Crafting Effective Therapeutic Suggestions and Metaphors for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Olafur Palsson, PsyD
Format: MP3 Audio file download

The rich and dynamic connections between the brain and the intestinal tract in human beings provide great opportunities for therapeutic influences on gastrointestinal ailments with hypnosis. In this workshop, Dr. Palsson will discuss what is known about hypnosis influences on gut functions and symptoms, and detail specific therapeutic approaches that have been found effective in clinical hypnosis trials on various gastrointestinal disorders from the esophagus to the colon. He will explain key principles that clinicians can use to of craft effective suggestions and metaphors to treat gastrointestinal symptoms, how to facilitate receptivity to gut-directed interventions to maximize their impact, how to know that hypnosis intervention is having the desired impact on gut functioning and symptoms, and how to ensure that treatment is administered responsibly in the context of the patient's broader gastrointestinal healthcare. Dr. Palsson will use examples from empirically tested treatment protocols for irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, functional abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease and globus, augmented by brief experiential exercises.