20. HMI policy prohibits HMI Employees, Instructors and Mentors from having any secondary relationships with students outside the scope of their job description. Specifically, Employees, Instructors and Mentors are not to have any business relationships, personal relationships and/or social relationships outside of HMI, and are advised against being Facebook friends, email, or text buddies. We ask HMI students to honor this policy as well as maintain respectful Instructor/Student boundaries.

When you attend HMI classes on Zoom, you are considered to be on the “HMI Campus” and must adhere to the HMI dress code that is required for all students. You have enrolled to become a counseling professional and that starts the day you enroll. Your professional attire in the Zoom classrooms positively affects you and your classmates both on a conscious and subconscious level.

The following attire is recommended:

1. Button dress shirts and tops
2. Sport coats and professional jackets and sweaters
3. Ties and other business accessories
4. Business casual

The following items are considered unprofessional attire for students.

1. Revealing attire
2. T-Shirts (no logos, graphics, or writing)
3. Hats
4. Shorts
5. Workout clothes/Athletic attire

We teach students the technical skills necessary to become a hypnotherapist, but we also guide them in representing themselves as professionals. This is why we ask all students to cooperate and adhere to the directions offered here. Each time a student attends an HMI event, for whatever reason, they are expected to dress for the profession for which they are training.

Students are expected to conduct their studies and academic pursuits with honesty and integrity. For a student to claim credit for completing a streaming video lesson it is to be assumed that they actually watched the entire streaming video lesson. For a student to claim credit for attending an in-person course/lesson it is to be assumed that they attended the whole in-person class. Students are responsible for completing their own work, exams, and quizzes and for reporting accurate attendance through roll call or sign-in sheets. All of these are the school’s basic assumptions for student integrity. A student’s breach of this policy will threaten their eligibility for graduating with honors and may also result in a warning, probation and possible dismissal from the school, the decision of which is at the discretion of the school.

All HMI educational materials, including books, workbooks, printed materials, video, DVD and streaming video, are protected by United States copyright laws. Students who engage in behavior that violates those copyright laws will be withdrawn from the program for which they enrolled and could be subject to penalties, both civil and/or criminal, as provided for under The U.S copyright law (Title 17, United States Code).Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

HMI policies prohibit the unlawful use, possession, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol, by any student, faculty, or employee on its property, or as part of any of its activities. Anyone in violation of this policy will be subject to immediate expulsion from the program of study and referred to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for prosecution.

Additionally, a person may be subject to local, State and Federal laws against illegal drug use and/or sales of illegal substances and face possible jail sentences and/or fines.

HMI recommends that any person encountering a substance-abuse problem take immediate action for rehabilitation. Each person should be aware there are many health risks associated with drug and alcohol usage and/or abuse. A person with this problem is encouraged to seek assistance in the mandatory counseling sessions that HMI training provides and/or other local counseling/rehabilitation programs. In addition to that assistance, HMI also provides this non-exhaustive list of referrals for assistance:

• Be Sober Hotline
  1-800-237-6237
• Cocaine Hotline
  1-800-262-2462
• Drug Abuse Information
  1-800-554-5437
• Drug Abuse Hotline
  1-800-241-9746
• Cocaine Anonymous
  1-800-839-1141
• Marijuana Anonymous
  1-800-766-6779

Drug and Alcohol Report

HMI is required to review its drug and alcohol substance abuse program once every two years to determine its effectiveness and to ensure that its sanctions are being enforced. During the 2016 and 2017 reporting period HMI recorded students and employees who were found in violation of the college’s policy. The following table shows the number of those who were cited for alcohol or substance use during the reporting period and the reporting period in the previous Biennial Drug and Alcohol Report.

Drug and Alcohol Cases	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Alcohol Related	0	0	0	0	0
Drug Related	0	0	0	0	0
Fatalities	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	0	0	0	0	0

• Type of sanctions imposed for the above listed violations: None to Report Alcohol Related
• Reviewed By: Sandy Kappas, Director of Academic Services (DAS)
• Biennial Review Date: 07/01/2022

HMI believes that students will greatly enhance their therapeutic skills and benefit personally by attending, both, AA, and Al-Anon meetings. HMI will provide a student with 3 hours of elective credit to attend the Malibu, Saturday night AA meeting and/or any AA/Al-Anon Meeting of one’s choice. Students can receive credit for a maximum of (6) AA meetings and (6) Al-Anon meetings. These will be credited as elective hours. Students must submit the HMI AA/Al-Anon form, filled out and signed by the secretary of the meeting attended. These forms are available on the HMI student page under “Forms and Form Examples.” In order to have the secretary sign the form, the student should drop it into the collection box when it comes around and retrieve the signed form from the secretary at the end of the meeting. Completed forms may be scanned and emailed to the Student Services staff. In addition, students must submit a one-page written summary of what they learned and how it can be applied to their hypnotherapy practice. This summary is to be submitted to their Student Counselor who will grade it as pass or fail.

The opportunity to work with clients is one of the many unique training features offered to HMI Resident Students. Students are encouraged to begin implementing their marketing campaigns and promoting their own private practice to generate clientele as soon as they begin their Residency/Internship program. Students have the sole responsibility to generate their own clients, paid or unpaid, in order to fulfill their “twenty-four clinical hour” requirement to graduate. HMI receives requests from the public for “pro bono” (no charge) sessions that are scheduled with HMI students who have met the requirements to participate in the HMI Community Service Program.

HMI does not guarantee Community Service Program client referrals as a part of enrollment. Distribution of such clients is at HMI’s sole discretion and can be influenced by a student’s attitudes, communication skills, professional zoom appearance, satisfactory progress, adherence to HMI policies and more. Please be aware, it is up to the student to contact their assigned Community Service Program leads/requests and schedule them for their sessions.

In addition to the attributes listed above, the following criteria are required to be eligible to receive client referrals from HMI through the Community Service Program:

1. Signed HMI Pro Bono Agreement
2. Proof of Malpractice Insurance
3. Membership in a Professional and Certification Organization
4. Academic progress in good standing
5. Approval of Zoom Room
6. Hours of availability to see clients that meet the needs of the client and the school
7. You must complete the “Getting Your Zoom Room Approved” course in the 401 Electives Library which includes watching a short video, reading the workbook, and taking the online quiz. You must be prepared to show your certificate of completion to the person approving your Zoom Room. You can even take a picture of it on your phone and show it to the person over Zoom.

Additional Guidelines

1. All Community Service Program client referrals must ONLY be seen via Skype or Zoom. No physical locations can be used to see HMI referred pro bono clients. Residents must have their “Zoom Room” approved by the HMI Director before being eligible to receive Community Service Program referrals. Zoom Rooms will be judged on their professionalism, quality in sound, video, framing, background, and overall visuals.
2. It is the Resident student’s responsibility to connect with the client and schedule a mutually agreeable appointment.
3. All pro bono client sessions must be documented by completing a Client Contact Report at your student login (501 section), in order to receive academic credit for the hours.
4. HMI Residents are expected to see Community Service Program clients for as long as they are an active student and may opt to continue seeing a client beyond completion of their first year of study. There are no limits to the number of sessions a Resident can see their assigned client. HMI encourages the Resident students to get as much experience as they can from each client and expects the relationship between Resident and Community Service Program client to continue for as long as the client is motivated and willing to come to appointments.
5. HMI Resident students have the right to refuse a client referral or terminate the relationship if they feel the client is beyond their scope, makes them feel uncomfortable or for any other reason they wish. If for any reason the Resident does not wish to see the client assigned to them the student is to notify the Community Service Program Director in Student Services as soon as possible.
6. During the student’s Internship, students are NEVER to attempt to change the relationship from HMI referred pro bono to a paid client.

If at the end of a student’s Residency program (graduation), the client wishes to continue their hypnotherapy sessions they are to be given the following options:

1. 1. A graduate has the option to continue to see the assigned client for no charge for as many sessions as is mutually agreeable.
   2. A graduate can present the option for the client to be referred back to HMI’s Community Service Program Director to be reassigned to another Resident student. If the client chooses to be referred back to HMI’s Community Service Program, it is the Resident student’s responsibility to notify HMI if this option is chosen.
   3. A graduate and client may come to a mutually agreeable fee and sign an “Acknowledge of Services and Fees” that memorializes that new arrangement.

Any violation of this policy and/or violations of HMI’s generally accepted ethical boundaries and guidelines with clients can result in expulsion from school. If you have any questions or uncertainties about ethical boundaries or any other situations with a client while a student, you are to immediately bring them to the attention of the Director, George Kappas by emailing to GeorgeHypnosis.edu.

For Academic Purposes: HMI is an ACCET approved institution and uses the following Carnegie clock-to-credit hour conversions for lecture and laboratory.

• Lecture Hours: Instructional hours consisting of theory or new principles.
• Lecture Credit Hours: Semester Credits – Must teach a minimum of 15 lecture hours to award 1 semester credit (divide lecture hours by 15).
• Laboratory Hours: Instructional hours consisting of supervised student practice of a previously introduced theory/principle during which practical skills and knowledge are developed and reinforced.
• Laboratory Credit Hours: Semester credits (divide laboratory hours by 30).
• Internship Credit Hours: Instructional hours consisting of supervised work experience activities related to skills/ knowledge acquired during the training program – Must participate in a minimum of 45 internship hours to award 1 semester credit (divide internship hours by 45).

For Purposes of Title IV Federal Financial Aid: For Financial Aid purposes HMI awards one semester credit for each 37.5 clock hours of study (course labs/practicum workshops, Internship, lectures, and homework) with the Clinical Hypnotherapy Program consisting of 900 Clock Hours/24 Semester Credits and the Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Mind-Body Psychology consisting of 2292 Clock hours/56 Semester Credits.

HMI’s Clinical Program is 720 clock hours/24 semester credits/42.4 Academic Credits and is one year in length. The program is divided into two semesters, each six months in length. The first semester consists of courses Hypnosis 101, 201, 301, and 401. The 101 course teaches you the practical skills of learning to hypnotize. The 201 course builds on that foundation by introducing you to all the different styles and modalities. The 301 course introduces the student to all the clinical applications. The 401 course bridges the gap between theory and practical application and is done concurrently with the 201, 301 and 501 courses. The second semester consists of the 501 Clinical Residency courses. The 501 Clinical Residency course divides its focus equally between the goals of building clinical skills and the business expertise to be successful in private practice.

• Prerequisite: Completion of HMI Admissions Procedure
• Length: 26 Weeks, 360 Hours, 12 Credits
• Days/Times: Class Schedule Varies, Weekdays, Weeknights, Saturdays
• Quizzes, Exams: For the 101, 201 and 301 courses, quizzes count as 10% and exams count as 90% of your total course score. For the 501 core classes, all of the quizzes are weighted equally and your course score is the average of all quizzes.

