Elman and the Proliferation of Hypnosis

[kosmic]

Why do you think the use of hypnosis in the medical field, especially dentistry, isn't widely used in the US? In Elman's Hypnotherapy book, he says he had hundreds of students all over the US practicing anaestesia hypnotic techniques on their clients. What happened?

[skip]

How do you know it isnt being used?

[Jack]

How do you know it isnt being used?

Good point.

It's not strictly relevent but hypnotic techniques by medics went through a fashionable phase in the 1960's in the UK. Since then, although I know many doctors who use such techniques, most would not admit to it.

There is a measure of superiority being exercised here since hypnotherapy does not have a unitary supervisory body, doesn't take 7 years to qualify, doesn't have huge drug companies behind it (as if) and is plagued by occasional eruptions of con artists and scammers.

My argument with medics has always been that it takes more than 7 years to be a good hypnotherapist and the medical profession should be the last to moan about rogue elements, given their record.

But I have to concede that we do not have a unitary body and anyone can become an hypnotherapist, at least in name. The only way hypnotherapy will be accepted as a valid treatment modality by medics is if a PhD is essential to practice. My own opinion is that this would result in less talented individuals entering the profession, but would also result in more rigour in the selection and qualification of candidates, so... six of one and half a dozen of the other.

But, I think it will come. Not right now, but within the next 20 years. Hope it doesn't in many ways.

Jack

[Don]

I would say that the answer is quite simple: to become an adequate hypnotist takes study and practice.

Why should someone who has spent years studying to be a dentist spend years more studying and practicing hypnosis when he can simply give an injection or two?

[Poodle]

Question -- does the injection or two really numb the mouth or are we so taught to believe that it does that it actually works? Also hypnosis seemed very fashionable in the US in the 60's at least on the East Coast. We are slowly digging our way back from disreputable practitioners and entering the year 2006 instead of 1800. It is well known that Dr. Milton Erickson is the father of modern hypnosis. Hypnosis is again becoming "mainstream" for many, many things and I just read a well written article on the internet in a major US paper that people are turning away from psychologists and psychiatrists to hypnosis. I would estimate that by 2010 hypnosis has established a very good place for itself in the medical world.