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CBT TrainingDr. Nina Josefowitz has over thirty years’ experience as a CBT therapist and teacher and is the author of CBT Made Simple.
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Hypnosis For Pain Relief TrainingWorld-renowned clinical psychologist and professor with over 30 years' experience using hypnosis for pain control offers a step-by-step guide to using hypnosis to enhance your clinical practice. -
Advanced Trauma Therapy TrainingWorld-renowned trauma clinical psychologist and clinician with over 30 years’ experience helping survivors to accept and love their wounded selves. -
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Emotional RegulationClinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience helping people manage out of control emotions, irrationality, feelings of hopelessness and distress.
Empirical Support for Hypnosis and Pain Management
SESSION 20 OF 33
Duration 11mins 22secs
In this evidence-focused session, Dr. David Patterson examines the empirical support for hypnosis in managing pain. He reviews decades of scientific research, including randomized controlled trials that demonstrate hypnosis’s effectiveness in reducing discomfort. Dr. Patterson also highlights neuroimaging studies that reveal how hypnotic interventions affect brain activity, providing a physiological basis for its therapeutic impact. This session bridges research and clinical practice, offering healthcare professionals and therapists a clear understanding of the scientific foundations behind hypnosis for pain control. Participants will gain confidence in applying hypnosis as an evidence-based tool to enhance patient care and improve outcomes.
ALL SESSIONS IN THIS MODULE: Pain Relief with Hypnosis
01
Introduction to Hypnosis
Join Dr. David Patterson for an introduction to hypnosis, exploring its principles, research, and real-world applications. Using client examples from his practice, he demonstrates how hypnosis can effectively relieve chronic pain, offering both insight and practical understanding for clinicians and anyone interested in the therapeutic potential of hypnosis.
02
How Does Hypnosis Work?
Join Dr. David Patterson as he unravels the mysteries of hypnosis. Learn how to define it for patients, separate fact from myth, and understand potential risks. Gain a practical, step-by-step guide to basic hypnotic induction, equipping you with essential knowledge to use hypnosis safely and effectively.
03
Theories of Hypnosis
Explore the major theories of hypnosis with Dr. David Patterson. From hypnosis as a trait and social interaction to a special state or brain phenomenon, he explains each perspective and how they can guide clinical practice. Gain a deeper understanding of hypnosis to enhance patient care.
04
Dissociation in Hypnosis
Explore dissociation in hypnosis with Dr. David Patterson. Learn the difference between pathological and normal dissociation, and discover how benign dissociation can be used to separate conscious control from behavior, unlocking multiple pathways of brain processing. Gain practical insights for applying hypnosis safely and effectively.
05
Non-linear Hypnotic Inductions
Explore non-linear hypnotic inductions with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how indirect approaches reduce resistance, encourage generative thinking, and disrupt linear processing. Discover practical techniques using metaphors and suggestions to guide patients into deeper hypnotic states, enhancing flexibility, creativity, and therapeutic effectiveness.
06
Applying Erickson’s Principle
Discover Erickson’s principle of utilisation with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how hypnosis is a cooperative process between clinician and patient, and how the concept of utilisation enhances therapeutic effectiveness. Dr. Patterson explains utilisation and demonstrates two practical applications to guide patients safely and creatively through hypnotic experiences.
07
Hypnosis for Crisis and Emergency
Learn how to use hypnosis effectively with patients in crisis or emergency situations with Dr. David Patterson. Drawing on real hospital and emergency room experience, he demonstrates how hypnosis can reduce fear and severe pain, and outlines the most effective induction techniques for high-stress clinical settings.
08
Demonstration: Hypnosis for Medical Procedures
Learn a practical hypnotic induction for preparing patients for challenging medical procedures with Dr. David Patterson. This approach can also support preparation for threatening situations, such as court appearances. Dr. Patterson guides viewers through deep relaxation techniques, explaining each stage of the induction clearly and effectively.
09
Demonstration: Rapid Hypnosis for Crisis
Learn a rapid hypnotic technique for patients in crisis with pain or anxiety with Dr. David Patterson. He demonstrates a step-by-step hypnotic induction designed for urgent situations, providing clinicians with practical tools to quickly reduce distress and help patients regain calm and focus.
010
How to Design Suggestions
Learn how to design effective hypnotic suggestions with Dr. David Patterson. He shares practical guidance, common challenges, and examples from his own clinical practice, helping clinicians develop personalized, impactful suggestions that enhance the effectiveness of hypnosis and improve patient outcomes.
011
Demonstration: Non-Linear Inductions
Explore advanced non-linear hypnotic inductions with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how truisms, resource activation, and strategic dissociation deepen hypnotic states, and discover how looping suggestions can be used to enhance flexibility and therapeutic impact in clinical hypnosis.
012
The Psychology of Pain Management
Explore the psychology of pain control with Dr. David Patterson. Learn why patient education and an understanding of pain neurophysiology are essential in treating chronic pain. Dr. Patterson clarifies the key differences between pain, suffering, and pain behavior, offering insights to improve clinical outcomes.
013
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy and Pain Hypnosis
Explore the integration of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and hypnosis for pain management with Dr. David Patterson. Learn the foundations of CBT, how it supports chronic pain treatment, and discover new research findings on combining CBT with hypnosis to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
014
Psychological/ Psychiatric Disorders and Chronic Pain
Dr. David Patterson explores the relationship between psychological and psychiatric disorders and chronic pain. He emphasizes thorough evaluation for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other Axis 1 disorders, explaining how treating these conditions can reduce pain and how to integrate this understanding into comprehensive chronic pain management.
