Hypnotherapy: A Versatile Health Care Tool

What do all of these ailments have in common?

· Irritable bowel syndrome

· Tension headaches

· Alopecia areata

· Asthma

· Phobias

· Insomnia

· Addictions

· Bedwetting

· Fibromyalgia

· Phobias

· Labor and delivery

· Skin disorders [such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema (atopic dermatitis)]

· Stress

· Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

· Cancer-related pain

· Weight loss

· Eating disorders

· Warts

· Indigestion (dyspepsia)

Every one of these has been treated successfully with hypnotherapy . For over half a century, it has been a recognized therapy by both the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. In fact, over 10 years ago, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began recommending

hypnotherapy

as a treatment for chronic pain.

Myths abound about hypnosis

, so let’s dispel a few. First of all, a hypnotist cannot control a person’s mind or free will. When hypnotized, the person is in a state of deep relaxation and a very focused state of consciousness, but it is not some kind of bewitched trance. Actually, through hypnosis, one can learn to master one’s state of awareness and control bodily functions and psychological responses, thus its popularity in treating anxiety and addictions.

Also, no swinging pendulum is necessary to achieve a hypnotic state, although some people may prefer to do it in the classic fashion by the grandfather of hypnotherapy, Franz Anton Mesmer, an 18^th century Austrian physician, from whom we get the word “mesmerized.” Since 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended hypnotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain.

Hypnosis works by helping us revisit events that may have caused unhealthy psychological reactions, some of which then have physical components. The therapist presents images or words than lead you to become very physically relaxed while your thoughts become more focused. In this highly alert state, many become very responsive to suggestion, e.g., that you now abhor the taste of cigarettes. Or those with panic attacks may be given the relevant suggestion that they will now be able to relax at any time. While some people respond well to hypnotic suggestion, others may not react as well.

Hypnotherapists generally teach their patients or clients the basics of self-hypnosis, often with audiotapes for home use, so that the learning can be reinforced at home. This can enhance the sense of control, which is especially important in cases of chronic pain.

Therapy sessions generally last about an hour, and many see results in four to ten sessions. Children may respond even faster. Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings by health care professionals in places such as emergency rooms to dental offices to outpatient clinics. Clinical studies suggest that hypnosis may improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease pain and feelings of anxiety, e.g., before medical or dental procedures.

A number of health care service providers find hypnotherapy a useful tool for helping their patients. Hypnotherapists include physicians, registered nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, as well as dentists and podiatrists. Training and certification in hypnotherapy is available from a variety of reputable institutions for those who wish to offer this ancient yet very modern healing strategy.

The Who, What, When, Where, Why & How of Case Management

With the increasing concern throughout the country over cost-effective health care, qualified case managers are very much in demand in health care services. This is true in areas ranging from nursing to social services. Accordingly, here is an introduction to the Who, What, Where of case management and the How of becoming a certified case manager in health services.

Who. The term “case manager” applies to anyone whose role in health care services includes coordinating the program of care from inception to termination of care. This includes not only experienced nurses, but also social workers, geriatric counselors, occupational and respiratory therapists, etc., with a more programmatic approach to case management theory and skills.

What. Case managers function much like project managers in non-health industries, with responsibility for coordinating the delivery of health care services. Given the intricacies of health care systems, effective management requires an understanding of systems, reimbursements, legal issues, and professional practice issues. Anyone who has dealt with Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and commercial carries can appreciate the importance of expertise in these areas.

Where. Case managers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, out-patient settings, and even homes. Case management involves identifying specific health care needs, designing a treatment plan, and implementing it to produce cost-effective outcomes for health care.

How. Additionally, given the ethical issues and dilemmas that can occur in providing services that involve serving human needs, case management involves an understanding of legal issues and risk management. Special attention is usually given to the processes of team work groups, discharge planning, disease management, and outcomes management. Case managers must be involved in the quality improvement process, both definition and measurement. Advanced training may involve learning about complimentary health care and its modalities.

Why. The “Why” in case management should be clear by now. Through deliberate planning and integration of services, the needs of health care consumers and provider systems can be better optimized.

How does one become a case manager? While some health care professionals may have learned to do this on the job, there are now several training options. Educational programs in case management have been designed to offer certifications and even master’s degrees. For busy professionals, online courses provide greater accessibility to the material that will allow them to add evidence-based structures and objective outcome goals to the planning and implementation of health care services.

Those wishing to pursue a credentialing or degree program in health care case management will find many continuing education events, seminars, courses, independent study programs, and other opportunities, both face-to face and through distance learning. Checking into the stability and reputation of the educational providers can help ensure that it is a quality program that will open further career opportunities.