Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: the basics and beyond

The Clinical Hypnosis Society of New Jersey (CHSNJ) is pleased to announce the return of the Clinical Conversations.

Please join us as we kick off a series of conversations based on the book, Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: the basics and beyond, edited by Dr. Gary Elkins. Dr. Elkins' book mirrors the standards of training promulgated by both the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and the Society for Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis (SCEH).

Each conversation in this series of Clinical Conversations will led by the respective author of the chapter in the book.  Whether you are new to hypnosis or a seasoned practitioner, this series is a wonderful opportunity to learn from the leaders in the field.

The series begins on Sunday, October 12, 2025, with Dr. Gary Elkins, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., himself presenting "Foundations of Clinical Hypnosis: Definitions, Applications, and Assessment of Hypnotizability."

This program will be held virtually on Zoom from 11AM to 1PM EDT.
The Clinical Conversations are free to members of ASCH, its component sections, SCEH, and ISH.  There is a $15 fee for nonmembers.  All proceeds go to fund the Stephen R. Lankton Scholarship Award.

Program Description

Hypnosis is widely recognized in clinical practice and research. In recent years research into clinical hypnosis has become more rigorous and there has been an increased emphasis on evidence-based practice. This has highlighted the need for clarity in definition of hypnosis and resources for training consistent with evidence-based practice. This clinical conversation will provide an opportunity to learn contemporary definitions of hypnosis, hypnotic inductions, and hypnotizability. Evidence based applications of clinical hypnosis will be discussed. In addition, participants will learn how to integrate assessment of hypnotizability into clinical practice and the scoring criteria of the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale. An overview of the book, Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: The Basics and Beyond, will be discussed.

About the Presenter

Dr. Gary Elkins is the leading researcher and expert on clinical hypnosis, His research spans clinical hypnosis and mindfulness, definition and assessment, spirituality, posttraumatic growth, clinical hypnosis for sleep disturbances, and hypnotherapy for hot flashes in post-menopausal women and breast cancer survivors. His research and Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory have been funded by NIH grants for over 20 years. Dr. Elkins has over 100 publications which include books: Handbook of Medical and Psychological Hypnosis; and Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: The Basics and Beyond. His latest book, Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: What you Need to Know is a resource for evidence- based practice of clinical hypnosis. Gary has developed two hypnosis apps: one for smoking cessation (Finito app) and the other for hot flashes/sleep (Evia app) for women experiencing menopause and for breast cancer survivors, provided by Mindset Health. In recognition of his research, Gary has received major awards from the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, and the Distinguished Contribution to Science Award from Division 30 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Elkins is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University and the Director of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory.