Fall 2007
Volume 49, Number 2
A Publication of the
Society for Clinical &
Experimental Hypnosis
221 Rivermoor St., Boston, MA
FOCUS
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
In my last Focus article as President, I want to
first of all thank the many people who have supported
the endeavors we have undertaken during the past two
years. I would mention
everyone, but that would take
up the whole newsletter. The
collaboration with ASCH for
the joint meeting this past
January and the ongoing
collaboration for public
education and joint ventures
have forged a new pathway
for hypnosis. Such ventures
include the joint listserve and
hopefully access to joint databases.
One such effort is to join all of the members
listed with the International Society of Hypnosis, APA
Division 30 along with SCEH and ASCH so that a
central site (something like “societies of hynosis.com”
with links to each of the individual sites) will contain
information about hypnosis and the specialty areas of
each individual, researchers and clinicians alike who
agree to have their name made available. Another such
venture is to create a short (6-8 minute) video that
gives information about hypnosis and directs people to
bona fide clinicians. Other projects are emerging that
will keep the connection between not just ASCH and
SCEH, but ISH and Division 30 strong and vibrant.
I cannot emphasize enough how important a
unified movement of hypnosis is. Such a movement
would bring truly established information along with
progressive research and the latest clinical techniques
squarely into the public eye. This has been missing for
so many years. I am happy to have had this
opportunity to help to forge a new beginning.
The fall convention in Anaheim has some new
and unusual workshops and panels and, of course, the
latest research will be presented in the Scientific
Program. Rick Kluft has seen to it that the convention
1 Fall 2007
will be one to remember. I wish him the best as he
becomes SCEH’s new President this fall.
INSIDE
Agenda At-A-Glance/Workshops .................................2
58th Annual Scientific Program ......................................4
Hypnosis ain’t bunk .........................................................5
Election Results ................................................................7
The Science of Hypnosis
The Decade Ahead!
Join us for the
58th Annual SCEH Conference in
Anaheim , California
on
October 24 -28, 2007
at the
Embassy Suites
Anaheim South
Embassy Suites Anaheim – South
11767 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Reservation Phone: 714-539-3300
Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim South is the premiere all-suite hotel in
the Anaheim area. The hotel is less than one mile from the
Disneyland® Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center. Hundreds of
shops, restaurants, attractions and corporations
are nearby. The property features 375 tworoom suites in a 14 story tropical atrium and
30,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space,
wireless high-speed internet access throughout,
and a beautiful, safari decor. A complimentary
cooked-to-order breakfast daily and evening
manager's reception adds to the extensive list of amenities the hotel is
known for. All suites provide the security of electronic door locks and
open to the lush Atrium below.
SCEH FOCUS
Agenda At-A-Glance/Workshops
Co-chairs
Claire Frederick, M.D. and Donald Stolar, Ph.D.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
6:30 - 9:30 pm
Introductory Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 1 of 4)
Chair: Marilee Snyder, MSW, DCSW, Mental Health
Center of Boulder County, Boulder, CO
Faculty: Claire Frederick, M.D., Saybrook Graduate
School and Research Center, Hedy Howard, M.D.,
Chevy Chase, MD, Stephen Kahn, Ph.D., Chicago
School of Professional Psychology, Brenda King,
Ph.D., Lipp, Carlson, Lommen, & Witucki, Ltd.,
Grand Forks, ND, Dave Patterson, Ph.D., University
of Washington, Donald Stolar, Ph.D., UCLA School
of Medicine and Dave Wark, Ph.D., University of
Minnesota
8:30 am- 6:15 pm
Intermediate Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 1 of 4)
Co-Chairs: Mark Geer, Ed.D., Bournewood Hospital,
MA and Nancy Reimer, LICSW
Faculty: Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D., Washington State
University, Claire Frederick, M.D., Saybrook Graduate
School and Research Center, Stephen Kahn, Ph.D.,
Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Samuel
