Current Trends in Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: An Interdisciplinary Assessment

Abstract

This research was designed to provide a body of information on the opinions of a representative sample of hypnosis practitioners and researchers regarding issues related to the current trends in hypnosis and hypnotherapy. A survey of 500 members (psychologists, physicians, and dentists) of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis resulted in a 33 percent return rate and was followed by a telephone survey of 9 percent of nonrespondents to increase generalizability. Respondents were asked to provide demographic information, identify books and journals perceived as influential and significant to hypnosis, identify current major authors and theoreticians in the field of hypnosis, and assess directions of future research and applied growth in hypnosis. Overall, respondents indicated a relative balance in representative books, authors, and theoretical views secondary to the continued pervasive influence of Milton Erickson. Behavioral medicine and neurological/neuropsychological bases of hypnosis research and practice were rated high in terms of future growth.

Key Words:

• hypnosis
• hypnotherapy
• dentists
• physicians
• psychologists