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.

7 Tips for Evaluating Continuing Education for Health Care Professionals

With the explosion in knowledge and the demand for better trained professionals, many health care and mental health care professionals seek continuing education opportunities to better serve their patients and clients.

Psychologists, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, as well as related professionals often find that they need to broaden their base of expertise, to receive certification in a particular specialty, or to get recertified.

To meet this growing need, numerous certification programs have sprung for such specialties as hypnotherapy, grief therapy, legal nurse consulting, forensic nursing, stress management,

and even spiritual counseling. Before you invest your valuable time and money, how can you evaluate any particular program? How can you be sure that it is a recognized, quality program that meets your needs? Here are some recommended ways to check.

1. Investigate the quality of the institution itself. Do a Google search or other web search with the name of the institution in quotation marks. See what kind of hits you get. Does its name appear with other known entities, e.g., academic institutions, professional organizations, conferences, government websites, news media, etc? Make note of any forums where it may be discussed. Is it listed in any recognized publication as a provider of continuing education?

2. Verify any institutional affiliations. If the institute claims, for example, to be recognized by relevant bodies, you can generally verify that by an email or call to the latter as misuse of logos does happen.

3. Check out the faculty. Who is doing the teaching? What kind of professional education do they have? Do they have the highest recognized degrees or certification in that field? Where do the faculty work, e.g., at reputable medical centers or institutions? Do internet searches on the persons you plan to study with--and look for the same kind of data as above. Look for any of their publications as well.

4. Ask for references and recommendations. Ask for contact data of prior graduates who have received certification who would be willing to share their opinion about the instruction, benefits, and so on. You might also ask persons in the field that you already know if they have any knowledge of the institute(s) you are considering.

5. How long has it been operating? While new institutes may offer excellent programs, you do want to make sure that the one you choose has been in operation long enough to show the stability necessary to finish any program you start and to give you continued recognition afterward.

6. Ask how the education is delivered. Make sure that the courses are offered in a format that works for you. Some may be internet based, others may be teleconferences. Ask about class size, homework, required materials, etc.

7. Be smart about money. Make sure you know the total price of everything necessary for an individual course or for certification before you start. Payment should be through normal channels (e.g., credit card information via secure internet sites or fax, checks sent to domestic address payable to the institution, etc.). Ask about any satisfaction-money back guarantees—how do they actually work?

When you find an institute that passes your inspection, you are more likely to have a valuable educational experience that contributes to your professional expertise.

Legal Nurse Consultant: An Exciting New Career for R.N.s

If you watch television courtroom dramas, you’ve probably seen numerous cases where a bearded, bespectacled physician takes the stand is asked to give his opinion on a case. While that certainly occurs, there are also other professionals who offer their expertise to the legal community in real life in the interest of justice.

Among them are legal nurse consultants, or LNCs. An LNC is registered nurse (R.N.) who has received special training to serve as a consultant for medical-related legal cases. R.N.s who practice legal nurse consulting

assist in understanding the medical records, medical terminology, and health care issues in service of their clients, both plaintiffs and defendants.

While attorneys are the legal experts, the LNC contributes his or her knowledge on nursing and health care

systems and issues. Thus they are in a better position to evaluate the merit of a potential case, review relevant records, identify the standards of care, as well as prepare reports regarding extent of injuries or illness. Though most work behind the scenes, they may also serve as expert witness or help identify appropriate experts.

Other types of clients include insurance companies, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and private corporations designing strategies for risk management and other legal-health issues.

When there are complicated cases involving medical issues, the legal nurse consultant forms part of the necessary litigation team that the case attorney assembles. Certified Legal Nurse consultants may charge fees of $125 to $150 per hour, which is very cost-effective for attorneys. They may work in urban or rural areas, and most work independently from home. This is a profession that allows many nurses options for a flexible, profitable, and satisfying either part-time or full-time.

To perform the work requires training, and indeed there are educational and certification programs for LNCs. While certification is not required, it is highly recommended. Courses of study include health care and nursing law, coverage of dominant kinds of cases, legal issues of practice, ethics, case analysis, report writing, preparation for expert testimony, and other topics for preparation as an independent consultant. These programs are generally offered through distance learning.

Legal Nurse Consultants may join the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC), a not-for-profit membership organization “dedicated to the professional enhancement and growth of registered nurses practicing in the specialty area of legal nurse consulting and to advancing this nursing specialty

How to Successfully Manage Daily Stress

We live in a society which is fast paced, ever changing and for some individuals these things can prove very stressful. Each day there are lunches to pack, commutes to make and business meetings, bills, layoffs, and many other issues which face individuals. Most people know how to juggle stress successfully, but for those that do not, there are a variety of options to consider and the person may need to go through counseling for certain issues. Mental health professionals can look for a more diversified array of treatment options for those dealing with stress-related issues by looking into a Stress Management Consultation Certification program.

