Fear of Public Speaking: Hypnosis Can Cure the Fear

When you fear public speaking, you face many challenges if you are ever expected to deliver a speech. Many public speakers have anxiety before making a presentation in front of a group of people and this stress can actually help with the delivery. However, when this anxiousness grows into a phobia or a state of panic, you may want to consider a hypnosis CD to help you overcome this problem.

How Anxiety Helps

You may be surprised to discover that everyone feels some stress and anxiety, no matter how talented. Nervous energy and anxiety can be channeled into the delivery, making a very energetic performance balanced with a good sense of timing. You can learn how to channel your nervous energy into a positive force for your presentations through self-hypnosis.

This anxiousness and nervous energy also helps you make a connection with the audience. When you are able to relate to your audience, you are better able to make a powerful speech. Effective public speaking begins with creating a dynamic with the audience.

Perception of the Audience

You might be worried about the audience’s perception of you but you really need to focus on your perception of the audience. Many successful speakers see their performance as a way of communicating with many people at once. They know that the people listening are sympathetic and they make themselves relatable.

Consider that the fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias. Chances are that nearly everyone in the crowd has the same fear that you do. Simply making note of your nervousness in a lighthearted manner is a wonderful way to ease into the presentation.

Taking Control of Your Emotions

You can get control of your emotions through your subconscious mind. Your self-consciousness is part of the problem. You are too aware of yourself, making it difficult to see the audience and their point of view. Think about the speeches that you have enjoyed in the past. These presentations are not likely to have been flawless.

You can use hypnosis to program your subconscious mind to communicate calmness to the rest of your body. Your emotional state is stable and your body does not fall into patterns of panic commonly associated with excessive anxiety and stress.

Fear Public Speaking Hypnosis CD

Your can begin taking control you your emotions and you can begin to visualize yourself delivering a comfortable speech byadopting a self-hypnosis recording. This process is very simple and it takes no more effort than setting aside some time to relax and listen.

Duncan McColl created many fantastic recordings during his lifetime and it is very fortunate that we still have access to his work. His recording found here - Fear Public Speaking offers the support that you need. Other valuable recordings on the subject can be found here - Hypnosis CD. Simply click the links for more information.

J Seymour writes for a number of hypnosis and NLP related websites - an online self hypnosis shop based in the USA,- a site in the UK which both offers one to one hypnotherapy sessions and hosts a self hypnosis recordings shop, and - a hypnotherapy and NLP site based in Ireland.

Hypnotherapy for treatment of irritable bowl syndrome

 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD005110.

Hypnotherapy for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Gastroenterology, Flemington Road, Parkville Victoria 3052, Melbourne, Australia. annette.webb@rch.org.au

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder of unknown aetiology. Current pharmacological treatments have limited value. Hypnotherapy has been reported to have beneficial effects for IBS symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of hypnotherapy for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. SEARCH STRATEGY: Published and unpublished randomised clinical trials and quasi-randomised clinical trials were identified through structured searches of MEDLINE (1966 to March 2006), EMBASE (1980 to March 2006), PsycINFO (1806 to March 2006), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, 1982 to March 2006), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, 1985 to March 2006) and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials. Conference proceedings from Digestive Disease Week (1980 to 2005) were also searched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Eligible studies included all randomised and quasi-randomised clinical studies comparing hypnotherapy for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with no treatment or another therapeutic intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All studies were evaluated for eligibility for inclusion. Included studies were assessed for quality and data were extracted independently by four authors. The primary outcome measure of interest was the overall bowel symptom severity score which combines abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation and bloating. Secondary outcomes included abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, quality of life, patient's overall assessment of well-being, psychological measures as per validated questionnaires, and adverse events. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies including a total of 147 patients met the inclusion criteria. Only one study compared hypnotherapy to an alternative therapy (psychotherapy and placebo pill), two studies compared hypnotherapy with waiting-list controls and the final study compared hypnotherapy to usual medical management. Data were not pooled for meta-analysis due to differences in outcome measures and study design. The therapeutic effect of hypnotherapy was found to be superior to that of a waiting list control or usual medical management, for abdominal pain and composite primary IBS symptoms, in the short term in patients who fail standard medical therapy. Harmful side-effects were not reported in any of the trials. However, the results of these studies should be interpreted with caution due to poor methodological quality and small size. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the included trials was inadequate to allow any conclusion about the efficacy of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. More research with high quality trials is needed.

PMID: 17943840 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Experiences With Past Life Regression

Author: TheBrain December 27, 2009 While there is no denying that a vast number of people are curious with regards to having had a past life, the number of people who are interested purely for the sake of being able to improve their current life, is dramatically less. Of course, some people still continue to question the possibility of having had past lives even though it is so widely accepted by almost all religions.

Really, it�s a shame that the majority of those displaying an interest in their previous lives are simply just curious and nothing more. If only they could realize just how powerful PLR can be in helping them shape this life for the better.

Scientists of today are beginning to see that there are benefits to PLR therapy. Studies have shown that people can make big changes in their life for the better once they have dealt with horrible things that happened to them in a past life.

To learn about your past lives you will need to go to a hypnosis that specializes in Past Life Regression. You can also do it with self-hypnosis. There are other things that are useful as well. For example, regular affirmation sessions ensure it is acceptable to your subconscious mind to remember the events of your past lives.

There are some things you need to understand before you decide to use Past Life Regression.

The life you�re living now is connected to your past life or lives and memories from those past lives still dwell within your subconscious. You only require a little help in order to recall them.

Your knowledge of a past life experience will not help you much. You must take that information and use it in a practical manner in order to have positive results in this life.

Just as one can learn from mistakes you make in this life, so you can also learn from mistakes made in a past life.

For those who do not believe in reincarnation Past Life Regression can still help them have a better life. Even if they believe their memories of the past are only imaginary, they can still apply it to better their lives and avoid mistakes in what they do day by day. It is a great tool for people who wish to change their lives and have greater success.

There are a couple of good reasons for using Past Life Regression whether you believe in it or not. The following is the two main reasons to do this according to experts:

*Taking something you learned from a session and making a change in your present life points to the idea that it was a real past life event.

*Furthermore, it is believed that even if you refuse to accept memories resulting from PLR to indeed be from a past life experience, the very process will quite often free you from other mental burdens.

Exactly what are all the benefits to a past life regression session?

*PLR actively assists in healing emotional and mental wounds from the past which continue plaguing us even in our current life.

*It promotes a clearer understanding of our current situation and allows us to remain focused in our daily lives.

*Remember your mistakes and then learn from them. We often learn from the mistakes we have made in this life but by then it is too late. If you were exceptionally cruel in a past life, you can change that in this life.

*Somewhere, locked inside one�s subconscious, there are gifts or special talents which you learnt in a past life and in all probability, you may very well be able to use these in this life and if so, then PLR will make this possible.

*When you understand the life, you lived before it will shed some light on your current state of being. Why you are, the way you are is a question many of us face and never find the answer to.

Whether one believes in Past Life Regression or not, the fact remains that you have nothing to lose by giving it a try. Let�s face it, anything which promises to improve the quality of one�s life, is certainly worth trying.

Digging up 'past lives' for a TV show

Courtesy: Mail Today December 27, 2009

Reality television in India scaled a new level of unrealism with Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka that was telecast on NDTV Imagine last week. The show reportedly uses past life regression therapy to explore the previous births of ordinary people as well as celebrities who participate. The episodes aired so far saw clinical psychologist Dr Trupti Jayin conducting the therapy on actor Shekhar Suman, besides two regular participants - Bhopal- based Swati Singh and Mumbai- based Shivesh, who works as an executive in an MNC. Dr Jayin made each participant ' visit' their previous births. Past life regression therapy does not have a scientific approval and the show has therefore invited criticism for promoting superstition. According to the format of the show, whatever problem a participant may have - physical or psychological - actually has a link to his or her past life. So, we had Shekhar Suman finding an explanation in his past life for his late son Ayush's fear of fire. Suman, it seems, was born a soldier in London. And his son, named Steven, had died when a fire broke out in the house. Similarly, according to the therapy on the show, Singh's fear of heights and fear during the take- off and landing of a plane was the result of an accident in her previous life. Singh apparently was a flight attendant in her past life and had reportedly died in a crash. And Shivesh, who had a fear of crowds, was apparently killed by a mob in his past life. Shivesh was apparently born a labourer in a backward community who worked in the stable of a king. While the format of the show seems staged, even the explanations seem to be contrived. Also, psychiatrists have reservations about using the therapy to cure mental and physical ailments. Psychiatrist Samir Parikh says, "If a therapy is used in a reality show only to thrill the audience, it is fine. But I have reservations if the therapy is being depicted as a cure for physical and mental ailments, and is being used to 'explain' phobias. The reason is that there is no scientific evidence to support such a contention. This show should just be viewed as voodoo fun." However, Dr Jayin says, "This is a holistic therapy that involves mind, body and spirit. Past life regression therapy gives an access to the subconscious mind. Since human mind has the capacity to save excessive memory, the therapy helps people in overcoming phobias that are related to their previous birth." In another episode comedian Lilliput underwent the therapy to find out the reason for his being born a dwarf.

Relaxing your way to a better game

By BRYAN FITZGERALD, Special to the Times Union First published in print: Friday, May 22, 2009 GUILDERLAND — Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw was once quoted as saying, "I'm about five inches away from being an outstanding golfer — that's the distance my right ear is from my left one."

.

No sport weighs as heavily on the mind as golf. Be it a book, a lesson, or an instructional video, golfers are always looking for a mental edge to shave a few strokes off their handicap.A few weeks ago I tried something different. I signed up for a golf hypnosis session at the Knowledge Network on Central Avenue in Albany. Golf hypnosis attempts to lower your score by tapping into the power of your subconscious. Similar techniques have been used to help people quit smoking or lose weight.

"Everyone has their own concern that they can't verbalize or express, yet they know what it is. Even the subconscious mind knows it," George Gaurino, the hypnotist for my session said. "(Hypnosis) is beautiful for all sports, but particularly for individual sports, because everybody has a particular concern that they want to work on."

I was skeptical at first. I have never been hypnotized, nor have I ever felt the urge to be. I had no idea what to expect, but just minutes into the session and I could tell what it was all about.

The term "hypnosis" is misleading. It wasn't like one of those gaudy Las Vegas stage shows. No one waves a nine-iron in front of you like a pendulum, snaps their fingers and has you saying, "I am Tiger Woods." Golf hypnosis is about deep breathing, relaxation and positive visualization. Basically, you close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and picture yourself hitting the perfect shot, on the perfect course, concentrating on just the muscles that are used in a golf swing. You're supposed to be able to put yourself back in that state of mind before your first tee shot, and then rinse and repeat for 18 holes.

On Wednesday, I went to Western Turnpike to play 18. It was just my second time out this year, so I was aiming for marginal improvement on my typical early-season score of 85-90. A little less than four hours after teeing off, I was sinking my final putt on the back 9 for my 88th stroke of the afternoon. Not great, but not terrible either.

But, more importantly, did the hypnosis work? Yes and no.

The breathing and concentration on just my golf muscles — mainly my hips — helped with my consistency. The visualization also helped give me a temporary case of amnesia after every bad shot, forgetting what just happened and focusing on the shot at hand.

The hypnosis couldn't cure my slice, however. On three separate occasions, my tee shots went too far right, leaving my Titleist three feet in front of a tree. Valuing self preservation over par, I was forced to sacrifice three stokes and lay up each time. I also had a threesome ahead of me — I was a solo — which delayed my tee shots by 5-10 minutes per hole, just enough to keep any momentum from carrying over from the previous hole. No matter how hard I visualized them waving me up to play through, they never did.

I'd recommend giving golf hypnosis a try. It didn't hurt my game and maybe I just haven't practiced with it enough to maximize its potential. If hypnosis isn't for you, there are other ways to lower your score. As Arnold Palmer once said, "I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone's golf game: it's called an eraser."

Sports Psychology: Get'cha Head in the Game

Dec. 1, 2008 | By AnnaMahalak, DSJ Staff Reporter

You’re in the middle of a test that you’ve studied so hard for - you’ve gone to Swem more this week than in your entire life. Test anxiety takes over. Replace this test situation for the final two minutes of a tied basketball game - the last shot comes down to you. How do you deal with this anxiety, the distraction of the crowd, or the student tapping his foot next to you? Sports psychology can help.

“It’s about eliminating distractions to bring out the best game,” says Deidre Connelly, sports psychology consultant for Tribe Athletics.

The stigma about seeing a sports psychologist or a counselor in general often mistakes the students who use this service as having something “wrong” with them. Deidre Connelly disputes this stereotype about counseling.

“It’s not about pathology, what we’re about is wellness. People who [see a sports psychologist] are goal-oriented and want to get better at what they do. It’s about people trying to do something special. It’s about how to be your best when it counts the most.”

While Connelly works mainly with Tribe athletes and coaches, she also receives referrals from the counseling center. These students receive extra help - help that we all could use - when it comes to stress management and coping skills, text anxiety and perfectionism issues, among others. And what William and Mary student isn’t over-involved and exposed to stress, or doesn’t have a little bit of perfectionism in him or her?

Many teams develop mantras or slogans throughout the season - one phrase they can see that will remind them to refocus. A popular slogan - “right here, right now” - is particularly difficult for William and Mary students, said Connelly. “You guys can do 23 different things at one time and get them all done,” she explained, but focusing on just one of those and staying in the moment is the difficult challenge. “[So] a lot of what we do is teaching people to stay in the moment. Real absorption in what you’re doing is when we have our best performance.”