Migdole, Ph.D., Beverly, MA, Marilee Snyder, MSW,
DCSW, Mental Health Center of Boulder County,
Dave Patterson, Ph.D., University of Washington
Affect Regulation and Resiliency Training for
Couples
Co-Chairs: Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D., Center for the
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders and Stephen Kahn,
Ph.D., Chicago School of Professional Psychology
A Pragmatic Approach to Risk Reduction in the
Clinic and the Workshop
Chair: Richard P. Kluft, M.D., Temple University
School of Medicine
Professional Growth: Integrating Hypnosis into
Your Practice
Co-Chairs: Molly DeLaney, Psy.D., Damariscotta, ME,
Stephen Kahn, Ph.D., Chicago School of Professional
Psychology, David Smith, Ph.D., St. Bernard’s
Hospital, Chicago, IL
Hypnosis for Skin Procedures and Disorders
Chair: Philip D. Shenefelt, M.D., University of South
Florida College of Medicine
2 Fall 2007
Introductory Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 2 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
Intermediate Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 2 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
9 am - 4 pm
Strengthening, Repair, and Uncovering with
Complex PTSD Patients
Chair: Claire Frederick, M.D., Saybrook Graduate
School and Research Center
Using Ideomotor Signals for Rapid Hypnoanalysis
Chair: Dabney Ewin, M.D., Tulane University
Hypnosis in Cancer Care: Altering Perception and
Reality
Chair: David Spiegel, M.D., Stanford University School
of Medicine
9 am - 12 pm
Self Hypnosis Workout: Keeping the Body-Mind
in Peak Condition
Chair: Darlene A. Osowiec, Ph.D., Geneva, IL
1 - 4 pm
Hypnotherapeutic Techniques Refresher
Co-Chairs: Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D., Washington State
University & IJCEH and Ciara Christensen, Ph.D.
student, Washington State University
SCEH FOCUS
Friday, October 26, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
8:30 am- 4:45 pm
8:45 am- 12:15 pm
Introductory Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 3 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
Introductory Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 4 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
Intermediate Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 3 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
Intermediate Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis
(session 4 of 4) (faculty-see Wed. schedule)
9 am - 4 pm
9 am - 12 pm
Clinical Case Conference for Current
Psychotherapy Patients
Chair: Donald Stolar, Ph.D., UCLA School of
Medicine
Working with Moderately Hypnotizable Patients
and Maximizing Their Clinical Responses
Chair: Robert A. Karlin, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Treating Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders
Chair: Richard P. Kluft, M.D., Temple University
School of Medicine
The Next Hypnosis: Consciousness, Spirituality
and Mind-Body Medicine
Chair: Reginald B. Humphreys, Ph.D., Dallas, TX
Hypnosis for Acute and Chronic Pain
Co-Chairs: Mark Jensen, Ph.D., University of
Washington and David Patterson., Ph.D., University
of Washington
9 am - 12 pm
Mind-Body Hypnotic Interventions in the
Treatment of Auto-Immune Disorders
Chair: Moshe S. Torem, M.D., Ohio University College
of Medicine
Advanced Intensive on Developing and
Enhancing Imagery Tools and Techniques to
More Effectively Modify Neuropatterns
Co-Chairs: James H. Straub, Ed.D., University of
Missouri-Columbia and Vicki W. Straub, Ph.D.,
M.B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia School
of Medicine
Habit Control
Chair: Samuel Migdole, Ed.D., Beverly, MA
7 - 8 pm
No-Host Cocktail Reception
8 pm
Presidential Banquet and Awards Ceremony
(Pre-registration required)
Early Career Initiative Activities
1 - 4 pm
Breakfast
Thursday, October 24 from 7:30–8:30 am
For Graduate Students and New Professionals
Clinical Hypnosis as a Therapeutic Tool in
Pediatric Perioperative Care and Pain
Management
Chair: Haleh Saadat, M.D., Yale University School of
Medicine
Lunch
Thursday, October 24 from 12 pm–1 pm
Conversation Hour: Getting Published as a New
Professional
Lunch with Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D., IJCEH Editor
Breakfast
Friday, October 25 from 7:30–8:30 am
Beginning a Practice in Hypnotherapy
Breakfast with Steve Kahn, Ph.D., SCEH President
3 Fall 2007
SCEH FOCUS
Are Hypnotic Inductions and Suggestibility Scales
Comparable?
