Table 1 Themes and procedure of the individual sessions of the hypnotherapeutic group program
Themes | Procedure | Duration (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
1. Session | ||
Introduction to stress coping and experience of relaxation | • Getting acquainted, promotion of group cohesion and rapport | 10 |
• Psychoeducation on stress and stress management | 35 | |
• Suggestibility test and convincer (“experiment with hypnosis”) a. Ideomotoric trance induction “magnetic hands” [20] b. Reorientation | 15 | |
• Hypnosis: physical relaxation and mental reassurance a. Trance induction and deepening: mindful perception of body and posture, focus the attention on breathing [21] b. Distancing technique: balloon, in which one can let fly away one’s disturbing thoughts or themes c. Relaxation suggestions d. Mental reassurance: metaphor “mind as a pond” according to Stanton [22] e. Psychoeducation for the stress and relaxation reaction in a trance to promote the natural autonomic self-regulation f. Post-hypnotic suggestion to motivate participants to individual practice and homework g. Reorientation | 30 | |
• Initiate self-employment of hypnosis recordings and farewell | 30 | |
2. Session | ||
Resource activation | • Exploration of the experiences with practicing independently at home | 30 |
• Imparting the principle of the “resource key for stress management” | 10 | |
• Find necessary resources for the specific stressful situations of the participants | 25 | |
• Hypnosis: dissociation from the stress situation and activation of a resource experience a. Trance induction and deepening: visual fixation, body scan [23, 24] b. Distancing technique: counting stairs to the resourceful place, box/suitcase to put off upsetting things or thoughts c. Resource identification and activation at the “resourceful place” d. Anchoring of the resource experience with a finger touch [23] e. Suggestion of helpful attitudes to stress management and achievement orientation according to Stanton [25] f. Post-hypnotic suggestion for repeated resource experience g. Reorientation | 45 | |
• Completing the session and farewell | 10 | |
3. Session | ||
Resource key (Linking stressful situation and resource experience) | • Exploration of the experiences with practicing independently at home | 30 |
• Hypnosis: Repetition of the resource activation from the second session | 40 | |
• Hypnosis: Practicing the rapid occurrence of resource experience | 15 | |
• Hypnosis: Practicing the reflexive triggering of the resource experience through a stress stimulus (“resource key”) according to Bongartz’ “problem as anchor” [26] | 25 | |
• Completing the session and farewell | 10 | |
4. Session | ||
Resource transfer (Experience of successful stress coping) | • Gathering and reinforcing the changing stress coping experiences of the participants | 40 |
• Hypnosis: Mentally anticipating and practicing a successful resource experience in a typical stress situation and coping with the stress situation (“resource transfer”) a. Trance induction and deepening, distancing technique: visual fixation; body scan; thoughts as clouds in the sky; noises, such as a radio in the background [23, 24]; stairs to the resourceful place b. Resource activation “resourceful place” c. Transfer of the resource experience into the critical situation: experience of successfully coping with the stress situation d. Post-hypnotic suggestion for successful coping with stress e. Reorientation | 50 | |
• Completing the session and farewell | 30 | |
5. Session | ||
Future progression (Further improvement and stabilization) | • Appreciation of the changes in stress coping competences achieved so far and integration into self-image | 45 |
• Hypnosis: Facilitate further improvement and stabilization a. Trance induction with a marble [27] and deepening b. Partial age regression: Remembering the most important themes and experiences during the participation of the group program c. Age progression into a time in the future when the goal of improved coping with stress is reached: integration of competencies and characteristics in one’s self-image, increased self-efficacy d. Anchoring of this experience with a marble [27] e. Post-hypnotic suggestion for successful coping with stress f. Reorientation | 35 | |
• Answer open questions and concerns | 20 | |
• Completion and farewell | 20 | |