Hypnosis, Dissociation, and Absorption: Theories, Assessment and Treatment

This book presents the psychological theories and applications of how to use hypnosis with clients who display dissociation, absorption, fantasy proneness, and imaginative capabilities. The text discusses hypnosis, dissociation, and absorption from a theoretical, assessment, and clinical perspective. Moreover, it discusses the clinical implications of applying hypnosis to several overlapping psychological disorders such as dissociative indentity disorder, borderline personality disorder, somatoform disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition, the use of hypnosis for pain control, anxiety and stress, ego-strengthening, unipolar depression, smoking cessation, weight loss, and rehabilitation are described. Finally, the text provides treatment transcripts including, but not limited to, the following theoretical approaches: cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and Ericksonian. The text clearly brings together assessment, research, dissociative disorders, and hypnotic treatment in one place. This book adds to the literature by providing a step-by-step approach to the clinical interview and preparation of the client for hypnosis. The presentation of verbatim transcripts allows a clinician to employ them within a self-teaching format. Readers will find in this text a diversity of topics and a variety of practical treatment techniques that are not only useful but timely.