Hypnosis 101

• Prerequisite: None
• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 24
• Attend: 4 Prerecorded Video Classes, 4 Classes of Q&A with Instructors, 4 Classes of Supervised Practice, All Q&A and Supervised Practice are Live on Zoom
• Days/Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Choice of 2 Class Times
  • Zoom Q&A with Instructors
    1. Tuesdays from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
    2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
  • Zoom Workshop/Practicum, Lecture and Supervised Practice
    1. Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
    2. 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:50
• Homework Hours: 3

Regardless of the student’s background, the Hypnosis 101 class represents the first step in professional training. It is one of the most important, as well as the most fun and exciting of all the training steps, because it is here the foundation is laid for the “how to” skills of hypnosis. The result is a class full of demonstrations by instructors, as well as practice assignments.

The main focus of the 101 class is the “Emotional and Physical suggestibility and sexuality” concepts, created by HMI’s founder, Dr. John G Kappas. Greatly responsible for HMI’s success and reputation, these tools provide hypnotists with a behavioral profile that enables them to organize their linguistic pattern to perfectly match the suggestibility of the subject. Rendering virtually everyone hypnotizable, this unique concept has been heralded as one of the few real breakthroughs in the field in the last 100 years.

Another important concept presented in the 101 class is the “Message Unit Theory of Hypnosis,” providing students a precise understanding of exactly what hypnosis is, how it is created, and the differences between self-hypnosis, hetero-hypnosis, and environmental states. The focus of the 101 class is equally dedicated to understanding these vital theoretical foundations as it is in acquiring the fundamental skills of how to test suggestibility, interpret the results, and hypnotize the subject according to his or her unique suggestibility pattern.

Homework Hours

In addition to the scheduled 101 classes, students are expected to read the text book and Student Workbook assignments for each class and successfully complete an online class quiz for 101 class lectures 1-4. Students are awarded one homework hour for reading the workbook and completing each online class quiz.

Clinical Hypnosis 201

• Prerequisite: Completion of Hypnosis 101
• Length: 8 Weeks, Clock Hours: 48
• Attend: 16 Prerecorded Video Classes, 16 Live Q&A with Instructors, 24 Elective Hours
• Days/Times: Mondays and Wednesdays, Choice of 2 Class Times
  • Zoom Q&A with Instructors
    1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
    2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:60
• Homework Hours: 14

The 201 class is two months in length, and is divided into two sections, each section is one month long. These sections rotate monthly, and students may begin at either section. There is a new start day for 201 approximately every four weeks, so 101 students rarely have to wait more than a week before the next 201 class begins.

The Clinical Hypnosis 201 class begins with the premise that the student, having successfully completed the 101 class, possesses knowledge of testing the individual suggestibility of their subjects and hypnotizing them accordingly. Utilizing the skills earned in the 101 Class, the 201 student is then introduced to a broad array of styles and strategies available to then in guiding the hypnotized client.

There is perhaps no field of study more diversified and divided on what is the best approach in theory and application than the field of counseling. Because of this, HMI’s 201 classes provide a different instructor for each class night, thus acquainting the student with a wide variety of clinical orientations. HMI’s instructors include Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Counselors who specialize in working with children, NLP Trainers, and Imagery Specialists, all of diverse orientations.

In learning from each of these different specialists, the 201 student develops the ability to match his or her therapeutic style and strategy to the individual needs of the client or case.

The 201 students continue to attend Workshop/Practicums throughout their 201 course. Students are encouraged to attend approximately one per week, or as many workshops as their time permits.

Homework Hours

In addition to the scheduled 201 classes, students are expected to read the Student Workbook assignments for each class and successfully complete an online quiz for each class lecture. Students are awarded one homework hour for reading the workbook and completing each online class quiz.

Hypnotherapy 301

• Prerequisite: Completion of Clinical Hypnosis 201
• Length: 12 Weeks, Clock Hours: 67
• Attend: 24 Prerecorded Video Classes, 24 Live Q&A with Instructors, 36 Elective Hours
• Days/Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Choice of 2 Class Times
  • Zoom Q&A with Instructors
    1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
    2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75
• Homework Hours: 24

The 301 Course is divided into three rotating sections with a new group of students joining the classes every month. Like the 201 Course, the 301 Course also features a different Instructor for each lesson.

Students in 301 complete two prerecorded video lessons per week and attend a live Zoom Q&A interactive discussion with Instructors and peers for each lesson.

The 301 course is designed to prepare students for the rigors of internship by focusing on the skills of risk assessment, clinical note taking and managing a private practice. In addition, the 301 course focuses on the treatment of the presenting issues, the student will most likely be encountering in their hypnotherapy practice.

In addition to the 24 unique lectures and live Q&A discussions with Instructors, students are also encouraged to lean into their attendance and participation in Practicum Workshops. 301 students are also encouraged to start attending the 501 Clinical Case Conference and Clinical Case History Series courses presented in second semester. Previewing these important clinical courses further prepares the 301 student to start seeing real clients in the Community Service Program and private practice.

Homework Hours

In addition to the scheduled 301 classes, students are expected to read the Student Workbook assignments for each class and successfully complete an online quiz for each class lecture. Students are awarded one homework hour for reading the workbook and completing each online class quiz.

Electives 401

• Length: 52 Weeks
• Days/Times: Scheduled Independently
• Semester 1 Requirement: 178 Hours
• Semester 2 Requirement: 135 Hours
• Total Clock Hours: 313 (Average 5 Hours Per Week)
• Total Homework Hours: 150

In addition to the core curriculum of 101, 201, 301 and 501 courses, HMI students are provided the opportunity to choose their area of focus and/or design part of their own training using the HMI Electives – 401 Module. HMI Elective Courses are done concurrently with Semester 1 and 2 (101, 201, 301 and 501) core classes. Elective Hours are done outside of the regularly scheduled class times. Students are not limited to the Elective Hour requirements listed, some students complete hundreds of hours above that during their 12 months of study.

There are two ways to earn elective hours:

1. Elective Course Library

HMI provides hundreds of hours and over 20 different elective courses to choose from in the Elective Course Library. The Elective Library is a streaming video library that can be accessed from the student’s online interface. Students may access the Elective Hours Library any time day or night, and can complete these Elective Hours on their own schedule. This flexibility can help students who are juggling work and family schedules in addition to school. The Elective Hours Library contains a wide variety of courses including many vintage courses/videos featuring HMI Founder Dr. John Kappas. This gives students the opportunity to benefit from HMI’s long and rich history as a pioneer in the hypnotherapy field.

2. Elective Courses, Seminars and Conferences

HMI students can also earn Elective Hours by attending continuing education seminars and conferences in the hypnosis field. The American Hypnosis Association (AHA) offers continuing education seminars live on Zoom many weekends per month. These seminars offer specialty certifications in NLP, Therapeutic Imagery, Pre and Post Surgery, ADHD, Childbirth, Past-Life Regression, Reiki, Energy Healing, and much more. The AHA also offers conferences featuring guest speakers live on Zoom, and in their online library that provide the opportunity to earn Elective Hours. AHA membership fees are not included in tuition. AHA continuing education courses Certification Courses are not required and also not included in HMI tuition. For a listing of AHA Seminars please see the AHA Calendar at https://hypnosis.edu/aha/calendar/.

Added: 2022-02-01

3. Earning Outside Elective Hours

HMI allows a maximum of 20 hours to be submitted as elective study hours from outside seminars or conventions. All seminars or conventions must be directly related to the study of hypnotherapy and must be provided from a recognized national association of hypnotherapy and/or State approved school of hypnotherapy. Students must complete the Verification of Elective Hours form provided in the Student Forms section and submit to the Student Services Department. In addition, students may also submit hours of attendance to AA, NA, or Al Anon meetings using this form as well. Any private hypnotherapy sessions with an HMI Mentor, beyond the initial three sessions, may also be reported using this form. (Submission of additional mentor hours (over the initial three sessions must be signed by the mentor. Submission of AA meetings must be signed by the secretary of the meeting (not required during covid). Out side seminars must include a copy of the completion certificate.

Homework Hours

Elective courses require online quizzes or written essays. Students are not awarded elective hours until those quizzes or written assignments are completed! Students are awarded 0.5 homework hours for each 1.0 hour of elective course.

Practicum Workshops

• Prerequisite: Current enrollment in 201-501
• Length: 52 Weeks, Clock Hours: 72
• Attend: 4 Practicum Workshops are scheduled each week Live on Zoom, attend as many as your schedule permits. You are required to complete an average of 2 Practicum Workshops per month.
  1. Wednesday 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM Pacific Time
  2. Thursday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
  3. Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Pacific Time
  4. Saturday from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 2:75

Twelve (12) Practicum Workshops are required during Hypnotherapy (Semester One). Twelve (12) Practicum Workshops are required during Clinical Hypnotherapy (Semester Two). Students are encouraged to attend as many Practicum Workshops as they are able. After completion of the required workshops for first and second semesters, any additional Practicum Workshops will be credited towards the elective hour requirement for Semester Two.

Practicum Workshops are required and essential for becoming a successful hypnotherapist. Practicum Workshop is the time and place to practice hypnotic inductions and technique.

Practicum Workshops are held on weekdays and Saturdays. Workshops are non-sequential and feature different instructors and focus on different hypnotic techniques in each workshop. If a student misses a workshop, the student can make it up by attending the next workshop.

There is a “PW” tab in your online student interface (which stands for Practicum Workshops). Once logged into your student interface click the PW tab to see the schedule of the upcoming workshops. You also use this tab access the links to the Zoom meeting for each workshop. Each workshop uses a unique link.

You must be a currently enrolled student to attend Practicum Workshops. Students at any level 101-501 are encouraged to attend on a weekly basis or as often as possible.

Grading

The Workshop course grade is determined by the total number of workshops attended during the entire enrollment.

• Prerequisite: Completion of Semester One
• Length: 26 Weeks, Clock Hours: 360, Credits: 12
• Attend: 1-2 Prerecorded Video Classes Per Week Plus Live Q&A with Instructors
• Days/Times: Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  • Zoom Q&A with Instructor
    1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
    2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Quizzes, Exams: Students must complete each online class quiz and exams with a score of 70% or higher. For the 501 core classes, all of the quizzes are weighted equally and your course score is the average of all quizzes. Completion of each online quiz/exam is one homework hour. All additional homework hours are listed for each course.

Semester Two at HMI represents your transition from student to Intern to working professional. HMI Interns start working with clients from all over the world via Zoom. Interns discuss their work with clients with HMI Senior Staff Instructors in group supervision classes. Case Conferences are offered five days a week.

From watching classes anytime, day or night to interacting with Instructors and fellow students learning to market your private practice, and getting clinical experience all from the comfort and safety of your home, starting a new career has never been more convenient.

In addition to Internship, students continue to attend one or two prerecorded classes per week, plus live Q&A with Instructors via Zoom. These classes include the applied skills of advertising, marketing, business practices, therapeutic ethics, counseling skills, group presentation skills, and much more. This combination of classroom instruction, client contact, and group supervision define the experience of Semester Two.