Nerves and anxiety can also cause some of the biggest distractions, but it isn’t always about blocking out the nerves - sports psychology tools teach athletes to channel those nerves into something positive. “It’s about trust,” explains Deidre. “[Knowing that] what you have is good enough, and now you can manage.”

As the sports psychologist for the athletic department, Deidre Connelly spends much of her time teaching coaches tools to block out distraction and channel nerves, so that they can, in turn, teach their teams. As a former coach, she often finds it easy to relate to coaches who come in for a consultation on their teams. Furthermore, she added that many of the Tribe coaches are “great sports psychologists themselves.” They know how to bring out the best in their players.

One of these coaches is Men’s Head Gymnastics Coach Cliff Gauthier. His talented program has won 33 straight Virginia State Championships, as well as seen great success at the national level in recent years. As an athlete himself in both diving and gymnastics, “two sports” he describes “that lend themselves to developing the ability to visualize skills and mentally practice both skills and routines,” Gauthier understands the importance of a strong mental game combined with physical skill. In college, he utilized a variety of sports psych tools such as meditation and self-hypnosis in order to maximize his performances.

“I always assumed that if you wanted to maximize your potential in athletics or anything else you would never leave any stone unturned, so to speak,” he said.

To ensure their best performance in the athletic arena, Gauthier and his men’s team work closely with Dr. Fred Ward, a William and Mary alum and specialist in infectious diseases. He also holds an AMA board certification in hypnosis.

Gauthier explained, “He teaches our guys how to use self-hypnosis to help in all aspects of life, from overcoming fears and competing in gymnastics to performing well on tests. I regard Dr. Ward's working with the gymnasts as potentially a gift of a lifetime to these lucky guys, not only in the area of sports psychology, but also in the area of what it is to have a positive impact on people around you and to be a true gentleman. The use of positive self-hypnosis can be applied to everything from test taking (for example, actually being able to get down the information you know under the pressure situation of a test) to developing self-confidence and a personal sense of worth that can help form the cornerstone of a very successful and rewarding life.”

There are a variety of ways to utilize sports psychology to perform your very best. Deidre Connelly used the examples of a team putting an X on the back of their wrists before games, serving as a mental cue whenever something wasn’t going their way to get their heads back in the moment. She also often recommends athletes bring reminder cards to games so they can remember “I was going to play this way today.”

These cards have attitude and mindset goals, as opposed to playing goals which coaches often discuss in pre-game meetings with their teams. And sometimes, as Connelly explains, all it takes is just a “calm neutral voice that just says ‘get it done’ or ‘ready to go’ or ‘today is my day.’” These phrases are all a part of the mental preparation that goes into any athletic event, as well as job interviews or the LSATs.

Using sports psychology to “get’cha head in the game” will not only ensure success on the sports field, but also in the classroom and the workplace. To learn more about sports psych and distractions in personal performance, schedule an appointment with the counseling center, or enroll in a sports psychology class next fallurnal.

Sports Psychology: Get'cha Head in the Game

Dec. 1, 2008 | By Anna Mahalak, DSJ Staff Reporter

You’re in the middle of a test that you’ve studied so hard for - you’ve gone to Swem more this week than in your entire life. Test anxiety takes over. Replace this test situation for the final two minutes of a tied basketball game - the last shot comes down to you. How do you deal with this anxiety, the distraction of the crowd, or the student tapping his foot next to you? Sports psychology can help.

“It’s about eliminating distractions to bring out the best game,” says Deidre Connelly, sports psychology consultant for Tribe Athletics.

The stigma about seeing a sports psychologist or a counselor in general often mistakes the students who use this service as having something “wrong” with them. Deidre Connelly disputes this stereotype about counseling.

“It’s not about pathology, what we’re about is wellness. People who [see a sports psychologist] are goal-oriented and want to get better at what they do. It’s about people trying to do something special. It’s about how to be your best when it counts the most.”

While Connelly works mainly with Tribe athletes and coaches, she also receives referrals from the counseling center. These students receive extra help - help that we all could use - when it comes to stress management and coping skills, text anxiety and perfectionism issues, among others. And what William and Mary student isn’t over-involved and exposed to stress, or doesn’t have a little bit of perfectionism in him or her?

Many teams develop mantras or slogans throughout the season - one phrase they can see that will remind them to refocus. A popular slogan - “right here, right now” - is particularly difficult for William and Mary students, said Connelly. “You guys can do 23 different things at one time and get them all done,” she explained, but focusing on just one of those and staying in the moment is the difficult challenge. “[So] a lot of what we do is teaching people to stay in the moment. Real absorption in what you’re doing is when we have our best performance.”

Nerves and anxiety can also cause some of the biggest distractions, but it isn’t always about blocking out the nerves - sports psychology tools teach athletes to channel those nerves into something positive. “It’s about trust,” explains Deidre. “[Knowing that] what you have is good enough, and now you can manage.”

As the sports psychologist for the athletic department, Deidre Connelly spends much of her time teaching coaches tools to block out distraction and channel nerves, so that they can, in turn, teach their teams. As a former coach, she often finds it easy to relate to coaches who come in for a consultation on their teams. Furthermore, she added that many of the Tribe coaches are “great sports psychologists themselves.” They know how to bring out the best in their players.

One of these coaches is Men’s Head Gymnastics Coach Cliff Gauthier. His talented program has won 33 straight Virginia State Championships, as well as seen great success at the national level in recent years. As an athlete himself in both diving and gymnastics, “two sports” he describes “that lend themselves to developing the ability to visualize skills and mentally practice both skills and routines,” Gauthier understands the importance of a strong mental game combined with physical skill. In college, he utilized a variety of sports psych tools such as meditation and self-hypnosis in order to maximize his performances.

“I always assumed that if you wanted to maximize your potential in athletics or anything else you would never leave any stone unturned, so to speak,” he said.

To ensure their best performance in the athletic arena, Gauthier and his men’s team work closely with Dr. Fred Ward, a William and Mary alum and specialist in infectious diseases. He also holds an AMA board certification in hypnosis.

Gauthier explained, “He teaches our guys how to use self-hypnosis to help in all aspects of life, from overcoming fears and competing in gymnastics to performing well on tests. I regard Dr. Ward's working with the gymnasts as potentially a gift of a lifetime to these lucky guys, not only in the area of sports psychology, but also in the area of what it is to have a positive impact on people around you and to be a true gentleman. The use of positive self-hypnosis can be applied to everything from test taking (for example, actually being able to get down the information you know under the pressure situation of a test) to developing self-confidence and a personal sense of worth that can help form the cornerstone of a very successful and rewarding life.”

There are a variety of ways to utilize sports psychology to perform your very best. Deidre Connelly used the examples of a team putting an X on the back of their wrists before games, serving as a mental cue whenever something wasn’t going their way to get their heads back in the moment. She also often recommends athletes bring reminder cards to games so they can remember “I was going to play this way today.”

These cards have attitude and mindset goals, as opposed to playing goals which coaches often discuss in pre-game meetings with their teams. And sometimes, as Connelly explains, all it takes is just a “calm neutral voice that just says ‘get it done’ or ‘ready to go’ or ‘today is my day.’” These phrases are all a part of the mental preparation that goes into any athletic event, as well as job interviews or the LSATs.

Using sports psychology to “get’cha head in the game” will not only ensure success on the sports field, but also in the classroom and the workplace. To learn more about sports psych and distractions in personal performance, schedule an appointment with the counseling center, or enroll in a sports psychology class next fall.

Coach targets mental game in high-pressure sport

Coach targets mental game in high-pressure sport Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, August 17, 2008 Vincent Hancock is a nervous person, who by his own admission simply cannot keep still. But when everything was on the line Saturday and he had to hit two final shots to win the skeet shooting Olympic gold medal, he stepped up and calmly blew the whizzing disks out of the sky. How does a jittery 19-year-old kid from Georgia keep cool under the intense pressure of an Olympic final when everyone around him is sweating bricks? That's where Daniel Vitchoff steps in. "I specialize in hypnosis," said Vitchoff, a performance coach and sports psychologist hired to work with the U.S. shooting team. "When you are shooting in the Olympics, it comes down to who can best perform under extreme pressure. Out there, everybody is as good as the next person. It's not a physical thing anymore. The difference between the best and the rest is the mental game." Shooters must control their emotions yet still maintain their intensity and concentration. It is especially hard because there is no physical outlet for all the adrenaline that is building. It is a recipe for the yips. "There are guys who shoot perfect scores in practice and then they fall apart in the competition," Vitchoff said. "It's like having a phobia. It gets into their head and tears them apart. A lot of what I do is teach them to let it go." That's where the hypnosis comes in. The idea, Vitchoff said, is to put the athletes into a meditative state by lowering their blood pressure and heart rate, sometimes with music. Vitchoff then uses what is essentially the power of suggestion to reinforce positive thoughts. He said he goes over the relaxation techniques repeatedly until his subjects are able to reach what he calls the "zone." "Look at Michael Jordon. When he played, his tongue was out, his jaw was relaxed. He was in a zone," Vitchoff said. Another technique is called modeling, in which he takes something the athlete is struggling with and has him or her watch video over and over of that particular thing being done successfully. "In our business, we always say success has a structure," Vitchoff said. "If you watch success, you can duplicate it." Eating right and proper exercise are crucial parts of such a regimen, Vitchoff said. For shooters, he recommends more protein - because carbohydrates hype you up and then make you crash - and repetitive exercise like running and biking. "The stronger your heart, the slower it beats, so if I have to pull the trigger between heartbeats, I want to work on slowing it down," Vitchoff said. This article appeared on page C - 12 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Saunders takes Wizards helm with hypnosis

By Joseph White, AP Sports Writer

RICHMOND, Va. — Flip Saunders opened his first Washington Wizards training camp with a hypnotist who had guard Nick Young running around like a horse.

The coach also handed out iPods loaded with a huge play book -- hope the players don't lose 'em -- plus blue T-shirts and baseball caps emblazoned with the slogan "Our Time."

As if that wasn't enough for the Wizards to realize that change had come, they also experienced a Saunders practice: efficient and extremely organized from start to finish.

"He don't play around when he's explaining something," veteran forward Antawn Jamison said. "He expects you to pay attention."

The Wizards took to the court at Virginia Commonwealth University on Tuesday to begin the process of renewal and recovery after last year's injury-ruined 19-63 season that cost coach Eddie Jordan his job before Thanksgiving. Three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas looked fine on his thrice-repaired left knee -- "He was like the typical Gil that we'd seen before the injury," Jamison said -- leaving the focus on the new coach.

Saunders, according to team president Ernie Grunfeld, will bring "a new type of professionalism" to the Wizards.

It's a type of professionalism that leaves room for entertainment. After arriving in town Monday night, Saunders brought in humor hypnotist John Ivan Palmer to work his behavioral control magic on several members of the organization.

Young was the life of the party, riding a broom as if it were a horse. Arenas found himself unable to unclench a fist, while guard DeShawn Stevenson -- known for his "can't feel my face" gesture when he scores a basket -- said he literally was unable to feel his face.

"It just opened everybody up. Everybody bonded with each other," Stevenson said. "Instead of everybody coming here and sitting in our rooms with nobody talking to each other, we were in a room laughing. It made us close."

Jamison said he had some good laughs but didn't participate himself.

"I wish I was hypnotized last year," he said, rolling his eyes.

Saunders also distributed the new hats and caps Monday night. "Our Time" is hardly a groundbreaking slogan, but it's easy to buy into, given the team's recent struggles.

"We've been through so many down times, and so many negative things have been done or said, it's our time to put all that stuff behind and do what's expected and do what we believe can happen," Jamison said. "If you don't believe it, we'll find a way to get you out of here."

Around his neck, Jamison wore his new Saunders-issued iPod. Yes, it does require a unique code to use -- a bit of protection just in case it gets left in a hotel lobby. It includes videos and diagrams of plays, and it can be updated at any time.

"They got the schedule for what we're going to do in March," Jamison said. "From what time we're leaving the bus, shootaround, those are the things that to me make a difference. There's no excuse why you don't know the plays. You can listen to your music and look at the plays."

Arenas, as is his custom, arrived at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday for the first practice. Forward Caron Butler got there at 8 a.m., some 2{ hours early, saying it felt "like the first day of school."

"Coach Saunders and the coaching staff, they had it going real fast with a nice pace," Butler said. "By the time we looked up, it was 2{ hours into it, we was done."

Said Jamison: "We have a lot to learn. That play book is like one of those NFL play books, it goes on for days. But he incorporated things so quickly, and then you go right into it. It's no rest time. They don't play around."

Some things don't change, however. For years, the Wizards have opened training camp promising they will finally start playing better defense. Sure enough, they broke one of their huddles with the chant: "1-2-3, defense!" Given the team's defense-challenged history, it wouldn't have been surprising if Saunders had asked the hypnotist to put the players in a spell while saying over and over: "You will play defense."

"It's not talking about it, we're just going to have to do it," Jamison said. "Yes, we mean it this year."