Sean M. Barnes, Ph.D. student
Hypnosis and Mirror Writing
Thomas Ball, Ph.D.
58th Annual Scientific Program
October 26-28, 2007
Co-chairs
Mark Jensen, Ph.D. and David Patterson, Ph.D.
Friday, October 26, 4:30–6:00 pm
Panel Discussion on the Definition of Hypnosis
Panel: Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D., Elgan Baker, Ph.D.,
Guy Montgomery, Ph.D., Karen Olness, M.D., David
Spiegel, M.D., Michael Nash, Ph.D.
Chair: Stephen Kahn, Ph.D.
6:00–7:00 pm
Keynote Address: Meditation and Psychotherapy
Paul Fulton, Ed.D.
Introduction by Stephen Kahn, Ph.D.
Saturday, October 27, 9–10:50 am
Innovative Laboratory Research
Hypnotic Analgesia and Hyperalgesia
Suggestions: Effects on Somatosensory EventRelated Potential
Prof. Vilfredo De Pascalis
Hypnotic Suggestibility Modification:
Encouraging Findings
Elza Boycheva, Ph.D. student
4 Fall 2007
Effects of a Transitional Object Affect Bridge for
Age Regression: Spontaneity
Ciara Christensen, Ph.D. student, Arreed Barabasz,
Ph.D. and Marianne Barabasz, Ed.D.
Chair and Discussant: Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D.
11–11:30 am
Clinical Implications of Research Studies Panel
Discussion
Elgan Baker, Ph.D. and Stephen Kahn, Ph.D.
11:30 am–12:30 pm
Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and
Related Conditions
Vivien Miller, M.Sc., D.Hyp.
1:30–2 pm
Hypnosis in High-Tech Somatic Medicine: Its
Value, Wide Applicability and Easy Integration
into Everyday Practice
Christel Bejenke, M.D.
Introduction by Mark Jensen, Ph.D.
2–4 pm
New Clinical Research
Live vs. Taped Hypnosis for Dermatologic
Procedures
Philip D. Shenefelt, M.D.
Hypnosis for Surgical Procedures
Haleh Saadat, M.D.
The Trouble with Incomplete Empathy:
Unexpectedly High Adverse Event Rate in a
Prospective Randomized Trial Assessing
Hypnosis during Tumor Treatments
Elvira V. Lang, M.D.
SCEH FOCUS
Virtual Reality Hypnosis
Dave Patterson, Ph.D.
Effects of Hypnosis and Cognitive-Behavioral
Therapy on Positive and Negative Affect during
Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
Julie Schnur, Ph.D. student
Fatigue during Breast Cancer Radiotherapy:
Effects of a Hypnosis plus CBT Intervention
Guy Montgomery, Ph.D.
Chair and Discussant: Steven Lynn, Ph.D.
4:10–6 pm
The Psychoanalyst Looks at the Hypnotist
A. A. Mason, M.B.B.S., Psy.D., F. Inst. Psychoanal.
Panel: Elgan Baker, Ph.D. David Spiegel, M.D.,
Michael Nash, Ph.D.
Moderator: Richard P. Kluft, M.D.
Sunday, October 28, 9–10 am
Genetics of Complex Traits: Hypnotizability,
Behavior and Mental Health
Maximilian Muenke, M.D.
Introduction by Richard P. Kluft, M.D.
10–10:20 am
The Dopamine Hypothesis of Hypnotizability:
Current Status
Pesach Lichtenberg, M.D.
10:30 am–12 pm
Case Studies in Hypnosis: Innovative Approaches
The Clinical Challenges of Working with Patients
Who Present with Refractory OCD
Claire Frederick, M.D.
Smoking Cessation
Joseph Green, Ph.D.
Hypnosis and Tennis Performance
Kenneth Guttman, Ph.D.
5 Fall 2007
Hypnotically Reconstructed Memories of
Traumatic Events Leading to Arrests and
Convictions
Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D.
Treating Amputees with Hypnosis
Marianne Barabasz, Ed.D.
