Does Hypnosis Make in Vitro, in Vivo?

This case illustrates the use of hypnosis as an adjunct to therapy in phobia treatment. Interventions conducted in an hypnotic context included cue-controlled relaxation and covert desensitization, in which the client reframed her fears and transformed fear-related images into benign stimuli. These interventions were experienced by the client as having an “as real” quality and were successful in reducing her long-standing fear of the wind to a normal level within three sessions. This improvement was maintained at 18 months follow-up. This outcome is discussed in relation to virtual reality approaches to phobia treatments and ways in which hypnosis may facilitate cognitive behavioral techniques.

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