Hypnoanalysis Research: Jeanne Clark’s DSW Dissertation Update

Jeanne Clark, LCSW, board member and past president of AAMH will present the results of her research, “Is Hypnoanalysis Broadly Generalizable for Psychotherapy Practice? Implications for Social Work,” for her DSW dissertation at the AAMH Annual Conference.

Jeanne has studied psychotherapy models and hypnosis extensively during her DSW program and has been pleased to find scientific evidence from a variety of perspectives that support the hypnoanalysis approach AAMH uses. This includes neuroscience, placebo studies, hypnosis research, and a variety of theoretical models. While there is a great deal in the literature that supports this approach, it appears this is the first scientific study of the AAMH model since its inception in the 1960’s.

Research recently completed by AAMH had confirmed 75% of clients enrolled in the study showed improvement in approximately 12 sessions when the first posttest was conducted. The second posttest performed a month or more after the first showed 87% of clients indicated improvement. The sample size is small and included a vast range of DSM diagnoses. Only two clients showed lack of progression – one who had a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder combined with separation anxiety disorder. These results are well in line with what AAMH trained hypnoanalysts have claimed for decades: Most clients get better using hypnoanalysis in as few as 10-20 sessions.

In the qualitative section of the research, we found that resolution of the earliest, often pre-verbal traumas and the governing idea (core idea) is central to the healing process.

We will be presenting more detailed results at the AAMH conference (give dates) and publish several articles. Watch for updates on AAMH research this coming year. Register now for the AAMH Conference, April 26-29, 2018 in San Antonio.