BASIC HYPNOSIS COURSE – 20 HOURS

Program Description: Introductory course in Clinical Hypnosis to the incoming Pre-doctoral Interns in the inaugural Clinical Psychology Internship Program at Womack Army Medical Center.

Speaker: Dr. Jillian Ballantyne, ASCH-approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis

Agenda: The agenda for this program will follow the guidelines outlined in the Standards of Training in Clinical Hypnosis by Hammond and Elkins (2005).

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this program, attendees will be able to:

  1. Provide a definition of hypnosis related to relevant research
  2. Identify the steps in facilitating hypnotic inductions
  3. Discuss the methods of deepening trance
  4. Identify methods of hypnotic suggestion for psychotherapy and health psychology applications
  5. Discuss three principles of self-hypnosis
  6. Demonstrate the utilization of hypnosis in clinical practice.

Timed Agenda:

  1. Definition, History and Theories of Hypnosis – 30 minutes
  2. Provide a definition of hypnosis related to relevant research
  3. Outline major historical events to include mesmerism
  1. Myths and Misperceptions of Hypnosis; presenting hypnosis to the patient – 30 minutes
  2. Identify the major myths and misconceptions regarding hypnosis
  3. Discuss research regarding hypnosis and memory
  1. Demonstration of Hypnotic Inductions and Associated Phenomena – 60 minutes
  2. Identify three principles of hypnotic inductions
  3. Identify two hypnotic phenomena
  4. Discuss and illustrate the concept of trance logic
  5. Illustrate applications of hypnotic phenomena in clinical cases and treatment planning
  1. Demonstration or Video Demonstration of Eliciting Hypnotic Phenomena – 60 minutes
  2. Participants observe a demonstration either live or through video and be required to identify 5 or 6 of the phenomena associated with hypnosis discussed in Session 3
  1. Principles and Process of Inductions and Re-alerting -- 30 minutes
  2. Identify steps in facilitating hypnotic inductions
  3. Describe the process of hypnotic induction and utilization
  1. Principles of Formulating Hypnotic Suggestions and Demonstration – 30 minutes
  2. Describe four types of hypnotic suggestion
  3. Identify two principles of hypnotic suggestion
  1. Supervised Small Group Practice I – 90 minutes
  2. Each participant gets an opportunity to participate as a hypnotic “subject” in 3 separate experiences, personally experiencing to the degree they are capable, hypnotic inductions and phenomena.
  3. Each participant gets at least three opportunities to serve as the facilitator hypnosis for another person, demonstrating the ability to facilitate 3 different hypnotic induction techniques, and to suggest some hypnotic phenomena.
  1. Hypnotic Susceptibility and Introduction to Hypnotic Susceptibility Scales – 60 minutes
  2. Discuss the concept of hypnotic susceptibility
  3. Discuss the difference between compliance and hypnotic susceptibility
  4. Identify two tests of hypnotic susceptibility
  5. Discuss Hildegard’s lab research and the differences between lab and clinical applications
  1. Methods of Deepening and Therapeutic Applications of Hypnotic Phenomena – 60minutes
  2. Identify the traditional stages of hypnosis
  3. Describe four methods of deepening trance
  4. Describe two therapeutic applications of suggestions for deepening
  5. Identify signs of deepening vs. sleep
  1. Small Group Practice II – 90 minutes
  2. Each participant gets an opportunity to participate as a hypnotic “subject”, personally experiencing to the degree they are capable, at least one hypnotic induction and associated phenomena.
  3. Each participant gets an opportunity to serve as the facilitator hypnosis for another person, demonstrating the ability to facilitate one deepening technique.
  1. Integrating Hypnosis into Clinical Practice: PainManagement and Case Consultations – 60 minutes
  2. Review research on the use of hypnosis for pain management
  3. Review the differences between basic relaxation interventions vs. hypnosis for pain management
  4. Discuss two applications of hypnosis for pain management
  5. Discuss two methods of hypnotic suggestion for pain management
  1. Small Group Practice III – 90 minutes
  2. Each participant gets an opportunity to participate as a hypnotic “subject”, personally experiencing to the degree they are capable, at least one hypnotic induction and associated phenomena with a focus on pain relief.
  3. Each participant gets an opportunity to serve as the facilitator hypnosis for another person, demonstrating the ability to facilitate one deepening technique with a focus on pain management.
  1. Treatment of Habit Disorders: Smoking and Obesity – 60 minutes
  2. Discuss evidence-based research and clinical methods of hypnotic treatment of nicotine dependency
  3. Discuss the integration of hypnosis into cognitive-behavioral therapy for nicotine dependency
  4. Discuss evidence-based research regarding hypnosis for weight management
  5. Discuss the integration of hypnosis into cognitive-behavioral therapy for weight management
  1. Self-Hypnosis and Clinical Practice – 60 minutes
  2. Define self-hypnosis
  3. Discuss three principles of self-hypnosis
  4. Be capable of teaching self-hypnosis to patients
  5. Identify therapeutic applications of self-hypnosis in clinical practice
  1. Strategies for Managing Resistance – 60 minutes
  2. Define resistance to hypnosis
  3. Identify two causes of resistance to hypnosis
  4. Demonstrate awareness of therapist, patient, and environmental variables that may contribute to resistance
  5. Identify 6 or more alternative techniques for working through resistance to hypnosis
  1. Small Group Practice IV – 90 minutes
  2. Each participant gets an opportunity to participate as a hypnotic “subject”, personally experiencing to the degree they are capable, at least one hypnotic induction and associated phenomena with a focus on habit removal and/or working through resistance to hypnosis.
  3. Each participant gets an opportunity to serve as the facilitator hypnosis for another person, demonstrating the ability to facilitate one deepening technique with a focus on habit removal and/or working through resistance to hypnosis.
  1. Treatment Planning, Strategy and Technique Selection – 60 minutes
  2. Illustrate how to choose which clinical approach may be most suitable for treating particular clinical conditions (choosing between CBT, insight-oriented psychotherapy, and exploratory hypnosis)
  3. Identify cases in which hypnosis may be indicated
  4. Identify cases in which hypnosis may be contraindicated
  5. Be able to identify and discuss the important differences between ‘b’ and ‘c’ above
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of strategies or therapeutic goals to which hypnotic techniques may be applied
  1. Ethical Principles, Professional Conduct and Certification in Clinical Hypnosis – 60 minutes
  2. Describe ethical issues and standards for professional conduct in using hypnosis clinically
  3. Describe legal issues and standards for professional conduct in using hypnosis clinically
  4. Discuss informed consent with regard to the use of hypnosis
  5. Identify limits to one’s abilities and discuss plans to develop expertise
  6. Review ASCH code of conduct
  7. Discuss ASCH training levels, certification requirements, and diplomate board examinations
  1. Integrating Hypnosis into Clinical Practice – 120 minutes
  2. Discuss clinical applications of hypnosis in clinical practice
  3. Review the DoD/VA clinical guidelines regarding the use of hypnosis for different clinical conditions (e.g., PTSD, depression, and anxiety)
  4. Integrating hypnosis into psychotherapy
  5. Group vs. individual sessions