Clinical and Applied Hypnosis and Biofeedback: Integrating the Foundations of Self-Regulation
Donald Moss, PhD
Eric Willmarth, PhD
2-day workshop
Date: March 27-28, 2026
Workshop Title
Clinical and Applied Hypnosis and Biofeedback: Integrating the Foundations of Self-Regulation
Workshop Description
Hypnosis is a powerful tool that allows clinicians to assist patients or clients in making meaningful changes in their physical and mental health. Hypnosis is a fruitful area of research that allows for the study of the mind and human experience, as well as the nature of hypnosis itself. In this workshop, participants will be provided with foundations in hypnosis to begin using it within their scope of practice or research.
Hypnosis is a complementary therapy that can be integrated effectively with biofeedback and neurofeedback. This workshop will provide examples of strategies for using hypnosis in biofeedback sessions, and for monitoring physiology during hypnosis-based psychotherapy.
The workshop will emphasize building hypnosis skills and developing hypnosis knowledge. It will include large and small group experiential sessions, in addition to didactic presentations and discussion. Faculty will present the historical context and neurobiological basis of hypnosis, discuss ethical use and practice integration, and demonstrate hypnotic techniques and phenomena. Participants will leave with a fundamental understanding of hypnosis and how to facilitate it. Participants will receive resources to help them use hypnosis in research and practice. Suggestions will be provided for further training and education in hypnosis, including practice and mentorship opportunities for SCEH members.
Learning Objectives
- 1) Identify and articulate widely accepted definitions of clinical hypnosis.
2) Describe each step involved in conducting a formal hypnotic encounter.
3) Describe several principles of eliciting hypnotic phenomena, emphasizing the techniques and conditions conducive to their effective implementation.
4) Discuss neurophysiological correlates of hypnotic experiences.
5) Discuss pathways to professionalism, including best practices for clinical work.
6) Discuss evidence-based, research-informed clinical practice, and resources to provide access to current research on clinical protocols.
About Donald Moss
Dr. Donald Moss is Professor and Dean, College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, at Saybrook University, Pasadena, CA. He is a clinical health psychologist, certified in biofeedback and hypnosis. Moss is the ethics chair for the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. He is the education chair, publications chair, and president-elect for the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH). He previously served as president of SCEH, president of Division 30 (hypnosis) of the American Psychological Association, and president of AAPB.
Moss is co-author with Fredric Shaffer of A Primer of Biofeedback (AAPB, 2022), and co-author with Angele McGrady of Your Pathway through Chronic Illness (Pavilion, in press), Integrative Pathways: Navigating Chronic Illness with a Mind-Body-Spirit Approach (Springer, 2018), and Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health (Springer, 2013).
Moss is co-editor of several scholarly books, including The Integration of Psychotherapy and Psychophysiology (Oxford University Press, in press), Evidence-Based Practice in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (AAPB, 2023), Mindfulness, Compassion, and Biofeedback Practice (AAPB, 2020), Physiological Recording Technology and Applications in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (AAPB, 2019), Foundations of Heart Rate Variability (AAPB, 2016), Handbook of Mind Body Medicine for Primary Care (Sage, 2003), and Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology (Greenwood Press, 1999).
About Eric Willmarth
Eric Willmarth, PhD, is the Director of the Applied Psychophysiology Program and the Coordinator for the Integrative Mental Health Specialization in the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, Saybrook University, Pasadena, CA. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked for over three decades in the area of chronic pain management. He is certified in biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, and pain management. He is a past president of the Society for Psychological Hypnosis (APA Div. 30), the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, and the Michigan Society for Behavioral Medicine and Biofeedback. Beginning college as a music major, he played bassoon in the orchestra, trombone in the jazz band, and guitar in a rock band. He continues to be interested in the psychology and health benefits of music and continues to sing in his church choir. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 50 years and has two sons and three grandsons. Life is good!