Benefits of Hypnosis and Imagery in Athletes

(NaturalNews) I recently met a friend, John, for lunch and I hadn't seen him in awhile so we caught up on what was going on in each other's lives. He mentioned that he recently signed up to race in a marathon and he was one month into his training. I thought that this was amazing because running has never been my thing and I have so much respect for people who commit so much time and effort into their goals. I asked him how his training was going. He said it was going well so far, but since he was only one month into his training, he hadn't been on any really long or hard runs yet. John explained to me that he had signed up for a marathon a few years ago and two months into his training he lost all motivation and had some injuries that he couldn't shake. I said some encouraging words to him and I also told him that hypnotherapy might help him with motivation and pain control during his runs and his training. As we ended our lunch, I wished John well and told him that I hoped he wouldn't need hypnotherapy, but I was willing to help him if he needed it.

Over the years I have helped many athletes from body builders and gymnasts to major league baseball players. Even though their individual sports are very different, they all have similar issues to overcome. In almost all the athletes I have seen, there has been some sort of barrier or force keeping them from reaching their true potential. They often believe that they can be better, stronger, or faster in their sport, but they aren't quite sure how to get there. Hypnotherapy is a great tool because it allows the athlete to bypass the challenges they have in order to ultimately reach their goal. It also allows them to focus in on their goals and see themselves actually accomplishing what they have set out to do.

In an article in the California Association for Counseling and Development (CACD) Journal, published in 1994, studies were performed using imagery with athletes under hypnosis. The study approached using hypnosis in sports along with relaxation and stress reduction, pain management, and performance enhancement.

While using hypnosis for relaxation and stress reduction purposes, one study found that there are three main causes for anxiety in athletes. The first cause of stress is the fundamental nature of sports, which is competition. Competition in sports causes anxiety in athletes. Second, the stress of comparing performance to those you are competing against. And third, the pressure that athletes put on themselves to perform.

The article points out that by using progressive muscle relaxation, for example relaxing all the muscles from your head down to your toes, athletes were able to relax and focus on their abilities and not their stress. Also, the study recommended that hypnotherapists try to figure out whether the athlete is naturally a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic person. Using imagery in a way that most appeals to the athlete, resulted in more powerful realization of goals. In other words, the athlete was able to best imagine their goal when using the imagery method that they found to be most powerful, either visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.

The article points out that there are many types of hypnosis methods that help athletes cope with pain. They include: dissociation, distraction, time distortion, anesthesia, and relaxation. Dissociation helps sports athletes to dissociate themselves from the pain. Distraction allows the athlete to focus their attention on something positive rather than on the pain. Time distortion allows the athlete to shorten the amount of time that they perceive the pain. The anesthesia method helps to alleviate the pain. Lastly, relaxation techniques are used to help athletes cope with pain. Different studies performed found these methods to work on various athletes. Keep in mind that these techniques, including anesthesia, are all accomplished without the use of drugs.

The method of imagery used in the study to promote performance enhancement has been shown to be very beneficial for the athlete. Before competition, the athlete is taught to close their eyes and really focus on their goal. They picture themselves accomplishing their goal and when they are able to imagine it, they attempt this goal. This method is referred to as "psyching up." This "psyching up" technique is found to be most successful when short bursts of energy are needed such as a defensive football player tackling his opponent or a weight-lifter. Imagery has also been shown to prepare the athlete for competition. In the study, there was a direct correlation between success of the athlete using the imagery method and the athlete's experience and commitment to the sport.

A few weeks after I had lunch with my friend John, he gave me a call and he felt like hypnotherapy could help him. He came in for a session and we discussed the problems he was having. I helped him realize that all he needed was a boost of confidence and motivation. I had him visualize running the marathon. I had him visualize himself at different mile markers feeling great and confident. I had him picture himself crossing the finish line. John was a very auditory person, so as he was crossing the finish line, I had him imagine the crowd cheering and clapping for him. John realized that by actually visualizing his goal, it gave him enough motivation and confidence to get through his training and ultimately complete the marathon.

Source:

California Association for Counseling and Development Journal, v14 p65-67 1994.

Bennett: A different sort

Published: March 04, 2006 12:31 am

Bennett: A different sort

By ERIC KNOPSNYDERThe Tribune-DemocratAt times, wrestling looks so easy for Westmont Hilltop freshman Zac Bennett that it seems he must be in a trance.

He’s not, but he probably was the night before.

Bennett, the District 6 champion who advanced to the Southwest Regional semifinals with a second-period technical fall over Charleroi’s David Grillo on Friday night, puts himself in a hypnotic state each night before he goes to bed.

“When you’re getting tired, you give yourself suggestions,” Bennett said. “If there is a bad wrestling trait, I can try to change that by using hypnosis.”

There certainly are not many bad traits evident in Bennett’s wrestling. He improved to 34-2 after getting a first-round forfeit and then defeating Grillo.

Bennett said he discovered hypnosis by accident last fall.

He described how he entered a hypnotic state while at a haunted house in a Florida amusement park.

Since then, he’s studied up on it, reading books on the subject.

Some concentrate solely on sports hypnosis.

“It’s surprising how many athletes on all different levels use sports hypnosis,” Bennett said.

“In one sports book that I’m reading, it says that there are two middleweight boxers that use it right before they box. But, I wouldn’t want to do it before I wrestle, because when you wake up, you feel very relaxed.”

Bennett doesn’t keep his talents to himself. He estimates that he has hypnotized about 20 people so far, including three for a school project.

He also hypnotizes 130-pound teammate Kyle Patton.

“Whenever we do it for Kyle, it’s usually because he’s sore or he’s not feeling good because he’s cutting weight,” Bennett said. “I can relieve that stress.”

One person who hasn’t given in to Bennett’s persuasive powers is Westmont coach Matt Beaujon.

“He’s said about 20 times this year ‘Coach, let me hypnotize you,’ ” said Beaujon, who hasn’t relented.

“It’s a long process. It takes like 20 minutes. I just don’t have the time.”

Bennett doesn’t think he’ll ever talk his coach into it.

“He doesn’t really believe in it,” Bennett said. “You can’t hypnotize someone unless they’re willing to be hypnotized. He wouldn’t open up his mind.”

But Beaujon is willing to let his star pupil practice on others.

“There’s always someone saying ‘Zac’s in the back, trying to hypnotize so-and-so,’ ” Beaujon said. “And I’m like ‘Just don’t let anybody get hurt.’ ”

Eric Knopsnyder can be reached at 532-5080 or eknopsnyder@tribdem.com.

Hypnotist helps with confidence

Hypnotist helps with confidence

Student taps minds of individuals, athletes

By Lindsay Sena

|

Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Updated: Tuesday, August 11, 2009

So you want to quit smoking, conquer stage fright, improve your athletic performance and gain self-confidence? Notre Dame MBA student Dale "Doc" Dougherty might be able to help with a few sessions of hypnosis.

A certified hypnotist, Dougherty said he became interested in the practice after seeing a stage show in 1990 and has practiced it for seven years. He has hosted numerous hypnosis workshops at Notre Dame, working with both individuals and sports teams.

He held one such workshop, the last beginner's session of the semester, Tuesday in the Mendoza College of Business to help students improve their study habits and test-taking and memorization skills.

Dougherty kicked off the session with a few brief meditations, asking participants to visualize relaxing settings. Contrary to stereotypes created by hypnosis stage shows, Dougherty said that your mind still has a moral code under a hypnotic trance.

"You totally have control over yourself," he said. "You can't be made to rob a bank unless you rob banks in your everyday life."

Hypnosis produces a temporary condition of attuned responsiveness at the subconscious level, giving Dougherty an opportunity to present positive thoughts and values to the hypnotized mind.

"Ideally, the positive suggestions will replace the negative suggestions that are keeping you from reaching goals of self-improvement," Dougherty said.

The best way to view hypnosis, he said, is as a state of "intense relaxation and concentration, in which the mind becomes remote and detached from everyday cares and concerns."

"You aren't asleep or unconscious," he said. "You are in an alternative state of consciousness in which you let things happen through your subconscious mind, rather than trying to make them happen with your conscious and critical mind."

Sophomore Malia Makowski said she was hesitant to try Dougherty's methods.

"I was skeptical at first about trying hypnosis after everything I've heard about it," she said at Tuesday's sessions.

But she was pleasantly surprised by the level of relaxation and harmony she reached with Dougherty's exercises.

"Even if it doesn't help my studies, it really helped me relax. I'm definitely going to try and make another one of [Dougherty's] sessions," she said.

And stressed students aren't the only ones taking advantage of Dougherty's services.

Dougherty sent letters to all Notre Dame sports teams encouraging them to try hypnosis, but he said he has only received a response from the women's golf team.

"Sports are 90 percent mental. You spend four hours a day working physically but do nothing to help the mental game," he said. "Tiger Woods has a hypnosis coach."

Sports hypnosis can assist with pain management, the ability to eliminate outside distractions and anxiety control, Dougherty's Web site says.

"You change your mind, you change your perception, you change your entire life," he said.

Training The Mind For Sports Achievement

Training the Mind for Sports Achievement

Mental training with Hypnosis can quickly help you rise to new heights in your performance and keep distractions to a minimum

Posted: 

9 June 2008

by Martin Lancaster

One of the three important factors that influence our performance in any sport, the mental state of the athlete, is often the one most commonly overlooked in any training regime, or practice in general. Most people will focus on fitness and technical ability, but often do not take enough time to train for the “Flow”, or mental state. This is crucial to performing without the negative and destructive thought processes that can sabotage any amount of physical and technique training. It is very common to find reasons for failing, even before we start a session of our chosen sport.

How often have you had doubts about the outcome, been put off by slightly bad weather, felt anxious, or you may even convince yourself that you have better things to do that day? With such negative outlooks before you even start, it is no wonder that the sporting outcome turns out exactly as you expected. Under achievement! Your mind is just not on the game today!

You get what you focus on, so if you focus on a negative result, that’s what you will usually get.

We are not always using our minds in a positive way, and the result is the formation of limiting beliefs about our sport and ourselves. This leaves us expecting failure rather than success.

By changing our approach to our sport to one that enhances self confidence, we can set realistic goals, maintain a more positive attitude, reduce anxiety and help to see the positives in setbacks and failures. This can undoubtedly lead to a considerable increase in our performance, and set in motion an upward spiral of success, rather than the familiar downward one.

In your sport, you will undoubtedly know and recognise the mental attitudes necessary for the demands of your personal top performance. Meeting these demands may be relatively easy when things are going well, but less so during times of difficulty.

Sports Psychology utilising Hypnotherapy has been developing since the 1950s when, in the 1956 Melbourne Games, the Russian Olympic team employed the services of no less than 11 hypnotherapists to greatly enhance both the team and individual performances, with excellent results. They finished first in the medal rankings.

Today, Sports Hypnosis is a rapidly expanding field of interest throughout the world. Many top sports people and athletes employ hypnotherapists, especially in golf, (for example, Tiger Woods) and this has become the sport most commonly associated with this area. You don’t need to look too far in any sport though, to find champions using hypnotic techniques to improve performance. The reason most of them don’t like to talk about it is because of the age-old myth that hypnosis is a magical power to make you do strange things. This is a misconception, in that nobody can be made to do anything against his or her will. The people we see on stage shows are pre-selected and vetted for willingness to co-operate. (If you really want to walk and squawk like a chicken, nobody is stopping you).

Being in a hypnotic trance is simply like being in the Flow state, and you will recognise it immediately.

Any sporting activity can be enhanced with the right mental state, and cycling is certainly no exception. The self-discipline and many skills needed in cycling mean it is a sport where you can easily allow self-doubt to creep in, where one bad performance can have a negative effect on the next, and the next. This may sound familiar! And it's not just in competition, but leisure riding, and your weekend ride with mates, too!

Many factors contribute to sports performance. In addition to the physical, technical and strategic demands of sport, athletes must remain focused on the acts of the sport, maintain control of their emotions, retain self-confidence, and consistently apply themselves in both training and competition. When faced with the ups and downs of their performance, most athletes will acknowledge that their mental state is a major factor. Nevertheless, rarely do athletes spend any time sharpening their mental skills, and very few have any training in this area, yet their mental condition is open to training as much as their physical conditioning. Developing mental skills is increasingly recognised as an essential part of an athletes training.

Many athletes are now keenly aware that so much of their performance is "In The Mind". Hypnosis sessions are a highly effective way to help athletes improve mental focus, tune out all distractions and visualize the outcome they desire. Repetition of the positive visualization in a relaxed hypnotic state can train the mind to accept the positive outcome as the norm, rather than a rarity. Just like preparing a presentation or making a speech, rehearsal makes it easier. Hypnosis can provide that competitive advantage and allow you to get into that "zone" or “flow” state of mind where everything is functioning at its peak, with little or no conscious interference.

What can be accomplished through the powers of the mind? Perhaps the most important thing is the development of a positive attitude. Negative thoughts pertaining to performance skills can be changed or eliminated. Performance of the sport will be enhanced to a major degree as skills improve to the point where intermittent incidents of poor performance no longer arouse feelings of discouragement, irritation or other detrimental emotional reactions. Concentration, coordination and technique can improve as well as awareness of proper form and posture. Sports enthusiasts face some stumbling blocks in their quest for perfection, such as fear, and fear comes in many forms. Fear of failure is always detrimental and is extremely common in sports, as is its closely related partner, fear of success – a fear that success can create the expectation of further improvement. Fear of humiliation can also be very strong, especially in the presence of an audience. Competition can be intimidating, resulting in a deterioration of skills.