Internship Indoctrination

• Prerequisite: Completion of 301
• Length: One Class, 2 Hours
• Attend: Weeknight
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:50

In preparation for the start of your Clinical Residency Course (Semester Two), this Internship Indoctrination class walks you through the basics of how HMI Internship works. You will be instructed on the policies and procedures of seeing clients in the HMI Clinic, being supervised by Staff Instructors, how to document your clinical hours and meet the requirements for graduation. You will also be instructed on how to take the necessary steps for professional practice as listed in the description below.

Internship/Client Contact

• Length: 24 Client Contacts, 72 Hours
• Days/Times: Hours Scheduled Independently
• Instructor/Student Ratio: N/A

A total of 24 client contact sessions are a part of HMI’s internship program. This provides the 501 students the opportunity to start working with clients with the benefit of clinical supervision.

Students are responsible for getting their own clients by following the guidelines of their advertising and promotion classes. The 501 students are free to charge whatever they wish for their professional services, (Community Service clients are no charge). Student fees may range from no charge to $100 (or more) per session.

Grading and Documentation of Client Hours

For each client session the student must complete an online Client Contact Hours report documenting the preparation for each client, concepts learned during each contact, and the post contact review. The student is awarded 3.0 course hours for each client session. Students do not receive credit for client sessions unless the online client report is completed.

Clinical Case History Series Parts 1, 2, and 3

• Length: 12 Weeks, Clock Hours: 36
• Attend: Live on Zoom, 12 Classes, 1 Per Week
• Days/Times: Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75
• Homework Hours: 12

The course consists of (3) class series, each meeting once per week for four weeks. This course features HMI Staff Therapists conducting three series of therapy sessions, four weeks each, with a real client demonstrating the process and procedures of clinical hypnotherapy from beginning to end.

Grading and Homework Hours

Your course grade will be the average of all your quiz scores for the series. Students receive 4 hours of homework for each class series for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes. Three class series equals a total of 12 homework hours.

Business Practices

• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 12
• Attend: 1 Prerecorded Video Class Per Week, 1 Live Zoom Q&A with Instructor
• Days/Times: Live Zoom Q&A, Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75
• Homework Hours: 4

This course meets once per week for four (4) weeks. The Business Practices course makes the development of their own business plan fun by creating teams of students to brainstorm and develop a vision for their hypnotherapy practice.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete three online quizzes and one exam. The class grade is the average quiz/exam/Business Plan scores. Students are required to complete a written business plan to submit in the final class meeting. The class grade is the average quiz, exam and Business Plan scores. Students receive 4 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes and exam.

Counseling and Interviewing

• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 12
• Attend: 1 Prerecorded Video Class Per Week, 1 Live Zoom Q&A with Instructor
• Days/Times: Live Zoom Q&A, Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75
• Homework Hours: 28

This course meets once per week for four (4) weeks. The Counseling and Interviewing course demonstrates and guides students through the process of clinical note taking skills, evaluation of clients’ appropriateness for Hypnotherapy, and the practice of directive and nondirective counseling and interviewing techniques.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete three online quizzes and one exam. The class grade is the average quiz and exam scores. Students receive 4 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes and exam.

Ethics in Therapy

• Length: 2 Weeks, Clock Hours: 6
• Attend: 1 Prerecorded Video Class Per Week, 1 Live Zoom Q&A with Instructor
• Days/Times: Live Zoom Q&A, Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75
• Homework Hours: 2

This course meets once per week for two (2) weeks. The Ethics in Therapy course prepares the student for a successful, ethical, and spiritually sound career in hypnotherapy that is fulfilling for both the therapist and their clients.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete an online exam for each class night. The class grade is the average exam scores. Student receive 2 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completion of the online exams.

Social Media Marketing

• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 12
• Attend: 1 Prerecorded Video Class Per Week, 1 Live Zoom Q&A with Instructor
• Days/Times: Live Zoom Q&A, Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:50
• Homework Hours: 4

This course meets once per week, for four (4) weeks. Learn to use Social Media Marketing to distinguish your services and attract your ideal clients. People are researching online for services now more than ever and social platforms overwhelm the search rankings. HMI prepares students to occupy a professional and authentic presence in the market through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Podcasting, and more.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete three online quizzes and one exam. The class grade is the average quiz and exam scores. Students receive 4 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes and exam.

Speech Master

• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 12
• Attend: 4 Classes, 1 Per Week
• Days/Times: Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:50
• Homework Hours: 4

This course meets once per week, for four (4) weeks. Important to the development of a private practice is the ability to deliver a professional presentation to the public or private groups.

HMI’s Speech-Master course utilizes the internationally recognized “Toastmasters” technique to systematically hone your skills and ability to comfortably communicate your services to any individual or group. This course will prepare the student to master their ability to deliver a powerful and professional public presentation.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete three online quizzes and one exam. Students are required to prepare and present two speeches during class. The class grade is the average quiz, exam and speech scores. Students receive 4 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes and exam.

Therapeutic Journaling

• Length: 4 Weeks, Clock Hours: 12
• Attend: 4 Classes, 1 Per Week
• Days/Times: Weekdays, Weeknights, Choice of 2 Class Times
  1. 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time
  2. 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:50
• Homework Hours: 4

This course meets once per week, for (4) weeks. Therapeutic Journaling can be a powerful adjunct to your hypnotherapy practice. This course guides students through a four-week journey by guiding them through a series of journaling assignments to be completed between classes. Utilizing ideomotor response to tap powerful subconscious resources, HMI students experience firsthand the benefits and how to apply them with their private practice clients.

Grading and Homework Hours

Students must complete three online quizzes and one exam. The class grade is the average quiz and exam scores plus the class participation scores. Students receive 4 hours of Homework for studying the workbook and completing the online quizzes and exam.

Clinical Case Conference/Supervision

• Length: 26 Weeks, Clock Hours: 24
• Days/Times: Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, Choice of 2 Class Times
  • Live Zoom with Instructor
    1. Mondays through Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Pacific Time
    2. Saturdays from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Pacific Time
• Instructor/Student Ratio: 1:75

HMI Interns receive their clinical supervision in the intimate setting of a small group via Zoom. Scheduled five days a week and featuring a different supervisor each day, Interns discuss their clinical work with supervisors and receive advice, direction, and feedback between each session they have with clients. Students learn not only from the direct advice provided for their clients, but from the advice provided by their peers as well. HMI provides an online Client Contact Log to document and track supervised hours.

Grading

The course grade is determined by the number of Case Conferences attended.

One-On-One Practical Skills Review

• Length: 3 Hours, 3 Sessions
• Days/Times: Scheduled Independently
• Instructor/Student Ratio: N/A

Students receive three private sessions with an Instructor for a one-on-one review of their practical hypnotic skills. This personalized attention to their hypnotic induction and suggestion giving skills serves as a final fine tuning for their work in clinical internship. These three private sessions can also assist you with your motivation, fears, and questions about private practice, and serve as your personal role model for a successful hypnotherapy career.

Additional Elective Hours

Students are awarded 9 hours of elective credit for the following: Students are expected to prepare the required paperwork to apply for their City Business License, Malpractice Insurance, and any applications necessary to join professional organizations and certification bodies. Approval of the required paperwork allows the student to participate in HMI’s Community Service Program. One quiz is required at the completion of the class which counts at one homework hour for reviewing the workbook materials and completing the quiz.

HMI Community Service Program

Another key feature of HMI’s training is the option for students to be assigned hypnotherapy clients from HMI’s Community Service Program. Community Service clients provide Interns the opportunity to start gaining real world counseling experience with a wide range of clients and presenting issues. The value of having access to real clients, clinical experience and daily instructor guidance, is alone worth far more than the total tuition of the program.

201	Instructor
Hypnotic Modalities	George Kappas
Neuro Linguistic Programming 1	Joe Tabbanella
Neuro Linguistic Programming 2	Joe Tabbanella
Ericksonian Hypnosis	Michael Kamins
Hypnotic Regression/Past Life	Lisa Machenberg
Dream Therapy	George Kappas
Fears and Phobias	Elaine Perliss
201 Review and Test	Lois Lorback
First Consultation	John Melton
Therapeutic Imagery 1	Cheryl O’Neil
Therapeutic Imagery 2	Cheryl O’Neil
Mental Bank Program	George Kappas
Hypno-Diagnostic Tools	Tanya Nord
Emotional Freedom Technique	Susie Kappas
Law and Ethics	John Brown
201 Review and Test	Katt Lowe
301	Instructor
Emotional and Physical Sexuality 1	George Kappas
Emotional and Physical Sexuality 2	George Kappas
Family Systems	Tanya Nord
Healing the Inner Child 1	Cheryl O’Neil
Healing the Inner Child 2	Cheryl O’Neil
Introduction to Handwriting Analysis	Elaine Perliss
Advanced Law and Ethics	Bruce Bonnett
301 Review and Test	Michael Kamins
Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention	Randy Kasper
Introduction to Business and Internship	Elaine Perliss
Clinical Note Taking	Betsy Bates Freed
Introduction to Mind-Body Psychology	Karen Veloz
Stop Smoking 1	John Melton
Stop Smoking 2	John Melton
Advertising and Promotion	George Kappas
301 Review and Test	Katt Lowe
Low Blood Sugar	Susie Kappas
General Self Improvement	Susie Kappas
Substance Abuse	Steven Stinnett
Medical Hypnosis	Lisa Machenberg
Habit Control	Ted Moreno
Sexual Dysfunction	Lisa Machenberg
Driving Anxiety and Social Phobias	Ted Moreno
301 Review and Test	Michael Kamins
501	Instructor
501 Indoctrination	Sandy Kappas
Business Practices 1	Elaine Perliss
Clinical Case History Series 1	Staff
Clinical Case History Series 2	Staff
Clinical Case History Series 3	Staff
Counseling and Interviewing	Tanya Nord
Ethics in Therapy	Lisa Machenberg
Social Media Marketing	Tricia Carr
Speech Master	Mario Pescatore
Therapeutic Journaling 1	Lois Lorback
HMI Community Service Program	CS Coordinator
Exit Interview	Staff

6 General Education Clinical Psychology Courses

• Weeks: 52
• Lecture: 1 to 100 Maximum
• Q&A: 1 to 50 Maximum
• Case Conference: 1 to 50 Maximum
• Lecture Live on Zoom: Mondays from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Pacific Time)
• Q&A Live on Zoom: Fridays from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (Pacific Time)

The Psychology Lecture Series features a one-year progression of lessons/lectures, live on Zoom each Monday, followed by an interactive Q&A session with the Instructor on Fridays. Students are to complete reading assignments from selected texts between each lecture and Q&A session. Lectures are recorded and are available to students for makeup or review. Q&A sessions on Fridays are offered at two convenient times providing students the flexibility to attend one or the other.

Core Instructors

1. Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD
2. Glen Hartelius, PhD
3. Johanna Hays, PsyD
4. Randy Kasper, PhD
5. Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
6. Indhushree Rajan, PhD
7. Juliet Rohde-Brown, PhD
8. Matthew Silverstein, PhD
9. Vicki Stevens, PhD
10. Radhule Weininger, PhD, MD

Adjunct Professors

• Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD
• Randy Kasper, PhD
• Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD

Course Description

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) expands upon the traditional classical and operant conditioning models of understanding about behavior and furthers the exploration into core beliefs and themes in patterned thinking and the impact on behavior. Positive Psychology emerged as an outbranch of operant conditioning, emphasizing the idea that if helplessness can be learned, then positive feelings may be learned as well.

