It is my pleasure to provide an update on the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis (AJCH) in this edition of the ASCH Advisor. As I have shared in previous reports to our membership, the first special issue published during my tenure as editor-in-chief of the AJCH, Hypnosis and Women’s Health Across the Lifespan, guest-edited by Dr. Julie Linden, is now underway. The first of two installments was published in September, and I am pleased to report that the articles comprising Part 2 are currently in the proofing stage and scheduled for publication in November. Together, these two installments bring important attention to the diverse applications of clinical hypnosis in addressing women’s health and well-being across the lifespan.
The year ahead promises to be both productive and informative for the journal, with 18 accepted and proofed articles scheduled for publication in the first three issues of 2027. These forthcoming contributions reflect the breadth and continued evolution of clinical hypnosis, with topics including the use of hypnosis to enhance athletic performance, alleviate orofacial pain, and improve sleep quality among caregivers of individuals with neurocognitive disorders. Also featured will be a timely and thought-provoking examination of the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the field of clinical hypnosis.
Hot Off the Press!
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In the meantime, I am pleased to share select abstracts from recent AJCH articles published online that are available through your ASCH account and portal.
Addressing Fear of Breast Cancer Recurrence Through Process-Oriented Hypnosis
Shawn R. Criswell
Fear of cancer recurrence is a common and understandable reaction for a woman with a history of breast cancer. A certain amount of fear about cancer recurring—in other words, a healthy protective concern for the body—may help a woman take the initiative to get continuing care and drive her to make healthy lifestyle changes. All too often though, a woman’s fears and her reactions to them can dominate her life long after the cancer itself has been successfully treated. This article briefly describes clinically relevant “fear of cancer recurrence” (FCR) and then discusses how process-oriented hypnosis can be used to address it. The concepts underlying this type of treatment are brought to life in a case example where process-oriented hypnosis was used to help a young woman rebuild her life following a double mastectomy and severe FCR. Within the case example, commentary is provided about how to adapt the clinical interventions for use with other clients.
The Contributions of Women to Hypnosis—MsMers, Menders, Mentors
Julie H. Linden
This article names and honors the unique and essential contributions that women have made and are making that shape the field of hypnosis in research, clinical innovation, theory, healthcare, and leadership. Within a framework of feminist activism, it highlights the relational skills of women, the focus on experience, and the challenge of the tenets of scientific inquiry that make hypnotic suggestions particularly suitable for promoting health and change. Mentorship and modeling are the outcome of women’s language of connection and intimacy, which grows the next generation of women leaders, clinicians, and researchers.
Ego-Strengthening Hypnotherapy, Negative Emotional State, and Suicidal Thoughts in Outpatients with Depression
Farid Zarea, Siamak Khodarahimia, Amir Karamib, Nasrollah Mazraehc,
Maryamsadat Majdipour Tehranib, Mojtaba Rahimian Bougard, and Ayoob Shirmohammadzadehe
This research aimed to investigate the efficacy of ego-strengthening hypnotherapy in reducing negative emotional states and suicidal ideation among outpatients with depressive disorders in an Iranian sample. This was a randomized controlled trial featuring three phases: baseline, intervention, and follow-up, involving both an experimental group and a wait-list control group. The sample included 40 outpatients with major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder, selected through random sampling for each group. In this study, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale–21 Items (DASS-21) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) assessments were utilized. The experimental group participated in 10 sessions of ego-strengthening hypnotherapy, conducted biweekly for 45 minutes each session. Analyses revealed that the experimental group experienced a significant decrease in negative emotional states (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) and suicidal ideation (i.e., wishes to die, passive suicidal thoughts, and active suicidal thoughts) in comparison to the wait-list control group during both the intervention and follow-up phases.
Hypnosis-Based Intervention for Mystical Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis
Chris Corlett, Jesse J. Norris, Sharika Majeti, Cameron Alldredge, and Gary Elkins
Mystical experiences or peak spiritual experiences have been shown to be of potential benefit in facilitating personal growth and ameliorating anxiety and depression. A pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of hypnotically induced mystical experiences. Although participants’ qualitative experiences were recorded and analyzed, they have yet to be reported. The present study presents a thematic analysis of findings from semistructured interviews about individuals’ subjective
experiences following the hypnosis-based intervention for a mystical experience. Results revealed that participants described their experiences as personally significant, marked by intense emotion (crying, compassion, perceived release), hallucination-like phenomena (vivid
imagery, synesthesia, sensed presence of deceased relatives), and insight regarding self-love, values, and life decisions. Additional themes included feelings of divine love, unity, and ego dissolution. These experiences closely resembled those reported in psychedelic contexts, while also featuring elements, such as spontaneous feelings of being loved, not fully captured by existing instruments. Future research on hypnosis, mental imagery, and guided exercises for mystical experience should include both standardized measures as well as subjective reports.
I once again invite ASCH members interested in joining our Editorial Board to compose a letter of interest, including preferred areas of clinical hypnosis interest, and an attached CV to dreid@drdavidreid.com.
For the most recent AJCH publications: Sign up for new content alerts at the AJCH publisher’s website. Click “New Content Alerts,” enter your email address, and select your preferred frequency for updates.
In closing, and as a reminder: The AJCH publishes original scientific articles and clinical case reports on hypnosis, as well as book reviews and abstracts of the current hypnosis literature. The purview of AJCH articles includes multiple and single case studies, empirical research studies, models of treatment, theories of hypnosis, and occasional special articles pertaining to hypnosis.
Topics and “keywords” can include: hypnosis, hypnotizability, hypnotic applications, psychiatry, psychology, dentistry, nursing, general medicine, pain management, wellness, stress management, hypnosis inclusion with other treatment modalities/interventions (e.g., mindfulness, CBT, ACT, DBT, etc.).
We welcome your submissions and look forward to future collaborations that advance the application and promotion of clinical hypnosis. Find instructions for authors here.
