Info for Referring Health Professionals

Colorado Institute of Behavioral Medicine Approach

At CIBM, our behavioral medicine approach focusing on hypnotherapy supports the practices of medical doctors, dentists, naturopaths, chiropractors, dieticians and nutritionists, body workers and energy workers. We support your practices by improving treatment responses, health behavior modification, addressing emotional and traumatic issues and by nervous system reconditioning.

Health Care and Hypnotherapy: Overview

Hypnotherapy has been used to support medical treatment for over a hundred years, and has been approved since the 1950's by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the British Medical Association. Hypnotherapy supports medical treatment in several ways. One of the most powerful uses of hypnotherapy is for stress reduction, in part because stress is a major factor in the cause and maintenance of many illnesses (Selye, 1976; Girdano, et. al. 1993). Hypnotherapy has been shown to also influence health independent of stress reduction. The direct effects of hypnotherapy on health include immune system enhancement (including cancer, autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases), enhanced wound healing, enhanced responsiveness and healing from surgery, reduction or elimination of unfavorable effects of chemotherapy, reduction or elimination of allergies, skin conditions, and incontinence (Cheek and Le Cron,1968; Kroger, 1975; Rossi and Cheek, 1988; Cheek, 1994; Hilgard and Hilgard, 1994; Barber, 1996; Temes, 1999; Temes, 2000).

Below is more specific information about hypnotherapy and various types of health care practices, general health care support, and select specific health conditions.

Types of Health Care Practices
Inpatient Medical Treatment
Specific Medical Settings
Hypnodontics
Energy Medicine
Acupuncture
Manipulative Medicine & Bodywork

General Health Care Support
Health Behavior Modification (including Smoking Cessation)
Weight Loss
Resistance and Improved Treatment Responses

Specific Health Conditions
Chronic Pain
Acute and Procedure-Related Pain
Fibromyalgia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
TMJ Syndrome

TYPES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTICES

Hypnotherapy and Inpatient Medical Treatment

There are many uses of hypnotherapy in inpatient settings. Patients gain more control over their comfort, feel less fearful and more relaxed during medical testing and procedures, may require less medication (especially pain medication), experience greater empowerment during their medical treatment, have deeper and better quality sleep, and experience increased recovery rates (Cheek and Le Cron,1968; Kroger, 1975; Rossi and Cheek, 1988; Cheek, 1994; Barber, 1996; Grant, 2003). In addition hypnotherapy can be used to teach patients to balance their own blood pressure, regulate their breathing and heart rates, and modulate their secretions and bleeding (Cheek and Le Cron,1968; Kroger, 1975; Rossi and Cheek, 1988; Cheek, 1994; Barber, 1996; Temes, 2000; Grant, 2003).

Pain is a often a component of the inpatient experience, related both to disease processes and procedures. Hypnotherapy is effective in pain reduction or elimination for many patients, and in fact the majority of medical hypnosis research has been done in the field of pain reduction (Cheek and Le Cron,1968; Kroger, 1975; Rossi and Cheek, 1988; Cheek, 1994; Hilgard and Hilgard, 1994; Barber, 1996; Temes, 1999; Temes, 2000; Grant, 2003).

Hypnotherapy in Specific Medical Settings

Hypnotherapy can be useful in many specific inpatient and outpatient settings (Cheek and Le Cron,1968; Kroger, 1975; Rossi and Cheek, 1988; Cheek, 1994; Hilgard and Hilgard, 1994; Barber, 1996; Temes, 1999; Temes, 2000; Scaer, 2001). Some specific examples follow.

• ICU: reduced time spent in ICU through the use mental imagery to stabilize vital signs and encourage healing.
• Emergency Room: reduce pain, anxiety, fear, bleeding and stress in emergency room.
• Obstetrics: pain management, and reduction of anxiety and nausea during pregnancy, reduction of bleeding, reduce risk of premature delivery; reduce complications in labor and
  delivery, and suggestion work to reduce or eliminate post-partum blues.
• Medical/Dental Procedures (inpatient and outpatient): Increase relaxation and comfort of patients undergoing medical procedures such as receiving injections, physical therapy, MRI, respiratory therapy and other procedures. Hypnotherapy has also been used for stabilization of blood pressure and reduction of angina pain in cardiac patients undergoing procedures, such as tooth extraction and angioplasty. Some hospitals have hypnotherapist as part of the radiology staff in order support patients, as well as to save time and money.
• Surgery: allow use of less aesthetic; reduce bleeding; reduce complications; promote rapid healing; help manage post-operative pain; and facilitate quicker return of normal bowel function post-surgery. In addition, hypnotherapy can be used to reduce pre-surgical anxiety and stress, and patients can experience more of a sense of confidence and control during a time of powerlessness and vulnerability.
• Oncology (inpatient and outpatient): reduce nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, reduce pain (both associated with disease processes and procedures); reduce fear, stress and anxiety; increase relaxation; improve sleep; and influence immune response. Hypnotherapy can additionally help patients and families struggling with grief, loss and end-of-life issues.
• Rehabilitation: facilitate rehabilitation, support patient motivation facilitate blood pressure regulation, weight control, and medication support
• Hypertension: increase relaxation, relax tone of blood vessels, reduce reactivity to stress, support development of heart-healthy habits and lifestyle.
• Medical Staff (inpatient and outpatient): in-service to teach staff techniques to use with patients and to teach staff relaxation, self-hypnosis and the use of imagery to reduce job stress, help them cope with their jobs, and reduce burn out.
• Pain Management: Chronic pain is generally managed on an outpatient basis, and hypnotherapy is useful to help patients manage pain related to conditions such as arthritis,
  TMJ syndrome, fibromyalgia, phantom limb, neuralgias, whiplash syndrome and headaches.
• Dentistry: reduce or eliminate pain, fear and tension around dental procedures, as well as reduce bleeding and speed up healing.