Course Outline

• Week 1: The Basics of CBT (Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD)
• Week 2: CBT Treatment Examples (Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD)
• Week 3: CBT and Gender, Multicultural, and Group Considerations (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 4: Positive Psychology Core Principles (Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD)
• Week 5: Clinical Intuition, Positivity, and Growth Models (Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD)
• Week 6: Transcendence in Positive Psychology (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 7: ACTs Six Core Processes and Life Map (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 8: Connecting with the Future Self in ACT (Victoria Stevens, PhD)

Adjunct Professors

• Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD
• Johanna Hays, PsyD
• Randy Kasper, PhD
• Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
• Indhushree Rajan, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD

Course Description

The paradigm is shifting in therapy and inviting transdisciplinary and integrative frameworks in applied models of care. While psychoneuroimmunology set the stage for embracing ancient understandings of the crucial relationship between mind-body-spirit, current research in psychoneuroimmunology, affective regulation, somatic psychology, vagal system therapy, and health psychology, among others, advocate for approaching whole person wellness. This course will take you through a variety of mind-body contexts in therapy.

Course Outline

• Week 1: Mind-Body Psychology in Context (Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD)
• Week 2: Cultivating Body Awareness and Somatic Systems (Johanna Hays, PsyD)
• Week 3: Anchoring and Energetic Development (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 4: Subtle Movement, Sound, and Silence in Therapy (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 5: Ancient Wisdom Traditions and Creating Healing Stories (Indhushree Rajan, PhD)
• Week 6: Attachment, Interpersonal Neurobiology and Affect Regulation (Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD)
• Week 7: Mindfulness in Mind-Body Psychology (Radhule Weininger, PhD, MD)
• Week 8: The Sensorimotor System, Trauma, and Mindfulness (Victoria Stevens, PhD)

Adjunct Professors

• Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD
• Johanna Hays, PsyD
• Randy Kasper, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD

Course Description

It is important to know when hypnosis is contraindicated with certain psychological features. Developmental and systemic implications will be discussed as well as how to distinguish between issues of adjustment as opposed to more complex issues such as psychosis. This course will review the Diagnostic Manual and relevant examples of what to look for in working with a variety of individuals and families.

Course Outline

• Week 1: DSM Overview (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 2: Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 3: Personality Disorders and Schizophrenia/Dissociative Disorders (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 4: Borderline Personality Disorder (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 5: Distinctions in Bipolar Diagnosis (Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD)
• Week 6: Schizoaffective and Schizotypal Features (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 7: Levels of Depression and Anxiety (Johanna Hays, PsyD)
• Week 8: Addictive Behaviors (Victoria Stevens, PhD)

Adjunct Professors

• Glen Hartelius, PhD
• Randy Kasper, PhD
• Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
• Indhushree Rajan, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD

Course Description

Transpersonal Psychology is a field or school of thought in psychology centered on the spiritual aspects of human life. The term Transpersonal Psychology was first introduced in the 1960s by psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Victor Frankl. Transpersonal therapy is transformational in that it explores the whole person with special attention to how states of consciousness contribute to such an approach. This course will review eight core aspects of transpersonal therapy and applications.

Course Outline

• Week 1: Transpersonal as an Integrative Whole/All Person Psychology (Glen Hartelius, PhD)
• Week 2: Transpersonal as a Scientific Whole Person Psychology (Glen Hartelius, PhD)
• Week 3: Transpersonal as an Embodied Psychology (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 4: Transpersonal as a Psychology of Diversity (Indhushree Rajan, PhD)
• Week 5: Transpersonal as a Relational, Transformative Psychology (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 6: Play, Creativity, Metaphor and Transformative Processes (Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD)
• Week 7: Transpersonal as an Ecopsychology (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 8: Transpersonal as a Spiritual Psychology (Glen Hartelius, PhD)

Adjunct Professors

• Johanna Hays, PsyD
• Randy Kasper, PhD
• Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
• Indhushree Rajan, PhD
• Juliet Rohde-Brown, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD
• Radhule Weininger, PhD, MD

Course Description

Depth Psychology refers to approaches to therapy that are open to exploration of the subtle, unconscious, relational, and transpersonal aspects of human experience. A depth approach may include therapeutic traditions that explore the unconscious and involve the study and exploration of dreams, complexes, and archetypes. Embedded in humanistic principles, it is strength affirming and focuses on meaning-making, the psyche, human development, personality formation, and individuation.

Course Outline

• Week 1: Contemporary Psychoanalysis (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 2: Psychoanalytic Intersubjectivity and Therapy (Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD)
• Week 3: Jungian Approaches to Therapy (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 4: Archetypes, Shadow, Complexes (Radhule Weininger, PhD)
• Week 5: The Transcendent Function, Dreams, and Trauma (Johanna Hays, PsyD)
• Week 6: Fairytales and Art in Depth Psychology (Johanna Hays, PsyD)
• Week 7: Post-Jungian Therapy, Cultural and Collective Contexts (Juliet Rohde-Brown, PhD)
• Week 8: Depth and Near-Death Experience (Randy Kasper, PhD)

Adjunct Professors

• Betsy Bates Freed, PsyD
• Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD
• Indhushree Rajan, PhD
• Matthew Silverstein, PhD
• Victoria Stevens, PhD

Course Description

Emerging from philosophical considerations about human existence, Humanistic/Existential approaches to therapy are most interested in present moment awareness and authenticity. Making meaning out of the inevitability of death and the capacity for intimate relationship with self and others are main aspects of this approach as well. Questions of being-ness are forefront in this approach and applications may be focused on the context of individuals, couples, families, groups, and sociocultural frameworks.

Course Outline

• Week 1: Existential Psychology (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 2: Human-Centered Psychology and Diversity (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 3: Gestalt Psychology (Victoria Stevens, PhD)
• Week 4: LGBTQ Culture, Intergenerational Trauma, and Resilience (Matthew Silverstein, PhD)
• Week 5: Family Systems and Diversity (Randy Kasper, PsyD)
• Week 6: Feminist Psychology (Indhushree Rajan, PhD)
• Week 7: Constructivist and Narrative Psychology (Randy Kasper, PhD)
• Week 8: Existential/Humanistic Psychology as an Awe-Based Approach (Betsy Bates-Freed, PsyD)

The syllabus for each course identifies the required texts and reading assignments for that specific course. Some texts and readings are used in multiple courses. The cost of the recommended textbooks is approximately $651 and not included in the cost of tuition.

1. Sharf, R. (2016). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Concepts and Cases (6th Edition), Cengage Learning (also available as ebook).
2. Peterson, C. (2006). A Primer in Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press (also available as ebook).
3. Aposhyan, S. (2004). Body-Mind Psychotherapy: Principles, Techniques, and Practical Applications. W.W. Norton & Company.
4. Marks-Tarlow, T. Solomon, M. Seigel, D.J. (2017). Play and Creativity in Psychotherapy: Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology. W.W. Norton & Company.
5. Mehl-Madrona, L. (2007). Narrative Medicine: The Use of History and Story in the Healing Process. Inner Traditions/Bear.
6. Ventura, E. (Ed.) (2017). Casebook for DSM-5: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. Springer Publishing Company.
7. Friedman, H. and Hartelius, G. (2013). The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology (also available in online format).
8. Optional: Aizenstat, S. and Bosnak, R. (Eds.) (2009). Imagination and Medicine: The Future of Healing in an Age of Neuroscience. Spring Journal.

Note: As an Amazon Associate, HMI may earn commissions from qualifying book purchases.

Journal Articles

1. Marks-Tarlow, T. (2014). The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Clinical Intuition. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 84, 219-234.
2. Siegel, D. J. (2001). Toward an interpersonal neurobiology of the developing mind: Attachment relationships, “mindsight,” and neural integration. Infant Mental Health Journal: Official Publication of The World Association for Infant Mental Health, 22(1‐2), 67-94.
3. Canino, G. and Alegrio, M. (2008). Psychiatric diagnosis: Is it universal or relative to culture? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(3): 237-250. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01854.x
4. Conn, S. A. (1998). Living in the earth: Ecopsychology, health and psychotherapy. The Humanistic Psychologist, 26(1-3), 179-198.
5. Hartelius, G. (2016). Transpersonal is a Whole Person Psychology. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 35(2), iii–vi.
6. Hartelius, G. (2019). Science and a whole person psychology: Can participatory empiricism ease the way forward? International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 38(1), iii–xv.
7. Kunisue, Y., & Schavrien, J. (2011). Yamato Kotoba: The Language of the Flesh. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 30(1), 165–170.
8. Hartelius, G. (2014). The Imperative for Diversity in a Transpersonal Psychology of the Whole Person. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 33(2), iii–iv.
9. MacDonald, D. A., Friedman, H. L., Brewczynski, J., Holland, D., Salagame, K. K. K., Mohan, K. K., Gubrij, Z. O., & Cheong, H. W. (2015). Spirituality as a Scientific Construct: Testing its Universality Across Cultures and Languages. PLoS One, 10(3), Article e0117701
10. Myers, S. (2003). Relational Healing: To Be Understood and to Understand. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 43(1), 86–104.
11. Whitford, H. S., Oliver, I. N., & Peterson, M. J. (2008). Spirituality as a core domain in the assessment of quality of life in oncology. Psycho‐Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer, 17(11), 1121–1128.
12. Marks-Tarlow, T. (2011), Merging and Emerging: A Nonlinear Portrait of Intersubjectivity During Psychotherapy. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 21 (1), 110-127.
13. Kalsched, D. (Date). Trauma, Innocence and the Core Complex of Dissociation, Journal of Analytical Psychology Vol. 62, No. 4, pp. 474-500.
14. Schneider, K. (2011). Awakening to an Awe-Based Psychology, The Humanistic Psychologist, Vol 39(3), Jul-Sep 2011, 247-252.

Educational Awards vs. Hypnotherapy Certification

It is important to note that your HMI Educational Award, the Diploma in Hypnotherapy and/or AOS Degree and your AHA Hypnotherapist Certification are not one and the same and are in fact, each awarded from a different organization. Your Diploma in Hypnotherapy and/or AOS Degree is awarded from your school, Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI). Certification as a Hypnotherapist is optional and awarded from the American Hypnosis Association (AHA).

Earning your Diploma from HMI is what qualifies you to apply for Certification. It is an option graduates choose to qualify themselves in the eyes of consumers and other professionals by certifying they have met the standards of a notable independent agency. This would be in addition your HMI School Diploma.

The same is true for graduates of Law School and becoming licensed as an Attorney, or a Psychology graduate becoming licensed as a Psychologist. Your educational award qualifies you to apply for the credential, but they are not one and the same.

After successful completion of Semester one in HMI IDL School you will have met all the requirements for certification as “Master Hypnotist” with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA). It is your option to seek that Certification at that time should you wish to represent yourself as “Certified” during second semester Internship/Residency Program.

