Teaching hypnosis in a family medicine residency.

Trainees in a family medicine residency found a three-phase program for learning hyponosis to be valuable in increasing their knowledge of interpersonal communication and their effectiveness as therapeutic agents. Trainees advanced from general introduction to theories and methods of hypnosis and familiarity with hypnotic phenomena, to the practice of hypnosis in specific medical situations with individuals and eventually with groups of patients. Sessions were didactic and experiential, and reading assignments were given at weekly intervals. Trainees served as role models in settings where hypnosis had not been used before, and were able to practice hypnotic techniques clinically even during their beginning phase of training.