Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: Basic to Advanced Techniques for the Professional by Calvin D. Banyan & Gerald Kein (2001)
I am certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists and have found this book by Banyan and Kein, both NGH instructors, to be a terrific review of the fundamentals of my certification training program. I highly recommend this for professionals, especially for NGH graduates. Those who are considering a career as a hypnotherapist might also find this interesting.
Hypnotherapy by Dave Elman (1964)
When Dave Elman was just eight years old, his father, a student of hypnosis, was dying of cancer. He was in a great deal of pain and Elman was not allowed to go in his room. One day, a well-known stage hypnotist, an acquaintance of Elman’s father, came to the house. When he left, Elman was free from pain, and he was able to spend the last days of his life playing with his son.
Elman later became a hypnotist and focused his career on training thousands of doctors and dentists to use hypnosis with their patients. This book includes his discoveries and techniques. It’s a classic textbook and highly readable. I couldn’t put it down! A great read for professionals and those who are interested in learning about hypnosis.
Handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions and Metaphors by D. Corydon Hammond (1990)
This book is a treasure for professionals. It is 602 pages and includes techniques and scripts for all areas of hypnosis: pain management, preparation for surgery, medical conditions, dental disorders, self-esteem and confidence, fears, emotional disorders, sexual dysfunction and relationship problems, weight control, smoking, addictions, and habits, concentration, academic performance, athletic performance, artistic expression, working with children, and age regression. I’ve got a copy at home and one at the office. I refer to it all the time to get ideas for working with clients.
Hypnosis for Inner Conflict Resolution: Introducing Parts Therapy by Roy Hunter (2005)
After watching Calvin Banyan’s vidcast interview of Roy Hunter, I became very excited about parts therapy and immediately ordered Hunter’s book, Hypnosis for Inner Conflict Resolution. Hunter recommended Gordon Emmerson’s Ego State Therapy (see below), so I got that as well. These books are nicely written and practical. Since reading them, I have used parts therapy with success and find that clients typically walk away from these sessions with greater self-awareness and insight.
In parts therapy, the hypnotherapist takes on the role of a mediator and facilitates communication and resolution between the motivating part of the client’s subconscious—the part that desires change, and the conflicting part—the part that resists change.
Ego State Therapy by Gordon Emmerson, Ph.D. (2003)
This book is similar to Hunter’s book, above, but there are some differences in their approaches. I recommend getting one or the other to start with. If you are a practitioner who will be using parts therapy, you might find it useful to have both.
Hypnosis for Change by Josie Hadley (1996)
This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in doing self-hypnosis for weight control, nonsmoking, stress reduction, phobias, natural childbirth, health problems, pain control, self-esteem and motivation,improving learning, enhancing creativity, sleep, anxiety and panic, healing adult survivors of child abuse, loss and separation, surgery, and depression.
Each issue has its own chapter, which includes a discussion, questions for reflection, and a script that can be personally tailored and read into an audio recorder. This book is designed for a general audience, but professionals will get ideas for working with their clients.
Guided Imagery for Self-Healing: An Essential Resource for Anyone Seeking Wellness by Martin L. Rossman, M.D. (2000)
Both Guided Imagery and Staying Well with Guided Imagery (below) are wonderful resources for anyone interested in learning to use the imagination to heal themselves physically or emotionally. These books are designed for a general audience and include discussions about how imagery works and scripts that can be read into an audio recorder. Professionals will get ideas for working with their clients.
