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Privacy Policy Generally speaking, a Privacy Policy often addresses these types of issues: the types of information the website is collecting and the manner in which it collects the data; an explanation about why is the website collecting these types of information; what are the website’s practices on sharing the information with third parties; ways in which your visitors an customers can exercise their rights according to the relevant privacy legislation; the specific practices regarding minors’ data collection; and much much more. To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Privacy Policy ”. What to include in the Privacy Policy Having said that, a privacy policy is a statement that discloses some or all of the ways a website collects, uses, discloses, processes, and manages the data of its visitors and customers. It usually also includes a statement regarding the website’s commitment to protecting its visitors’ or customers’ privacy, and an explanation about the different mechanisms the website is implementing in order to protect privacy. Different jurisdictions have different legal obligations of what must be included in a Privacy Policy. You are responsible to make sure you are following the relevant legislation to your activities and location. Privacy Policy - the basics The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of a Privacy Policy. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific privacy policies you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Privacy Policy. A legal disclaimer

Terms & Conditions A legal disclaimer The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of Terms & Conditions. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific terms you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Terms & Conditions. Terms & Conditions - the basics Having said that, Terms and Conditions (“T&C”) are a set of legally binding terms defined by you, as the owner of this website. The T&C set forth the legal boundaries governing the activities of the website visitors, or your customers, while they visit or engage with this website. The T&C are meant to establish the legal relationship between the site visitors and you as the website owner. T&C should be defined according to the specific needs and nature of each website. For example, a website offering products to customers in e-commerce transactions requires T&C that are different from the T&C of a website only providing information (like a blog, a landing page, and so on). T&C provide you as the website owner the ability to protect yourself from potential legal exposure, but this may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so make sure to receive local legal advice if you are trying to protect yourself from legal exposure. What to include in the T&C document Generally speaking, T&C often address these types of issues: Who is allowed to use the website; the possible payment methods; a declaration that the website owner may change his or her offering in the future; the types of warranties the website owner gives his or her customers; a reference to issues of intellectual property or copyrights, where relevant; the website owner’s right to suspend or cancel a member’s account; and much much more. To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Terms and Conditions Policy ”.

Welcome to the Hypnotic Idea Exchange! Join us for the Hypnotic Idea Exchange (HIE) meeting, where leading experts and practitioners convene to exchange helpful ideas, stories, metaphors and techniques in the field of hypnosis. This dynamic virtual gathering, initiated by the NC, Northern VA, NJ, and Clinical Hypnosis Association Component Sections of ASCH, has become a cornerstone for hypnosis learning and community building since its inception in May 2020. At HIE, participants gain invaluable insights from esteemed panelists, including luminaries like Michael Yapko, Irving Kirsch, and Jeff Zeig, among others. These experts share practical ideas and lessons they have learned in their careers using hypnosis, empowering attendees to enhance their hypnotic practice and personal lives alike. With 47 successful programs to date and ratings consistently a "10", the impact of HIE resonates worldwide. Structured to maximize engagement, each two-hour session features compelling presentations from one or two panelists, followed by interactive breakout discussions and practice sessions. Attendees not only glean wisdom from the presentations but also forge meaningful connections within the hypnosis community. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, HIE provides a supportive environment for growth and camaraderie. Typically drawing 70 to 100 participants per session, with hundreds more signing up, HIE offers flexibility for those unable to attend live by providing access to recordings. Don't miss this opportunity to join a global network of hypnosis enthusiasts, exchange ideas, and deepen your practice. Register now to secure your spot at the next HIE -- falling on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 pm ET. We hope you can join us in the advancement of hypnosis innovation and community building. No events at the moment Previous HIE Presentations All Categories Play Video Play Video 01:27:04 01-12-2026 HIE 68 with NCSCH Conference Presenters HIE #68 Play Video Play Video 01:47:13 12-08-2025 HIE 67 with Tobi Goldfus and Friends HIE #67 Play Video Play Video 01:08:40 11-10-2025 HIE 66 with Louis Damis HIE #66 Play Video Play Video 54:14 10-13-25 HIE 65 with Ruben Battino and Leon Cowen HIE #65 Play Video Play Video 01:08:09 09-08-25 HIE 64 with David R. Patterson HIE #64 Play Video Play Video 57:37 08-11-25 HIE 63 with Shawn Criswell, Ph.D HIE #63 Play Video Play Video 53:36 07-14-25 HIE 62 with Ray Amidon, LCPC, LMFT HIE #62 Play Video Play Video 01:17:02 06-09-2025 HIE 61 with Kathryn Rossi, Ph.D. Fractionation HIE FAQ I signed up but I can't find my registration link. What do I do? You may re-register to obtain the link again. I signed up but I won't be able to participate this month, can I still see the video? Yes. A couple of weeks after each HIE, we post the video on this page (above) and you will also receive an email with a direct link. I can't attend this month. Can I be notified about next month? If you have received any notice of HIE by email, you will receive al subsequent notifications about up coming HIEs. If not, please send us a message and ask to be included on the list.

