Clinical Hypnosis : A New Approach for Occupational Safety and Health
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Sheila Menon FBSCH FBAMH
Principal LCCH Asia
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Clinical Hypnosis - Benefits
� No Scientific Evidence of Contra-indication for the use of clinical hypnosis(Lynn 2000, Gruzelier et al 2001)
� Hypnotherapy is an efficient stress management -confirmed by the British Medical Association and others.(Bryant RA 2005, Johansen and Unestahl 2006, Vickers and Zollman1999, Whitehouse et al 1996)
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� Evidence suggests that the use of hypnosis also helps improve the immune system functioning(Gruzelier et al 2001a, Gruzelier et al 2001b, Gruzelier 2002, Kiecolt-Glaserr et al 2001)
� Empowers the employee / patient / client to effectively manage their own stress(Bryant et al 2005, Gruzelier et al 2001a)
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What is Hypnosis
� Hypnotherapy - individual counseling / group work,
LCCH protocol focuses on continuous access
� Short term interventions with minimum therapist contact
have problems of compliance and potentially reducing
effectiveness of such programmes
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(Charlesworth et al 1984, Minoa et al 2006)
What Is Hypnosis
� Hypnosis
� Hypnotherapy
� Clinical Hypnosis
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Clinical Hypnosis a New Approach
� Organisational, ergonomic amd psychological factors can
produce stress reactions on the individual with the following
aspects
* Physiological – loading of muscles or joints
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* Psychological – increased levels of catecholamine
* Behavioural aspects – adverse psychological mood
states
(Smith and Carayon-Stainfort 1989, Hagberg et al 1995)
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Impacts of Work-place Stress
� Stress is the prime reason for employment
dissatisfaction and results in absenteeism and high staff
turnover.
(Antoniou et al 2008, Chang et al 2007, McVicar 2003)
� 2009/10 - 9.8 million working days lost through work
related stress (average 22.6 days off)
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related stress (average 22.6 days off)
� Stress management programmes can address these
issues and actively contribute to decreased levels of
absenteeism as job satisfaction improves.
(Lamontagne et al 2007, Schaufeli et al 2009)
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Impacts of Work-place Stress
Work stress has three components:
1) Harmful physical and emotional response
2) Which occurs when there is a poor match between job
elements and employee capabilities
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elements and employee capabilities
3) Particularly when employees perceive / experience
lack of control over meeting this demands.
The impact is cost to :-
a) Employee
b) Company
c) Society
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Impacts of Work-place Stress
� HSE 2006/7 report 13.8 million lost working days, in self
report of stress, depression and anxiety .
� Cost of GBP 530 million to economy.
� Stress has a negative impact on immune system
functioning
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Leading to both somatic and psychosomatic illness
based absenteeism
(Maddock and Pariente 2001, Mc Ewan 2008)
� Stress Management improves the immune system
functioning leading to decreased illness related
absenteeism
(Connor 2008, Taniguchi et al 2007)
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Benefits of Work-place Hypnosis
Psychological: unable to focus, irritability,
insomnia, panic attacks, depression
Mouth: becomes dry
Heart: rate increases
Blood: elevated blood pressure,
increased clotting
Digestion: Slows down as
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tense leading to
aches, pains and
headache
Breathing: rate is
rapid increasing
risk of, dizziness or
having a panic
attack Digestion: Slows down as blood is diverted to the muscles
Bladder and rectum: relax
and release excess fluid
and matter
Sweat glands: become active
to cool the body
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attack
Immune system: becomes
compromised as it is
involved in managing the
stress response and
fighting
the effects of stress
Sexual response:
diminished
Benefits of Work-place Hypnosis
Heart: risk of rhythm
problems,
and heart attack
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sis Psychological: chronic depression, anxiety, panic disorder,
and a severe risk of complete mental breakdown
Muscles: chronic tension
headaches and
prolonged muscular
problems
Brain: risk of
stroke
Immune system: risk of
acquiring a wide variety
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acquiring a wide variety
of opportunistic
infections, and of
developing cancer
Sexual response: risk
of psychosexual
disorders, and of
infertility
Blood: risk of
hypertension,
and thrombosis
Digestion: risk of
stomach ulcers, and
of developing
digestive conditions
such as IBS
Cost to Employer
1. Absence-related costs, staff turn-over (recruitment &
training costs)
2. Stress leads to more mistakes presenteeism ie present
but not engaged.
3. Increased stress on colleagues covering the workload.
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3. Increased stress on colleagues covering the workload.
4. Stressful environment employee responses, affect morale
� Stress has increased from 13% in the 60’s to 60% 21st century.
� 2006/7 40% of organizations saw increased in stress levels with highest increase in public sector and non profit organizations .
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What Makes Hypnotherapy a New Approach
1. Solution Focus not problem focused – maybe included
before the problem.
2. Psychological, Emotional, Behavioral and Physical
Optimum sympathetic / parasympathetic function.
3. Content Free Approach where necessary –
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3. Content Free Approach where necessary –
applies to specific / general / work / home/personal /
family / colleagues / superiors
4. Natural process – easily established / easily maintain/ time
efficient approach (3 min) / efficient learning time
5. Cost effective - self-maintenance, through self hypnosis.
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6. Immediate impact and time efficient results (immediate).
7. Intervention – group or individual mental and physical well-
being.
8. Applies across the board - blue collar / white collar
9. Teaching Coping strategies –
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9. Teaching Coping strategies –
stress response / irritability / helplessness / blaming and
communication/ negative dialogue
10. Unhelpful compensating behaviors
smoking / binging / diet / addictive or repetitive behaviors /anger
11. Time Management - check list, prioritizing, goal setting,
work – leisure balance
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12. Motivation and Empowerment - natural consequences
mental rehearsing
13. Relaxation response – physical and mental well being /
insomnia / LOC
14. Traditional Approach or pure hypnotherapy (Kirsh 1996)
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14. Traditional Approach or pure hypnotherapy (Kirsh 1996)
How long does it take - 3 minutes
WHY AREN’T WE USING IT ALREADY ?
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Simple Approach to Occupational Safety and Health
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Instant destressor
The quieting reflex
i) Close your eyes and identify what is irritating you.
ii) Silently say to yourself: “clear mind, relaxed body, I can
deal with this”.
iii) Smile inwardly to yourself without using any facial
muscles. Then allow the smile to spread to your facial
muscles.
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muscles.
iv) Breathe in slowly through your nose to the count of
four. Imagine you are breathing in a warm relaxing colour.
v) Breathe out slowly through your nose to the count of
four. Imagine a dark sluggish colour as you release all unnecessary nervous
tension. Notice your shoulders drop and your posture becoming increasingly
relaxed.
vi) Open your eyes and carry on with what you were
doing.
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Website: www.hypnosis-malaysia.com
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Email: [email protected]
Contact No: 03 – 7960 6439
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