Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of deviant behaviour in childhood and adolescence

Abstract

This paper reviews the origins of hypnosis as a clinical tool, the growing uses in medical and psychological casework, and the types of afflictions amenable to such treatment. Definitions and theoretical models are presented as are methods of induction, deepening of trance states, and symptom removal. Also discussed are the uses of hypnosis in the treatment of a wide spectrum of psychological disturbance in childhood and adolescence including treatment of school phobic conditions, enuresis, neurotic depression and chronic tics. Examples from actual case histories are presented. The growing acceptance of clinical hypnosis in recent years results from experimental work done by a host of professional helpers over the past thirty years. The approyal to include hypnosis in the training programme of the medical professions came during the 1960's when many writers on the subject were clamouring for its professional acceptance. The following statement by C.S.Moss (1967) exemplifies the then current opinion of many: "Correctly viewed, hypnotherapy is only one highly specialised treatment technique in the armamentarium of the mental health professional, who can no longer afford conformity to the rigid, traditional clinic procedures ..... the mental health professional person must have the knowledge, skill, imagination and audacity to energise and mobilize whatever community resources will benefit his client. It is within this broad context that the contribution of hypnotherapy must eventually be elevated." (p. 257)