Christina Vair, PhD Board Member info@nchypnosis.org Christina L. Vair, PhD is a lover of words, and believes deeply that how we speak to ourselves and the language we use in doing so holds tremendous power -- though this consideration is so often outside our own awareness. Dr. Vair earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship with an emphasis in integrated care and geriatrics at the VA Western New York in Buffalo, where she also worked for several years as a clinical researcher. Currently, she serves as the Director for Whole Health at the Salisbury VA Health Care System, in Salisbury, NC where her efforts are focused on leading the implementation of a person-centered approach to care that helps empower and equip Veterans and VA employees to live their lives to the fullest. Throughout her training, Dr. Vair has expanded her thinking and learning beyond traditional evidence-based psychotherapy approaches. Having trained in practices such as health and wellness coaching, clinical hypnosis, reiki, and Healing Touch, she integrates a variety of mindfulness-oriented and intuitive approaches in her work both professionally and personally. Next Previous

About NCSCH The North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis is a community of dedicated healthcare and mental healthcare providers committed to the competent, effective and ethical use of clinical hypnosis. NCSCH has long been recognized as the premier organization for training in clinical hypnosis, for the quality of our education and training, as well as for the high caliber of professionals who comprise the membership of the organization. However, we also enjoy high membership retention because of our openness, friendliness, and support for the novice as well as the highly skilled and experienced clinician. We welcome new participants and hope you will consider exploring membership, even as we celebrate the many enduring friendships and collegial relationships that have developed over the past 50 years. Providing superior training with national and internationally respected speakers and talented clinicians from NC as well, NCSCH is a volunteer-run grassroots organization founded in 1970 by Nicholas Stratas, M.D. and Vladimir B. Bensen, MD, as a component society of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), created by Milton Erickson, Kaye Thompson, and others. Meet the Board NCSCH is led by a volunteer group of professionals who give generously of their time and energy. Our Beginnings During the latter part of 1969, two early members of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, Nicholas E. Stratas, MD, Raleigh psychiatrist , and Vladimir B. Bensen, MD, a Raleigh family practitioner met in Dr. Bensen’s house to discuss organizing a North Carolina component of ASCH. Both had experienced the use and importance of the integration of hypnosis into the practice of primary care medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy for simple symptom removal and/or substitution, behavioral change, treatment of medical/psychiatric problems and personal growth and self-management. Further discussions and interactions with ASCH led to an enthusiastic meeting February, 1970 in Raleigh of the then 15 North Carolina members of ASCH. Personal experiences with the use of hypnosis were shared as well as information about the experience of the founding of the Virginia component in 1958 where Milton H. Erickson, founder and President of ASCH and Editor of the Journal of ASCH had been present. It was decided to go forward to formalize plans for the 32nd component section of ASCH – The North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis. With the approval and authorization of the national executive committee of ASCH, a Charter Meeting was held in Boone, NC in May, 1970. Dr. Bensen was nominated President. Short anecdotal presentations were made and plans for educational meetings were discussed. The purposes of the Society were to bring together professional people who share investigative, scientific and clinical interests in hypnosis in order to provide programs to further, in every ethical way, knowledge and understanding of hypnosis; stimulate research and scientific publication; promote hypnosis as an important tool of ethical medicine; and cooperate with other professional societies that share mutual goals, ethics and interests. Frequently Asked Questions What is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is a natural state of selective, focused attention, and, even though it is 100% natural and normal, it remains one of the most fascinating phenomena of the human mind. Our ability to enter this unique state of consciousness opens the door to countless possibilities for healing, self-exploration and change. Hypnosis, called by different names in different cultures and times, has been recognized for thousands of years and used for many purposes. When we enter into the absorbed state of hypnosis, we can use our thoughts, talents and experiences in ways not usually available to us. With the help of a trained professional, we can develop innate, individual abilities that enable making desired changes in our thoughts, feelings and behaviors possible. For reasons that are as yet not clear, the focused state of hypnosis allows changes to intentionally be made “automatically,” changes that we could not ordinarily consciously make. Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, stress, habit disorders, and many other psychological and medical problems. However, it may not be useful for all psychological problems or for all patients or clients. The decision to use hypnosis as a component of treatment can only be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider who has been trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis. In addition to its use in clinical settings, hypnosis is used in research with the goal of learning more about the nature of hypnosis itself, as well as its impact on sensation, perception, learning, memory, and physiology. Researchers also study the value of hypnosis in the treatment of physical and psychological problems. It's not like what you see in the movies. How can treatment aimed at your mind affect your body? The body responds physically to thoughts. For example, when we think a frightening thought, we can experience increased heart rate, shortness of breath, “butterflies” in the stomach, muscular rigidity, sweating, shaking, and so on. Similarly, when we think a pleasurable thought, we can experience reduced heart rate, deeper breathing, relaxation of muscles, and so on. These are autonomic nervous system responses that are involuntary, but they can be utilized to promote health. When hypnotized, an individual is very open to suggestions that can enhance positive and diminish negative physical reactions. Can anyone be hypnotized? Some people find it easier to relax than others. By the same token, some people are able to go into trance more quickly and more deeply than others. About 85% of people can go into at least a light trance. For most therapeutic goals, light trance is enough to enable almost everyone to benefit from hypnotherapy to some extent. In a relatively small number of situations, (say, when hypnosis is being used instead of a general anesthetic, e.g., as in labor and childbirth), a deeper level of trance may be needed. For these purposes, it is helpful to determine the trance capability of a given person, before making a decision about the advisability of using hypnosis as an anesthetic. Even for those people (maybe 10-15%) who do not enter into even a light trance state, hypnosis may still be helpful to assist their relaxation and improve their suggestibility to constructive comments and suggestions. Can children be hypnotized? Because children are naturally imaginative, they naturally and easily engage in hypnosis and respond well to hypnotic suggestion for a wide variety of problems, e.g., self- esteem issues, anxiety, behavior problems, habit change, and certain medical issues. It is important that your child’s therapist be competent and experienced in dealing with your child’s particular issue or problem. Will I be asleep or unconscious? The word hypnosis comes from the ancient Greek word ‘hypnos’ meaning sleep, but it is mis-named. Hypnosis is NOT sleep. Sleep and hypnosis may seem similar since we may be relaxed and have our eyes closed (although not necessarily), but there are many differences. One main difference is that we tend to be in a relaxed state, but with heightened awareness! If a person were to fall asleep during a session, they would return to normal consciousness when asked to, or simply awaken after a short nap. They would feel refreshed, relaxed and would have no ill effects at all. “I don’t think I was hypnotized – I heard every word you said!” Some people, after a session of hypnosis, don’t believe that they were hypnotized at all. This likely comes from misconceptions about just what a ‘trance’ really is. There are differences between the brain waves of people who are asleep and those who are in trance. In practice, people who are hypnotized often talk with the hypnotist, and can both answer and ask questions, hear everything that is said very clearly, and are perfectly well aware. There is no mysterious feeling to being hypnotized and our minds are not taken over nor controlled. This expectation and perhaps a demand to have some mysterious experience beyond conscious control or awareness seems to leave some people disappointed and even denying they had any experience at all. These same people may actually have received substantial results and unconscious change. Will I lose control of myself? No, there is no loss of control. Hypnosis allows clients to be more focused and less distractible and more skillful in using their own mental abilities constructively. In this way, they can achieve more of their goals, and consequently, actually achieve more (not less) control of their personal comfort, health, and well-being. The ‘control’ misconception appears to originate from stage hypnosis which actually involves people doing what they want to be doing in a social agreement to be entertaining. Can I get stuck or trapped in the hypnotic state? No. At any time a client can re-alert or choose to ignore suggestions. No one stays hypnotized indefinitely – you will always “come out” of trance within a short time. Will hypnosis make me remember things accurately? No. Hypnosis can improve our recall of events that we believe happened to us. But hypnosis is not a way to find out the truth (whatever that may be) about events that are in dispute. That is, under hypnosis you may re-experience events, but there is no guarantee that you are remembering them correctly. Hypnosis only assists the subject in recalling perceptions, not truths. Courts recognize this, and sometimes take the position that being hypnotized influences your ability to later testify in court on those matters. You should get legal advice before attempting to use hypnosis to improve your recall of events when there are, or might be, court matters involved. Selecting A Qualified Professional: An Advisory Word to Consumers It is important to keep in mind that hypnosis is like any other therapeutic too: it is of major benefit to some people with some problems, and it is helpful with many other people. However, ASCH and NCSCH recommend that when you are selecting a professional to assist you with a particular symptom or goal, you choose a healthcare provider who is properly trained, licensed and credentialed. This means that the individual has graduate training and holds a currently valid license in a healthcare field, such as medicine, dentistry, psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, or nursing. In North Carolina, anyone can claim to be a “hypnotherapist.” There are no competency requirements and no accountability. Your plumber who has read a book on hypnosis can claim to be a “hypnotherapist.” For this reason, we highly recommend that you inquire about the training of any practitioner of hypnosis you intend to consult. Ask about their professional affiliations and background, and be sure you choose a provider who is properly trained, licensed and credentialed.