12–12:30 pm
Research Implications of Case Studies
Panel Discussion
Arreed Barabasz, Ph.D., Elvira Lang, M.D., Dave
Patterson, Ph.D.
Hey! Hypnosis ain’t bunk.
David Paul Smith, M.A., Ph.D.
St. Bernard’s Hospital, Chicago
drdpsmith@stbh.org
The SCEH conference, "The Science of Hypnosis –
The Decade Ahead" suggests exciting prospects for the
near future. Underlying this promise is the concern that
hypnosis has not come into the scientific limelight, still!
We are continuing to overcome a, “ side show
reputation.” As our president suggested in his message
in the last issue of Focus, “people STILL think of
hypnosis as turning otherwise stable individuals into
barking dogs and quacking ducks.” Or, as one
colleague mentioned when I stated I was leaving town
to attend a hypnosis conference, “Oh, yeah, I think that
stuff is mostly bunk.”
A bit better, the following exchange took place at
a meeting I attended in a prominent university hospital,
in Chicago. It came to light that I was certified in
hypnosis and the director of training stated to the chief
of psychiatry that he had been certified also. As the
chief of psychiatry looked on silently and inquisitively,
the director said, “Well, the stuff works.”
As most people in the field know, hypnotic
techniques have been around as long as healers have
been attempting to alleviate ailments in their brethren.
It dates back to traditional practices of shamans and
witch doctors. The scientific history of hypnosis begins
SCEH FOCUS
at the end of the 18th century with Mesmer. (Brown and
Fromm, 1986).
Many subjective phenomena have not entered the
main scientific arena until recent decades, e.g.,
meditation, lucid dreaming and other self regulatory
strategies. Now, with the promotion of positive
psychology and the development of new technologies,
from bio-feedback to recent developments in brain
imaging, many old techniques relegated to subjectivity
and the “non-scientific” are no longer easily dismissed.
Truly, we have come to a very exciting time in history
when psychological phenomena such as hypnosis are
more easily measured and demonstrated.
Nevertheless, hypnosis and therapists that utilize
hypnotic techniques are often not well represented in
the field at large. For example, the Society of
Psychotherapy research is an international organization
that is comprised of several thousand members. Over
the last ten years of conferences, where hundreds of
papers are presented, I was able to find two
presentations on hypnosis and one was the paper I had
recently presented. The respondent to that paper made
a favorable response but his initial impression of the
talk was, “hypnotherapists are here and here to stay.” If
other clinicians don’t know we’re here, clearly there is
real work to do in terms of educating the public.
So, what of psychotherapists that utilize hypnosis
in their work? Steve Kahn and I have initiated an effort
to collect data on this population. I presented a paper
at the international SPR conference at Madison, WI in
June of this year. The presentation was based on
preliminary research on hypnotherapists that was
conducted in conjunction with the Collaborative
Research Network and the international project on the
Development of Psychotherapists (Orlinsky &
Ronnestad, 2005). A pilot study collecting 21 Common
Core Questionnaires from hypnotherapists was
completed in 2006. This initial sample has been added
to a growing database of over 7,000 psychotherapists
across the globe. Still, that’s 21 therapists that filled out
Steve’s hypnosis version of the CCQ out of 7,000 or so
in the data base. We need to collect more
questionnaires! Nevertheless, the preliminary findings
on our sample of hypnotists are interesting.
Overall, many of the characteristics of our
hypnotist sample are similar to previous studies done
with this instrument (Orlinsky & Ronnestad, 2005).
Although small, the sample is diverse in terms of age
training and profession. With the average age at
6 Fall 2007
approximately 54 years, it is a decidedly mature group.
Furthermore, on average, the group as a whole has a
fair amount of experience in terms of treating people.
With the average years in practice being close to 17, the
years practicing hypnosis is on average 11. This
suggests that people turn to using hypnosis as an
additional technique to augment their practice.
The group of practitioners tend to identify
themselves as “integrative and eclectic” which is
consistent with previous findings among
psychotherapists in general. In this particular sample,
the one theoretical orientation that is somewhat more
strongly endorsed is a “cognitive” approach.