When you graduate and earn your Diploma in Hypnotherapy, you will have completed a combination of practicum workshops, case conferences and documented clinical hours to become eligible for certification as “Certified Hypnotherapist” with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA).

For students who go on to enroll and graduate from HMI’s second year of study (AOS Degree Program) they will become eligible for certification as “Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist” with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA).

The American Hypnosis Association (AHA) does have some restrictions on membership for those convicted of certain felonies. For more detailed information please email the AHA directly for details on this subject and/or State Laws and Regulations for the Practice of Hypnotherapy

Laws governing the practice of hypnotherapy vary State to State. There are no Federal regulations. Every State have different requirements and those requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the requirements to practice in their State before enrolling. It can be difficult in some circumstances to decipher the requirements or lack thereof in some States.

HMI will provide whatever assistance it can to facilitate this process but cannot guarantee the interpretation of every State law because many laws are subject to different interpretation depending on the viewpoint of the reader. As of this publication date, there are no States that license Hypnotherapists or have set requirements for required hypnotherapy training in order to practice in that State. Some States do require “Registration” for Hypnotherapists and some states may have testing requirements for general public services, but none have a specific requirement for hypnotherapy training.

Become a Certified Hypnotherapist

Achieving Certification in Hypnotherapy is the goal of most HMI Students and Graduates. HMI recommends the American Hypnosis Association (AHA) for your Hypnotherapy Certification. Certification by the AHA assures the public that you have…

1. Met the highest standards of education and preparation.
2. Pledged to follow a standard of ethics and professional conduct.
3. Are meeting ongoing continuing education requirements after graduation.

American Hypnosis Association Certification Levels and Requirements

Certified Master Hypnotist (CMH) – HMI’s 300-hour Diploma in Hypnotherapy Program fulfills all the requirements for Certification as “Master Hypnotist” with the American Hypnosis Association. No additional testing is required.

Certified Hypnotherapist (CHt) – HMI’s 720-hour, 1-year, Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy Program fulfills all the requirements for Certification as “Hypnotherapist” with the American Hypnosis Association. No additional testing is required. There is no fee for upgrading from one level to another.

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCHt) – HMI’s 1440-hour, 2-year, Clinical Hypnotherapy plus AOS Mind-Body Psychology Degree Program fulfills all the requirements for Certification as “Clinical Hypnotherapist” with the American Hypnosis Association. This title is reserved for individuals that have met the requirements of Certified Master Hypnotist above, and also possess an accredited Masters, PhD, or AOS Degree in Psychology.

Educational Awards, Transcripts, Student Records

A Clinical Hypnotherapy diploma and transcript are issued for the completion of the entire course. Additional or replacement transcripts may be issued at the cost of $25 each. Duplicate Certificates may be purchased for $75. Official transcripts sent to an educational institute are at no charge. The institution retains a transcript permanently and maintains pertinent records for a period of 7 years from the student’s date of completion or withdrawal. The institution maintains records relating to federal financial aid programs as provided by federal law.

HMI Honors Award – Hypnotherapy Diploma Program

HMI awards recognition to those students who demonstrate a passion for hypnotherapy through their outstanding academic achievement.

HMI Honor Roll Criteria

• Completion of HMI’s Hypnotherapy training program within 13 months of the students 101 start date. For example: 101 Start is 01/28/2024 – thirteen months is to the end of 02/2025. This allows for holidays and breaks. Leave of Absences (LOA) will be subtracted from the total time in school.
• Final grade point average 3.8 or above.
• Have received no more than two unexcused “10-Day Out of Attendance Notices”.
• Have received Zoom Room approval from Director and have completed a minimum 24 Client Contacts as documented in the HMI online client contact report form.
• No violations of the Student Conduct Policy and/or no notations of behavior unbecoming of a professional.
• Have completed a minimum 24 Community Services Contacts/Sessions and a minimum of three (3) positive ratings from Community Service Client Surveys, and approval from the Director of Community Service Program as per Client Reviews, and interaction with the Program Director.

HMI Honor Students will receive an upgraded Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma acknowledging them as an “Honors Graduate”. Honors Graduates are eligible to list this accomplishment on their Hypnotherapist Directory Listing as well as their website and other professional representations.

HMI High Honors Award

Same as all the above with the addition of:

• Have completed a minimum 48 Community Services Contacts/Sessions and a minimum of five (5) positive ratings from Community Service Client Surveys, and approval from the Director of Community Service Program as per Client Reviews, and interaction with the Program Director.

HMI Director’s Award

The HMI Director’s Award is awarded to those Honors Award recipients who can document the completion of the following 12 steps:

Note: More information on Director’s Award criteria, including examples, can be found on the students online Home Page.

HMI Academic Achievement Award

Candidates for the Academic Achievement Award must have earned:

1. 4.0 or higher GPA
2. Honors Graduate
3. Minimum 318 Elective Hours
4. Have completed the Dr. Kappas Atlanta Series
5. Have completed certificates for at least one of the below from each category:
   • Certified Imagery Master or Certified NLP Practitioner
   • Certified in Stop Smoking and/or Certified in Weight Loss
   • Certification in at least one other AHA Certification Course
6. Positive feedback and record of positive attitude and interaction from HMI Employees
7. Rank in the top 15 of graduating class based on the criteria above

HMI Clinical Achievement Award

Candidates for the Clinical Achievement Award must have earned:

1. Academic Achievement Award
2. Director’s Award
3. Top 5 in Clinical Achievement Hours (as logged in HMI Online Client Log)
4. Minimum 35 Case Conference Hours
5. Certificate for Staff Class Series with Dr. John Kappas

Founders Club Membership

The single greatest honor and support you can give HMI is the referral of interested friends or family to enroll as HMI students. This allows the school to grow stronger, organically. The stronger we become, the more services we can offer and the better we can support and represent you as an HMI graduate.

We ask that every student make it their personal goal to enroll at least one friend or family member as an HMI student during the twelve months you are enrolled. For those of you thereafter, we will bestow upon you membership into the HMI Founders Club and the benefits that come with it. Becoming a member of HMI’s Founders Club means you are recognized as an important part of an exclusive fraternity of individuals, who like Drs. John and Alex Kappas, have personally contributed to the future of HMI. To all the future members of the HMI Founders Club, we say thank you for sharing our dedication to HMI and the love Dr. Kappas had for hypnosis and the wonders of the subconscious mind.

Exclusive Access to 12 Vintage Dr. Kappas Manuscripts, Publications, and Special Video Access

What better way to say thank you for supporting HMI’s future than to share with you HMI’s past. Now for the first time ever, HMI Founders Club Members will have exclusive online access to the complete collection of twelve Vintage Dr. Kappas manuscripts and publications that until now have been locked in a vault; being saved and protected by his family. These historical documents reveal the evolution and development of Dr. Kappas’ thoughts, theories and teachings regarding; hypnotherapy, E&P, and the subconscious mind. This complete collection is a must for the true-blue, die hard Dr. Kappas/HMI student and graduate. With six different versions of E&P alone, this collection is your invitation to travel the Path of Discovery that took Dr. Kappas 40 years to traverse.

Founders Club Membership Just Got Much More Valuable!

Founders Club Members now get an All-Access Graduate Pass to review their entire HMI training online for one year. They can request this one-year access at any time, now or in the future. The Grad Pass provides access to the most up to date training offered at HMI. Please note, Distance Grads will access the Distance program and Resident Grads will access the Resident program. If you are already a Founders Club Member just let us know when you would like your Grad Pass to start.

Criteria for Membership

1. You must be a currently enrolled HMI student or Graduate in good standing.
2. You must refer a student who; enrolls in the HMI Resident course or Distance Education Advanced Course and remains successfully enrolled for a minimum of 90 days.
3. You must notify HMI of your referral in writing/email, prior to them starting school.
4. The new student must enroll at least 30 days after your own enrollment.

HMI Founder

John G. Kappas, PhD, MFT – Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, and author, Dr. Kappas founded the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 1968. Dr. Kappas’ innovative concepts are the product of his 35 years of experience helping others to dramatically shape and enhance the powerful forces of their subconscious mind.

Dr. Kappas’ clients included an A-list of top celebrities, athletes, business giants, and even a moon-walking astronaut. Despite his passing in 2002, Dr. Kappas continues to influence HMI students and graduates through his extensive body of work, including many books and hundreds of hours of video instruction.

Director

George J. Kappas, MA, LMFT – Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist, Mr. Kappas has served as the leading force of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. Under Mr. Kappas’ direction, HMI has achieved the distinction of being the first college of hypnotherapy to attain National Accreditation. With more than 34 years of dedication to the growth and development of HMI, Mr. Kappas’ greatest contribution is his ability to communicate and educate with humor and honesty the many fascinating and extraordinary concepts developed at the HMI institute. Mr. Kappas serves on HMI’s Board of Directors.

Director of Academic Services

Sandy Kappas – Ms. Kappas has more than 30 years of experience with HMI as an administrator, instructor, and Hypnotherapist. Ms. Kappas oversees the day-to-day operations of HMI and the progress of all HMI students. Ms. Kappas is responsible for the institution’s compliance with Federal, State, and Accreditation regulations and serves on HMI’s Board of Directors.

Corporate Information

The Hypnosis Motivation Institute is a dba of Behavioral Science Centers, a California Non-Profit Corporation, 501(c)(3) classification, and is governed by the Board of Directors, George Kappas, Sandy Kappas, John (LJ) Kappas and Richard Ortiz.

A person who believes that he or she has been harassed, subjected to discrimination, or retaliated against, may make use of one or more of several alternatives, including:

1. Directly informing the person involved that the conduct is offensive;
2. Reporting the situation to the Designated College Officer or supervisor in his or her organizational hierarchy, as appropriate;
3. Seeking assistance from an advisor or the Designated College Officer;
4. Filing a complaint with the Designated College Officer.

A complaint may be processed through either or both of the following options:

• Option A: Informal Complaint – Involves discussing the complaint or providing the complaint in writing with the DCO and choosing options for its resolution;
• Option B: Formal Complaint – Involves a written complaint and an investigation which results in a finding and a recommended action.

Informal resolution before filing a formal complaint is not always the most appropriate action and students have the right to request a formal resolution at any time.

If a complaint of harassment, discrimination or retaliation is brought against anyone charged with reviewing, deciding, or enforcing the informal or formal complaint process, that person shall be removed from any role in the processing of that complaint. An officer of comparable or higher rank shall assume his or her duties until the complaint is resolved.

Option A: Informal Complaint

The Designated College Officer is available to assist students, faculty, administrators, and staff in resolving complaints of all types of harassment, informally. A written or verbal informal complaint is lodged by informing the DCO of the alleged harassing behavior; the DCO will work with the complainant in seeking to stop the behavior. The DCO is trained in informal conflict resolution and will work to resolve disputes with these methods. Informal resolution generally does not involve any disciplinary sanctions.

