Starting on Tuesday, April 21, 2010, we will initiate a new program, which will formally accept clinical hypnotherapist certifications issued by reputable nationwide or international clinical hypnotherapy-oriented organizations and associations. This will constitute an official recognition of such accomplishment by our members. Approved applicants will be considered as Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists and authorized to use CCHt credentials after their name.

This program is only available to Institute members. Others may join so that they can take advantage of the certification process. Existing members may apply for the CCHt credentials. The procedure is outlined on our certifications Web site.

This descriptive study evaluates the hypnoanalgesic experience's effect on participants' hypnotizability and opinions about hypnosis and identifies factors associated with hypnotizability. Hypnotizability was assessed using the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form A in 290 women 1 month after their participation in a randomized clinical trial evaluating hypnotic intervention for pain/anxiety versus standard care during pregnancy termination. Opinions were collected before and after the intervention. The regression model describing hypnotizability (F = 13.55; p < .0001; R(2) = 0.20) retained 5 variables but not the intervention group. The variable explaining most of total variance (62.9%) was the level of perceived automaticity/involuntariness. Opinions about hypnosis were modified by the hypnotic experience compared to standard care but were not associated with hypnotizability. Exposure to hypnoanalgesia did not influence hypnotizability but modifies significantly the opinions about hypnosis. Consistent with previous findings, perceived automaticity appears to best predict hypnotizability.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Jan;58(1):82-101. Dufresne A, Rainville P, Dodin S, Barré P, Masse B, Verreault R, Marc I. Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.

Despite the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), most socially anxious individuals do not seek treatment or seek treatment only after many years of suffering. This study evaluated the efficacy of a three-session motivation enhancement therapy (MET) designed to increase CBT utilization among socially anxious individuals. Twenty-seven non-treatment-seeking socially anxious individuals (92.6% met current DSM-IV criteria for social anxiety disorder) were randomly assigned to either MET for CBT (n = 12) or a control condition (n = 15). The primary outcome was attendance at first CBT appointment. Secondary outcomes included openness to therapist contact and willingness to schedule a CBT appointment. After the intervention, seven of the 12 (58.3%) participants in the MET condition attended a CBT appointment compared to two of 15 (13.3%) control participants. Eight of 11 (72.7%) participants in the MET condition indicated they would like a CBT therapist to contact them compared to four of 12 (33.3%) controls. Further, willingness to schedule a CBT appointment increased at a significantly greater rate in the MET condition. Results suggest MET for CBT may be a time-efficient means to increase CBT utilization among socially anxious individuals.

Behav Res Ther. 2009 Aug;47(8):710-5. Epub 2009 May 7. Buckner JD, Schmidt NB. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. jbuckner@lsu.edu