Nevertheless, all major theoretical orientations appear
to be represented to some extent in the sample. Further
research is needed to determine whether
hypnotherapists as a group tend to endorse any
particular theoretical orientation to a greater extent
than other therapists.
Therapists in our sample tend to find
opportunities to use hypnosis and find it provides
positive results. Negative results appear quite minimal.
What is more striking, the clinicians strongly see
hypnosis as having added to their effectiveness overall.
There is slight support that patients who experience a
deeper state of hypnosis gain better results.
Regarding professional development, the
clinicians see themselves as having changed and that
their change is an improvement. There is also a
tendency to feel that they have overcome past
limitations as therapists but still have room to grow.
Furthermore, witnessing a powerful change in a
hypnotized subject, early in their career, did not seem
to be a strong motivator to seek training in hypnosis.
Although we can certainly site examples of Sigmund
Freud and Erika Fromm who had that transformative
professional experience.
Earlier studies on over a 1,000 members of the
international data base suggest that therapists are not
particularly secular, as a modern perspective might
suggest. This sample shows a fascinating consistency
in the importance that religious or spiritual experience
has on the work of these individuals. As in previous
studies with this particular database (Smith & Orlinsky,
2004), the results of this group are similar to the larger
number of therapists, (i.e., their spiritual and/or
religious experience appears to have at least a modest
influence not only in their life but in their work as
therapists).
SCEH FOCUS
SCEH Leadership
This is just an initial attempt at collecting
material on the development of hypnotherapists. The
details of this study are available on request and should
be published soon. However, more research and more
work is necessary to begin to educate the public, as well
as, the professional community regarding the
importance and legitimacy of hypnotic techniques and
the use of hypnosis in therapy.
For those who are interested in
participating in our research and
contributing to the representation of
hypnotists in this international study,
you can contact Steve Kahn or me at
drdpsmith@stbh.org. We will be sure
to get a copy of the questionnaire to
you. Or, perhaps we’ll see you at the conference.
SCEH Election Results
President-Elect
Elvira Lang, MD
Secretary
Amir Raz, PhD
Treasurer
Guy Montgomery, PhD
With 120 votes cast, these are the new SCEH Officers.
Thanks to Eric Willmarth, PhD, Philip Shenefelt, MD
and Marilee Snyder, MSW for their service as
candidates and to the membership for taking this
responsibility so seriously.
Nicholas A. Covino, PsyD
Election Committee Chair
President
Stephen Kahn, PhD
1525 East 53rd Street #934
Chicago, IL 60615-4575
(773) 324-1155
spkahn@ameritech.net
President-Elect
Richard P. Kluft, MD
Temple University
School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA 19140
(610) 667-3250
RPKluft@aol.com
Past President
Nicholas Covino, PsyD
Massachusetts School of
Professional Psychology
221 Rivermoor Street
Boston, MA 02132
(617) 327-6777
ncovino@mspp.edu
Secretary
Brenda King, PhD
2808 17th Ave S.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
(701)-746-8376
bjking@gra.midco.net
Treasurer
Grant Benham, PhD
University of Texas-Pan American
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78541
(956) 292-7342
International Journal Editor
Arreed Barabasz, PhD, EdD
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164
(509) 335-8166
arreed_barabasz@wsu.edu
SCEH ‘FOCUS’ Editor
David Paul Smith, PhD
St. Bernard's Hospital
Suite 212, 324 West 64th St.
Chicago, Illinois 60621
(773) 962-4016
drdpsmith@stbh.org
SCEH CENTRAL OFFICE
Executive Director
Dean Abby, MEd
221 Rivermoor Street
Boston, MA 02132
(617) 469-1981
sceh@mspp.edu
7 Fall 2007
SCEH FOCUS
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CENTRAL OFFICE
The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Executive Office (c/o Dean Abby)
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
221 Rivermoor Street
Boston, MA 02132
Tel: (617) 469-1981
Fax: (617) 469-1889
Email: sceh@mspp.edu
Website: www.sceh.us
A Publication of the
SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL AND
EXPERIMENTAL HYPNOSIS
Executive Office
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
221 Rivermoor Street
Boston, MA 0213
8 Fall 2007
SCEH FOCUS