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Clinical Hypnosis
Clinical Hypnosis
Recognizing, appreciating, and embracing the mind-body connection, clinical hypnosis facilitates the mind-body-spirit working together. Clinical hypnosis is the ultimate in integrative medicine.
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What is Clinical Hypnosis?
Clinical Hypnosis is utilized in conjunction with medical treatment and no idea of medical treatment. Clinical hypnosis is facilitated by a licensed health care provider such as a physician, psychologist, therapist, dentist, or chiropractor.
Clinical hypnosis can bring about physical change as well as psychological and emotional change. An individual in trance knows what is occurring, is aware and functional, and may choose the appropriate time to terminate trance.
The Parts that Make the Whole
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a tool or process used to facilitate the trance state. It enables us to control when the trance state will occur so that we can best utilize it.
Trance
Trance is a naturally occurring phenomenon. It is an altered state of consciousness in which one can readily access both psychological and physiological abilities. It is common for people to be in a trance state. Children are frequently in trance while playing. Trance happens all the time.
Suggestion
Suggestion is the vehicle through which we communicate messages to the unconscious mind. One’s ability to accept suggestions is heightened in trance. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Uses of Clinical Hypnosis
Sleep Problems
Pain Management
Anxiety/Panic Attacks
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Autoimmune Problems
Trauma
Habit Control
Weight Loss
Surgical Preparation
Nausea and Vomiting
Healing and Recovery
Performance Enhancement
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Stress Management/Relaxation
Side Effects of Chemo and Radiation
What Clinical Hypnosis is Not
- Clinical hypnosis is not something that somebody does “to” somebody. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. All hypnosis is autohypnosis.
- Hypnosis does not resemble a sleep state. The EEG of someone in trance more closely resembles the waking state than the sleep EEG.
- Hypnosis is not a state of unconsciousness, nor does it include a loss of control of amnesia.
- Clinical hypnosis is not a treatment in and of itself. It is useful as an adjunct to treatment that is already within the field of competence of health care practitioners.
- Hypnosis is not a panacea, nor a substitute for good practice.
- Clinical hypnosis does not resemble what is depicted in movies and TV. Clinical hypnosis is not the same as stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is a performance and does not require a health care license.
An Evidence-Based Approach
Until 30 years ago, there were few clinical trials examining hypnosis for any type of medical or psychological problem. Scientific evidence for clinical hypnosis was limited to anecdotal and clinical reports. In recent decades, however, there has been a growing body of scientific research.
Numerous controlled studies have found clinical hypnosis as effective or more effective than various treatments for pain including standard care, relaxation training, support group without hypnosis, attention control, autogenic training, biofeedback, and physical therapy.
Recognized & Recommended
In 1958, both the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association recognized hypnotherapy as a valid medical procedure. Since 1995, both the National Institute of Health (NIH) has recommended hypnotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain. Clinical hypnosis is one of the evidence-based complementary and integrative health approaches covered by the Veterans medical benefits package when deemed clinically necessary by their care per VA directive.
This growing number of psychological studies on hypnosis and pain has enhanced the scientific legitimacy of hypnosis, has identified several measurable physiological phenomena, and has put to rest the misconception that hypnosis is solely a placebo effect (David R. Patterson, 2013). Studies of laboratory pain reduction show sympathetic responses (e.g., heart rate and blood pressure), electrocortical activity at various sites, endogenous endorphin release, and regional blood flow. Clinical hypnosis demonstrates a series of physiological changes that can be monitored by brain activity.
Chronic Pain and Opioid Dependency
Having received his initial training in 1995, Dr. Stanley immersed himself in the advanced study and practice of clinical hypnosis in 2013 while he was working on a crisis stabilization unit during an opioid crisis. Perry observed that a significant percentage of those who were dependent on opioids had little to no history of substance abuse until after an accident or surgery and the treatment of pain with opioids.
Dr. Stanley realized that a third or more of those who become dependent upon opioids would benefit from treatment for chronic pain and clinical hypnosis could provide the assistance they needed. Perry sought out training from some of the leading experts in the field to enhance his skills for using clinical hypnosis to alleviate pain and maximize comfort for those with chronic pain and other chronic illnesses.
Self-Hypnosis Classes for Patients with Cancer and Other Chronic Illnesses
In addition to the use of clinical hypnosis in individual therapy, Dr. Stanley offers four-week classes in self-hypnosis. The class, offered in-person as well as Zoom, consists of four 90-minute sessions; once a week for four consecutive weeks. In addition to the four group meetings, each participant also meets with Dr. Stanley individually for 30 minutes during the four weeks to assist them with making a recording of suggestions for their current circumstances.
This class is open to members of the general public who want to learn how to use self-hypnosis to help in managing cancer and other chronic illnesses, including the symptoms, reducing pain and stress, controlling the side effects of medication and radiation therapies, and generally enhancing quality of life.
Dr. Stanley's Personal Experience
Dr. Stanley uses self-hypnosis regularly for his own health issues. He has used self-hypnosis to resolve sleep problems, to be able to fly with little to no knee pain, and to alleviate nerve pain. He was able to use self-hypnosis rather than opioids following the surgical removal of a ganglion cyst and has comfortably tolerated multiple cardiac MRIs. Perry’s successful practice of self-hypnosis has resulted in him developing the highest expectation that the daily use of self-hypnosis will be beneficial to anyone who is motivated to practice this skill consistently.
Following the initiation of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) introductory training in 1995, Dr. Stanley completed ASCH intermediate skill building workshops before beginning to travel throughout the United States and participate in advanced workshops led by some of the leaders in the field of clinical hypnosis. His advanced study in clinical hypnosis includes: trauma-informed integrative medicine, hypnosis for enhancing comfort in individuals with chronic pain, hypnosis for the abuse of opioids, an integrative mind-body approach to hypnosis, the treatment of chronic physical problems including gut health, irritable bowel syndrome and autoimmune problems, the integration of hypnotic utilization, neuroplasticity, and the psychophysiologic pattern, transforming trauma with hypnotic memory reconsolidation, relational strategies for the developmental repair of trauma, somatic pain, and anxiety, clinical hypnosis with patients in cancer care, trance and the treatment of military veterans with traumatic experiences, hypnosis for relaxation and sleep, and hypnotic suggestion and positive expectancies.
Dr. Stanley, a licensed psychologist since 1994, holds a Certification in Clinical Hypnosis with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Stanley continues to study and practice clinical hypnosis. In addition to the continued study of alleviating pain and maximizing comfort through the use of clinical hypnosis, Dr. Stanley has studied trauma-informed integrative medicine, the interaction of hypnotic utilization, neuroplasticity, and the psychophysiologic pattern, the North Carolina Hypnosis Protocol for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and the teaching of self-hypnosis to cancer patients and those with other chronic illnesses.
In addition to his practice of clinical hypnosis, Dr. Stanley brings a relational lens to the clients he serves. A Clinical Fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy since 1992, Dr. Stanley has worked successfully with hundreds of couples and families. He has taught graduate sources in Marriage and Family Therapy as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at West Virginia University and provided consultation to children and youth serving organizations while on the faculty of the Western Pennsylvania Family Center in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He trained extensively in Adlerian Psychology early in his career, has been in conference with some of the pioneers in the field including Virginia Satir and Salvador Minuchin, and began specializing in Bowen family systems and therapy in 1985.