Informal complaints should be concluded expeditiously. If there is no satisfactory resolution of an informal complaint, the complainant has the option of filing a formal complaint (Option B). Even if a complainant has not used the informal resolution process, she/he may file a formal complaint at any time in the process.

Option B: Formal Complaint

1. The complainant makes a formal written complaint describing the time, place, and details of the alleged harassment in writing to the DCO. The complainant may also provide the DCO with a list of witnesses. The “respondent” in this document refers to the person against whom a charge of harassment has been alleged.
2. The DCO shall promptly investigate the complainant’s allegations, including interviewing the complainant, the respondent, and any witnesses identified by the parties or through the investigation process, and examining any relevant records or physical evidence. After concluding the investigation, the DCO may, in his/her discretion, issue a written report, including a recommended action.
3. The DCO’s recommendation and/or written report shall be forwarded to the Director, who shall either ratify or modify the recommendation. The decision of the Director shall be final. The complainant shall be notified in writing of the disposition of the complaint, consistent with any appropriate considerations of privacy that may be involved. Disposition will include any appeal rights that are applicable.

Location of Records

If the investigation following any complaint does not result in a finding of violation of this policy, records will not become a part of any individual’s personnel or student file. If the respondent is found to have violated this policy, however, records of the case will become part of the permanent personnel or student file of the offending party. Questions regarding access to records may be directed to the Designated College Officer.

Accommodations and Sanctions

HMI will intervene promptly and effectively to put an end to harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. The accommodation or sanction will be consistent with the seriousness of the offense and will be designed and imposed in a manner reasonably calculated to end such behavior. Disciplinary sanctions may consist of one or any combination of the following in the sole discretion of the College and in accordance with its policies:

• Verbal warning;
• Written warning;
• Performance of community service;
• Completion of an educational program;
• A letter in the individual’s personnel or student file;
• Probation;
• Suspension;
• Expulsion; and
• Termination of employment.

Grievance Procedure Time Frame and Appeal Process

Students may file a grievance through an informal and/or formal process within 180 days. Complaints will be addressed by the college, according to the procedure, within 60 to 90 days, or may be beyond 90 days due to extenuating circumstances.

If either the complainant or respondent believes that the decision is unjustified, or that proper procedures for investigating, reviewing or hearing a complaint under this policy have not been followed, or that the discipline imposed is disproportionate to the offense or otherwise disagrees with the disposition of the complaint, he/she may submit a request for reconsideration of our finding within 15 calendar days of receipt of written notice of the findings, to the Designated College Officer, the Director or his/her designee. The decision on the appeal shall be issued to the complainant in a timely fashion and shall be final.

For education purposes there are many forms of discrimination. The institution has provided the following for the purpose of further clarification of some of the more common forms of discrimination.

Sexual Harassment: HMI is a community of faculty, students, administrators, and staff dedicated to the purposes of teaching, scholarship, and service. The College is committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment and will not tolerate sexual harassment. To fulfill this commitment, the College must maintain an environment in which individuals are judged and rewarded solely on the basis of relevant factors such as ability, prior experience and accomplishments, effort, and performance. The environment also must be one in which all employees and students can pursue their work and education free from coercion, intimidation, and exploitation. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that undermines the community the College seeks to maintain. The College is dedicated to bringing about an end to sexual harassment by providing education, informal assistance in resolving situations, and, where appropriate, a formal complaint process that includes disciplinary procedures.

Sexual harassment violates federal and California law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, California Education Code Section 200 et seq., and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The College will not tolerate conduct that violates any of these laws or that otherwise creates an environment which is not conducive to work or education.

When sexual harassment occurs between teacher and student or between supervisor and subordinate, it exploits unfairly the power inherent in a faculty member’s or supervisor’s position.

Through grades, wage increases, recommendations for graduate study, promotion and the like, a teacher or supervisor can have a decisive influence on the career of a student, staff member, or faculty member, both at the College and beyond. Although instances of sexual harassment where a power differential exists between the persons involved are commonly cited, the College also recognizes that sexual harassment occurs between peers. Despite the circumstances, sexual harassment, like other forms of intimidation, exploitation, or coercion, interferes with the personal freedom of others. As such, it is unethical, unprofessional, illegal, and unacceptable.

This policy applies to all members of the College community. This community includes, but is not limited to, employees, students, visitors, contractors, and vendors associated with HMI. Any member of the College community may file a complaint under the procedures outlined below, and every member of the community is covered by the prohibitions contained herein.

Definition of Sexual Harassment: The College recognizes the following as sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the work or educational setting, under any of the following circumstances:

1. Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or status in a course, program, or activity;
2. Submission to or rejection of the conduct by the individual is used as the basis for any employment or academic decision affecting the individual including, but not limited to, decisions involving benefits and services, grades, honors, programs, or activities available at or through the educational institution;
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for work or learning.

Examples of Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment can either be quid pro quo harassment, or “hostile environment” harassment. Within the guidelines set forth in the previous definition, a wide variety of conduct may qualify as sexual harassment in the workplace or educational setting. It is impossible to list all potential behaviors, but the following is a partial list of conduct prohibited by the law and this policy when it occurs under the conditions outlined in the definitions stated above:

1. Sexual contact that is not freely agreed to by both parties, including inappropriate touching, hugging, or fondling.
2. Coercion for the purpose of sexual relations including subtle pressure for sexual activity.
3. Unwelcome direct propositions of a sexual nature, including those occurring in situations that begin as reciprocal attractions, but later cease to be mutual.
4. Comments, questions, or statements of a sexual nature; epithets or jokes relating to gender or sexual orientation; remarks of a sexual nature about a person’s body or clothing; remarks or speculation about sexual activity or sexual orientation directed at another; suggestive or obscene letters, notes, e-mails, phone calls, or invitations.
5. Sexual gestures, displaying of pornographic pictures, cartoons, or objects.
6. Any conduct or pattern of conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an uncomfortable or hostile working, learning, or campus living environment for third parties who are witness to the harassment; or any consensual relationship where third parties (i.e., fellow employees or classmates) are disadvantaged by the relationship.

Non-Discrimination (Students with Disabilities): HMI is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, in an academic environment free from harassment and discrimination. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities, HMI does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the administration of its education-related programs and activities. Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College.

Definition: An individual with a disability is one who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment.

Accommodations: The College is required to provide students with appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services that are necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the College’s programs. The College accommodates students with disabilities on an individual basis. Individual students receive reasonable and necessary accommodations based upon specific information and assessment data documented by a qualified professional.

The College shall make modifications to its academic requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating on the basis of disability against a qualified disabled applicant or student.

The College also shall take steps as are necessary to ensure that no disabled student is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination because of the absence of educational auxiliary aids for students with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills.

Notification to Accrediting Agency and/or State Agency

This institution is recognized by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) as meeting and maintaining certain standards of quality. It is the mutual goal of ACCET and the institution to ensure that educational training programs of quality are provided. When issues or problems arise, students should make every attempt to find a fair and reasonable solution through the institution’s internal complaint procedure, which is required of ACCET accredited institutions and frequently requires the submission of a written complaint.

Refer to the institution’s written complaint procedure which is published in the institution’s catalog or otherwise available from the institution, upon request. Note that ACCET will process complaints which involve ACCET standards and policies and, therefore, are within the scope of the accrediting agency.

In the event that a student has exercised the institution’s formal student complaint procedure, and the problems or issues have not been resolved, the student has the right and is encouraged to take the following steps:

1. Complaints should be submitted in writing (by email or mail) to the ACCET office. Complaints received by phone will be documented, but the complainant will be requested to submit the complaint in writing.
2. The letter of complaint must contain the following:
   1. Name and location of the ACCET institution;
   2. A detailed description of the alleged problem(s);
   3. The approximate date(s) that the problem(s) occurred;
   4. The names and titles/positions of all individual(s) involved in the problem(s), including faculty, staff, and/or other students;
   5. What was previously done to resolve the complaint, along with evidence demonstrating that the institution’s complaint procedure was followed prior to contacting ACCET;
   6. The name, email address, telephone number, and mailing address of the complainant. If the complainant specifically requests that anonymity be maintained, ACCET will not reveal his or her name to the institution involved; and
   7. The status of the complainant with the institution (e.g. current student, former student, etc.).
3. In addition to the letter of complaint, copies of any relevant supporting documentation should be forwarded to ACCET (e.g. student’s enrollment agreement, syllabus or course outline, correspondence between the student and the institution).

Send To:

ACCET
Chair, Complaint Review Committee
1722 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 1-202-955-1113
Email: Complaints@ACCET.org
Website: ACCET.org
Note: Complainants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 15 days.

And/Or:

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Telephone: 1-916-431-6959, Fax: 1-916-263-1897, Toll Free 1-888-370-7589
Email: BPPEDCA.CA.gov
Website: BPPE.CA.gov

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this Institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling 1-888-370-7589 toll-free or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained the bureau’s website BPPE.CA.gov.

The Hypnosis Motivation Institute School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.

Non-Discrimination (Students with Disabilities): HMI is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, in an academic environment free from harassment and discrimination. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities, HMI does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the administration of its education-related programs and activities. Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College. All applicants must possess an ability to benefit from HMI’s training. The applicant’s physical, mental, and emotional capabilities must be such that they have the ability to successfully market themselves and provide ethical and professional services as a Hypnotherapist in private practice. All rejections of applicants, based on ability to benefit, are subject to final approval by the Institute’s Director.

Felony Convictions and Eligibility for Certification and/or Professional Liability Insurance: For applicants looking to get certified with the American Hypnosis Association (AHA) and/or professional liability insurance for private practice, please note that both the American Hypnosis Association (AHA) and the insurance company have the following requirements.

Inform their professional body, in writing, of any alteration in circumstance which would affect either their position or ability as practitioners.

Inform their professional body, in writing, of:

1. any complaint (of which they are aware) made against them
2. any disciplinary action taken against them by any professional body
3. any criminal offense of which they have been convicted

Make available all relevant information requested as a result of investigation by any duly appointed complaints and disciplinary officer, without hindrance (whether implied or actual) or unreasonable delay and comply fully with all requirements inherent within any appropriate complaints and disciplinary procedure to which they subscribe.

HMI provides a work and academic environment free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. This section presents this general HMI policy.

Unlawful harassment is defined as severe and/or persistent conduct in any form based on sex, race, color, age, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal laws, as well as all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation that creates a hostile or intimidating environment that is likely to interfere significantly with an individual’s work or education or adversely affect an individual’s living conditions.

The College will not tolerate any conduct that constitutes unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. Complaints of this nature will be promptly and thoroughly investigated and appropriate action, including disciplinary measures, will be taken when warranted. Faculty, students, and staff at all levels, are responsible for maintaining an appropriate environment for study and work. This includes taking appropriate corrective action to prevent and eliminate harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.

It is a violation of this policy for any member of the HMI community to retaliate against any person who has filed a formal complaint or sought advice through the processes described in this document. It is also against College policy to retaliate against anyone who has participated in any manner in such processes. This provision applies to the respondent and all third parties. Violations are subject to discipline up to and including expulsion or termination.

