HYPNOSIS FOR THE SERIOUSLY CURIOUS

 

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

The American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis provided the following definition in 1993:

"Hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or subject experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. The hypnotic context is generally established by an induction procedure. Although there are many different hypnotic inductions, most include suggestions for relaxation, calmness, and well-being. Instructions to imagine or think about pleasant experiences are also commonly included in hypnotic inductions. People respond to hypnosis in different ways. Some describe their experience as an altered state of consciousness. Others describe hypnosis as a normal state of focused attention, in which they feel very calm and relaxed. Regardless of how and to what degree they respond, most people describe the experience as very pleasant. Some people are very responsive to hypnotic suggestions and others are less responsive. A person's ability to experience hypnotic suggestions can be inhibited by fears and concerns arising from some common misconceptions. Contrary to some depictions of hypnosis in books, movies or on television, people who have been hypnotized do not lose control over their behavior. They typically remain aware of who they are and where they are, and unless amnesia has been specifically suggested, they usually remember what transpired during hypnosis. Hypnosis makes it easier for people to experience suggestions, but it does not force them to have these experiences." (Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis [1993, Fall]. Psychological Hypnosis: A Bulletin of Division 30, 2, p. 7.)

Although scientists have different theories about the nature of hypnosis, all seem to agree that hypnotized people report changes in the way they feel, think, and behave, and that these changes are in response to suggestions. People vary in their degree of responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions, what is called their hypnotizability or hypnotic susceptibility, but most people can be hypnotized to some degree. Scientists disagree about whether hypnosis involves a special mental state. Hypnotizability (which also is related to suggestibility) can be measured using special tests or hypnotizability scales.

DEFINITIONS

ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS is a concept used by some scientists and most clinical hypnotists to imply that hypnosis produces a condition different from the waking state, the sleep state, some meditation states, etc. On the other hand, many scientists believe that the facts of hypnosis and what one can do with hypnosis can be explained without using the term 'state.' (For more information, search the Database for words such as Theory, State, Expectancy, Dissociation.)

HYPNOTIZABILITY is measured on scales or tests that rate people along a continuum of their responsiveness to suggestions. People are rated as high, medium, or low hypnotizable individuals depending on whether they respond to many or few suggestions. The ability to respond is distributed in almost a normal, bell-shaped curve. Most people are average in hypnotizability and are sufficiently responsive to use hypnosis in medical, dental, or psychological therapy. People who are low in hypnotizability often can improve in their response to suggestions with training and practice, and thereby use hypnosis to work on their problems. Many clinical uses of hypnosis do not require very high hypnotizability. (For more information, search the Database for Hypnotizability.)

HYPNOTIZABILITY SCALES or tests measure a person's ability to respond to suggestions following a hypnotic induction. Most require a trained hypnotist to read a script consisting of a hypnotic induction, followed by a series of test suggestions that range in level of difficulty. Most people respond to some but not all of the suggestions, just as they would have correct responses to some but not all of the test items on an intelligence test. (For more information, search the Database for Test and Hypnotizability.)

SUGGESTIBILITY is related to hypnotizability, and is usually taken to mean the ability to respond to suggestions without a prior hypnotic induction. It is a scientific concept and does not have any connotation of a weak will. Suggestibility seems to be related to the capacity for using imagination. (For more information, search the Database for Suggestibility.)

SUGGESTIONS are verbal or non-verbal promptings to act or think in ways the hypnotist indicates, in an effortless and automatic or nonvoluntary manner. (For more information, search the Database for Suggestion.)

HOW TO SELECT A PROFESSIONAL HYPNOTIST

"Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, stress, habit disorders, and many other psychological and medical [and dental] problems. However, it may not be useful for all psychological problems or for all patients or clients. The decision to use hypnosis as an adjunct to treatment can only be made in consultation with a qualified health care provider who has been trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis." (Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis [1993, Fall]. Psychological Hypnosis: A Bulletin of Division 30, 2, p. 7.)

Often, the best referral to a qualified health care provider comes from a professional person with whom you already have a relationship--your doctor, dentist, psychologist, or social worker. Also University Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, or Schools of Dentistry sometimes provide referrals.

Scientific and professional organizations can often provide lists of qualified hypnotists.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ETHICAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Various professional organizations follow the general principal that hypnotists should use hypnosis only in the areas of their competence, and in their own particular field of education and training (psychology, dentistry, medicine, social work, marriage and family therapy, nursing). That is, a psychologist must meet the ethical standards of the psychological association as well as standards of care required by the state or province psychology licensing board; a dentist should meet the standards of the dental association and dental licensing board; people in other professions should meet the standards of both their professional organization and their state or province licensing board. Obviously, if a person is not licensed for professional practice in one of the health care professions, they do not meet these standards.

According to the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis,

"Hypnosis is not a type of therapy, like psychoanalysis or behavior therapy. Instead, it is a procedure that can be used to facilitate therapy. Because it is not a treatment in and of itself, training in hypnosis is not sufficient for the conduct of therapy. Clinical hypnosis should be used only by properly trained and credentialed health care professionals . . . who have also been trained in the clinical use of hypnosis and are working within the areas of their professional expertise." (Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis [1993, Fall]. Psychological Hypnosis: A Bulletin of Division 30, 2, p. 7.)

The American Psychological Association's ethics also underscore competence, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility, respect for people's rights and dignity, concern for others' welfare, and social responsibility.

Perhaps because boundaries between various professions' areas of practice are not clear, the interdisciplinary Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis ethics statement indicates that "a member who encounters a problem in the use of hypnosis shall seek the help of qualified specialists, competent to deal with this problem," and "Members may seek to broaden the usefulness of hypnosis in their professional field in the interest of individual patients as well as in the interests of extending the professional and scientific knowledge of hypnosis."

General Guidelines about Ethical Standards:

  1. The hypnotist should inform you about the kind of hypnosis treatment you will receive and obtain your consent to treatment.
  2. The hypnotist should be willing to communicate with other health professionals involved in your care.
  3. Your treatment should be confidential with the hypnotist.
  4. The hypnotist should respect your rights and dignity, and should not engage in sexual intimacies with you.

STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

It is clear that education, training, and access to professional review and consultation mark the responsible professional use of hypnosis. Education and training involve two components. First, the person should have a graduate degree and be professionally credentialed to diagnose and treat the particular problem in a number of ways (e.g. they are a licensed physician, psychologist, dentist, social worker, etc).

Second, the licensed health care professional should have completed considerable graduate and/or post-graduate education, training and supervision in hypnosis. These clinical education experiences can be obtained in two types of settings: a) graduate professional training programs, e.g. in schools of medicine, dentistry, or social work, and in departments of psychology; and b) post-graduate workshops provided by professional organizations to those who already have a professional graduate degree (e.g., MD, PhD, MSW, etc).

Different professional organizations world wide have different criteria for what constitutes sufficient clinical training in hypnosis. But it is fair to say that most, if not all, agree that there should be a didactic component (information about hypnosis grounded in science), an experiential component (practice using hypnosis, guided and observed by experts), and a supervisory component for a period of time (consultation with an established expert about ongoing clinical use of hypnosis with patients). To find out more about training matters you might consult the “Training/Education” sections of the professional organizations that interest you.