Welcome to the ICCHP Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Free Training Course. There are over 50 hypnotherapy topics presented here, which make up a complete introductory hypnotherapy training course module. You can use this free online course to complete the equivalent of our first online learning module, free of charge. There are 12 course modules in total, so after completing this free first course module you will be able to decide if you would like to learn more about hypnotherapy and continue your training with the ICCHP.
The introductory hypnotherapy course module is the first step to learning clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy. It is the first module of the ICCHP´s flagship clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy twelve module course. The twelve modules make up a complete programme of online open learning, leading to a Diploma in Integrative Evidence- based Clinical Hypnotherapy and Mind Body Health Practice.
Once you complete the introductory level module you can purchase the course and gain access to the more advanced level modules which include
hypno-analysis and psycho-dynamic hypnotherapy
behavioural hypnotherapy
cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy
indirect conversational (Erickson) hypnotherapy
advanced integrative hypno-psychotherapy
evidence-based hypnotherapy
mind body health
other specialist topic areas of hypnosis, hypnotherapy and mind body health practice
Hypnosis can be traced all the way back in history to the time of Buddha and eastern philosophy.
Its techniques have been practised throughout history.
Many references to the practice of hypnosis start with Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) and his practice of mesmerism and animal magnetism.
Nineteenth century hypnosis is believed to have been established with Scottish surgeon James Esdaile (1808 – 1859), who performed many surgical amputations without anaesthetic and claimed to hypnotise his patients.
Along with Esdaile, James Braid (1795 – 1860), a Scottish surgeon, who is considered one of the fathers of hypnosis, coined the modern term hypnosis (sleep process).
During the 20th century many different medical and psychological practitioners experimented with the use of hypnosis to varying degrees. Emile Coué (1857-1926) was one of the first early 20th century practitioners.
Today, many modern hypnosis practitioners study and use the techniques developed and used by Milton Erickson (1901-1980).
There have been many practitioners of hypnosis throughout history.
Instead of having them all listed here for you to read about, you will need to search the Internet for information on the history of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, along with the major contributing practitioners.
Here is a video demonstration of hypnotherapy training - Arm Levitation
This induction leads naturally into deepening, and is a very effective means of convincing a client that they are entering trance.
Ask your client to look at their non-dominant hand as it rests on their lap. You then give suggestions of their arm becoming lighter and lifting/floating up.
Always give suggestions for lifting and lightness on your client’s in-breath.
Repeat the suggestions for lifting until the hand has lifted all the way off your client’s lap, then continue with suggestions of relaxation and sleep.
Repeat the suggestions for lifting until your client’s hand touches their face and their eyes close.
Then continue with the deepening as you give deep relaxation suggestions and the hand lowering back to their lap.
This technique is a great induction process to use as a convincer, or ratifier to demonstrate to someone sceptical of hypnosis that it actually works. it works well with kinaesthetic individuals. It is a great induction process to use when treating nail biting, smoking and eating disorders.
Arm Levitation Induction & Deepening Process
• This induction leads naturally into deepening, and is a very effective means of convincing a client that they are entering trance.
Contraindications:
• Do not use if your client experiences pain when moving their shoulder, arm or back.
• It's useful for kin-aesthetic patients, children, teenagers, smokers, binge eaters, etc.
Induction Script
• Ask your client to look at their non-dominant hand as it rests on their lap.
• When positioning the clinet for a hand levitation technique you can arrange their hand by raising their wrist very slightly so that only the fingertips are in contact with the surface below – or suggest that they can position themselves so they can feel the fabric beneath their fingertips. Demonstrate this by doing it yourself. Some practitioners touch the client's wrist to adjust it, but it can just be shown.
• Research has shown that if the practitioner assists the arm to rise it helps to get a levitation (Burkhard et al 2013). This requires gaining permission to touch the client before trance is initiated.
“… as you continue to look at that hand … it is perfectly natural … for your vision to distort … but what I really want you to pay attention to … are the feelings … the physical sensations in the hand … in any part of the hand … you may notice a slight tremor in one of the fingers … or the thumb … there may be a slight movement of the whole hand … as an elbow muscle contracts … you may experience a numb … wooden sensation in the back of the hand … and it really doesn't matter just what feelings develop in the hand … the important thing for you to do … is to sense fully … whatever sensations develop … and in a few moments’ time … I will ask your unconscious mind … to make your hand feel … very … very light … and … for your unconscious mind to lift that hand off your lap … and the hand will feel lighter and lighter all the time … and the lifting … will occur slowly … hesitantly … jerkily … the movement will be uncertain … and I want you to notice … how with each breath you are taking … your hand is lifting … lifting just a little bit … lifting higher and higher … becoming lighter and lighter all the time … lifting … lifting …”
Always give suggestions for lifting and lightness on your client’s in-breath.
• You can use imagery suggestions of balloons, air cushions, etc. to help the hand lift.
• Keep repeating the suggestions for lifting until the hand has lifted all the way off your clinets’s lap, then continue.
Optional (if the hand is lifting well)
“… as your hand continues to lift … you will notice … that the hand … is beginning to move towards your face … lifting … lifting … (repeat as necessary) … and soon … your hand will touch your face … and then … your eyes will close … and you will go into a deep … very deep state of relaxation … but your hand … will not touch your face … before you are ready … lifting … lifting …”
• Repeat the suggestions for lifting until your clinets’s hand touches their face and their eyes close.
• If the hand only lifted a little off of the lap, it is still a levitation and just continue with the deepening, lowing the hand.
• If the hand does not appear to lift and you are out of time then you can either assist the lift (if you have permission to touch) or you can just continue with the deepening.
Deepening:
“… and your hand can now slowly return to your lap … and with every inch or centimetre it drops … you are going deeper and deeper … more and more relaxed … all the way deep down relaxed … and when your hand reaches your lap … it will rest there (use your clinet's name here) … comfortably rest there …”
• You could use any additional deepening process to further deepen the trance if necessary.
This is a demonstration of hypnotherapy training, teaching self hypnosis. This is part of the ICCHP hypnotherapy course.
The practice of self hypnosis brings numerous benefits and is an important part of being a hypnotherapist; it should, in some form, become a daily practice in your own personal life.In addition, in the professional setting, it will form part of your therapeutic intervention with patients; you will need to teach some of your patients how to practice self hypnosis themselves.
There are a number of reasons why we as hypnotherapists should practice it regularly, but also why it will form part of your patient's hypnotherapy training.
•Like the practice of meditation or other relaxation techniques, self hypnosis allows you to relax your body free of stress.
•It relaxes and calms your mind and also helps to maintain a clear and focused mind.
•This in turn gives you more control over your thinking, more control over the way you behave and interact with others.
•This control in turn will promote and support a more confident mind and person.•It will train your mind to focus and concentrate.
•As you practice on a regular basis this develops into a virtuous circle.
•As you become more relaxed, clear thinking in control and confident, you become even more relaxed about yourself and clear in your mind.
•It alters your being and puts you in tune with yourself and the natural energy of existence.
•So, you can see that self hypnosis is a means to: reduce stress.clear the mind of negative thoughts.focus the mind on solutions.Improve concentration.improve personal interaction with others.give control over many aspects of one's life.create and support confidence.
•It can be a therapy on its own or form part of a planned therapeutic intervention witha patient. It can set a patient up for future therapy. You may give the patient therapeutic things to do when they do their self hypnosis.
There are many self hypnosis books and internet resources available. It is suggested that students explore and experiment with different approaches to self hypnosis, so that they can find what works best for them and their patients, should they become therapists.