How You Think About Hypnosis Defines How You ll Use Hypnosis

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1 Fundamentals of Hypnosis 3 Contempla*ng Current Models Of Hypnosis: How You Think About Hypnosis Defines How You ll Use Hypnosis with Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D. Friday, December 11,

2 Hypnosis Defies Defini?on It is a common complaint in the professional literature that no good defini?on of hypnosis exists. How do you define something so subjec?ve? This is the main reason why the views of hypnosis can vary so drama?cally and the applica?ons can be so divergent Thus, the theme of this short workshop: Your ideas about hypnosis will shape how you apply it 2

3 Models/Applica?ons of Hypnosis Ericksonian Hypnosis Hypnoanalysis Hypnoprojec?ves Cogni?ve Hypnotherapy Neuro-Hypnosis Hypnodrama Hypnoregression Waking Hypnosis Integra?ve Hypnosis Abreac?ve Hypnosis Hypnoimagery Molecular-Genomic Hypnosis Ego State Hypnotherapy Gut-Directed Hypnosis Spiritual Awakening Hypnosis Brief Cogni?ve Hypnosis Hypnocounseling Hypnomedita?on Existen?al Hypnosis Covert Modeling Hypnosis Pallia?ve Hypnosis Family Hypnotherapy Ecohypnosis Hypnosynthesis Past Life Hypno?c Regression Therapy Brief Crisis-Oriented Hypnosis Group Hypnotherapy Ac?ve-Alert Hypnosis Hypno-healing Symbolic Hypnotherapy 3

4 2014 APA Division 30 Definition of Hypnosis A state of consciousness involving focused azen?on and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to sugges?on. (p. 6) Elkins, G., Barabasz, A., Council, J.,& Spiegel, D. (Jan-Mar 2015). Advancing research and prac?ce: The revised APA Division 30 defini?on of hypnosis. Interna'onal Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 63 (1),

5 In 1784, Benjamin Franklin tested whether magne?c force fields could cure illnesses, a no?on that Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer had profitably introduced and used in his prac?ce 5

6 In Franklin s experiments, par?cipants responded drama?cally to plain water they were told had been mesmerized, proving it was sugges?on, not magne?sm, producing the effects in Mesmer s pa?ents 6

7 there were two primary schools of thought about hypnosis, both originating in France in the late 19 th century. One was the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, headed by Jean-Martin Charcot. The other was the Nancy school, named for its location, headed by Hippolyte Bernheim. Freud studied under Charcot, then later with Bernheim, and translated both their works into German. 7

8 Charcot was a proponent of the magnetism model, ultimately disproved by Bernheim, who in 1882 famously said, There is no hypnosis, only suggestion. Bernheim s influence was substantial on Freud, and ultimately the early pioneers of modern hypnosis, i.e., those who trained and practiced in the middle of the last century and were the teachers of many of the most prominent current practitioners 8

9 Hypnosis as an Internal Capacity The predominant view was of hypnosis as an en?rely intrapersonal phenomenon, a trait that some people possessed to one degree or another Thus, assessing an individual s hypno?zability became a founda?on of tradi?onal prac?ce 9

10 What are the characteristics of those who are termed highly hypnotizable (HH) relative to those who are termed low hypnotizables (LH)? 10

11 Hypnosis in Modern Cogni?ve Neuroscience: The Intrinsic Focus The intrinsic focus as one area of research strives to acquire a better understanding of the nature of hypnosis and hypnotically suggested phenomena. Intrinsic studies are largely concerned with what makes some people more responsive to hypnotic suggestions than others, the nature of hypnotic suggestibility, whether suggested hypnotic phenomena are real or are simply imagined and whether hypnosis involves a special state of consciousness. (p.565) Oakley, D. & Halligan, P. (August, 2013). Hypnotic suggestion: opportunities for cognitive neuroscience. Neuroscience, 14,

12 Hypnosis in Modern Cogni?ve Neuroscience: The Instrumental Focus Instrumentally focused studies involve the selective use of experimentally and, increasingly, clinically informed suggestions to investigate aspects of normal and abnormal psychological functioning. This more instrumental approach probes challenging issues such as the nature and neural basis of consciousness, brain mechanisms underlying visual perception or pain and the putative cognitive origins of clinical symptoms such as medically unexplained paralysis seen in some patients with conversion disorder (hysteria), hallucinations, delusions and alterations in control over thought and action in schizophrenia. p.565 Oakley, D. & Halligan, P. (August, 2013). Hypnotic suggestion: opportunities for cognitive neuroscience. Neuroscience, 14,

13 From Instruc?on to Sugges?on as the Vehicle for Hypnosis Hypno?c sugges?ons consist of factual statements describing changes in experience or behavior that do not require a par?cipant s voli?onal engagement: Your arm is becoming so s?ff that you cannot bend it Although the two processes are dis?nct, implicit sugges?ons are olen deployed during the induc?on phase: listen to the sound of your breathing [instruc'on] and as you do so your mind becomes clearer [sugges'on] or as you listen to the sound of my voice [instruc'on] you will begin to no?ce the muscles in your body becoming less tense [sugges'on]. 13

14 People Respond Differently to Hypno?c Sugges?ons Participants describe adopting different cognitive strategies once a suggestion has been presented. Some subjects appear to simply focus their attention on the content of suggestions and then disattend to extraneous stimuli, whereas others report actively thinking with the suggestion or engaging in goal-directed imagery and may report being more involved in the process. Irrespective of the different cognitive styles adopted following suggestion, the suggested effect itself is characteristically experienced as being involuntary and effortless. (Oakley & Harrigan, p. 568) 14

