Professional training in the practice of hypnosis--the Australian experience

Increasingly around the world as clinicians and researchers alike become more sophisticated in their understanding of the hypnotic process, there is developing a conviction that the hypnotic state or process itself poses no inherent dangers for patients but that its inexpert use may. The solution to prevent potential patient harm is to ensure that all clinicians of whatever discipline have adequate and appropriate clinical training prior to being allowed to practice. Since 1985, in all the Australian states, the appropriate disciplines, already licensed to practice their profession, have completed 2 years part-time academic and clinical training in the nature and nuances of hypnosis (30 hours), practical experience of direct and indirect approaches, and supervised clinical case management (50 hours). At the end of the training they complete a 3 part examination of competence (clinical cases reports, written examination, and oral examination) in order to be accepted as members of the Australian Society of Hypnosis. Only by completing this training and peer reviewed assessment are clinicians able to receive the backing of the Society and recommendation to patients of their competence as clinicians using hypnosis. Recently in the states of Victoria and South Australia (and soon in the state of Queensland), the training program of the Australian Society of Hypnosis has been incorporated into a university diploma course, giving formal academic recognition to the approach to training. The University of Melbourne diploma course will be discussed with a view to illustrating these recent developments.