Contextual roles in clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy: theory and applications.

Context is a cognitive psychological term that has relevance to hypnosis and hypnotherapy. This paper has three purposes: (a) to review five major characteristics of contexts in light of contemporary experimental cognitive psychological findings, (b) to examine the role of contexts in hypnosis theories, and (c) to discuss applications of contexts in clinical situations. As a heuristic concept, the contextual theory can offer new insights into the understanding of various hypnotherapeutic techniques. Clinicians are encouraged to understand and apply contextual functions to their practice of hypnotherapy.