Of course, every sports person has different issues that need to be addressed, so a custom approach is always preferable to a ‘cover all eventualities” scheme.

Maybe you panic and hyperventilate on the start line?

Perhaps you are unnerved by someone who has beaten you in the past in competition, but who you can beat in practice?

There could be a particular hill you find daunting to ride, but you are physically capable of?

Let's face it, the “pull yourself together” school of psychology has had its day, and it's time to take a deeper and more effective approach.

Hypnotherapy can work to reduce or eliminate the mental obstacles to peak performance in sports activities. It can be used to focus the unconscious onto the positives, and damp down the negatives. You deserve to win, or perform at your peak, as much as anyone (and why not?), and the aim is to bring that attitude to the fore. A change of attitude is the key and the way we view what we perceive as negative can be changed.

There is no such thing as failure, only results! These can be used as feedback, constructive corrections, an excellent opportunity to learn something you had not noticed. Failure is just a way of describing a result you did not want. You can use the results you get to re-direct your efforts. “Feedback” keeps the goal in view. “Failure” is a dead end.

Two words describing a similar result, yet they represent two totally different ways of thinking.

Mental training with hypnosis can quickly help you rise to new heights in your performance and keep distractions to a minimum.

Tangible results can be achieved by using your mind to your advantage, rather than a hindrance, and the techniques to achieve them are now well researched and available, for less than the price of a new pair of good cycling shoes.

Without a doubt, it is the mind that has the control over the determining factors that just about all of our performances (and other behaviours) depend upon. Therefore it is in mastering the mind that the athlete or cyclist ensures the greatest chance of performing at their best.

Martin Lancaster D.Hyp BSCH

01423 506884

07736 972491

Email martlanc@ntlworld.com

Hypnosis now popular

 

Therapy can help with

By RACHEL LANE

POSTED: January 14, 2008

PARKERSBURG — Dropping into a trance-like state may help people stop smoking, lose weight, ease fears or shorten recovery time after surgery or improve performance on a test or in sports.

Hypnosis is becoming more popular and is being used to help a variety of behavior changes, said Sue Hall, who has a Ph.D. in philosophy in behavioral sciences with a major in clinical hypnotherapy. She works out of her home in Marietta.

“There is no limit to how useful hypnotherapy is,” she said. “It’s helpful in all areas of one’s life.”

Hall said she has used hypnotherapy to help clients lose weight, stop smoking, lessen fear and pre- and post-operation.

“I’m not going to snap my fingers and make you quack like a duck... That is the overall perception,” she said.

Hall said some people can be hypnotized easier than other people, depending on their trust in her and their comfort level.

“It’s very important to build trust with people,” she said. “That part of your mind (becomes) relaxed enough to accept new ideas.”

Hall said she usually speaks with a client for about an hour before the first session. The interview allows her and the client find out why the client has the fear or habit they want to stop.

“You have to go through life changes... go back and see where the problem began,” Hall said.

A client may be a habitual liar, a habit that started as a child when he or she wanted to please everyone, she said.

“People are going through surgery much easier. They’re more relaxed, safer,” she said.

Hall said before taking a test, students may ask for her to help ease their anxiety. Athletes may use hypnosis to improve their confidence.

“Hypnosis changes thoughts and actions... gives your subconscious the words,” she said.

Rhonda K. Newhart, a registered nurse, has been a hypnotherapist for about 18 years, much of the time also working as a nurse in the psychiatric field.

“I do hypnosis for therapeutic reasons,” she said. “Anything you want to change in your life, it makes it a lot easier.”

She said people come to her for help doing a variety of things, most commonly to quit smoking or for help lessening a fear or phobia. If people ask for help with a medical issue, Newhart encourages them to also seek medical advice.

“If it’s stress, I can take care of it. If it’s something else, they need” medical attention, she said. “I always encourage them to see a medical doctor.”

Hall agreed that hypnosis and medical help may both be needed to relieve an issue.

“Going under is that spot right before you go to sleep,” Newhart said of hypnosis. “Everyone does it. It’s a natural state.”

Newhart said she does not use the traditional swinging pocket watch, but some people do use it with hypnosis.

“It can be. It’s an excellent focus,” Newhart said.

During the interview prior to hypnosis, Newhart and Hall ask questions and write down answers about what the client wants to accomplish. They said they use music and their voice to help relax people, making suggestions to the client.

“Hypnosis slows your thoughts down enough that you can see them,” Newhart said.

She tapes the session and gives the tape to the client to listen to at home.

“If they don’t really want to stop (smoking), it won’t work,” Hall said.

Clients want to change their habits and think that habits can be changed with hypnosis.

“I come up with healthy alternatives (for bad habits and) what to do with hands” used to smoking a cigarette, Newhart said.

She discusses different alternatives with the client and may tell them they want to take a drink of water instead of smoke. She has noticed more people participating in hypnosis in the time she has been doing it.

“People are becoming more accepting of holistic medicine in general,” she said.

Hall and Newhart said it may take several sessions for the hypnosis to be effective.

Contact Rachel Lane at

rlane@newsandsentinel.com

Hypnotist puts losing club Ipswich

Australian hypnotist puts losing club Ipswich Town on winning streak

By Dave Murray in London, England

January 21, 2009

MEET the Australian hypnotist hired by an English Championship club to improve its performance on the pitch - with startling results.

Since Ipswich Town engaged Perth-based Rick Collingwood, the struggling team have won four games, drawn two and lost three. But they have won three and drawn one of the past four matches.

"If you look at the stats there's been a significant improvement and I'm rapt," Collingwood said.

Former top-flight Ipswich are a step below the Barclays Premier League in the Coca-Cola Championship. The club has been firmly wedged around the middle of the table, despite a new owner anda big injection of cash.

Collingwood was recruited at the start of December after team officials heard about group hypnosis sessions he was holding in the UK.

He held two mass hypnotisms on the team at their training ground.

"They all go into a room together and go down into a trance," Collingwood said of his hypnotism sessions with the players.

"Basically under direct suggestion they're told they'll perform better, they'll kick harder and more accurately. It enhances their natural capacities. It's just about maximising the inner potential they have already."

He has also prepared a special hour-long CD for players to play as they go to sleep each night.

But there was some hesitation at first from a small number of the players, Collingwood revealed.

"A few were a little cynical and dubious, mainly because hypnotism is a very misunderstood thing," he said.

"But the first thing I said to them was that they are all professional people with the potential to make huge amounts of money. What I do is maximise what they already know. If I can give them a 10 per cent edge, obviously it is worth it."

Last weekend, they enjoyed their best result of the season, defeating favourites Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park.

Ipswich fan Tom Skippings said: "Something must be helping because it's a long time since we've had that kind of win."

This weekend, they play Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round.

"I think we need to hypnotise Frank Lampard and John Terry rather than ourselves to have any chance there," Skippings joked.

"But if it works, then as a fan I'm all for it."

U.S. Health Professionals Offering Hypnosis for IBS

U.S. Health Professionals Offering Hypnosis Treatment for IBS Using the Standardized 7-Session Protocol Page last updated December 04, 2009

Note

: This listing is provided only as an aid to patients in finding clinicians in their area. The entire treatment protocol tested by Palsson et al. has been shared with these professionals without charge. This website has no commercial interest in their clinical services, and their work is not affiliated with Dr. Palsson in any way. No responsibility is assumed for the quality of the services of these individuals by providing this listing. Prospective clients should independently verify the current state health profession license and the hypnosis training and experience of the clinicians they contact.

U.S. state-licensed health professionals trained in hypnosis: E-mail us to start providing help to IBS patients in your area with standardized and empirically tested hypnosis treatment.

ALABAMA

Huntsville

Dr. Harry Kinnanec/o NAPS3330 L & N DriveHuntsville AL 35801Phone: (256) 880-9040 Fax: (256) 650-5805

Dr. Tom SandySummit Psychotherapy3330 L & N Drive, Ste AHuntsville AL 35801Phone: (256) 880-7173

Selma

Donald W. Blanton Ph.D. 1023 Medical Center PKW, suite 200 Selma, Al. 36701 Phone: (334) 875-4184

ARIZONA

Mary Herring MSN, RN Healing Interventions, PC 1825 E. Northern, Ste 215E Phoenix, AZ 85020 Phone: (602) 616-9340

ARKANSAS

Fort Smith

Richard H. Barrett, II, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith 3801 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72903 Phone: (479) 783-0445, Fax: (479) 782-5883 E-mail: rbarrett@fortsmithpsychology.com

North Little Rock

Edward C. Kleitsch, Ph.D.Behavior Management SystemsWildwood Center2402 Wildwood Ave, Suite 140North Little Rock, AR 72120Phone: (501) 771-4442

Springdale

Terry L. Efird, Ph.D. 106 South Main St. Springdale, AR 72764 Phone: (479) 751-7074 Fax: (479) 756-1727

CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles Charlene Williams, Ph.D. Mind-Body Medicine Group 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 550 Los Angeles, CA 90069 ..........and 11726 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 680 Los Angeles, CA 90049 Phone: (310) 442-9286

Gary J. Wood, Ph.D., LCSW 10801 National Blvd., Suite 240 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641 Phone: (310) 842-3954

Jessica Schairer, Ph.D. 10921 Wilshire Blvd. # 504 Los Angeles, CA 90024-4001 Phone: (310) 208-5562

Cye Hoffman, Ph.D. 17350 Sunset Blvd., Ste.606C Pacific Palisades, California 90272 (310) 454-6303 E-mail: dr.cye@roadrunner.net

Nadia Mishael, Psy.D., LCSW 1800 Fairburn Avenue, Suite 109, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310) 470-6444 E-mail: DrNadiaMishael@aol.com

Michael Z. Wolkenfeld, Psy.D. Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Phone: (323) 660-2450 Ext: 4641 E-mail: MWolkenfeld@chla.usc.edu

Los Angeles County/Venura County

Ronald Soderquist, Ph.D., LMFT Westlake Hypnosis 950 Hampshire Rd. Suite 201 Westlake Village, CA. 91361 (805) 496-3449

Lynn Di Sarro, LMFT Westlake Hypnosis 950 Hampshire Rd. Suite 201 Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 496-3449

Cynthia Cunningham, MFT 141 Duesenberg Drive, Suite 5A Westlake Village, CA 91362 Phone: (818) 575-9049

Cynthia Horacek, M.S., MFT 30423 Canwood St., Suite 129 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Phone: (818) 706-1055 Email: crh@odysseytherapy.com 

Karin S. Hart, Psy.D.30423 Canwood Street, Suite 129Agoura Hills, CA 91301Phone: (818) 707-4443Fax: (818) 707-4443

Beverly Hills

Robert L. Grossbard, Ph.D. 152 South Lasky Drive Penthouse Suite Beverly Hills, California 90212 Phone: (310) 281-7944 E-mail: rgrossbard1@earthlink.net

Calabasas

Barbara Freedman, Psy.D. 23632 Calabasas Road, Suite 108 Calabasas, CA 91302 Phone: (818) 222-4911 E-mail: drbfreedman@aol.com

Claremont

Daniel Skenderian, Ph.D. 350 W. Fourth St. Claremont, CA 91711 Phone: (909) 625-1123

Cupertino

Dr. Leonard J. Donk20111 Stevens Creek BlvdSuite 250Cupertino CA 95014Phone: (408) 366-9910 Fax: (408) 366-9915 Escondido

Nina Akin, Ph.D.254 East Grand Avenue, Suite 100Escondido, CA 92025(619) 757-4408E-mail: drninaakin@sbcglobal.net

Fairfax

Dr. Selma Lewis675 Cascade DriveFairfax, CA 94930

Fremont

Charles R. Reed, Ph.D. 39560 Stevenson Place, Suite 215 Fremont, CA 94539

Fresno

Laura A. Geiger, PsyD Clinical Director, Collegium Scientifica 4938 E. Yale Avenue, Suite 101 Fresno, CA 93727 Phone: (559) 456-0345 Fax: (559) 456-2814 E-mail: drlgeiger@earthlink.net

Irvine

Murray S. Kaufman, MA,.LMFT,NBCCH University Park Irvine, California 92612 Phone: (714) 418-7454 email: contact@murraykaufman4therapy.com

Orange

Christine Master RN, MSN, NP The Cordelia Knott Center for Wellness 230 South Main Street Orange, CA 92868 Phone: (714) 541-9355 Ext. 4105

Palo Alto

Eileen Bobrow, MA, LMFT Mental Research Institute Strategic Therapy and Training Center 555 Middlefield Road, Suite 219 Palo Alto, CA. Phone: (650) 322-9827 Email: eileen@bobrow.net

Ms. Hope Raymond20 Roosevelt CirclePalo Alto, CA 94306(650)493-4806E-mail: hoperay@aol.com

San Francisco

Nicole Hinton-Born, MA MFT 2166 Hayes Street Suite 208 San Francisco, CA 94117 Phone: (415) 407-5964 E-mail: nicolehintonborn@gmail.com

San Diego

Nina Akin Ph.D. 4081 Stephens Street San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 757-4408 E-mail: drninaakin@sbcglobal.net

Santa Rosa Joyce Higgins, MA, LMFT 1626 Fourth Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Phone: (707) 522-0402 Sebastopol

Joyce Higgins, MA, LMFT 120 Pleasant Hill Av., N., Suite 370 Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone: (707) 522-0402

Sherman Oaks

Claudia Bramlett, RN, MFT 13749 Riverside Drive, Suite 103 Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Phone (818) 990-0077 E-mail: CKBramlett@aol.com (please put "IBS Protocol" in subject line) Tarzana

Ella Begelfor, LMFT., C.Ht Personal Growth Institute 5536 Tampa Avenue Tarzana CA 91356Phone: (818) 207-1191

Visalia

Ms. Janice GrahamLife Skills Wellness Center1220 W. Center St.Visalia CA 93291Phone: (888) 627-9983 Fax: (209) 627-5451

COLORADO

Boulder

Greg Freedman, MD P.O. Box 3115 Boulder, CO 80307 Phone: (303) 901-0983

Marilee Snyder, LCSW, DCSW 2299 Pearl St., #107 Boulder, CO 80302 Phone: (303) 413-6365 E-mail: BoulderLCSW@aol.com

Colorado Springs

Gary J. Neuger, Ph.D. 422 E. Vermijo Ave. Suite 205, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: (719) 219-6220

Denver

Dr. Frank Timmons2265 Elm Street Denver, CO 80207 Phone: (303) 736-2910.