The College has invested a special responsibility in the Designated College Officer (DCO) to handle such complaints. This Designated College Officer is responsible for receiving and processing all formal and informal complaints.

The DCO is carefully trained to provide support to victims of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. Any member of the HMI community may request assistance from the DCO in understanding how to utilize this policy. The Designated College Officers (DCO) for harassment, discrimination or retaliation complaints is:

Sandy Kappas
Director of Academic Services
18607 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 310
Tarzana, California 91356
Sandy@Hypnosis.edu
1-818-758-2720

For the purposes of this policy, HMI uses the following definitions of terms:

Definitions

Student: Any person who is or was enrolled at HMI.

Education Records: Any record (in handwriting, print, OR computer) maintained by HMI that is related to a student except:

• A personal record kept by a staff member if it is kept in sole possession of the maker of the record and is not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record.
• An employment record of an individual, whose employment is not contingent on the fact that he or she is a student, provided the record is used only in relation to the individual’s employment.
• Records maintained by Campus Safety if the record is maintained solely for law enforcement purposes, is revealed only to law enforcement agencies of the same jurisdiction, and Campus Safety does not have access to education records by the College.
• Records made or maintained by Emmons Health Center, if the records are used only for the treatment of a student and made available only to those persons providing treatment.
• Alumni records which contain information about a student after he or she is no longer in attendance at the College, and which do not relate to the person as a student.

Annual Notification

A college is required by Section 99.7 of the FERPA regulations to provide students annual notification of their FERPA rights. Students of HMI will be notified of their FERPA rights annually by publication in the HMI Student Guide, Catalog Addendum which is published to each student upon enrollment.

Right to Inspect Education Records

HMI students are legally entitled to view the contents of their own education record.

Academic Records

Students are required to give advance notice in writing of at least 48 hours to the Registrar’s Office to view their academic record. Opportunities to view this information are limited to regular office hours and under the supervision of office staff.

The file containing the Student Academic Record may not be removed from the Registrar’s Office. Definition of the Student Academic Record: Includes all information contained on the student’s official transcript, plus copies of letters to HMI concerning Leaves of Absence or Withdrawals from the College, Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Forms, transcripts from other colleges or universities, miscellaneous notes or material affecting the student’s transcript (changes, corrections, etc.), Applications for Admission, Application Essays, ACT Assessment College Reports. Duplication of Student Academic Record:

Right of College to Refuse Access

HMI reserves the right to refuse to permit a student to inspect the following records:

• The financial statement of the student’s parents.
• Letters and statements of recommendation for which the student has waived his or her right of access, or which were maintained before January 1, 1975.
• Records connected with an application to attend HMI.
• Those records that are excluded from the FERPA definitions of education records.

Refusal to Provide Copies

HMI reserves the right to deny transcripts or copies of records not required to be made available by the FERPA in any of the following situations:

• The student has an unpaid financial obligation to the College.
• There is an unresolved disciplinary action against the student.

Exceptions to FERPA Non-Disclosure Provisions

A. The Patriot Act

Recent amendments to FERPA permit educational agencies and institutions to disclose – without the consent or knowledge of the student or parent – personally, identifiable information from the student’s education records to the Attorney General of the United States or to his designee in response to an ex parte order in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes specified in sections 2332b(g)(5)(B) and 2331 of title 18, U.S. Code. (An ex parte order is an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction without notice to an adverse party.) In addition to allowing disclosure without prior written consent or prior notification, this provision amends FERPA’s record keeping requirements. As a result, FERPA, as amended, does not require a school official to record a disclosure of information from a student’s education record when the school makes that disclosure pursuant to an ex parte order. Further, an educational agency or institution that, in good faith, produces information from education records in compliance with an ex parte order issued under the amendment “shall not be liable to any person for that production.”

B. Lawfully Issued Subpoenas and Court Orders

FERPA permits educational agencies and institutions to disclose, without consent, information from a student’s education records in order to comply with a “lawfully issued subpoena or court order” in three contexts. These three contexts are:

1. Grand Jury Subpoenas – Educational agencies and institutions may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in a Federal grand jury subpoena. In addition, the court may order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or contents of the subpoena or the institution’s response.
2. Law Enforcement Subpoenas – Educational agencies and institutions may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in any other subpoena issued for a law enforcement purpose. As with Federal grand jury subpoenas, the issuing court or agency may, for good cause shown, order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or contents of the subpoena or the institution’s response.
3. All Other Subpoenas – In contrast to the exception to the notification and record keeping requirements described above, educational agencies or institutions may disclose information pursuant to any other court order or lawfully issued subpoena only if the school makes a reasonable effort to notify the parent or eligible student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance, so that the parent or eligible student may seek protective action. Additionally, schools must comply with FERPA’s record keeping when disclosing information pursuant to a standard court order or subpoena.

C. Health or Safety Emergency

FERPA permits non-consensual disclosure of education records, or personally identifiable, non-directory information from education records, in connection with a health or safety emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. Any release will be narrowly tailored considering the immediacy, magnitude, and specificity of information concerning the emergency.

D. Law Enforcement Unit Records

The College may disclose information from “law enforcement unit records” to anyone – including federal, State, or local law enforcement authorities – without the consent of the parent or eligible student. FERPA specifically exempts from the definition of “education records” – and thereby from the privacy restrictions of FERPA – records that a law enforcement unit of a postsecondary institution creates and maintains for a law enforcement purpose. A “law enforcement unit” is an individual, office, department, division, or other component of a postsecondary institution that is officially authorized or designated by the institution to: (1) enforce any federal, State, or local law; or (2) maintain the physical security and safety of the school.

E. Disclosures to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) requires foreign students attending an educational institution under an F-1 visa to sign the Form I-20. The Form I-20 contains a consent provision allowing for the disclosure of information to INS. This consent is sufficiently broad to permit an educational institution to release personally identifiable information of a student who has signed a Form I-20 to the INS for the purpose of allowing the INS to determine the student’s nonimmigrant status. Students that have an M-1 or J-1 visa have signed similar consents and education records on these students may also be disclosed to the INS.

HMI does not permit the sale, possession, or consumption of alcoholic beverages on school property and adheres to and enforces all state underage drinking laws. In addition, HMI does not permit the possession, use, or sale of illegal drugs by its employees and/or students and adheres to and enforces all state and federal drug laws. The violation of these policies by students or employees may results in expulsion, termination, and/or arrest.

For the complete policy on drug and alcohol abuse and a list of Substance Abuse Education Programs available, refer to the Drug-Free School/Drug-Free Workplace Annual Disclosure located in the Student Guide/Catalog Addendum.

Students are required to give advance notice in writing of at least 48 hours to the appropriate office to view their education record. Opportunities to view this information are limited to the regular office hours and are under the supervision of office staff.

The file containing the Student Education Record may not be removed from the office.

HMI will disclose information from a student’s education records only with the written consent of the student, except:

1. To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. A school official is:
   • A person employed by HMI in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position.
   • A person employed by or under contract to the College to perform a special task, such as an attorney, auditor, or consultant.
2. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is:
   • Performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or contract agreement.
   • Performing a task related to the discipline of a student.
3. To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General, and state and local education authorities, in connection with audit or evaluation of certain state or federally supported education programs.
4. In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid to determine the eligibility amount, or condition of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
5. To state and local officials or authorities if specifically required by state law that was adopted before November 19, 1974.
6. To organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the College or contracting with HMI to perform a service otherwise performed by the College.
7. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
8. To parents of an eligible student who is claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.
9. To comply with a judicial order of a lawfully issued subpoena.
10. To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
11. To individuals requesting directory information so designated by the College.
12. The results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College against alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence to the alleged victim of that crime.

HMI will maintain a record of all requests for, and/or disclosure of, information from a student’s education records except for requests from the student him or herself, a school official as defined, a party with a written request from the student or a party requesting the directory information. The record will indicate the name of the party making the request, any additional party to whom it may be disclosed, and the legitimate interest the party had in requesting or obtaining the information.

HMI designates the following items as Directory Information: student’s name, parents’ names, permanent address, telephone number(s), date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance at the College, post office box number, e-mail address, jobs held on campus, dates worked on campus, salary paid while holding a campus job, student photograph, and degrees and awards received.

The College may disclose any of these items without prior written consent, unless notified in writing to the contrary (to the Students Services Office) by the end of the second week of classes.

Students have a right to request that their records be corrected if they believe they are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Following is the procedure for correcting education records:

1. A student must direct a written request to the appropriate College official to amend a record. In so doing, the student should identify the part of the record she or he wants amended and specify why she/he believes is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of her or his privacy rights.
2. The College may comply with the request, or it may decide not to comply. If it decides not to comply, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise her/him of her/his right to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s privacy.
3. If the College decides that the challenged information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will amend the record and notify the student, in writing, that the record has been amended.
4. If the College decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will notify the student that she or he has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
5. The statement will be maintained as part of the student’s education records as long as the contested portion is maintained. If HMI discloses the contested portion of the record, it must also disclose the statement.

You can apply to register to vote by filling in the online application at https://rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote. If you have any questions, visit the Frequently Asked Questions at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 1-800-345-8683 or by email at https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/contact-information.

In order to be compliant with the Federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act reporting requirements, Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) prepares the Annual Security Report and distributes notification of the report’s availability to Staff, Faculty and Students by October 1st of each year. Notification is sent by email and posted on the HMI website. Prospective students receive the direct website link during the application process and receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt which they sign upon enrollment.

This report contains required policies and procedures in addition to crime statistics for Clery Act reportable crimes that occurred either on campus or on the public property immediately adjacent to a campus during the previous three calendar years. These crime statistics are reported for this campus location and are compiled from information provided by School Directors, other school officials and local law enforcement agencies.

HMI’s campus geography is described as 18607 Ventura Blvd., Suite 310, Tarzana, CA 91356, and the upper and lower parking lots immediately adjacent to campus. HMI’s public property is described as the sidewalks immediately adjacent to the parking lots and the sidewalks directly across the street from the parking lots. Also described as HMI’s public property are the sidewalks immediately in front of the campus on Ventura Blvd and the sidewalks directly across the street from HMI. HMI does not have any recognized student organizations with non-campus locations and therefore does not monitor or record criminal activity that may take place at such locations nor maintain any records of incidents at such locations.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires postsecondary institutions to disclose the number of instances in which certain types of crimes have been reported in any building or on any property owned or controlled by this institution that is used for activities related to the educational purpose of the institution and any public property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the school.

In compliance with that law, the following tables reflect this institution’s crime statistics for this campus for the calendar years listed below. Crimes are disclosed under the year in which they were reported. HMI does not maintain any on-campus student housing facilities. This report, in its entirety, may be accessed by the general public at https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/. A paper copy of entire report to be provided upon request.

Note: There have been no reported hate crimes for the above reported years and there have been no reported incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking for the above reported years.

