The Clinical Hypnosis Society of New Jersey is pleased to offer the next in the series of conversations based on the book, Introduction to Clinical Hypnosis: the basics and beyond, edited by Dr. Gary Elkins.
Join us on Sunday, May 17, 2026 as we welcome Akira Otani, Ed.D., ABPH presenting "Strategies for Managing Resistance."
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, ESH, and ISH. There is a $15 fee for nonmembers. All proceeds go to fund the Stephen R. Lankton Scholarship Award.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Resistance is a common phenomenon in hypnosis, both during trance induction and hypnotic treatment proper. Resistance during hypnotic induction can arise from both the induction process itself and the broader treatment context. During induction, for instance, clients may experience anxiety rooted in common misconceptions about hypnosis—such as fears of losing control, being unable to return to ordinary awareness, or inadvertently disclosing personal information.
Within the hypnotherapy context, secondary gain, unclear problem identification and treatment goals, unresolved conflicts, and countertransference dynamics (see Racker, 1957) may each interfere with progress and undermine treatment effectiveness.
This presentation will outline core principles of effective resistance management in hypnotic practice. Topics include pre-hypnotic education and the correction of common misconceptions, an acceptance-oriented approach, tailoring suggestions to the individual client, therapeutic pacing, the strategic use of paradox, reframing techniques, and ongoing calibration of the client’s readiness for intervention.
The workshop will combine a didactic lecture with an interactive discussion.
TIMED AGENDA
11:00 a.m. Introduction of the speaker
11:05 a.m. Lecture
12:30 p.m. Q & A / Group discussion
1:00 p.m. Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Describe three factors that contribute to resistance in trance induction.
2. Describe three factors that contribute to resistance in hypnotherapy.
3. Identify at least four hypnotic strategies for bypassing or working through resistance.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER : Akira Otani, Ed.D., ABPH
Akira is a licensed psychologist at Waypoint Wellness Center in Maryland, where he maintains a small private practice. Prior to transitioning to private practice in 2008, he was a member of the graduate faculty at The Johns Hopkins University School of Education (1986–1988) and served as a Senior Staff Psychologist at the University of Maryland Counseling Center (1988–2008). Akira is a generalist with a particular focus on anxiety disorders, including OCD and PTSD.
He incorporates hypnosis into his practice and is actively involved in both the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH). Akira is a Fellow and Approved Consultant in ASCH and holds a Diplomate in the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis (ABPH). Recently, his interests have expanded to Buddhist meditation and its integration with clinical hypnosis. Akira has published eight books in Japanese and more than seventy journal articles and book chapters in both English and Japanese.
He enjoys spending time with good friends, savoring spicy food, and being around dogs.
Training health and mental health professionals since 1986