The document discusses using clinical hypnosis as a new approach for occupational safety and health. It notes that hypnosis can help manage stress and improve immune system functioning, empowering employees to better manage their own stress. Workplace stress can impact employees physically, psychologically, and behaviorally and lead to absenteeism and high staff turnover. Stress management programs using clinical hypnosis can help address absenteeism by decreasing stress levels and improving job satisfaction.

1. London College of Clinical Hypnosis
Clinical Hypnosis : A New Approach for
Occupational Safety and Health
Sheila Menon FBSCH FBAMH
Principal LCCH Asia

2. Clinical Hypnosis - Benefits
London College of Clinical Hypnosis 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 Zollman
1999, Whitehouse et al 1996)
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)

3. What is Hypnosis
London College of Clinical 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
(Charlesworth et al 1984, Minoa et al 2006)
What Is Hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy
Clinical Hypnosis

4. Clinical Hypnosis a New Approach
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
Organisational, ergonomic amd psychological factors can
produce stress reactions on the individual with the following
aspects
* Physiological – loading of muscles or joints
* Psychological – increased levels of catecholamine
* Behavioural aspects – adverse psychological mood
states
(Smith and Carayon-Stainfort 1989, Hagberg et al 1995)

5. Impacts of Work-place Stress
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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)
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)

6. Impacts of Work-place Stress
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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
3) Particularly when employees perceive / experience
lack of control over meeting this demands.
The impact is cost to :-
a) Employee
b) Company
c) Society

7. Impacts of Work-place Stress
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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
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)

8. Benefits of Work-place Hypnosis
Psychological: unable to focus, irritability,
Muscles: become
London College of Clinical Hypnosis tense leading to insomnia, panic attacks, depression
aches, pains and
headache Mouth: becomes dry
Heart: rate increases
Breathing: rate is
rapid increasing Blood: elevated blood pressure,
risk of, dizziness or increased clotting
having a panic
attack Digestion: Slows down as
blood is diverted to the muscles
Immune system: becomes
compromised as it is
Bladder and rectum: relax
involved in managing the
and release excess fluid
stress response and
and matter
fighting
the effects of stress
Sweat glands: become active
to cool the body
Sexual response:
diminished

9. Benefits of Work-place Hypnosis
London College of Clinical Hypnosis Psychological: chronic depression, anxiety, panic disorder,
and a severe risk of complete mental breakdown
Muscles: chronic tension Brain: risk of
headaches and stroke
prolonged muscular
problems Heart: risk of rhythm
problems,
Immune system: risk of and heart attack
acquiring a wide variety
of opportunistic
infections, and of Blood: risk of
developing cancer hypertension,
and thrombosis
Sexual response: risk
of psychosexual
disorders, and of Digestion: risk of
infertility stomach ulcers, and
of developing
digestive conditions
such as IBS

10. Cost to Employer
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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.
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 .

11. What Makes Hypnotherapy a New Approach
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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 –
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.

12. 6. Immediate impact and time efficient results (immediate).
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
7. Intervention – group or individual mental and physical well-
being.
8. Applies across the board - blue collar / white collar
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

13. London College of Clinical Hypnosis 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)
How long does it take - 3 minutes
WHY AREN’T WE USING IT ALREADY ?

14. Simple Approach to Occupational Safety
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
and Health

15. Instant destressor
The quieting reflex
London College of Clinical Hypnosis
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.
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.

16. London College of Clinical Hypnosis
Website: www.hypnosis-malaysia.com
Email: info@hypnosis-malaysia.com
Contact No: 03 – 7960 6439