Doctor and preagnate woman

Medical Hypnosis and Hypnoanalysis

A Drug-Free Pain Relief

Medical Hypnoanalysis is more than just hypnosis. Primarily, the practitioner must have more training and familiarity with psychology and hypnosis. This was written by the American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysts several years ago and I think it describes what Medical Hypnoanalysis entails better than some of the other explanations I've read.

The practitioner of Medical Hypnoanalysis requires a training background in the basics of psychology, developmental psychology, psychopathology, and psychotherapy as well as in hypnosis. Medical Hypnoanalysis is dynamic, short-term, and directed. It is dynamic in that the treatment approach emphasizes causes rather than just symptoms, explanations rather didn't descriptions and unconscious forces rather than conscience forces as the being the ultimate origin of the psychopathology. It is short-term in that in most situations thirty or fewer sessions are required for the completion of the treatment procedure. It is directed therapy in that the psychotherapist, upon makings a diagnosis, follows a medical model of psychotherapy aimed at alleviating the symptoms by means resolving the underlying unconscious causes.

Medical Hypnoanalysis first examines the presenting symptoms of the patient using a case history, observing verbal and nonverbal communication, while seeking unconscious clues to the ultimate causes of the symptoms to make a psychodynamic diagnosis. After the patient is introduced to hypnosis, the majority of the therapeutic sessions are conducted with a patient in the hypnotized state.

Such procedure allows identification and re-interpretation, adjustment or re-evaluation, and desensitization of specific casual events. This procedure is directed and correcting the symptoms and the unwanted behavior, which causes suffering and disease. For example, depressions, phobias, obsessions, psychosomatic disorders, self-destruction, anti-social behavior, and other emotional and psychological problems can be relieved. There are a variety of methods and procedures of applying the basic Hypnoanalytic method. Individuals' berries varieties are based on the specific training and treatment of circumstances of the clinician.

Areas of Application

Managing Pain Through Hypnosis

Most hypnotherapists work primarily with pain problems in conjunction with appropriate health professionals. This is because pain often is a symptom of a problem rather than the problem itself. A headache might be a migraine; it also might be a brain tumor. A medical diagnosis is important.

However, properly used hypnosis can reduce pain, alleviate anxiety, remove fears of dentistry or surgery, eliminate or reduce the need for injections or other applications of chemical anesthesia, promote comfort and healing and expedite recovery. It is becoming more common in dentistry, obstetrics, burn treatment, and emergency room trauma. In accomplishing the above it is evident that Medical Hypnoanalysis can prove dramatically effective in dealing with medically-related stress situations.

Man with physical therapist

Hypnosis Aids in Stroke Recovery

Medical Hypnoanalysis is a Psychotherapeutic search of the subconscious mind to resolve issues.

The 5 “R”s of Medical Hypnoanalytic Treatment

  • Relaxation: By learning to relax and letting go, you can concentrate your mind better and become receptive to new and helpful suggestions.
  • Realization: By realizing that some of your difficulties stem from negative thinking and feeling, you can learn to restructure those negative attitudes and create a more positive outlook and frame of mind.
  • Repetition: To implant positive suggestions in the soil of your subconscious mind, repetition is necessary. The more you repeat something, the more it becomes permanently implanted in your mind.
  • Rehabilitation: You are able to use new information, new suggestions, and have time to rehabilitate your thinking and incorporate it into your daily life.
  • Reinforcement: Through Hypnoanalysis and mental concentration, you apply the positive suggestions you receive. All patients are taught self-Hypnosis to further enhance their self-control.

Childbirth and Surgery Hypnoanesthesiology

Using Hypnosis as Anesthetic
Susanna Grabinger prepared for the surgery with hypoaesthesia as an anesthetic

Susanna Grabinger, in the photos below, is ready to operate having been prepared with hypoaesthesia as the only anesthetic. The anesthesiologist was on hand if some problem were to arise. As with any anesthetic, the results are not known until the process is in motion. Fortunately, with today's quick-acting sedatives many patients could try hypnoanesthesiology knowing that if it did not work up to total satisfaction they could switch to a chemical tranquilizer and be unconscious right away. This allows for many more patients to try this method and experience a pain-free operation with quick recovery associated with hypoaesthesia.

During the operation, the patient indicates no sensation of pain or discomfort while being able to communicate and even argue with the doctor. Hypoaesthesia allows for the patient to be fully aware of what is happening and to be prepared to make decisions along with the surgeon regarding what should be done and how.

Susanna was a nurse and had her own opinions about medical matters. Susanna could fend for herself throughout the operation. It is only under chemical anesthesia the patient does not have this advantage. A slideshow with a narration of the hernia operation is available should you like to know more about the surgery.

dentists and patient

TM: Trance in Dental Medication

This particular client sought to reduce her experience of pain in the dental office. With a few sessions of hypnotic training, she was able to accomplish what you see in the photographs below. I have used self-hypnosis in place of Novocaine and other analgesics for my dental work since I learned the hypnoanesthetic method many years ago.
YouTube Video Image
YouTube Video
Hernia Operation (slideshow)

Hypnoanesthesia for Hernia. This particular operation was performed locally at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. It took about two hours. It consisted of a three-inch deep incision that was six inches long. It was the feature story on KARE 11 News. It was also a feature on Channels 4 and 9. Articles appeared in the “Minnesota Physician” and the “Journal of the American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysis”.

