Upcoming Workshops

SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all face-to-face NPHTI 2020 Annual Workshops typically held in Minneapolis, Minnesota are postponed to 2022.  Please continue to follow this page for updated information as it develops.

NPHTI currently has the following workshops scheduled. 

Overview of Workshops

Clinical Hypnosis is a therapeutic intervention with empirical support for a variety of clinical issues: including procedure-related and chronic pain, anxiety disorders, stress-related conditions, habit problems, sleep disturbance, and a wide variety of medical problems.

Throughout our NPHTI Workshops, a very strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning, with supervised practice of hypnotic techniques and strategies suitable and appropriate for children/teens, while integrating a developmental perspective.

NPHTI workshops provide training in the use of clinical hypnosis and its applications for children and teens with various conditions in a variety of pediatric clinic/office and/or hospital settings.

Our workshops are offered at three levels: Fundamentals, Utilization and Expanded Clinical Applications, and Individualized Consultation.  It is not uncommon for clinicians to take another round of these levels to further expand their confidence and comfort in using skills from prior pediatric hypnosis workshops. 

Daniel P. Kohen, M.D., FAAP, ABMH and Pamela Kaiser, Ph.D., CPNP, Co-Founders, NPHTI

Fundamentals Workshop

This workshop, which is for those without prior pediatric-specific hypnosis training. teaches basic skill-building in hypnosis as a therapeutic intervention for children and teens experiencing a variety of clinical conditions. Particular focus is on pain, anxiety, and sleep, as well as examples of other pediatric conditions. Instructional videotapes and case vignettes are an integral component of presentations.

Experiential learning is strongly emphasized (this workshop provides more than double the amount offered in most introductory hypnosis workshops), including group exercises and supervised small group practice focused on the structure and elements of clinical hypnosis with children/teens.

Educational Objectives

• List the stages of hypnosis

• Describe hypnosis as a process of therapeutic communication

• Describe three pediatric hypnosis “invitation” methods

• Demonstrate three pediatric hypnosis “invitation” techniques

• Describe methods for intensification and re-alerting from hypnosis

• Outline applications for pediatric hypnosis

• Describe and demonstrate the use of hypnosis for pain control for procedures and for chronic, recurrent pain

• Describe and demonstrate how to teach a child/parent the skill of self-hypnosis and how to practice it regularly

• Describe and demonstrate a hypno-therapeutic approach for sleep onset insomnia/anxiety and for circadian rhythm disorders in teens

• Outline a strategy for getting started using hypnosis in clinical practice

• Using therapeutic language, design a hypnotic suggestion for children and teens with clinical anxiety

• Outline a strategy for getting started using hypnosis in clinical practice

Utilization and Clinical Applications Workshop

This workshop focuses on refining and expanding existing hypnosis skills in broader clinical applications, and refining assessment and individualized treatment plans that promote the development of self-regulation for patients and their families. Clinical videos and case vignettes are integral components of presentations.

This workshop level highlights the utilization approach to clinical hypnosis — the “how and why to do what, and when” — as pioneered by Milton Erickson, MD.

This is not a beginning level course. A “Prior Learning/Needs Assessment” questionnaire must be completed prior to registering for this workshop, as well as documenting evidence of previous training in pediatric hypnosis (minimum of 20 hours specific to pediatric hypnosis, e.g. NPHTI Fundamentals level). Participants must also have experience in using clinical hypnosis with pediatric patients.

Educational Objectives

• Refine therapeutic language skills to be used during hypnosis sessions.
• Utilize a patient’s resources and needs when designing an individualized treatment plan.
• Identify individualized and specific hypnosis goals, and design and deliver goal-driven suggestions.
• Apply hypnotic utilization techniques: conversational invitations, pacing & leading, talking in trance, fractionation, reframing, and age progression & regression.
• Apply hypnosis strategies to more complex and mental health issues (such as anxiety disorders, stress, fears, palliative care, pain, respiratory, gastro-intestinal symptoms, et al).
• Incorporate hypnotic self-regulation strategies during hypnosis sessions.

Individualized Consultation (I-C) Workshop

The Individualized Consultation (I-C) Workshop, is for clinicians interested in enhancing their knowledge and expertise in the use of pediatric hypnosis through faculty and peer mentorship of video-recorded case presentations.

This unique small group format is comprised of 3-6 clinicians, each receiving dedicated time for and individualized consultation regarding 1-2 video-recorded case presentations. The faculty, all ASCH-approved consultants, are individually matched to one of the participants (based on their practice, specialty, and individual case(s)) and serve as a mentor about the use of hypnosis throughout the case presentation during this comfortable and special learning opportunity.

This model also features peer consultation for participants to learn from one another, to affirm and expand their own expertise, and to foster networking.

This 23-hour intensive seminar is designed to fulfill the requirements for attaining ASCH Certification in Clinical Hypnosis and/or to obtain the hours of consultation necessary to become an ASCH Approved Consultant.

Clinicians must submit the following materials for review and approval in order to participate in this workshop:

1. Evidence of previous pediatric hypnosis training (ASCH-approved Fundamentals and Utilization Workshops) and regular use of pediatric hypnosis in their practice
2. A video of their hypnotic work with a pediatric patient
3. A corresponding typed case vignette of the video
4. A “Prior Learning /Needs Assessment” questionnaire

Educational Objectives

• Reflectively evaluate one’s own clinical skills/language with video review, critique, and discussion with peers/colleague advanced learners and carefully matched faculty mentors.
• Problem-solve challenging clinical situations regarding application of hypnotic strategies with peer learners and closely matched faculty mentors.
• Review, evaluate and offer guidance regarding (others’) clinical hypnosis encounters with (their) patients/clients with peer advanced learners and personally matched faculty mentors.

Workshop Eligibility

NPHTI workshops are ideal for skill development for clinicians with:

• Doctoral Degree in Medicine, Psychology, Nursing, or Dentistry
• Masters Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Counseling, or Clinical or Counseling Psychology
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Registered Nurse with a Masters’ Degree in Nursing and subspecialty training or certification (e.g. APRN, CPNP, CNS)
• Other advanced degree clinicians (e.g. Occupational & Physical Therapists, Speech & Language Pathologists, Art Therapists, et al.)
• Child Life Specialists holding a Doctoral, Masters, or Bachelor’s degree
• Full-time Interns/Residents/Fellows or graduate students in accredited programs leading to any of the clinical degrees above will be accepted when they provide a letter from their department on letterhead stationery, attesting to their current full-time status training, specifying timing of training(month and year).