Karen J. Timmons, Psy.D. 155 South Madison St.,#332 Denver, Co 80209 Phone: (303) 329-3324

CONNECTICUTEnfield

Linda Thomson, MSN, APRN Pioneer Valley Pediatrics 115 Elm Street Enfield, CT 06082 (860) 745-3336

Greenwich

Devra Braun, M.D. Integrative Medicine and Psychotherapy of Greenwich, LLC 360 West Putnam Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 Phone: 203-622-2394Website:

DELAWARE

Wilmington Marylou Foster Biasotto, LCSWPhone: (302) 388-8868E-mail: hypno@tranceformation.biz

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Susana A. Galle, Ph.D., M.S.C.Ppharm., N.D. The Body-Mind Center 1325 18th. St., N.W. Suite 212 Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: (202) 429-9552 Ronnie Koenig, Ph.D. Suite 412 2000 P Street, NW Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 234-6483

Carol Newman, Ph.D. 5739 Moreland St. NW Washington DC 20015 (202) 362-4498

Patricia H. Berne, Ph.D. Metropolitan Washington DC Area (301) 428-0887 lousavary@yahoo.com

Gail Kalin, Ph.D.1700 17th St., NW, Suite 601Washington DC 20009(202) 362-8504

Jane R. McGoldrick, Psy.D. Christine A. Courtois, Ph.D., & Associates 5225 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 513 Washington, DC 20015 Phone: (202) 362-2776 FLORIDA

Altamonte Springs

Alan D. Keck, Psy.D. 1110 Douglas Avenue, Suite 3040 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Phone: (407) 644-2000 Fax: (407) 644-3484 E-mail: DocKeck@aol.com

Boca Raton

Jennifer Sneeden, MS, LMFT370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Ste. 202Boca Raton, FL 33432Phone: (561) 503-6439E-mail: Jennifer@jennifersneeden.comWebsite:

Dr. Robert Heller3457 Pinehaven CircleBoca Raton FL 33431Phone: (561) 451-2731 Fax: (561) 479-0384

Rachel Landau5601 N.W. 2nd AvenueSuite 320Boca Raton FL 33487Phone: (561) 997-1261

Marie Estelle Spike, LMHC1200 N. Federal Highway, Suite 200Boca Raton, FL 33432Phone: (561) 414-1317E-mail: marieestelle@comcast.netClearwater

Dr. Nancy Robbin2555 Enterprise RdSte 9-3Clearwater FL 34623Phone: (813) 797-4211 Fax: (727) 497-4211

Dr. Shay Roop1004 S. Greenwood AvenueClearwater FL 33756Phone: (727) 298-8404 Fax: (727) 447-1828

Coral Gables

Susan K. Becker, Ph.D., P.A. (English/Espanol) 1514 San Ignacio Avenue Suite 100 Coral Gables, Florida 33146 Phone: (305) 667-7890 Fax: (305) 279-0017

Largo

Deborah Bloome, Psy.D. 14521 Walsingham Road Largo, Florida 33774-3342 Phone: (727) 517-1938, Fax: (727) 517-1937 E-mail: drdeb@docbloome.com Website:

Miami

Dr. Steven Warner9485 Sunset DriveSuite A 222Miami FL 33173Phone: (305) 279-0007

Ronald Rosenthal, Ph.D. 10691 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 314 Miami, FL 33176 (305) 598 0013

S. Miami

Dr. Eugene Muldavin7600 Red RoadSuite 215S. Miami FL 33143Phone: (305) 598-2236

Mims

Ms. Linda Vanderbleek6725 N. US 1Mims FL 32754Phone: (407) 269-9061

Sebastian

Kathy Doner, MD 7766 Bay St., Suite 11 Sebastian, FL 32958 (772) 581-0221

Tampa

Carol A. Caruso, LMHC 1211 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 281-8955/cell: (813) 368-7439Website:  Patricia H. Berne, Ph.D. 3404 Ellenwood Lane Tampa, FL 33618-3425 Phone: (813) 961-8046 lousavary@yahoo.com

West Palm Beach

Rhonda S. Perdue, Ph.D. 10111 Forest Hill Blvd ,Suite 369 Wellington, FL 33414 Phone: (561) 784-7767

Winter Park Louis F. Damis, Ph.D., ABPP Integrative Health Psychology, P.A. 6001 Brick Court, Suite 201 Winter Park, FL 32792 Phone: (407) 671-1123Fax: (407) 671-1233Website:

Karen Bogart, M.S. 157 E. New England Ave. Suite 450 Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone: (407) 629-1775 Website:

Shannon Kelly, Psy.D. Integrative Health Psychology, P.A. 6001 Brick Court, Suite 201 Winter Park, FL 32792

GEORGIA

Athens

Frederick J. Breme, Ph.D., LLC598 South Milledge Ave. Suite 5Athens , GA 30605Phone: (706) 353-0709Fax: (706) 549-3167

Atlanta

Dr. Roberta Golden3423 Piedmont Rd. NESte. 514Atlanta GA 30305Phone: (404) 237-9090

Winder

Valerie Peters416 Gainsville HighwayWinder GA 30680Phone: (770) 867-3960

HAWAII

Honolulu

David Paperny, MD 1010 Pensacola St Honolulu HI 96814 Phone: (808) 597-2483 E-mail: david.paperny@kp.org

Efland H. Amerson, PsyD Hawaii Kai Towne Center 6600 kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 225 Honolulu, Hawaii, 96825 Phone: (808) 394-2800 Fax: (808) 394-2826

ILLINOIS

Chicago

Laurie Keefer, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry Northwestern University Division of Gastroenterology 675 N. St. Clair, Suite 17-250 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (312) 695-5620

Ian Wickramasekera II, Psy.D. Adler School of Professional Psychology65 East Wacker Place, Suite 2100Chicago, IL 60601-7298Phone: (312) 201-5900 (Extension 214)E-mail: Rigdzen@hotmail.com

Dr. Robert T. Baker III, Psy.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist5412 N. Clark St., Ste 210Chicago, IL 60640Office (773) 907-0971Mobile: (847) 331-4600

Judith K. Stuhr, PhD Millennium Park Psychological Associates, LLC 30 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1103 Chicago, IL 60602-3745 Phone: (312) 284-1330 Fax: (312) 284-1331

Sam R. Hamburg, Ph.D. 79 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1311 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: (312) 251-1405

Naperville

Dr. Wm. Marty Martin 4300 Commerce Court Suite 300-3 Naperville, IL. 60532 Phone: (630) 692-1922 E-mail: martym@depaul.edu Website:

Pamela Rebeck, Ph.D. 475 River Bend #600 Naperville, IL 60540 Phone: (630) 357-9339 Website:

Northfield

Dr. Marc Oster Center for Psychological Services, LLC 465 Central Ave., Suite 201 Northfield, IL 60093 Phone: (847) 604-1593Website:

Oak Park

Lisa Lombard, Ph.D. 332 N. Scoville Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 Phone: (708) 655-0063 Website: E-mail: drlisalombard@earthlink.net or llombard@thechicagoschool.edu

Ottawa

John P. Houlihan, M.A., L.C.P.C. 100 W. Superior St. Ottawa, Illinois 61350 Phone: (815) 434-4516 E-mail: jhouli@mtco.com

Schaumburg

Roberta Liebmann RN, MS, C.CHT Mind & Body Care 539 W. Wise Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60193 Phone: (847) 534-7991 Website:

KENTUCKY

Mayfield

James C. Savage, Ph.D., LPCC, LMFT 332 Partridge Lane Mayfield, KY 42066 Phone: (270) 247-6395

MAINE

Bangor

Claire Frederick, M. D. 15 Columbia Street, Suite 401 Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: (207) 973-1777 montamat@mindspring.com

Sanford

Richard S. Tockman M.D. PrimeCare Family Practice 25A June St Sanford, Maine 04073 Phone: (207)-324-8311

MARYLAND

Baltimore

Mitch Smith, LCSW-C, DAHB 300 E. Lombard St. Suite 840 Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 814-7600 Website:

Bethesda

Eileen F. Buese, Ph.D. 8608 Ridge Rd Bethesda, Maryland 20817 Phone: (301) 365-4375 Fax: (301) 365-3438 Website: Mary Jo Peebles-Kleiger, PhD 5404 Audubon Rd. and 10401 Old Georgetown Rd. (Suite 105) Bethesda MD 20814(240) 497-0296

Sharon B. Spiegel, Ph.D., ABPP 7925 B Glenbrook Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 897-5115 Fax (301) 897-8664

Burtonsville

Jane R. McGoldrick, Psy.D. 15312 Spencerville Ct., Suite 201 (Natural Healing Practices) Burtonsville, MD 20866 Phone: (240) 988-5948 or 301-384-2718

Cabin John

Lynn Staton Dworsky, M.D. 7945 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 226 Cabin John, MD 20818 (301) 229-1004 Gaithersburg

Mr. Robert HoldenPotentials Unlimited8945 N. Westland Dr., Ste 303Gaithersburg MD 20877

Judy A. Tyson, Ph.D. Associated Psychotherapy Center 8915 Shady Grove Ct. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 963-0060 ext. 15

Salisbury

Veronica Correa, LCSW-C Salisbury University (410) 543-6070 Private practice: Healing Alternatives 26593 Riverbank Road Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 742-6016 E-mail: mvcorrea@salisbury.edu

Severna Park

Michael H. Kahn, Ph.D Psychological Resource Associates 479 Jumpers Hole Rd. Suite 106 Severna Park, MD 21146 Phone (410) 647-8840

MASSACHUSETTSBoston

Susan Lane, RN, MSN Boston Success Center 45 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 1-800-889-8161 E-mail: info@bostonsuccesscenter.com

Brockton

Kenneth Weiss, PsyD Boston Healthcare System-VAMC 116B3 Brockton VA, Brockton, MA 02301 Phone: (774) 826-1304 VA voice E-mail: Kenneth.Weiss2@Med.VA.Gov

Cambridge

Claire Frederick, M. D. 2557 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 2 E Cambridge, MA 02140 Phone: (617) 602-6590E-mail: montamat@mindspring.com Ginger Ryan, LICSW 328 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: (617) 547-7537

Susan Broner, LICSW 2557 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 Phone: (617) 497-9267 E-mail: s.broner@comcast.net

Easton

Kenneth Weiss, PsyD Psychological Associates 66 Main Street North Easton, MA 02356 Phone: (508) 230-5086 Fax: (508) 230-5089 Fax E-mail: kweiss@counseling66main.com

Framingham

Thomas W. Martin, Psy.D.963 Worcester Road (Route 9)Framingham, MA 01701Phone: (508) 654-8237Email: tompsych@mac.com

Longmeadow

Linda Thomson, MSN, APRN Pioneer Valley Pediatrics 123 Dwight Rd Longmeadow, MA 01106 (413) 567-1031

Quincy

Thomas W. Martin, Psy.D.110 West Squantum Street, Suite 17Quincy, MA 02171Phone: (508) 654-8237Email: tompsych@mac.com

Watertown

Ellie Egan, M.Ed., LMHCThe Center for Integrative Healing23 Main StreetWatertown, MA 02143 (617) 435-6714

MICHIGAN

Brimingham

Carolyn Alaimo 640 N. Old WoodwardSuite 102Brimingham MI 48009Phone: 248-645-2835

Ann Arbor

Eileen Bond 3636 West Huron River DriveAnn Arbor MI 48103Phone: (734) 668-1866

Farmington Hills

Carolyn Daitch Ph.D. Center for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Westchester Office Complex 28592 Orchard Lake Road Suite 301 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 Phone: (248) 626-8151 Website:

Grand Rapids

Dr. Gary Laundre6143 28th Street N.W.Suite C6Grand Rapids MI 49546Phone: (616) 285-9966

Madison Heights

James Kohlenberg, MDJohn R Medical Clinic, PC26505 John R StreetMadison Heights, MI 48071Phone: (248) 247-3100

MINNESOTA

Minneapolis

Mark B. Weisberg, Ph.D. Clinical Health Psychologist Diplomate, American Board of Professional Psychology 430 Oak Grove Street, Suite 407 Minneapolis, MN 55403 Phone: (612) 520-9159 Fax: (952) 836-1161

Minnetonka

David S. Alter, PhD, LP Partners in Psychiatry & Psychology, LLC 10201 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 350 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Phone: (763) 546-5797 Fax: (763) 546-5797 dalterphd@partnersinpsych.com www.partnersinpsych.com