HMI strives to provide a safe environment for both its students and employees. In order to achieve this goal, HMI requires both its employees and students to immediately report criminal activity or other emergencies to the School Director, Director of Academic Services, or the nearest available school official and/or in the event of an emergency or serious threat to the campus community to directly contact the local law enforcement agency or other emergency response agency by dialing 911.

Criminal offenses may also be reported to the HMI’s Title IX Coordinator, Sandy Kappas by calling 1-818-758-2720 or writing to Sandy@Hypnosis.edu.

Victims or witnesses that wish to report crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics may do so by calling 1-818-758-2720.

HMI does not employ campus security personnel, does not have a campus police department, or maintain agreements or working relationships with local law enforcement agencies.

Any criminal activity occurring on-campus should be immediately reported to the School Director, Director of Academic Services, or the nearest available school official. Students and staff are also encouraged to promptly and accurately report criminal activity to local law enforcement agencies when the victim of such crime elects or is unable to make such a report.

During business hours, HMI’s campuses are open to employees, guests, and approved vendors and contractors. During non-business hours, campuses are secured with door locks, alarm systems, and security cameras and are accessible only by designated key holders. HMI may also have regular inspections and preventative maintenance work performed by approved vendors to ensure that such security measures remain in working order.

All proceedings and records will be confidential to the extent permitted by law. However, both parties will be notified, in writing, concurrently about the outcome of the complaint. If the alleged victim of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense is deceased as a result of the crime or offense, the results of the disciplinary proceedings shall be provided, upon request, to the next of kin of the alleged victim.

The United States Department of Justice maintains a national database of registered sex offenders which allows the public to search for information regarding registered sex offenders within a state. This database can be accessed online by visiting https://www.nsopw.gov/.

The School Director/Associate Director is the designated Campus Safety Authority and is responsible for ensuring that the campus is prepared in an emergency situation. Evacuation maps are posted at each exit door within the campus. An Evacuation Procedures and Emergency Numbers Sheet must also remain posted at each campus.

The School Director/Associate will determine if there is a significant threat at the campus that requires the immediate notification of students and staff and is responsible for ensuring that all staff and students are notified accordingly. Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees on the campus, the emergency notification will be made immediately and without delay.

The School Director/Associate will be responsible for confirming the emergency, determining the content of the notification, and initiating the notification system, unless issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate the emergency. The School Director/Associate will contact the necessary agency (i.e. Fire Department, Police Department, etc.) and continue to communicate any necessary information with the agency and ensure that all staff and students assemble in the predetermined safe area.

In the event of an emergency, students, and staff on campus at the time of the occurrence will be notified of the emergency situation by the notification by the School Director/Associate. Fire alarms are located within the campus premises and will be activated in the event of a fire or other emergency.

HMI will also attempt to contact students and staff members not present on campus via reasonable means to inform them of any threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus. HMI will also use such means to contact students and staff in the event of campus closures due to inclement weather or other emergency situations.

Upon notification and identification of a Clery Act reportable crime that occurs on campus or surrounding the campus’s general geographic area and represents a serious or continuing threat to the health and safety of students and employees, the School Director will issue a Timely Warning Notification to the campus students and staff as soon as pertinent information is available. This notification will take the form of a verbal or written announcement in order to aid in the prevention of similar occurrences. The notification will withhold the names and other identifying information of victims as confidential. HMI will ensure that all classes, students, and staff are notified of the warning.

HMI is committed to providing an educational, employment, and business environment free of sexual harassment and sexual violence. HMI provides helpful warning signs of abusive behavior and future risks in the section below in efforts to prevent any form of sexual misconduct. Incoming students and staff will be provided with this information to promote the awareness and prevention of rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and may also visit https://www.justice.gov/archives/ovw/protecting-students-sexual-assault for additional information.

• Information regarding the definitions of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and consent.
• Safe and positive options for bystander intervention that may be carried out by an individual to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against someone else.
• Information on risk reduction to recognize warning signs of abusive behavior and how to avoid potential attacks.
• Possible sanctions or protective measures that may be imposed following the results of an institutional disciplinary proceeding regarding rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• Procedures victims should follow if a sex offense, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking has occurred.
• Procedures for institutional disciplinary action in cases of alleged domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• Information about how the institution will protect the confidentiality of victims.
• Information regarding the availability of existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, and other services available for victims.
• Information regarding options for, and available assistance in, changing academic or working situations, if so requested by a victim and if such accommodations are reasonably available, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the crime to police or local law enforcement.

Sexual harassment and acts of sexual assault, including rape, acquaintance rape, and other forcible and non- forcible sex offenses, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are prohibited by HMI. Any student who feels that he or she is the victim of any of these crimes has the right to seek redress of the grievance through the procedures indicated below. Victims will also be provided a written notification of these procedures.

A student who feels they are the victim of sexual harassment may attempt to resolve the matter informally by bringing a complaint to the Title IX Coordinator. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will inform the complainant in writing of their formal recourse, that informal mediation will not be used to resolve sexual violence complaints, and that they have the right to file a separate criminal complaint for allegations relating to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The Title IX Coordinator will, with the permission of the complainant, attempt to resolve the conflict informally by informing the individual alleged to have caused the grievance that the complaint has been filed, seek to find out the facts, and if both parties desire it, arrange a meeting to try to resolve the differences. In the event that an attempt at informal resolution is unsuccessful, or if the complainant deems that informal resolution is undesirable, the Title IX Coordinator will stop the informal resolution process and assist the complainant in filing a formal complaint.

In the event of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, a formal complaint process will be used. The complainant will address their complaint to the Title IX Coordinator, if the individual alleged to have caused the grievance is another student, or if the individual alleged to have caused the grievance is a faculty or non-faculty employee.

A formal complaint will be made in writing by the complainant, addressed to the above-mentioned HMI officials, stating in detail the nature of the complaint, any relevant dates, and the names of any potential witnesses. In a situation deemed to be an emergency by the Title IX Coordinator, the individual alleged to have caused the grievance or complaint may be temporarily transferred pending the outcome of the case.

Anyone who feels they have been the victim of sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking should notify the proper school official immediately. The alleged victim also has the option to notify appropriate law enforcement authorities, including local police. The School Director or other school official will assist in notifying these authorities if the victim so chooses. The victim also has the right to decline to notify such authorities. Notification of the alleged offense should occur immediately due to the importance of preserving evidence as may be necessary for the proof of criminal domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or in obtaining a protection order. Victims may also have rights regarding obtaining orders of protection, no contact orders, restraining orders, or similar lawful orders issued by a criminal, civil, or tribal court. Any student or employee who reports that they have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, whether the offense has occurred on or off campus, will be provided with a written explanation of their rights and options regarding procedures following the offense, procedures for disciplinary action and sanctions to be imposed, victim confidentiality, counseling services, and accommodations options.

All proceedings and records concerning sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking complaints shall be confidential to the extent permitted by law and HMI will protect the confidentiality of victims, including ensuring that any publicly available recordkeeping will be accomplished without the inclusion of identifying information about the victim. Such proceedings shall provide a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and resolution and be conducted by individuals qualified to conduct an investigation and hearing process that protects the safety of victims and promote accountability. In the event of a formal complaint in writing, the school officials receiving the complaint will initiate an investigation within two weeks to determine whether there is a reasonable basis for acting. A preponderance of the evidence will be used as the standard of evidence during any institutional conduct proceeding arising from a complaint regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. HMI officials need not wait for the conclusion of a criminal investigation or criminal proceeding to begin their own investigation and, if needed, may take immediate steps to protect the student in the educational setting. The alleged victim also has the right to change their academic or working situation after an alleged sex offense occurs, if requested and reasonably available.

Both the accused and the accuser are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during an institutional disciplinary proceeding, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of their choice. Both the accused and the accuser shall be simultaneously informed, in writing, of the following: 1) the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceedings with respect to the alleged sex offense, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, 2) the institution’s procedures for the accused and the victim to appeal the results of the institutional disciplinary proceeding, 3) any change to the results that occurs prior to the time that such results become final, 4) when such results become final.

Following a final determination of an institutional disciplinary procedure regarding rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, possible sanctions for substantiated accusations include suspension or termination of the employee’s employment or the student’s enrollment. Alleged sexual violence against another may also constitute a crime resulting in additional, independent law enforcement investigation outside of HMI’s Grievance Procedure. In addition, complainants who make accusations of sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking in bad faith may be subject to equivalent disciplinary action.

HMI does not employ any pastoral or professional counselors. Contact information for local and national support and counseling services including those for rape and sexual assault support and counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, and other services available for victims is posted and available for viewing by students and staff at each campus location.

Below is a list of contact information for several national support services:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  1-800-799-7233, https://www.thehotline.org/
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
  1-800-656-4673, https://www.rainn.org/
• US Department of Health & Human Services
  1-800-662-4357, https://www.hhs.gov/
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  1-800-950-6264, https://www.nami.org/Home
• National Organization for Victim Assistance
  1-800-879-6682, https://trynova.org/
• National Legal Services Corporation Database
  https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help

Definitions

Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, as determined by the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual and or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse and does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence: A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by one of the following: 1) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, 2) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, 3) a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, 4) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred, or 5) any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Sexual Assault: An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program.

Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.

Consent: Consent is a voluntary, knowing, active, and affirmatively communicated willingness to participate in a particular sexual activity or behavior.

Bystander Intervention Tips

If you see someone in danger of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking:

• Take the initiative, step in, offer assistance and ask if the person needs help. Make sure to evaluate the risk of the situation first. Call 911 instead of putting yourself into danger.
• Distract either person at the scene to intervene but don’t be antagonistic.
• Have others intervene with you if it is safe to do so. This may have a greater influence on the perpetrator and increase your safety.
• If the offender is known to you, ask them to leave the potential victim alone.
• Remain at the scene as a witness instead of leaving. The perpetrator will be less likely to commit the assault with a witness there.

Help to prevent situations of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by:

• Traveling with friends to parties or other events rather than by yourself. Check in with each other frequently and leave together.
• Trust your intuition and don’t be afraid to call for help or let someone know if you are worried about your safety or the safety of someone else.
• If you see someone is intoxicated, offer to call them a cab home.

Warning Signs of Abusive Behavior

• Past abuse and minimizing those occurrences
• Threats of violence or abuse
• Breaking objects
• Use of force during an argument
• Jealousy about who you are talking to and how your time is being spent
• Controlling behavior
• Quick involvement and pressuring you into a committed relationship
• Unrealistic expectations of perfection
• Isolating you from your support system of family and friends
• Blaming others for problems and feelings
• Hypersensitivity
• Explosive behavior and mood swings

Risk Reduction and Avoiding Potential Attacks

1. Avoid isolated areas and dimly lit places. Always be aware of your surroundings.
2. Make sure your cell phone is always with you and charged in case you need to call for help.
3. Use a buddy system, especially when walking around at night.
4. Avoid being alone with someone you don’t know or don’t trust.
5. Carry a noisemaker, such as a whistle, and a small flashlight on your keychain.
6. Avoid giving out personal information to someone you don’t know (phone number, address, etc.).
7. In case of an emergency, dial 911.