Hypnosis, Dissociation and Survivors of Child Abuse : Understanding and Treatment

Hypnosis has not been fully appreciated in the treatment of trauma, largely due to it being implicated in the creation of false memories, which have previously led to false allegations of child abuse. This has led to a lot of misunderstandings about hypnosis. There is now a strong argument that the educated and professional use of hypnosis may be beneficial to the field of trauma, particularly in facilitating the resolution of trauma and processing of traumatic memories. This book re-introduces the importance of hypnosis in the field of trauma, with particular reference to survivors of child abuse. It covers theories of traumatic stress, theories of hypnosis and theories related to the long term effects of child abuse. As well as providing recent research in these areas, it offers practical therapy guidelines and case illustrations to assist qualified practitioners in treating their clients. The treatment described is predominately cognitive-behavioural, and uses hypnosis as an effective and powerful adjunct to this approach.

Marcia, Degun-Mather is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in private practice, and a lecturer and supervisor on the Diploma Course in Applied and Clinical Hypnosis for qualified health practitioners at University College London. She is and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section). She has worked as a clinical psychologist in the mental health service of the NHS for 40 years. During this time she was made Head of the Psychology Department of Warley Psychiatric teaching Hospital in Brentwood, Essex, where she worked and pioneered, with the help of a few colleagues, the first professional Hypnosis Training Workshops for health professionals which included a mix of psychologists, doctors and psychiatrists. She was also a founder member of the British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis.