Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

After acknowledging several resources in the field, Barrett (psychology, Harvard Medical School) compiles 15 chapters discussing the latest understanding of the nature of hypnosis and what the often-misunderstood method offers in treatment. Volume 1 addresses the difference between cognitive processing in hypnosis and the normal waking state, personality traits that predict response to hypnotic induction, the effects of hypnosis on physiologic functions, forensic hypnosis, ways to encourage more realistic depictions of hypnosis in the media, hypnosis-like practices in folk cultures, and training and credentialing issues. Volume 2 treats clinical applications in psychotherapy and medicine by covering the different branches of hypnotherapy including cognitive-behavioral, and promising research on using hypnosis to treat smoking, substance abuse, pain, and other health problems. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Deirdre Barrett is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, where she has taught courses on hypnotherapy. She is president of the American Psychological Association's Division 30, The Society for Psychological Hypnosis. Barrett is editor-in-chief of the journal Dreaming, and a consulting editor forThe International Journal for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. She has authored four earlier books and co-editedThe New Science of Dreaming.