Nancy Arikian, PhD, LP 10201 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 185Minnetonka, MN 55305Phone: (952) 746-4223Fax: (952) 746-4224

Rochester

Dr. Bonita Patton300 3rd Avenue S.E.Suite 405Rochester MN 55904Phone: (507) 288-8544 Fax: (507) 288-8545

St. Paul

Kalli Matsuhashi, MA, LPC 1672 Grand Ave., 2F St. Paul, MN 55105 651-882-6234 Website:

MISSOURI

Columbia

Louise Flenner, LCSW 3201 S. Providence Rd., Ste. 201, Columbia, MO 65203 Phone (573) 499-3875

Creve Coeur Sherry Bassi, Ph.D. 12400 Olive Blvd. Suite 307 Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141 Phone: (314) 275-2300

Jefferson City

Louise Flenner, LCSW 1303 Edgewood Jefferson City, MO 65109

Kansas City

Dr. Carl Marr411 Nickels RoadSuite 217Kansas City MO 64112Phone: (816) 931-9912

St. Louis

Ryan M. Niemiec, Psy.D. Headache & Pain Management Program Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute 1129 Macklind Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone: (314)534-0200 x413 E-mail: rmjn@lycos.com

Hermann Witte, Ph.D. Headache & Pain Management Program Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute 1129 Macklind Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone: (314)534-0200 E-mail: witherm@aol.com

MONTANA

KalispellCindie Jobe, M.A., L.C.P.C.,L.A.C.,CEAP, C.R.C.1480 Memory LaneKalispell, Montana 59901(406) 756-0302

NEBRASKA

Omaha

Terry Moore, LICSW Associated Counseling Professionals 2255 S. 132 St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68144 (402) 334-1122NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bedford

Robert Salvatore, MSW, BCD, LCSW82 Palomino Lane, Suite 702 Bedford, NH 03110 (603) 889-8648

Epping

Ms. Sharon Piantedosi232 Prescott RoadEpping NH 3042Phone: (603) 926-6868

Milford

Fredrick J. Woodard, DCH, PhD Woodard Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, Inc. 33A&B Putnam Street (Office) / PO BOX 874 (All Mail) Milford, New Hampshire 03055 Phone: (603) 673-2582 E-mail: Fredwoodard@aol.com

Nashua

Robert Salvatore, MSW, BCD, LCSWLaMora Psychological Associates39 Simon St., Unit 5Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Phone: (603) 889-8648

Warner

Susan Randlett MSW, LICSW 19 East Main Street, Suite Two PO Box 48 Warner, New Hampshire 03278 (603) 456-2004 E-mail: slrandlett@aol.com

NEW JERSEY Elizabeth

Maria G. Masciandaro, PsyD 890 Wyoming Ave Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208-1451 (908) 351-2892 phone (908) 351-1646 Fax E-mail: drmgmas@mac.com

Princeton

Pat Vroom, Ph.D. 716 Executive Drive Princeton, NJ 08540 Phone: (609) 818 1226 E-mail: pvroom1013@aol.com

Teaneck

Brenda Shelley-McIntyre, Ph.D. 381 Teaneck Road Teaneck, NJ 07666 Phone: (201) 836-1885 E-mail: BSMPHD@aol.com

Robert Staffin, Psy.D. 304 Johnson Ave. Teaneck, NJ 07666 Phone: (201) 836-4055

Upper Montclair

Philip L. Accaria, Ph.D., F.A.S.C.H. 203 Bellevue Avenue, 2nd Floor Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 Phone: (973) 744-3664 E-mail: PLAccaria@aol.com

NEW MEXICO

Carlsbad

Margie McKinney, RN, BSN, CCHt 310 1/2 W. Church Street Carlsbad, NM 88220 Phone: (575) 302-6222

NEW YORK

New York City

Jessica Gerson, Ph.D. Mind-Body Digestive Center 80 Central Park West, Suite B New York City, NY 10023 Phone: (212) 712-0494

Anne Fatone, Ph.D. Department of Medicine Mount Sinai School of Medicine 1160 Fifth Ave., Suite 112 New York, NY 10029 Phone: (212) 427-9163, (917) 776-4875

Brigitte E. Lifschitz, LCSW 334 West 86th Street, Suite 1A New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 877-1931..........and 300 Mercer Street, # 3CNew York, NY 10023Phone: (212) 877-1931 E-mail: hearuout@earthlink.net

Jonathan Koblenzer, M.D. 16 East 79th Street, Suite 42 New York, NY 10021 (212) 794-7115

Pat Vroom, Ph.D. Leader, Mind-Body Program Integrative Medicine Service Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 1429 First Avenue New York, NY 10021 (212)639-4977 E-mail: vroomp@mskcc.org

Rita M. Sherr, L.C.S.W., B.C.D. 440 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024 (212) 873-3385

Alexa Oth, LMSW, NBCCH 307 7th ave., suite 1908 New York, NY 10001 (646)509-7222

Emily Schneider, Ph.D.46 West 95th Street New York City, NY (212) 864-5667

Steven Klee, Ph.D. 130 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 (212) 979-9558

Maggie Staiger373 Broadway Suite D7 New York, NY 10013Phone: (917)432-8670 Website:

Charles J. Epstein, Psy.D.175 West 79th Street; STE 1ANew York, NY 10024Phone: (347) 563-1072

Dr. John Ryder120 East 36th StreetSuite 1 GNew York, NY 10016Phone: (212) 779-4114

Brooklyn

Emily Schneider, Ph.D. 1075 50th Street Brooklyn, N.Y. Phone: (212) 864-5667

Susan Lee Bady LCSW 133 Eighth Avenue, Apt 2B Brooklyn, NY 11215 Phone: (718) 638-8113

Cindy Menell, Ph.D. 185 Terrace Place Brooklyn, NY 11218 .........and 9920 4th Avenue, Suite 312 Brooklyn, NY 11209 Phone: (718) 499-2494

Brooke Donatone, LCSW 450 Prospect Avenue Bell #3 Brooklyn, NY 11215 (646) 361-5229 bdonatonelcsw@gmail.com

Commack

Edward A. Schechtman, Ph.D. 340 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Suite 2 Commack, NY 11725-4300 Phone: (631) 543-1234

Douglaston

Diane L. Haber, MS, RN, CS 61-10 Marathon Parkway Douglaston, New York 11362 Phone: (718) 224-5235 E-mail: dianehaber@hotmail.com

Lawrence

Theodore Bunin CSWR 94 Muriel Ave. Lawrence, N.Y. 11559 Phone: (516) 371-0660E-mail: tbunin@hotmail.com

LIC

Dr. Surelle Itzkowitz23-34 Crescent St.LIC NY 11105Phone: (718) 956-5486

Melville

Richard M. Tuck, Psy.D. 5 Holly Court Melville, NY 11747 Phone: (631) 692-4545

Oceanside

Gay Novack, CSW, BCD 540 Fir Place Oceanside, New York 11572 Phone: (516) 678-3048

Pleasant Valley(Mid-Hudson Valley near Poughkeepsie) Charles E. Burbridge, Ph.D. , ABPH Timothy Professional Building 1421 Route 44 Pleasant Valley, New York 12569 Phone: (845) 635 3214 / (845) 462 6937

Rochester

Lisbeth Berger Ornstein, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor Psychiatry/Psychology University of Rochester School of Medicine & Denistry Independent Practice 4 Chelmsford Road Rochester, New York 14618 Phone: (585) 271- 3050 ext. 6

Rockville Centre Richard M. Tuck, Psy.D.80 Lincoln Avenue, Suite AA, Office 1Rockville Centre, NY 11570Phone: (531) 536-7085Scarsdale

Jennifer Battaglino, CSW, CHT 14 Harwood Court Scarsdale, New York 10538 Phone: (914) 723-1549 Website: Syracuse

Robert Strickland, Ph.D.109 So Warren St, Suite 314State Tower BuildingSyracuse, NY 13202(315) 479-8494

NORTH CAROLINA

Carrboro Bree Kalb, LCSW The Wellness Alliance 301 W. Weaver St. Carrboro, NC 27510 Phone (919) 932-6262 #16 bree@mindspring.com

Anne Mader, LMFT 200 W. Weaver StreetCarrboro NC Phone: (919) 968-0231 ext 3

Cary

Roger B. Moore, Jr., Ph.D. The Center For Psychological Wellness, PA 301-F Keisler Drive Cary, NC 27511 Phone: (919) 852-0799 Fax: (919) 852-0792Sharyn Warren, LCSW, BCD975 Walnut Street, Suite 357Cary, NC 27511(919)467-3250 (phone and fax)e-mail: sewarren@mindspring.com

Chapel Hill

Charles K. Burnett, Ph.D., Dr.P.H. Human Resource Consultants, 100 Europa Drive, Suite 260 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 (919)929-1227 e-mail: cburnett@hrc-pa.com

Alice Carlton, LCSW304 Barclay RoadChapel Hill, NC 27516Phone: (919) 942-3494Website:

Charlotte

Joseph J. Lefcoski, HSP-LPA 6733-B Fairview Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: (704) 372-1595 E-mail: jlefcoski@carolina.rr.com

Davidson Bob Anderson, Ph.D. Solutions by the Lake 710-11 Northeast Dr. Davidson, NC 28036 (704) 892-5788

Durham

Eric Garland, MSW, LCSW New Hope Court 1502 Highway 54 West, Suite 603 Durham, NC 27707 (919) 419-3110

Anne Mader, LMFT 200 W. Weaver StreetDurham, NC Phone: (919) 968-0231 ext 3

Hendersonville J. Crit Harley, MD, C.Ht. PO Box 2544 706-B Fleming Street Hendersonville, NC 28793 Phone: (828) 692-8042 E-mail: jcharley@bellsouth.net

Karen S. Cottingham LCSW244 Fifth Avenue WestP.O. Box 124Hendersonville, NC 28793Phone: (828) 697-0160

RaleighSheryll Daniel, Ph.D. Whiteside and Daniel, P.A.4301 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 208Raleigh, NC 27607 (919)783-8847

Lawrence E. Kincade, Ph.D., LCSW 4201 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 201 Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone: (919) 233-1829 Email: lkincade@nc.rr.com Website:

Rutherfordton

Terry L. Ledford, Ph.D. Woodridge Psychological Associates, P.A. P.O. 878 Rutherfordton, NC 28043 Phone: (828) 287-7806 Fax: (828) 287-0004 OHIO

Cincinnati

Nancy Panganamala, Psy.D. 9403 Kenwood Rd., Suite D112 Cincinnati, OH 45242 Phone: (513) 793-3900 Gregory S.Rusk, DCSW, LISW1117 Fehl LaneCincinnati, OH 45230Phone: (513) 308-0757, Fax (513) 271-3712

Dayton Gregory S. Rusk, DCSW, LISW 580 Lincoln Park Blvd., Suite 266 Dayton, OH 45429 (937) 294.3228, Fax (937) 294-3250

West Lake

Dr. Cynthia WhiteCleveland Clinic-West Lake30033 Clemens RoadWest Lake OH 44145Phone: (216) 587-8830 Fax: (440) 899-5578

OKLAHOMA

Tulsa

Edgar J. Kranau, Ph.D. 2021 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 725 Tulsa, OK 74104 Phone: (918) 712-9020 Fax: (918) 712-9021

OREGONBeaverton Dr. Shannon Livingston 1150 SW 170th Avenue, Suite 101 Beaverton, OR 97006 Phone: (503) 747-2946..........AND 414 Jefferson St. The Dalles, OR 97058 Phone: (541) 30-2639 E-mail: shannonlivingstondc@yahoo.com

Portland

Roger David Carlson, Ph.D. Office 13047 S.E. Ramona St. Portland, Oregon 97236 Phone: (503) 245-2929 e-mail: rcarlson@pacificu.edu or R.D.Carlson.80@cantab.net Tim Irving DC, MS, LMT, CKTP, CHt, NutritionistOptimum Function819 SE Morrison St. Suite 215Portland, OR, 97214Phone: (593) 866-9739E-mail: info@OptFunction.comWebsite:

PENNSYLVANIAAllentown

Robert Roeshman, D.O. 1259 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Suite #230Allentown, PA 18103Phone: (610) 820-9668 E-mail: bvenom@ptd.net (e-mail)

Bala Cynwyd

Reinhild Draeger-Muenke, PsyD, LMFT 329 Bryn Mawr Ave Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004Phone: (610) 660-0162Bucks County

Lisa Keutman, LCSW Offices in Doylestown & Kintnersville in Central and Upper Bucks County, PA Phone: (267) 218-3918

Exton

Ms. Dana Marino322 Firethorne CircleExton PA 19341Phone: (610) 363-6830

Newtown

David W. McGalliard, Ph.D. TLC Associates 54 Friends Lane, Suite 114 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: (215) 860-9742 Fax: (215) 860-9758 Office Manager: Linda Perkins call for appointments

Philadelphia

Dr. Linda Shrier1015 Chestnut StreetSuite 1500Philadelphia PA 19107Phone: (215) 592-8165

Eric Spiegel, Ph.D.255 S. 17th Street, Suite 804Philadelphia, PA 19103Phone: (215) 222-4825E-mail: espiegelphd@gmail.comWebsite:

Pittsburgh

Dr. Arnold Freedman1717 Penn Avenue, Ste. 4000Pittsburgh PA 15221Phone: (412) 244-9866, Fax: (412) 244-8028