Choose a membership plan Annual Membership $ 80 80$ Every year Select Access to Training and Networking Discounted Annual Conference Fees Listing in the NCSCH Directory Student Affiliate Membership $ 40 40$ Every year Valid for 2 years Select Access to Training and Licensure Pathways Discounted Annual Conference Fees Access to a Large Professional Network

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Tue, Apr 02 | Location is TBD December 9 - December 10, 2024 featuring Dan Short, Irving Kirsch, and Dave Gaffney December 9 - 10, 2023 “Hypnotic Suggestion and Positive Expectancies” Registration is closed See other events Time & Location Apr 02, 2024, 10:00 AM EDT Location is TBD About the event Disability Accommodations For additional information or disability accommodations, please contact John Hall, PhD, at 704.258.5553 (text or voice) In traditional hypnosis, suggestion has often been utilized for suggestion’s sake, with procedures such as trance induction or trance deepening used to increase responsiveness to suggestion. The oldest hypnosis theories attribute positive clinical outcomes to compliance with suggestion that is aimed at the removal of “symptomatic” behavior. This all changed when Milton Erickson framed therapy as a problem-solving endeavor and hypnotherapy as a special context for learning and self-organized change. This modern model assumes that that the evocation of unconscious intelligence is more essential to adaptation and overall wellbeing than compliance. Since the turn of this century, the broader field of psychology has begun to emphasize the importance of self-organizing change for neurological health (neurogenesis) as well as emotional thriving (positive psychology). Educational Objectives For Dan Short’s Presentation In this workshop, Dr. Short will share with participants important discoveries from neuro-science, cognitive psychology, the positive psychology movement, as well as clinical discoveries by Ericksonian hypnotherapists, and show how to apply this knowledge to improve therapeutic outcomes. At the completion of the Language of Unconscious Intelligence (introductory) module, participants will creatively apply hypnotic techniques stimulating unconscious intelligence during self-governed practice—demonstrating the target skills during subsequent group discussions. At the completion of the Key Note address (Irving Kirsch), participants will apply a new model for altering response expectancies during self-governed practice—demonstrating this skill during subsequent group discussions. At the completion of the Methods of Unconscious Process (work) module, participants will state the primary findings of at least three studies of neurological wellbeing, emotional regulation, and cognitive thriving. At the completion of the workshop, participants will create a list (at least 3-bullet points) that highlights and analyzes the benefits of unconscious thought/emotional processing and how it enhances creativity, self-determination, and the exercise of choice. Educational Objectives For Irving Kirsch’s Presentation Professor Kirsch will present a talk on the benefits and risks of antidepressants vs alternative treatments for depression. After this presentation, participants will be able to understand: the results of a recent patient-level meta-analysis of all of the FDA antidepressant data the magnitude the difference between the antidepressant effects of medication and placebos the clinical significance of those differences the long-term effectiveness of psychotherapy and hypnosis for depression Educational Objectives For Dave Gaffney’s Presentation Practitioners in dentistry, procedural settings, and Integrated primary care positions struggle with hypnosis due to time limitations—they do not have the luxury of 15-30 minute inductions. This practical hands-on workshop will equip practitioners with brief inductions designed to trigger the deeper hypnotic states needed for procedural intervention, Hypno-analgesia, and Hypno-anesthesia. The first 1/2 will include instruction and practice in using the Elman induction: a specific, proven method for rapidly creating a deep trance state: 1. We first disassemble and then reassemble the Elman induction into a brief (5-10 minutes), powerful induction. The second ½ will be dedicated to learning multiple methods and protocols for eliciting deep rapid trances (trances taking 5 minutes or less): 1. Following Clark Hull's maxim—"anything that assumes trance, causes trance"—participants then practice a mix of verbal and kinesthetic rapid inductions (5 minutes or less) which utilize deep hypnotic phenomena to trigger trance states. 