YouTube Video Image
YouTube Video
Hypnotically Prepared Birth

Other operations have been performed at Methodist Hospital in St Louis Park and North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Hypnoanesthesia in childbirth can be especially beneficial. The following video is about a woman in labor, giving birth without drugs in a more relaxed manner.

Patients and Doctors Talk About Their Experience with Hypnoanesthesia

I can't see giving birth without hypnosis. I don't think I could really consider it. ~Pam Alonso, birth mother

I want to thank you for the Medical Hypnoanalysis, which was so effective in preventing my usual nausea and vomiting and controlling my pain after my rather extensive surgery. ~Surgery Patient, Joyce E. Lindgren

I appreciate your assistance during surgery. . . she was very pleased with her surgery, anesthesia, and hypnotic relaxation. I will certainly refer patients to you for the benefits of hypnosis. If asked my opinion, I would say all patients should have some hypnosis education prior to surgery. ~Allan Greenwood, MD, Hennepin Faculty Associates Dept of Anesthesiology, Fairview Southdale Hospital

Bill Ronan assisted in the management of one of my patients (Joyce E. Lindgren), I was impressed. ~Surgeon, Norman S. Solberg, MD, Ob/Gyn Dept, Methodist Hospital

It was indeed the best surgical experience I had had in the past 18 months with five surgeries. I had minimal pain and could move, turn and walk around without great discomfort! I had to remind myself I just had a two-hour surgery.

Would I do surgery again using hypnosis? Without a doubt! In my mind, it is the best thing I could have done for myself. My thanks go out to Bill Ronan (for providing hypoaesthesia for my hernia operation) and a surgeon that believed in giving hypnosis a chance to prove itself. ~Susanna Grabinger, RN Quoted in: the Minnesota Physician and The Journal of American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysis Featured story on KARE 11 News, Minnesota 9 News, and Channel 4 News

My Operation - Achilles Tendon Surgery

YouTube Video Image
YouTube Video
Heel Operatation
      Patient: Medical Hypnoanalyst and Hypnoanesthesiologist Bill Ronan, LICSW
      Surgery: Excise calcified piece of bone and remove Haglund deformity.
      Postoperative Diagnosis:Removal of a calcified piece of bone in the Achilles tendon as well as a large Haglund deformity, bursitis in the region of the Achilles tendon.
    1. Excision of a large Haglund deformity, the right calcaneus.
    2. Repair of the right Achilles tendon.
      Bill's Heel Surgery using self Hypnoanesthesiology
      Anesthesia: Hypnosis, self-hypnosis, hypoaesthesia to reduce pain, and speed up recovery.
      How Hypnoanesthesia Used: Practiced self-hypnosis instead of anesthetic. Ideas supplied by the patient practicing self-hypnosis was used in place of anesthetic.
      Surgeon: J. Chris Coetzee, MD
      Where: Minneapolis Sports Surgery Center
      When: 3/26/03, 9:00am 9:40am
      Operative Indications: Mr. Ronan presented with partial avulsion of the right Achilles tendon secondary to a large Haglund deformity. Informed consent was obtained for the above-mentioned procedure. He elected to do self-hypnosis for the procedure.
      Operative Procedure: After adequate induction of a comfortable state of hypnosis, the right leg was sterilely prepped and free-draped in the usual fashion. No tourniquet was used. A midline 8-cm dorsal incision was made over the right Achilles and calcaneus. The Achilles was split longitudinally. There was a large retrocalcaneal bursa, a sac-like cavity with fluid occurring at the area of a tissue where friction would occur. There are hundreds of bursa all over and one hears of Bursitis quite often when inflammation affects one or more. I had a bursa at the back of my Achilles tendon adjacent to the calcaneus that was excised. The tendon was partially avulsed from the calcaneus, and there was a large area of calcification in the tendon. This calcified piece measured 2.0 x 1.2 cm. This was excised in total. This was followed by using an osteotome, a knife, or chisel to cut thru bone, to remove the large Haglund deformity. The deformity was removed in total. This was followed by inserting 3 super Mitek anchors into the calcaneus. These devices are used to secure separated tendon areas which have been avulsed or torn apart for whatever reason. The tendon was sutured down securely to the calcaneus. A longitudinal incision into the Achilles was then also repaired with the aid of 1 suture. The wound was closed in layers. A sterile dressing and a short leg cast were applied with the foot in 5 degrees of plantar flexion.“He tolerated the procedure well and was taken to the recovery room in satisfactory condition.” ~Dr. J Coetzee, MD
      This operation was covered on Channel 4 nightly local news, three nights in a row in May of 2003.