York

Barry B. Hart, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist 4 Eastern Blvd. York, PA USA 17402 Phone: (717) 600-8181 Fax: (717) 600-0089 E mail: barrybhart@gmail.com

RHODE ISLAND

Cranston

Dr. Kevin Murphy172 Orchid StreetCranston RI 2910

SOUTH CAROLINA

Chabin and Newberry

Robert D. Phillips, Ph.D. Adjunct program with Consultants in Gastroenterology, Northeast Columbia 218 Columbia Ave., Chapin, SC 29036 Phone: (803) 321-0775 E-mail: drbobpsy@bellsouth.netWebsite:

Charleston

Dr. William KeeDept. of Physical Med. & Rehab590 MUSC Complex, Ste. 415Charleston SC 29425Phone: (843) 792-3796Florence

Dr. James Mady436 W. Palmetto StreetFlorence SC 29501Phone: (803) 662-9282

Greenville

Jane Price, LPC, BCIA Sterlingworth Center of the Upstate 1200 Woodruff Road, Building A-3 Greenville, South Carolina 29601 Phone: (864) 678-4725 E-Mail: Jprice@sterlingworthcenter.com Website:

TENNESSEE

Brentwood

Jeanne M. Stedrak, Ph.D. 278 Franklin Road, Suite 239 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615)373-9650

John Fite, Ph.D. 7003 Chadwick Drive Suite 152 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-337-6975 e-mail: jwftenn@aol.com Website:

Knoxville

Dr. Damaris YoungDeane Hill Professional Bldg.6421 Deane Hill Dr., Ste 8Knoxville TN 37919Phone: (423) 588-7132

Nashville

Catherine Stallworth, MD Nashville Integrated Medicine 2931 Berry Hill Drive, Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37204 Phone: (615) 385-7001Website:

Deborah D. Vaughn, M.A. 95 White Bridge Rd. Cavalier Bldg, Suite 219 Nashville, TN 37205 (615) 596-6077 E-mail: vaughndd@comcast.net

Powell

Ms. Pamela MathewsP.O. Box 1497Powell TN 37849Phone: (423) 938-1243 Fax: (423) 938-1243

TEXAS

Austin

George Glaser, LMSW-ACP 510 South Congress Ave. Suite 207 Austin, Texas 78704 Phone: (512) 476-7700

Priscilla Morton, LCSW1502 W. 30th St.Austin, TX 78703Phone: (512) 809-1905priscillamorton@austin.rr.com

Michael R. Ghormley, Ph.D. Austin Psychiatric Consultants 1500 W. 38th St., Suite 53 Austin, TX 78731 Phone: (512) 377-2500

Dr. Clif Moore Managing PartnerBehavioral Health Consultants, P.L.L.C.1600 W. 38th St., Suite 306Austin, TX 78731Phone: (512) 563-7792

Abilene

Mr. Doug WorthingtonAbilene Pain Consultants4601 HartfordAbilene TX 79605Phone: (915) 793-3550 Fax: (915) 537-9394

Armadillo

Kathryn Britain, R.N. 1901 Medi-Park Suite 222 Amarillo, Texas 79106 Phone: (806) 352-5596

Corpus Cristi Debby Hammond, MA, LPC 6000 S. Staples St., Ste. 403 Corpus Christi, TX 78413 Phone: (361) 985-1541

Dallas

Richard L. Long, Psy.D. Clinical & Consulting Psychology 12880 Hillcrest Road, Suite 110 Dallas, TX 75230-1503 Phone: (972) 233-3969

Deborah Beckman, MS, LPC and Will Handy, LCSW Uptown Psychotherapy Associates The Milton H. Erickson Institute of Dallas 4144 N. Central Expwy, Ste 520 Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 824-2009

El Paso

Michael Gately, LISW 1733 Curie Dr., #204 El Paso, TX 79902 (915) 542-4951

Fort Worth

Wayne Martin, LCSW 3327 Winthrop Ave, suite 210 Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817) 456-3489

Houston

Tenley Fukui, MA, LPC 3100 Weslayan, Suite 375 Houston, TX 77027 Phone: (713)408-2468

UTAH

Park City

Marlo Bennett, LMFT 1887 Gold Dust Lane, Ste. 303 P.O. Box 980386 Park City, UT 84098 (435) 901-3218

Salt Lake City

Donald A. Price, Ph.D. & Linda M. Price, Ph.D. 2118 E. 3900 S. #100 Salt Lake City, UT 84124 Phone: (801) 277-3620 Website: www.millbrookcounseling.com

VERMONT

Bellows Falls

Linda Thomson, MSN, APRN Greater Falls Family Medicine 18 Old Terrace Bellows Falls, VT 05101 802-463-9551

Brattleboro

Dr. Pauliukonis17 Belmont AvenueBrattleboro Memorial HospitalBrattleboro VT 5301 VIRGINIA

Alexandria

Beverly A. Brosky, Psy.D. 5021 Seminary Road, Suite 229 Alexandria, VA 22311 Phone: 703-550-1140Fax: 703-931-1931Arlington

Janet C. Wilson, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.617 S. Taylor StreetArlington, Virginia 22204(703) 521-1127

Falls Church

Beverly A. Brosky, Psy.D. 7700 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200Falls Church, VA 22043Phone: (703) 550-1140

Newport News

Richard B. Griffin, Psy.D.Behavioral Medicine Institute 606 Denbigh Blvd., Suite 100, Newport News, VA 23608Phone: 757-872-8303

Naomi S. Goldblum, Ph.D. Clinical Associates of Tidewater 12695 McManus Blvd, Bldg 8 Newport News, VA 23692 (757) 877-7700

Sperryville

Ms. Carol LuckingRappahannock Healing Arts Center11945 Lee HighwaySperryville VA 22740

Williamsburg

Joan R. Milkavich, LPC352 McLaws Circle, Suite 3, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Phone: (757) 564-4590

WASHINGTON

Bellevue

Lynda Lahman, MA, LMFT 325 118th Ave SE, Suite 310 Bellevue, WA 98005 (425) 451-3030 Website:

Bellingham

Dr. Karen Aronoff The Eleventh Street Offices1112 Eleventh Street, Suite 301Bellingham, WA 98225Phone: (360) 715-1165Fax: (360) 756-8850

Hansville

Marie Rhodes RN 39095 Fontonot Cir NE Hansville WA 98340 (360) 638-2816 (360) 509-0411

Leavenworth

Marvin L. Hinz 144 Cherry Street Leavenworth, WA. 98826Phone: (509) 433-4029 Fax: (509) 548-7398E-mail: mahinz@nwi.net

Olympia

Pat Sonnenstuhl, CHT, RN,CNM 147 Rogers NW Olympia, WA, 98502 (360)943-8933 E-mail: cnmpat@comcast.net Website:Pullman

Professor Arreed Barabasz, EdD, PhD, ABPPWashington State UniversityP.O. Box 642136Pullman, WA 99164-2136Phone: (208) 301-3811

Seattle

Carolyn Rodenberg, M.A.1530 N. 115th St., Suite 207 Seattle, WA 98133 Phone: (206) 367-3058 Website:

Spokane

Linda Higley PhD12 E. Rowan L-3Spokane, WA 99207(509) 487-4200llhigley@comcast.net

Vancouver

Debbie Nesbitt, RN Positive Dynamics 10000 NE 7th Avenue, STE 210 Phone: (360) 513-9567 Vancouver, WA 98674

WISCONSIN

Madison

Melinda Bailey, Ph.D Family Therapy Center of Madison 700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 220 Madison, WI 53711 (608) 276-9191

Manitowoc

Phyllis Kasper, Ph. D. Aurora Behavioral Health Center 1425 Memorial Drive, POB 400 Manitowoc, WI 54221-0400 Phone (920) 683-9500 fax 683-9588 Website:

Neenah

Caley I. Powell BSN, RN, CH 7185 Clark Point Road Winneconne, WI 54986 H.e.l.p. H.e.a.l. Hypnosis, a division of Joyning Concepts 307 S. Commercial Street, THE OLD POST OFFICE, located in Center Valley Counseling Neenah, Wi 54956 Phone: (920) 470-6800, Fax: (920) 836-3049 Website:  E-mail: joyningconc@centurytel.netWauwatosa

Charles Trimberger, MSW, LCSW Lakeshore Clinic, Ltd. 8112 West Bluemound Road Suite 106 Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Phone: (414) 332-0650Fax: (414) 431-1071

Why Consider Hypnosis Treatment For IBS

Why Consider Hypnosis Treatment for IBS?

Hypnosis is only one of several approaches to treating irritable bowel syndrome and may not be the most suitable option for all patients (click

for discussion of treatment options for IBS). However, hypnosis treatment has some advantages which makes it an attractive option for many IBS sufferers with chronic and severe symptoms:

- It is one of the most successful treatment approaches for chronic IBS. The response rate to treatment is 80% and better in most published studies to date.

- The treatment often helps individuals who have failed to get improvements with other methods (see for example: Whorwell et al., 1984, 1987; Palsson et al., 1997, 2000).

- It is a uniquely comfortable form of treatment; relaxing, easy and generally enjoyable.

- It utilizes the healing power of the person's own mind, and is generally completely without negative side effects.

- The treatment sometimes results in improvement in other symptoms or problems such as migraine or tension headaches, along with the improvement in IBS symptoms.

- The beneficial effects of the treatment last long after the end of the course of treatment. According to research, individuals who improve from hypnosis treatment for IBS can generally look forward to years of reduced bowel symptoms.

© Copyright 2000-2002, Olafur S. Palsson, Psy.D. All Rights Reserved.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

rome

Overview of Published Research To Date on Hypnosis for IBS

Whorwell PJ; Prior A; Faragher EB. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome.The Lancet 1984, 2: 1232-4.

This study is the earliest and perhaps the best study in this research area to date, as it was thoroughly placebo-controlled and showed dramatic contrast in response to hypnosis treatment above the placebo group. Thirty patients with severe symptoms unresponsive to other treatment were randomly chosen to receive 7 sessions of hypnotherapy (15 patients) or 7 sessions of psychotherapy 

plus

placebo pills (15 patients). The psychotherapy group showed a small but significant improvement in abdominal pain and distension, and in general well-being but not bowel activity pattern. The hypnotherapy patients showed a dramatic improvement in all central symptom. The hypnotherapy group showed no relapses during the 3-month follow-up period.

Graph adapted from the above paper, showing group differences in two of the main IBS symptoms:

Whorwell PJ; Prior A; Colgan SM. Hypnotherapy in severe irritable bowel syndrome: further experience. Gut, 1987 Apr, 28:4, 423-5. This report summed up further experience with 35 patients added to the 15 treated with hypnotherapy in the 1984 Lancet study. For the whole 50 patient group, success rate was 95% for classic IBS cases, but substantially less for IBS patients with atypical symptom picture or significant psychological problems. The report also observed that patients over age 50 seemed to have lower success rate from this treatment.

Harvey RF; Hinton RA; Gunary RM; Barry RE. Individual and group hypnotherapy in treatment of refractory irritable bowel syndrome. Lancet, 1989 Feb, 1:8635, 424-5. This study employed a shorter hypnosis treatment course than other studies for IBS, and the success rate was lower, most likely demonstrating that a larger number of sessions is necessary for optimal benefit. Twenty out of 33 patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome treated with four sessions of hypnotherapy in this study improved. Improvement was maintained at a 3-month treatment. These researchers further found that hypnosis treatment for IBS in groups of up to 8 patients seems as effective as individual therap

Prior A, Colgan SM, Whorwell PJ. Changes in rectal sensitivity after hypnotherapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Gut 1990;31:896. This study found IBS patients to be less sensitive to pain and other sensations induced via balloon inflation in their gut while they were under hypnosis. Sensitivity to some balloon-induced gut sensations (although not pain sensitivity) was reduced following a course of hypnosis treatment.

Houghton LA; Heyman DJ; Whorwell PJ. Symptomatology, quality of life and economic features of irritable bowel syndrome--the effect of hypnotherapy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 1996 Feb, 10:1, 91-5. This study compared 25 severe IBS patients treated with hypnosis to 25 patients with similar symptom severity treated with other methods, and demonstrated that in addition to significant improvement in all central IBS symptoms, hypnotherapy recipients had fewer visits to doctors, lost less time from work than the control group and rated their quality of life more improved. Those patients who had been unable to work prior to treatment resumed employment in the hypnotherapy group but not in the control group. The study quantifies the substantial economic benefits and improvement in health-related quality of life which result from hypnotherapy for IBS on top of clinical symptom improvement.

Koutsomanis D. Hypnoanalgesia in the irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology 1997, 112, A764. This French study showed less analgesic medication use required and less abdominal pain experienced by a group of 12 IBS patients after a course of 6-8 analgesia-oriented hypnosis sessions followed by 4 sessions of autogenic training. Patients were evaluated at 6-month and 12-month follow-up.

Houghton LA, Larder S, Lee R, Gonsalcorale WM, Whelan V, Randles J, Cooper P, Cruikshanks P, Miller V, Whorwell PJ. Gut focused hypnotherapy normalises rectal hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Gastroenterology 1999; 116: A1009. Twenty-three patients each received 12 sessions of hypnotherapy. Significant improvement was seen in the severity and frequency of abdominal pain, bloating and satisfaction with bowel habit. A subset of the treated patients who were found to be unusually pain-sensitive in their intestines prior to treatment (as evidenced by balloon inflation tests) showed normalization of pain sensitivity, and this change correlated with their pain improvement following treatment. Such pain threshold change was not seen for the treated group as a whole.

