Harnessing the Power of Relationship: How Relational Features of Hypnosis Lead to Therapeutic Change

What is it about?

This article introduces a special issue of the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis that studies the role of relationship and relatedness in hypnosis. The issue features a number of esteemed colleagues commentinf on aspects of the therapeutic relationship, and how it informs and influences the processes, techniques, and outcomes of hypnosis and therapy. In addition to summarizing each of these articles, this article analyzes the major relational themes that present across the articles. In doing so, we endeavor to explain what it is about the human capacity for relatedness and the adaptive power of the therapeutic relationship that leads to healing; as well as how these qualities of relationship are inherently contained in the language, imagery, and pacing of hypnosis that is a useful part of this treatment process.

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Why is it important?

Hypnosis literature is often symptom-focused and technique-focused, e.g. how hypnosis is 'done'. This article and special issue sheds light on the essential relational elements of hypnosis that are present in therapy, e.g. the 'being' of hypnosis and therapy. It is our hope that in reading this article and special issue, readers familiar and unfamiliar with hypnosis will come away with a greater understanding of how hypnosis is relational and how this relational process makes hypnosis helpful to patients. In both citing and expounding upon existing research and literature, this is an issue that will be useful to both clinicians and researchers.