Hypnosis Training in Psychology Intern Programs

Abstract

The use of hypnosis is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice. This article examines hypnosis training in psychology internship programs. A survey was sent to all APA intern programs listed in the APPIC directory requesting information about opportunities for training and utilizing hypnosis during the intern year. Thirteen percent of responding programs (n = 424) reported regular seminars in hypnosis, while another 37% offer elective opportunities. However, of those programs that provide training, the average amount of time was approximately seven hours. The authors conclude that while training is provided to a significant percentage of interns, the amount of time is not enough to allow for its ethical use. It is suggested that as the use of hypnosis increases, training programs may want to consider opportunities for more adequate hypnosis training.