Vidakovic Vukic M. Hypnotherapy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: methods and results in Amsterdam. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1999, 230:49-51.Reports results of treatment of 27patients of gut-directed hypnotherapy tailored to each individual patient. All of the 24 who completed treatment were found to be improve.

Galovski TE; Blanchard EB. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, 1998 Dec, 23:4, 219-32. Eleven patients completed hypnotherapy, with improvement reported for all central IBS symptoms, as well as improvement in anxiety. Six of the patients were a waiting-control group for comparison, and did not show such improvement while waiting for treatment.

Gonsalkorale WM, Houghton LA, Whorwell PJ. Hypnotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome: a large-scale audit of a clinical service with examination of factors influencing responsiveness. Am J Gastroenterol 2002 Apr;97(4):954-61.This study is notable as the largest case series of IBS patients treated with hypnosis and reported on to date. 250 unselected IBS patients were treated in a clinic in Manchester, England, using 12 sessions of hypnotherapy over a 3-month period plus home practice between sessions. Marked improvement was seen in all IBS symptoms (overall IBS severity was reduced by more than half on the average after treatment), quality of life, and anxiety and depression. All subgroups of patients appeared to do equally well except males with diarrhea, who improved far less than other patients for unknown reason.

Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Johnson DA, Burnett CK, Whitehead WE. Hypnosis treatment for severe irritable bowel syndrome: investigation of mechanism and effects on symptoms. Dig Dis Sci 2002 Nov;47(11):2605-14.Possible physiological and psychological mechanisms of hypnosis treatment for IBS were investigated in two studies. Patients with severe IBS received seven biweekly hypnosis sessions and used hypnosis audiotapes at home. Rectal pain thresholds and smooth muscle tone were measured with a barostat before and after treatment in 18 patients (study I), and treatment changes in heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, finger temperature, and forehead electromyographic activity were assessed in 24 patients (study II). Somatization, anxiety, and depression were also measured. All central IBS symptoms improved substantially from treatment in both studies. Rectal pain thresholds, rectal smooth muscle tone, and autonomic functioning (except sweat gland reactivity) were unaffected by hypnosis treatment. However, somatization and psychological distress showed large decreases. In conclusion, hypnosis improves IBS symptoms through reductions in psychological distress and somatization. Improvements were unrelated to changes in the physiological parameters measured. 17 of 18 patients in study 1 and 21 of 24 patients in study 2 were judged substantially improved Improvement was well-maintained at 10-12 month follow up in study 2.

Lea R, Houghton LA, Calvert EL, Larder S, Gonsalkorale WM, Whelan V, Randles J, Cooper P, Cruickshanks P, Miller V, Whorwell PJ.Gut-focused hypnotherapy normalizes disordered rectal sensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Alimentary Pharmacology& Therapeutics 2003 Mar 1;17(5):635-42. This study evaluated the rectal sensitivity changes in IBS patients who received hypnotherapy, like a previous study by the same group (see Houghton et al's study above, but using a slightly different methodology. Twenty-three IBS patients were tested before and after 12 weeks of hypnotherapy. Following the course of hypnotherapy, the mean pain sensory threshold increased in the hypersensitive subgroup and tended to decrease in the hyposensitive group, although the l. Reduction in gut pain sensitivity was associated with a reduction in abdominal pain. These results suggest that hypnotherapy may work at least partly by normalizing bowel perception in those patients who have abnormal gut sensitivity, while leaving normal sensation unchanged.

Gonsalkorale WM, Miller V, Afzal A, Whorwell PJ. Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Gut. 2003 Nov;52(11):1623-9. In this study, 204 IBS patients treated with a course of hypnotherapy completed questionnaires scoring symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression before, immediately after, and up to six years following treatment. 71% of patients showed improvement in response to treatment initially, and of those, 81% were still improved years later, while most of the other 19% only reported slight worsening of symptoms. Quality of life and anxiety or depression scores were also still significantly improved at follow-up but showed some deterioration. Patients also reported fewer doctor visits rates and less medication use long-term after hypnosis treatment. These results indicate that for most patients the benefits from hypnotherapy last at least five years.

Gonsalkorale WM, Toner BB, Whorwell PJ. J Psychosom Res. 2004 Mar;56(3):271-8. Cognitive change in patients undergoing hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Cognitive changes were evaluated in 78 IBS patients who completed a 12-session hypnosis treatment course, using the recently developed Cognitive Scale for Functional Bowel Disorders. Hypnotherapy resulted in improvement of symptoms, quality of life, anxiety and depression. Unhelpful IBS-related cognitions improved significantly, with reduction in thetotal cognitive score and all component themes related to bowelfunction. Overall symptom reduction correlated with an improvement on the cognitive scale.

Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Whitehead WE. Hypnosis home treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot study. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2006 Jan;54(1):85-99. A 3-month home-treatment version of a scripted hypnosis protocol previously shown to improve all central IBS symptoms was completed by 19 IBS patients. Outcomes werecompared to those of 57 matched IBS patients from a separate study receivingonly standard medical care. Ten of the hypnosis subjects (53%) responded totreatment by 3-month follow-up (response defined as more than 50% reduction inIBS severity) vs. 15 (26%) of controls. Hypnosis subjects improved more inquality of life scores compared to controls. Anxiety predicted poor treatmentresponse. Hypnosis responders remained improved at 6-month follow-up. Althoughresponse rate was lower than previously observed in therapist-deliveredtreatment, hypnosis home treatment may double the proportion of IBS patientsimproving significantly across 6 months.

Barabasz A, Barabasz M. Effects of tailored and manualized hypnotic inductions for complicated irritable bowel syndrome patients. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2006 Jan;54(1):100-12. This small clinical pilot study provided preliminary data on the effects of hypnotic inductions tailored to an irritable bowel syndrome patient in each session compared to Palsson's fully scripted (standardized) protocol. A total of eight IBS patients previously unresponsive to any treatment were assigned randomly to either the tailored or standardized induction condition. Other than pre-testing for hypnotizability, the procedure followed for the standardized group (four subjects) was exactly as prescribed by O. Palsson (1998). The same scripts were used for the other (tailored) group of four patients except that the inductions were individualized. Patients showed favorable treatment response immediately post-treatment and at 10-month follow-up. Only the tailored group showed no incapacitating pain at post-treatment but greater emotional stress than the standardized group. The tailored group continued to improve and showed better results than the standardized group at 10-month follow-up, and the post-reatment emotional distress had decreased significantly

Smith GD. Effect of nurse-led gut-directed hypnotherapy upon health-related quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. J Clin Nurs. 2006 Jun;15(6):678-84. This study conducted in Edinburgh, UK, measured the effects of a nurse-led gut-directed hypnotherapy. Seventy-five patients were treated with 5 to 7 1/2 hours of hypnotherapy, as well as receiving education and support. Diary results showed that the physical symptoms of abdominal pain and bloating improved significantly after treatment. There were also significant statistical improvements in six of the eight health-related quality of life scales and in anxiety scores after treatment. Vlieger AM, Menko-Frankenhuis C, Wolfkamp SC, Tromp E, Benninga MA. Hypnotherapy for children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 2007 Nov;133(5):1430-6. This randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of six sessions of hypnotherapy over 12 weeks with results from standard medical therapy plus six sessions of supportive therapy in children with functional abdominal pain or IBS. Fifty-three children ranging in age from 8 to 18 years, with functional abdominal pain (31patients) or IBS (22 patients), were randomly assigned to either hypnotherapy or the comparison treatment. Pain scores decreased significantly in both groups from baseline to 1 year follow-up, but the hypnotherapy group showed significantly greater reduction in pain compared with the comparison group. At one-year follow-up, treatment was judged successful for 85% of the hypnotherapy group and 25% of the comparison group (p< .001).

© Copyright 2000-2008, Olafur S. Palsson, Psy.D. All Rights Reserved.

'Why I chose hypnobirthing

You

Saturday, 20 July, 2002, 23:18 GMT 00:18 UK

'Why I chose hypnobirthing'

By Jane Elliott

BBC News Online Health Staff

Pia Goodman was terrified at the thought of giving birth, but she astonished midwives by having her first baby in just over three hours at home without any painkillers.

Ms Goodman admits she is a worrier and the thought of labour pains and the fears of what could go wrong were almost too much.

I just breathed her out without drugs

Pia Goodman

So when she was about 22 weeks pregnant she decided to try a pioneering new technique called hypnobirthing.

Hypnobirthing, which started in the States, uses self-hypnosis, relaxation, visualisation and breathing techniques to prepare the mother for birth.

And Ms Goodman, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, said it had worked fantastically during Imogen's birth.

"I am usually quite scared and I was petrified about going into labour.

"I am a worrier and I do get quite panicky about things like childbirth so I thought this might help me."

After taking the course Ms Goodman was so confident that she decided to try for a home birth.

"She was my first and I had her at home.

"I said that I had wanted a home birth, but I did not think I would be able to do it.

"But I went to see my midwife when I was 39 weeks and five days pregnant and said I definitely wanted a home birth.

"She panicked and said I hadn't given her much time, but my mum was my birthing partner and she and I were confident we could do it."

Diligent practice

As well as the series of classes Ms Goodman was given textbooks and relaxation tapes and she practised them religiously in the months leading up to the birth.

So when the big day came five weeks ago she was able to put all the theory into practice.

We have had women coming to us who are absolutely terrified at the thought of giving birth and they have gone on to have a perfectly natural birth with no drugs

Sonya Wadsworth

"The midwives were so impressed I had my hypnobirthing tape on and I rocked on a birthing ball and I just breathed.

"I just breathed her out without drugs it was just great and I could not have wished for anything better.

"I think it is just fantastic and it really, really helped."

Hypnotherapist Sonya Wadsworth, of Oldham, said that Ms Goodman's experiences at her birth just five weeks ago were typical of the many positive responses she has had to the pioneering technique.

Since she started the hypnobirthing in the UK last November she has had 26 very happy mothers complete her course and have successful births, including one set of twins.

"It gives women the chance to have choices. We reframe everything for mothers in a positive way so that the mums gain the confidence to have a good birth.

"We use self-hypnosis so that they can do it themselves and so that by the time the birth comes round they are actually looking forward to it rather than dreading it."

Complications

But although the technique is ideal for enabling natural childbirth, it can also be adapted for women who know they are going to have complications.

One of Mrs Wadsworth's clients suffered from pre-eclampsia and needed a Caesarean section, but she was able to use the technique to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

"The mothers have the birth that is for them, we do not set them up to fail.

"And the babies born in this way are so much calmer because they have been born in such a calm way. They really are chilled babies.

"We have had women coming to us who are absolutely terrified at the thought of giving birth and they have gone on to have a perfectly natural birth with no drugs, not even paracetamol."

Mary Newburn, of the NCT, said natural birthing methods like hypnobirthing should be encouraged by the NHS as a means of cutting the growing Caesarean rates.

"We should be exploring ways of letting people get over fear.

"The birth process is very straightforward if you can get into the mindset.

"Compared with some other self-help hypnotherapy is quite a minority interest but in the cases of people I have heard who have used this there have been very positive reports."

Anyone wanting to find out more about hypnobirthing can ring 0161 620 8770.

Hypnosis 'doubles IVF success'

Last Updated:

Tuesday, 29 June, 2004, 12:58 GMT 13:58 UK

Hypnosis 'doubles IVF success'

By Caroline Ryan

BBC News Online health staff in Berlin

Hypnosis may aid relaxation

Hypnosis can double the success of IVF treatment, researchers have claimed.A team from Soroka University, Israel, found 28% of women in the group who were hypnotised became pregnant, compared with 14% of those who were not.

The study of 185 women was presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Berlin.

But other experts said the research failed to account for key differences between the two groups.

The longer a couple have been trying to conceive, the less likely they are to conceive

Dr Francoise Shenfield

The Israeli researchers were looking to see if hypnosis could make the embryo transfer stage of IVF more successful.

During this stage, the embryo is transferred into the womb. However, if the womb is contracting, it can affect the chances of the transplant being a success.

It was hoped hypnotherapy could help women relax and therefore improve the chances of success.

Stress

Women undergoing IVF were assessed to see if they were suitable to be hypnotised.

Eighty-nine women were then given hypnosis while their embryos were implanted. Some underwent more than one cycle of IVF treatment.

Ninety-six other women underwent embryo transfers without hypnosis. All received one cycle each.

Dr Eliahu Levitas, who led the research, told the conference: "Embryo transfer is known to be a stressful time for patients, and it may be that the procedure is the peak of their stress in IVF.

"Hypnosis may be related to a tranquilising effect.

"Performing embryo transfer under hypnosis may significantly contribute to an increased clinical pregnancy rate."

But experts said the study failed to take into account key differences between the groups which would have a major influence on their chances of conceiving.

On average, women in the non-hypnosis group had been trying to conceive for 7.4 years, compared with 4.7 years for those who did receive hypnosis.

Dr Francois Shenfield, of University College London Hospital, UK, said: "One of the very important confounding factors in this field is the duration of infertility.

"The longer a couple have been trying to conceive, the less likely they are to conceive spontaneously, and with technical help."