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16 Hypnosis as dissociation (Hilgard) Hypnosis as psychological regression (Fromm) Hypnosis as relaxation (Edmonston) Hypnosis as a socio-cognitive phenomenon (Spanos) Hypnosis as a permissive state (Bernheim) Hypnosis as role playing (T.X. Barber) 16

17 Hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness (Tart) Hypnosis as suspended reality-testing (Shor) Hypnosis and the conditioning property of words and experiences (Watzlawick) Hypnosis as an interactional outcome (Erickson) Hypnosis as ultradian/biological (Rossi) 17

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20 There are many different models of hypnosis, ways of thinking about both the process of doing hypnosis and the subjective nature of the experience. One simplistic, yet meaningful, way to divide them is as follows: Traditional Standardized Utilization (Ericksonian) 20

21 Erickson s Ra?onale for Developing the U?liza?on Approach (There are pa?ents) who are unwilling to accept any suggested behavior un?l their own resistance or contradictory or opposing behavior has first been met by the operator. By reason of their physical condi?on, state of tension or anxiety, intense interest, concern or absorp?on in their own behavior, they are unable to give either ac?vely or passively the requisite coopera?on to permit an effec?ve altera?on of their behavior 21

22 Erickson s Ra?onale for Developing the U?liza?on Approach For these pa?ents, what may be termed Techniques of U'liza'on frequently serve to meet most adequately their special needs. But more than this, these same techniques are readily applicable to the usual pa?ents and frequently serve to facilitate the process of trance induc?on in average pa?ents. (pp. 3-4) Erickson, M. (July, 1959). Further Clinical Techniques of Hypnosis: U?liza?on Techniques. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 2,

23 Using client interests Using client values Using client history Using client expectations Using client responses Using environmental stimuli 23

24 To explore consciousness To explore spirituality To delineate individual differences To help people change To heal disease or mask pain To promote creativity 24

25 Jay Haley in Uncommon Therapy 25

26 There are good arguments for saying either yes or no. My own view is that hypnosis is a tool, an experiential vehicle for stimulating new, therapeutic associations in the client 26

27 Symptom management strategies (e.g., enhancing sleep, reducing anxiety) Skill-building/resource accessing (e.g., enhancing cognitive flexibility, building problem-solving skills) De-framing and reframing (e.g., It s not you, it s the way you go about it ) Association and dissociation (e.g., shifting focus away from feelings to action, shifting focus from past to future) 27

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29 Self-Awareness in Prac?ce Is your therapy generally more past, present or future oriented? Do you tend to promote insight or ac?on? Do you tend to focus more on mind or body? Thoughts or feelings? Individuals or rela?onships? Do you tend to focus more on ideas or experiences? Is the goal of therapy to reduce pathology or expand wellness? 29

30 I think it s important to distinguish Doing Hypnosis from Being Hypnotic. Great therapists engage people on multiple levels. 30

31 What Does it Mean to Be Hypnotic? Being aware of yourself as a communicator, recognizing that you cannot not communicate and that your every word, gesture and facial expression invite a response from others Recognizing that suggestion and influence are inevitable in every interpersonal context, but especially so in the context of therapy where patterns of influence are applied, intentionally or not, for goaloriented and presumably benevolent purposes 31

32 What Does it Mean to Be Hypnotic? Using one s demeanor to encourage presence and comfort, one s voice (i.e., cadence and tempo) to soothe and focus, one s words to engage and inspire, and the context to amplify and catalyze one s therapeutic intentions. Inviting experiential, multi-level responses 32

33 Expectations regarding one s hypnotizability (fixed trait vs. changeable) Expectations regarding the general effects of hypnosis Expectations regarding the specific effects of hypnosis on the presenting problem(s) 33

34 Trust your unconscious to: Solve the problem Understand the deeper meaning Form the appropriate response Protect you Make a wise choice 34

35 I d like to begin our hypnosis session by having you place both feet on the floor, let your hands rest on your thighs and when you re ready you can close your eyes so you can focus your attention on the ideas and images I m going to describe to you 35

36 You ve been so absorbed in feelings of distress, it would be helpful to start to get absorbed in a different and more comfortable way of experiencing yourself and to help yourself get absorbed in new possibilities you can let your eyes close and why not take in a few deep, relaxing breaths 36

37 Hypnosis is an unapologe?cally goal-oriented approach You re guiding the client in the direc?on of a well-defined goal 37

38 An Exercise in Guiding Your Partner Frustra?on tolerance Impulse control Reality tes?ng Cri?cal thinking Empathy Clearer boundaries Tolerance for ambiguity Playfulness Organiza?on Spontaneity Crea?vity Self-awareness Self-acceptance Flexibility 38

39 Thank you for coming and for your kind aaen*on Please join my electronic mail list to receive updates on courses, materials, announcements, etc.

40 Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D. Website: Mailing address: P.O. Box 487 Fallbrook, CA , USA

U"lizing Clinical Hypnosis To Enhance Treatment: Make Your (Inevitable) Sugges"ons Count. with Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.

Ulizing Clinical Hypnosis To Enhance Treatment: Make Your (Inevitable) Suggesons Count. with Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D. U"lizing Clinical Hypnosis To Enhance Treatment: Make Your (Inevitable) Sugges"ons Count with Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D. December 12, 2017 1 The primary goal of this one day workshop is to acquaint you with