2023 Shep Myers w/Linda Thomson PhD

Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms are functional psychophysiologic disorders that may often be a metaphor for a problematic situation in a person’s life. Psychophysiologic disorders are frequently misdiagnosed. This workshop will include an effective approach for recognizing functional symptoms and creative strategies for treating psychophysiologic symptoms in children and adults. Videos and case studies will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Formulate an effective approach for recognizing functional symptoms
• Describe two examples of functional symptoms being a metaphor for interpersonal conflicts and emotions.
• Identify three ways hypnosis can be integrated into the treatment of patients with psychophysiologic disorders.

The seven common causes of somatic disorders will be presented and discussed with case examples. Ideomotor signaling can be an effective means of uncovering the unconscious imprints that may contribute to the symptoms. There will be time for experiential practice setting up ideomotor signaling with fingers and pendulums.

Learning Objectives

• Define ideomotor phenomena/signaling
• Identify two clinically appropriate times to utilize ideomotor strategies
• Describe the seven common causes of psychosomatic symptoms

Research has shown that preparing patients hypnotically for surgery can have an enormous positive impact on both their surgical course and their recovery. Hypnosis can be very effective in enhancing the patient’s coping skills, reducing stress and anxiety, managing pain, and increasing a sense of self-mastery. This workshop will present a framework around which to create a script for a surgical patient that can be adjusted and personalized to meet the patient’s individualized needs.

Learning Objectives

• Identify three benefits of using clinical hypnosis pre-operatively with surgical patients.
• Describe the elements to be considered in hypnotic preparation for surgery.
• Discuss the literature concerning hypnosis and surgery.

Long history and solid research has substantiated the therapeutic benefits of using hypnotherapeutic techniques for a variety of habit disorders in childhood. This session will include a review of the psychobiology of the conditioned, semiconscious behavior patterns that become habituated and difficult to extinguish. Attendees will learn to cultivate the positive forces of imagination, bypass natural resistance to change, and generate new patterns of consciousness when working with children with habit disorders. Effective hypnotic interventions for a variety of habit disorders will be discussed along with video demonstrations of hypnosis sessions. A metaphorical elicitation will be presented and then practiced in small groups.

Learning Objectives

• Identify three developmental characteristics that make children particularly hypnotizable
• Describe how hypnotic approaches vary according to developmental age
• Utilize hypnosis with children for at least two common habit disorders

Life begins and ends with a breath. Breathing is the first physiologic function to change with emotion as our breath reacts to every internal and external stimulus. Breath constitutes the pivotal mind-body connection as it both influences and is influenced by mind and body. Breathing is not optional. Our patients are breathing anyway, therefore breath can be used to develop skills of self-regulation. The effectiveness of suggestions can be enhanced when timed with the breath. Multiple ways to teach breath work to both children and adults will be demonstrated and then practiced in small groups.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how breath can be both unconscious/automatic as well as conscious and deliberated connecting both the inner unconscious and the outer conscious world.
• Describe how diaphragmatic breathing can be used to teach skills of self-regulation
• Demonstrate how to teach focused breathing exercises to both children and adults.