Stress management is the key to being able to live a happy, healthy, successful life and if someone is not dealing with it properly, stress manifests in many different ways. Unsuccessful stress management can result in a person having health issues, relationship problems and social and personal difficulties. With the help of one of our trained stress management specialists, a person can find successful ways of coping with life and not have to resort to substance abuse, creative avoidance or slipping into a crippling depression.

Professionals that complete a stress management certification program will develop a high standard of care, which translates into a better ability to help others in need of this service. Courses can include Introduction to Stress Management, Clinical Stress Management, Relaxation Strategies, Meditation, Alternative Therapies, Post-Traumatic Stress, Self-Hypnosis and Stress Management Therapy and Interventions.

Every single day someone in the United States goes through something stressful and how the problem is handled will determine what the outcome will be. Having the proper coping skills is not something people are born with, but rather it is learned behavior which is adopted through life experiences. Some people can handle more stress than others, but when someone needs genuine help for Stress Management, finding a highly skilled and certified professional can be the answer to the problem and give the person the best chance possible for learning how to balance life and stresses in a successful and positive manner.

The Many Benefits of Meditation

There are many touted benefits of meditation, but do you truly know what it is? Meditation is described as a holistic discipline in which a practitioner trains the human mind to realize something beneficial. People can meditate without an external focus point which can at times invoke the desired result, but other times the individual can use a focus point to achieve a certain frame of mind. The study of meditation is a combination of many fields and has been practiced for thousands of years, by many different religions and cultures.

People today will meditate for a lot of different reasons, such as reaching an enlightened stage, increasing feelings of love and enhancement of well being and to receive spiritual fulfillment from God. Eastern meditation has been adapted and is now one of the most commonly practiced relaxation techniques in the Western culture.

Certain forms of meditation are used in a non-religious way to promote a closeness to ones own mind, to promote physical and mental well being and various other reasons. There have been therapeutic applications taken from Buddhism and adopted in the context of Western medicine. The goal of meditation is to promote awareness of the body, mind and feelings without trying to resist or judge emotions or thoughts.

Meditation can have different spiritual traditions and there are also different techniques involved. A person can sit, stand, be supine and the most famous of all poses is the Lotus or crossed legged position. It is believed meditation can not only help a person feel inner peace, but also improve mental clarity and understanding. Many thousands of practitioners of the discipline swear by the benefits of meditation and some people have experienced life changing results from doing it.

Meditation is both and art and discipline, one which a person can learn from an expert or become licensed and trained to teach others. For those interested in a certification in the field, the educational requirements and accreditation requirements will differ. When looking for a comprehensive and innovate program for becoming a licensed meditation instructor, a person should check into the services of the American Institute of Health Care Professionals. With the right training in the field, you can not only improve the quality of your own life, but also the lives of those you instruct. Having a strong background in meditation allows you to advance in your field and be the best at what you do, so check it out today.

Continuing Your Education Online

Just when you thought you had your school years behind you and had moved on into your chosen health care career your boss walks up to you and informs you that you have to become certified in a certain field in order to stay on board. Wow! Hello school days and crowded classrooms and goodbye night life. That does not have to be the case in today’s world. Rather it is grief consoling you chose as your profession or a social worker you will have times that certification is a must. Isn’t it nice to know that you do not have to tie up your evenings attending the local Jr. College or major college to get your certification and secure your employment status? You can take advantage of online courses that offer you the same amount of knowledge as sitting in a classroom does but the freedom to still live your life.

Perhaps you are a legal nurse and spend your weeks traveling from hospital to hospital and now you have just been informed that you need to continue your education to provide top care for your patients. This is where distance and continuing your education can go hand in hand. When you continue your education online you have the ability to attend your classes and courses no matter where your job takes you. Even those shifts that have you at the hospital twenty four hours straight, when you are furthering you education online you can still give the attention to your school work that you need while being at work. Not only can you write your term papers on your computer but now you can secure your career with online courses that meet your career needs.

Online education is affordable and convenient as well as, in most cases, accredited by all major health care industries. You still have access to videos, classmate discussions and the teachings of trained professionals in the same field as you. Health care is constantly changing and continuing your education is one of the only ways to secure your job in today’s world. Rather you are young and just entering the work field or you’re more experienced and have been in the work field for years, there are always reasons to continue your education and stay up on the latest knowledge. Online classes and courses are the one way you can continue your education, save money and not miss out on your social life. Enroll online today and secure your tomorrow.