International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis - E-Lib FK UWKS

40 INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
utilized to both assess and increase motivation. For example, ideomotor signalling
may lead to underlying factors that compromise motivation. Ego-strengthening
inductions can help to rebuild or restore hope.
SUITABILITY OF HYPNOSIS FOR THE PROBLEM?
Hypnosis is applicable in almost every area of medicine, dentistry, and psychotherapy
either as a primary treatment choice or as one that is used adjunctively. The
clinician's familiarity with treating the presenting problem nonhypnotically is
preeminent. Knowledge of hypnosis is like the buttress of the central structureÐ
one's specialty ®eld. The clinician must stay within his or her area of expertise
when utilizing hypnosis.
Moreover, it is not so much whether or not to apply a hypnotic procedure that the
clinician will ponder, but rather the responsiveness of a client to such a procedure
that will be a decisive factor in whether to use hypnosis or not. This leads to the
inquiry about hypnotizability of a client that is discussed under phase III of patient
preparation.
Research has shown hypnotic responsiveness to be unrelated to gender Spiegel
& Spiegel, 1978), and of some relationship to age. Children are particularly good
subjects, with their hypnotic ability peaking between ages 9±12 LeBaron &
Hilgard, 1984). Their hypnotic responsiveness seems related to their ready ability
to use fantasy and imagination Wicks, 1995).
Since most people can be considered as candidates for hypnosis, it may be that
judicious timing of the introduction of hypnosis is a factor in outcome. Timing of
an hypnotic intervention, as its own variable, has received little attention from
researchers, and timing of the introduction of the idea of hypnosis has received
none, to my knowledge, perhaps because it is such a complex matter of clinical
judgment and patient variables such as readiness, pathological presentation, and
expectations.
On some occasions, hypnosis may be applied in an emergency situation without
following all of the steps suggested in preparing the client. Examples of such rapid
interventions mostly include pain management of serious physical injuries. Such
interventions are best left in the hands of the experienced clinical hypnotherapist.
WHAT IS THE CLIENT'S METAPHOR FOR THE PRESENTING
PROBLEM?
The way in which clients describe and report their presenting problem is useful
information for the hypnotherapist. Hypnosis is about communication, and, some
would say, about communication with the unconscious aspects of the individual
Rossi & Cheek, 1988; Weil, 1995, pp. 93±97)). While proven models for
empirical investigation of how metaphoric information produces change are still
lacking, the literature abounds with case examples of positive outcomes both