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Designed as a practical desktop reference, this official publication of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis is the largest collection of hypnotic suggestions and metaphors ever compiled. It provides a look at what experienced clinicians actually say to their patients during hypnotic work.A book to be savored and referred to time and again, this handbook will become a dog-eared resource for the clinician using hypnosis.
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_:: , HANDBOOK , of HYPNOTIC SUGGESTIONS AND METAPHORS This book is dedicated with deep love and affection to my children, Matthew, Erin, Christopher, and Mark FOREWORD H ypnotherapy is the application of hypnosis in a wide variety of medical and psychological disorders. Adequate training in psychotherapy is a prerequisite for practicing hypnosis , regardless of whether the clinician is a psychologist, physician, social worker, or dentist. In fact, training in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy is a never-ending process. A text of this magnitude offers both the neophyte and the experienced clinician a tremendous, comprehensive reference. After receiving initial classroom or workshop training, additional training comes through read ing, self-study and self-experience. This book represents a beacon for those desiring additional training in treating clinical problems . Having this reference available will give the new practitioner a very secure feeling . This is a book for clinical practitioners. In fact, it will undoubtedly become the practical companion volume and supplement to comprehensive textbooks and courses on hypnosis. It provides the reader with the "how to" suggestions that therapists use with their patients. Rather than intellectually discussing the topic of hypnosis, this book gives therapists, physicians and dentists a sampling of what experienced clinicians actually say to their patients during hypnotic work. At last we have a book that helps answer the common query from our students : "But what do I say now that the patient is hypnotized?" Every student and clinician who uses hypnosis will want to have this invaluable and comprehensive desktop reference. It represents the largest 'collection of therapeutic suggestions and metaphors ever assembled, with contributions from over 1 00 of the world's finest hypnotherapists. For those interested in the theoretical and research aspects of hypnosis , there are numerous other volumes that may be found in libraries. In my opinion, we are very fortunate in having this new text in which something so compli cated has been made so much more understandable. However, Dr. Hammond rightly emphasizes that this is not meant to be a cookbook of suggestions to be routinely used with certain problems . And simply the extensiveness of the suggestions he has compiled will tend to discourage anyone from mechanically applying the same paragraph of sug gestions to everyone with a problem. His inclusion of empirical indications vii viii HANDBOOK OF HYPNOTIC SUGGESTIONS AND METAPHORS and contraindications for modules of suggestions is also intended to facilitate thoughtful treatment planning and the individualization of treatment. What you will find here is a resource book from which you will be able to pick and choose suggestions that you clinically judge to be compatible with individual patients and with your own personal style of doing hypnosis . It is an eclectic book that models a wide range of styles of practice in clinical hypnosis. The tremendous breadth of suggestions will also serve as a stimulus to your creativity in preparing hypnotic suggestions and metaphors of your own. Chapter 2 will enhance your skills further through outlining the principles and guidelines for formulating successful hypnotic and posthypnotic suggestions. Suggestions included in the book con