Exploring hypnotist trance: the experiences of skilled practitioners
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Milton Erickson first conceptualized the hypnotist trance (HT) as a unique psychological state developed in clinicians during hypnosis sessions. This qualitative study aimed to investigates HT through the experiences of 12 skilled Clinician Hypnosis Specialists (CHS). Data were collected via semi-structured face-to-face interviews, exploring participants' attitudes toward HT, its impact on their practice, and their strategies for developing and regulating it. Thematic analysis revealed that most CHS view HT as enhancing empathy, communication, and therapeutic effectiveness. However, challenges such as time distortion, hypnotic regression, and countertransference issues were also noted. The study highlights HT's dual nature - offering significant therapeutic benefits while presenting challenges that need careful management. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive HT training in hypnotherapy education and advocate for further research to explore HT across diverse contexts and expertise levels to deepen understanding of this complex phenomenon.
Authors: Joseph Meyerson, Naftaly Edry, Benni Feldman
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4403057514