Who can be hypnotized? Nearly everyone, says Max Shapiro, PhD, director of education and research for the New England Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the former chief psychologist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. He has found that 91% of the population is susceptible to hypnotic suggestion. Other studies suggest at least 75% of people can be hypnotized. For people who struggle with the technique because of pain—burn patients, for example—virtual reality may hold an answer. David Patterson, PhD, chief psychologist at the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, has codeveloped software that uses a specialized helmet with a screen to display snowy canyons and icy rivers populated by penguins and snowmen. Hypnotic narration assures patients they’ll feel comfortable. Who should you see? Be sure you consult a licensed clinician. Contact the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis for information about health care professionals in your area. Your treatment might be covered by insurance: Licensed providers often bill insurance companies for therapy that includes hypnosis to treat a variety of disorders, but it’s still a bit of a tug-of-war. What are the side effects? A small minority of people develop headaches, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, or panic under hypnosis. People struggling with major mental illness should consult a mental health professional before getting hypnotized.