015
Motivational Interviewing
Explore motivational interviewing with Dr. David Patterson and learn how it can drive meaningful behaviour change. He explains the science behind changing behaviour and demonstrates how this approach can be applied to managing chronic pain, helping patients engage actively in their treatment and improve outcomes.
016
Hypnosis and Pain Management
Discover how hypnosis can transform pain management in this insightful webinar with Dr. David Patterson. Explore the differences between acute and chronic pain, including neuropathic and musculoskeletal types, and learn practical hypnosis techniques to ease discomfort. Unlock the potential of your mind in controlling pain effectively.
017
Assessing Pain for Hypnosis
Explore pain assessment for psychological treatment and hypnosis with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how a biopsychosocial approach provides a comprehensive understanding of chronic pain, guiding more effective interventions. Discover strategies to assess patients holistically and tailor hypnosis and psychological techniques to improve outcomes.
018
The Neurophysiology of Mindfulness
Discover the neurophysiology of mindfulness with Dr. David Patterson. Learn the science behind Zen Buddhism and mindfulness practices, and explore practical strategies to help patients stay present, reduce pain, and ease suffering. This session bridges ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience for effective clinical application.
019
Integrating Hypnosis and Mindfulness
Discover how to integrate hypnosis and mindfulness with Dr. David Patterson. Learn practical strategies to help patients observe unpleasant thoughts or feelings without judgment, and explore the principles guiding this combined approach. Enhance therapeutic outcomes by blending hypnotic techniques with mindful awareness for deeper healing.
020
Empirical Support for Hypnosis and Pain Management « you are here
Explore the scientific evidence for hypnosis in pain management with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how randomized controlled trials demonstrate hypnosis’s effectiveness and what neuroimaging studies reveal about its impact on the brain. Discover how evidence-based research supports the clinical use of hypnosis for reducing pain safely and effectively.
021
Are there any dangers to hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explores the potential dangers of hypnosis in clinical practice. From heightened transference and poor regulation to risks of manipulation or treating early trauma, he highlights critical areas clinicians must navigate carefully. Learn how to practice hypnosis safely while protecting vulnerable patients.
022
Are there any patients who might not benefit from hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explores hypnotisability, explaining the bell-shaped curve and why some people are not hypnotisable. He discusses ethical considerations, including avoiding hypnosis with individuals holding strong religious beliefs, early childhood trauma, or pronounced dissociative tendencies, providing guidance on when hypnosis is safe and appropriate in clinical practice.
023
How has hypnosis helped you? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson shares how hypnosis has personally impacted his own life. Gain insight into the real-world benefits of hypnosis from a clinician’s perspective, exploring its transformative effects and practical applications beyond the therapy room.
024
What are the misconceptions about hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson addresses common misconceptions about hypnosis, exploring how it really works and what it can—and cannot—do for patients. Gain clarity on myths versus reality, helping clinicians educate patients and apply hypnosis effectively and ethically in clinical practice.
025
What is hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explores the different definitions of hypnosis, explaining how he understands hypnosis from a neurological perspective. He briefly outlines key theories and functions of hypnosis, offering clarity on how this complex phenomenon can be understood and applied in clinical practice.
026
What patients might benefit from hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson discusses which patients are most likely to respond well to hypnosis and how to identify suitability in clinical practice. He explains why hypnosis is most effective when used as an adjunct to a clinician’s existing psychological therapy, enhancing outcomes rather than replacing core therapeutic approaches.
027
How does hypnosis work with burn victims? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explains how hypnosis can powerfully support burn patients, helping them cope with extremely painful procedures. He highlights why this application is one of the most empirically supported uses of hypnosis, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing pain and distress in burn care settings.
028
Can hypnosis take place over phone or video? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explores how hypnosis can be effectively delivered over the phone or via video calls. He shares a real-world example from his own practice, demonstrating how remote hypnosis can still produce meaningful therapeutic outcomes when applied skillfully and ethically.
029
How long does hypnosis take? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson discusses the duration of hypnotic inductions, explaining why inductions for patients in crisis are intentionally much shorter. Learn how induction length varies depending on clinical context, ensuring hypnosis remains effective, safe, and tailored to the needs of the patient.
030
What different types of hypnotherapy are there? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explains why he prefers not to use the term “hypnotherapy.” He highlights how integrating hypnosis into various therapeutic approaches can amplify their effectiveness, helping patients achieve faster and more meaningful improvements by enhancing existing treatments rather than replacing them.
031
Are there other therapies that work well in conjunction with hypnosis? (FAQ)
Dr. David Patterson explores how hypnosis can be combined with other therapeutic approaches. He emphasizes integrating hypnosis with the therapies clinicians are already trained in, shares research findings on its combined effectiveness, and provides practical guidance for enhancing outcomes by blending hypnosis with different treatment modalities.
032
What happens to the body during hypnosis? (FAQ)
Explore the fascinating effects of hypnosis on the body with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how relaxation becomes a universal response, how suggestions can shift perception, and the surprising benefits—from reduced surgical bleeding to skin changes. Discover the science behind the mind-body connection through hypnosis.
033
What happens to the brain during hypnosis? (FAQ)
Discover the neuroscience behind hypnosis with Dr. David Patterson. Learn how hypnosis triggers specific brain changes and how the left and right hemispheres respond. This session unpacks the research, offering insight into the fascinating ways the brain shifts under hypnotic states.
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