2. Participants will leave with skill in using rapid inductions to quickly prepare their clients for procedural or therapy interventions. At the conclusion of this course, learners will be able to: Demonstrate using the Elman induction to facilitate trance in under 10 minutes. Identify how to use each step of the Elman Induction as either a self-standing induction or a deepener for prior steps. Utilize the Elman induction to reach deep trance according to the Aarons Scale. Explain the use of hypnotic phenomena in eliciting rapid trance. Demonstrate the use of catalepsy to elicit trance. Model a least 1 verbal and one kinesthetic rapid induction appropriate for use with Veterans in the clinical or procedural setting. Discuss application of these techniques across settings. About Dan Short Dan Short, Ph.D. , is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who serves as Director for the Milton H. Erickson Institute of Phoenix, adjunct faculty for the Milton H. Erickson Foundation Intensive training program, adjunct faculty for Sonoran University of Health Sciences, as well as providing private practice care. Dr. Short has published 4 books and over 60 journal articles or chapters in books. Dr. Short’s research interests have focused on Ericksonian hypnosis resulting in a research-based treatment manual for Ericksonian therapy (ET), which is used by training institutes around the world. About Irving Kirsch Irving Kirsch, Ph.D. is Associate Director of the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Relationship, and a lecturer on medicine at the Harvard Medical School (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center). He is also Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Hull (UK) and the University of Connecticut (USA). He has published 10 books, more than 300 scientific journal articles and 40 book chapters on placebo effects, antidepressant medication, hypnosis, and suggestion. He originated the concept of response expectancy. Kirsch’s 2002 meta-analysis on the efficacy of antidepressants influenced official guidelines for the treatment of depression in the United Kingdom. His 2008 meta-analysis was covered extensively in the international media and listed by the British Psychological Society as one of the “10 most controversial psychology studies ever published.” In 2022, he co-authored a patient level meta-analysis of all of the clinical trial data sent to the FDA for approved antidepressants. His book, The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth, has been published in English, French, Italian, Japanese, Turkish, and Polish, and was shortlisted for the prestigious Mind Book of the Year award. It was the topic of 60 Minutes segment on CBS and a 5-page cover story in Newsweek. In 2015, the University of Basel (Switzerland) awarded Irving Kirsch an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology. In 2019, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis honoured him with their “Living Human Treasure Award.” In 2023, the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies honoured him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. About David Gaffney Dave Gaffney, MSW, BCCH, EFT-Adv has been practicing hypnosis since the 1970’s and providing clinical hypnosis for over 35 years. He currently works as Clinical Social Worker at the Aleda E Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan, providing psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback in the MH Integrated Pain Clinic. Additionally he runs a Private Practice serving Mid-Michigan. David is also the Director of Training at D. K. Associates, a Midwest-based behavioral healthcare training organization, and has served on the board for the MidWest Society of Behavioral Medicine and Biofeedback. David currently serves as national VA Subject Matter Expert for Hypnosis, biofeedback and Guided Imagery and works for the VA Integrative Health Coordinating Center as the National Champion for Hypnosis and Guided Imagery and Biofeedback. He also serves as a VA mentor/trainer for CBT for Chronic Pain. Show More Schedule 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM 1 hour 45 minutes Dan Short 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM 15 minutes Break 4 more items available See All Tickets Ticket type Early Bird Full Conference Price From $187.50 to $375.00 Sale ended Non-Student $375.00 +$9.38 service fee +$9.38 service fee Student $187.50 +$4.69 service fee +$4.69 service fee Total $0.00 Checkout Share this event