The Clinical Hypnosis Society of New Jersey is pleased to offer the next in the series of conversations based on the book, Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: the basics and beyond, edited by Dr. Gary Elkins.
Join us on Saturday, September 26, 2026 as we welcome Ciara Christensen, Ph.D. and Aaron Finley, Psy.D. presenting "Integrating Hypnosis into Clinical Practice and Applications.”
This program will be held virtually on Zoom from 11AM to 1PM EDT.
The Clinical Conversations are free to members of ASCH, its component sections, SCEH, ESH, and ISH. There is a $15 fee for nonmembers. All proceeds go to fund the Stephen R. Lankton Scholarship Award.
This program has been approved by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Standards ofTraining Committee for 2 CE credits to be used toward Membership and Certification requirements. (See additional information below.)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This two-hour workshop offers a practical and engaging overview of the research supporting clinical hypnosis as an evidence-based intervention across a range of clinical concerns. We will discuss clinical hypnosis, highlight representative research demonstrating its efficacy, and explore how hypnotic techniques can be thoughtfully integrated with established therapeutic approaches. Drawing on research, clinical examples, and interactive discussion, participants will consider how hypnosis can expand the therapeutic toolkit and support meaningful clinical change. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of both the evidence for clinical hypnosis and its potential applications across diverse practice settings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
1. Describe at least three findings from the research literature demonstrating how the integration of hypnotic interventions can improve treatment outcomes across clinical conditions.
2. Describe at least three therapeutic approaches with which hypnotic interventions can be integrated to enhance clinical treatment.
AGENDA
11:00 - 11:10 am: Opening: What Makes Hypnosis Clinically Useful?
11:10 – 11:40 am: Medical and Psychophysiological Applications
- Pain and headache: Review hypnosis as analgesic intervention, direct suggestions for analgesia, and adjunctive value with medication or other care.
- Fibromyalgia: Review hypnosis for chronic pain and central sensitization example, highlighting sleep quality, catastrophizing, stress management, and quality-of-life outcomes.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Use as the primary gut-brain interaction example; discuss Gut Directed Hypnotherapy as one of the evidence-based psychological treatments alongside CBT.
- Asthma and hypertension: Review hypnosis for autonomic and psychophysiological regulation examples, linking to relaxation, parasympathetic tone, symptom perception, and self-management.
- Autoimmune disorders and skin disorders: Review hypnosis as adjunctive mind-body applications, with emphasis on symptom management, flare-up remission, coping, and quality of life.
- Menopause: Review hypnosis especially for hot flashes, imagery, cooling suggestions, and alternatives when hormone replacement therapy is not preferred or available.
11:40 – 12:10 pm: Clinical and Behavioral Health Applications
- Anxiety and stress: Review hypnosis for physical symptoms and psychological symptoms; emphasize CBT plus hypnosis, relaxation, self-hypnosis, and self-efficacy.
- Depression: Discuss hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment that supports coping, reframing, positive orientation, self-image, and hope, including Cognitive Hypnotherapy.
- PTSD: Review hypnosis for anxiety and depression, dissociation, arousal regulation, safe remembering, and integration.
- Addiction and relapse prevention: Review hypnosis for behavioral-change, emphasizing altered states, stages of change, self-efficacy, abstinence support, and relapse prevention.
- Eating disorders and obesity/weight loss: Review hypnosis for self-regulation and behavioral-change examples, while clearly distinguishing eating disorders from weight-management interventions.
- Sleep difficulties and disturbances: Review hypnosis for sleep; connects to anxiety, depression, pain, trauma, and overall functioning.
12:10 – 12:25 pm: Procedure-Specific and Specialty Applications
- Pre-surgery: Review hypnosis for procedural preparation, emphasizing reduction of
- Dentistry: Review hypnosis for anxiety reduction, pain management, rapid inductions, local anesthesia support, and patient cooperation.
- Conversion disorders / functional neurological disorder: Review hypnosis for specialized clinical application with careful assessment, personalization, and attention to therapeutic context.
12:25 – 12:37 pm: Strengthening, Performance, and Integration
- Ego strengthening: Review hypnosis for link across the presentation because many conditions involve self-efficacy, resilience, coping, and confidence.
- Sports performance: Review hypnosis for focus, activation, mental rehearsal, and performance enhancement.
12:37 – 1:00 pm: Questions, Wrap-Up
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Ciara Christensen, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate from Washington State University in 2012. She is PSYPACT authorized and has worked across hospital-based and private practice settings. Dr. Christensen has held several leadership roles in the field of clinical hypnosis, serving as President of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH) and as President of the American Psychological Association’s Division 30, Society of Psychological Hypnosis. Her work in hypnosis spans research, education, and clinical practice, with publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations and workshops delivered nationally and internationally.
Aaron Finley, Psy.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles, where he maintains a clinical practice. He earned his doctoral degree from Baylor University, completing his research training within the Mind-Body Medicine Research Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Elkins. Dr. Finley’s research interests explore the intersection of psychological flow states and their application to clinical and quality-of-life contexts. His scholarly work has focused on the efficacy of hypnosis in managing vasomotor symptoms in post-treatment cancer survivors and menopausal women, enhancing sleep quality among caregivers of individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and investigating pathways to post-traumatic growth.
This program has been approved by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Standards of Training Committee to be used toward Membership and Certification requirements: 2 credits
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis-Education and Research Foundation (ASCH-ERF) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Education and Research Foundation (ASCH-ERF) designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (886386995-7390) for 2 continuing education contact hours.
This course is approved by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and as such is an approved continuing education course per Florida’s AC-Rule 64B-4-6002 American Society of Clinical Hypnosis-ERF is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider.
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Education & Research Foundation Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. 10/1/2021 to 9/30/2027. Provider ID#217022
Training health and mental health professionals since 1986