THE MEDICAL DIPLOMA
Many of you will ask yourselves the question: 'Why should I learn about medical hypnotherapy and how can I use it as a discipline in my practice?' It is becoming ever more clear that hypnotherapy is rapidly developing into a specialist branch closely associated with medicine, as is evident from the very active section within the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM). This section is devoted solely to the use of medical hypnotherapy in a clinical context set within the broader confines of psychosomatic medicine. Regular meetings and discussions of this section reiterate the vastly varied clinical conditions which are amenable to hypnotherapeutic intervention.
As we learn more about the way in which certain conditions are acquired and perpetuated, the resolution of maladapted behaviour patterns by therapies including hypnosis is becoming more relevant. It is fair to say that psycho-pharmacology is also a rapidly expanding area with increasing numbers of new psychotropic agents available. However, the mechanism of action of many of these agents is poorly understood. Furthermore, side effects from such medications are prevalent in many cases and although some patients do respond favourably many fail to show improvement and might benefit from a different therapeutic angle. Medical - and dental - hypnotherapy is not just restricted to maladapted behaviour, it may be used with considerable benefit for many somatic and psychosomatic conditions which are discussed later.
Hypnotherapy in the NHS
Some centres, such as the one established at Maidstone Priority Care NHS Trust, have pioneered the use of medical hypnotherapy within the context of the NHS. Moreover, it is apparent that this approach is working well, with hypnotherapy providing considerable clinical benefit to the majority of patients.
The Clinical Hypnotherapy and Research Department, under the direction of Professor V. M. Mathew within the NHS at Dartford will give every opportunity for students to participate in their on-going research activities. Graduates will be encouraged to register for higher degrees, such as M.Phil and Ph.D.
The Medical Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis (MDCH) was founded in 1994 by Professor V. M. Mathew and Michael Joseph and the pioneering course was conducted at Maidstone Priority Care NHS Trust with fourteen medical graduates. Since then more courses have been presented, with many of the graduates subsequently establishing their own Hypnotherapy Clinics, some in the NHS setting. Professor Mathew, who went on to become the founder President of the British Medical Hypnotherapy Examinations Board, actively advised on and developed the Board's own Syllabus which the LCCH adopted as part of their own course structure.
The LCCH does not regard hypnotherapy as alternative to medicine but likes to regard it as a specialist branch of psychotherapeutic intervention used within the auspices of general medicine. The Medical Diploma Course is designed specifically for medical practitioners to provide them with the following:
- Continued medical education
- Skills which can be used in the consulting room
- Insight into a patient's problems
- Cost effective treatment
- A means to limit pharmacological interventions
Who is Eligible?
The Medical Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy (MDCH) course is specifically designed for medical personnel. All students must hold a valid medical or dental qualification (e.g. MB BS or BDS), and as such, the course is not open to the general public.
Structure
The Medical Diploma Course in Clinical Hypnotherapy will be of six months duration with lectures spread over six weekends at monthly intervals. The course will be structured so as to present the groundwork at an early stage with subsequent progression towards advanced treatment techniques.
As an introduction to clinical hypnosis, weekend one will be centred around the theories of hypnosis and will demonstrate the power of mental thought in addition to giving an insight into basic techniques. On following weekends the main body of the course will concentrate on the application of hypnotherapy to both somatic and psychosomatic conditions.
Assignments
Course members will be expected to commence practising clinical hypnosis as soon as they feel confident, and as such will be asked to discuss and comment on their cases at the start of each training weekend. These sessions, although informal, will constitute a form of continual assessment, and in addition members will be encouraged to discuss any problems they may be experiencing with their cases.
British Association of Medical Hypnosis (BAMH)
On successful completion of the MDCH candidates will be entitled to full medical membership of the BAMH and are expected to join the society to enable their names to be placed on the medical register of the Society. Full Members must hold a medical qualification and the MDCH.
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