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NESCH events

NESCH is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities for healthcare professionals interested in clinical hypnosis. We offer between 8-10 events annually. Most events are open to non-members at a higher fee. 


Annual Workshops

Each year, NESCH hosts comprehensive workshops:

  • Level 1 (Fall): Foundational training in clinical hypnosis.
  • Level 2 (Winter): Intermediate training to build upon Level 1 skills.
  • Advanced (Spring): In-depth sessions for experienced practitioners to enhance their expertise.

These workshops are designed to equip participants with essential skills in clinical hypnosis and deepen their practical knowledge.


Quarterly Meetings

NESCH holds regular gatherings to offer continuing professional education in hypnosis and related topics. These meetings provide an opportunity for members to connect and feature a 3-hour webinar taught by an expert in the field. Topics vary, ensuring a diverse and enriching experience for all participants.

Important Information

  • Cancellation & Grievance Policy
    To review NESCH’s Cancellation and Grievance Policy, please click here. This policy outlines procedures for cancellations, refunds, and grievance resolutions.

  • Continuing Education Credits
    NESCH events are designed to meet the continuing education requirements for healthcare professionals. Detailed information about CE credits will be provided upon registration.

  • Registration Deadlines
    To ensure your spot, please register at least two weeks prior to the event. Late registrations will be accepted on a case-by-case basis, subject to availability.

Upcoming events

    • 2025-06-22
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Live Webinar via Zoom
    • 77
    Register


    Description:

    Join us for an engaging and collaborative learning experience!

    This is your chance to:

    ✅ Share a 15-minute case

    ✅ Learn valuable strategies and techniques

    ✅ Gain insights from fellow professionals

    Whether you're presenting or simply attending, this interactive session offers a unique opportunity to deepen your skills and understanding. 

    Interested in presenting? Have questions? Email neschmsc@gmail.com to secure your spot! Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow together.

    Date:

    June 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST

    Cost:

    Free for both members and nonmembers.

    Continuing education credit (CEU, CME) is not being offered. 

    Registration is required. Zoom link will be provided once registration is complete.


    To sign up to present, contact neschmsc@gmail.com


    • 2025-06-28
    • 10:00 AM
    • 2025-06-29
    • 5:00 PM
    • Virtual via Zoom
    Register

    Quality of Life in High-Impact Chronic Pain: The Role of Hypnosis

    Saturday & Sunday, June 28-29, 2025

    10:00 AM- 5:00 PM (EST)

    12 Hours of Instruction 

    Presenters: John W. Hall, PhD, ABPP & Christina L. Vair, PhD

    Workshop Description 

    If you work with folks with chronic pain, you know that for some it moves beyond being an annoyance and starts to take over their lives.  Over time, this group do less and less, see fewer and fewer people, enjoy fewer and fewer things, worry and rage more and more, and their life shrinks down to just their pain and its effects.  The CDC has recently labeled this pattern as High-Impact Chronic Pain.  Providers from both the physical and the mental side often feel helpless and overwhelmed when confronted with these patients.  Fortunately, Dr. Hall and Dr. Vair have years of experience with this population and have learned ways that strategic education and intervention, centered around clinical hypnosis, can turn the tide for these patients so that their lives start to grow again as the pain shrinks.  

    Join NESCH for a 2-day, 12-hour online workshop on using clinical hypnosis to improve quality of life in those most impacted by chronic pain.  Day 1 centers on how pain changes us internally, while Day 2 focuses on how it impacts on us externally, and both offer hypnotic and other tools for promoting positive change.  Here’s what we’ll cover (all times approximate):


      Workshop Schedule

      Saturday, June 28, 2025

      10:00AM How we got to this point in pain treatment, and a discussion of the challenges you face in helping your patients so that we can make sure we address them all
       11:30 Break
       11:45 How pain uses our natural responses to gradually take away our life, and what we can do about it, including both formal hypnosis and hypnotic language
       1:15 PM Lunch
       1:45 Understanding pain’s path through the brain gives us weapons to use to start taking back our life – 8 potential targets for hypnotic interventions 
       3 :15  Break
       3:30  Practice with a structured interview worksheet to find places we can weaken pain’s hold on our brains using clinical hypnosis 
      5:00 Adjourn
      Sunday, June 29, 2025
      10:00 AM        How pain leaves our brain and starts to ruin our quality of life, including a Hypnotic Experience of how changing pain scores often isn't enough to improve quality of life 
       11:30   Break
       11:45  The Whole Health Model demonstration and Skills Practice, applying it to chronic pain 

       1:15PM 

       Lunch
       1:45   Demonstration  with breakout and practice of how to use clinical hypnosis to improve quality of life regardless of where pain is showing up in your patient's life
       3:15  Break
       3:30 Breakout session to hone "elevator speeches" for professional colleagues and patients 
      5:00 Adjourn

      Learning Goals

      1. Identify three differences between acute and chronic pain
      2. Define the relationship between pain and suffering
      3. Describe 3 crucial points of information that patients need to learn to shift the conversation about chronic pain in a more helpful direction
      4. Identify 8 brain regions that offer possibilities to use clinical hypnosis to change the experience of pain
      5. Demonstrate the use of a structured interview to determine the relative importance of each brain region in the patient’s experience of their pain and guide hypnotic treatment
      6. Define the foundational aspects of a While Health approach to care, including how to utilize this framework to engage individuals in active self-management of chronic pain
      7. Identify relationships between established, evidence-informed approaches for the use of hypnosis and the Whole Health approach to care
      8. Identify ways to enhance clinical practice through utilizing person-centered hypnotic approaches
      9. Define eight aspects of personal well-being that can be addressed in chronic pain using hypnosis
      10. State 2 brief “elevator speeches” to describe this approach to treating chronic pain, one for professional colleagues, and the second for professional colleagues

      Presenter Bios

      John W. Hall, PhD, ABPP, headshotJohn Hall, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical health psychologist with the Charlotte Clinic of the Salisbury VA Health Care System’s Whole Health Chronic Pain Team.  He is one of the Whole Health National Education Champions for Mental Health and a VISN6 Whole Health Network Wide Education Faculty for the Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT).  He is a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Health Psychology, an approved consultant and Immediate Past President of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and an SME for both the Clinical Hypnosis and Guided Imagery rollouts of OPCC&CT.  He served as Salisbury’s inaugural LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator, as well as both Salisbury and Fayetteville’s LGBT Special Emphasis Program Managers.  Outside of work, he is (without dysphoria) an Appalachian grandmother in gay bear body turning seeds into food, turning fiber into clothes, singing in church, and spending time with his husband and rescue dogs (Charlie & Riley).

      A person smiling in front of a flag AI-generated content may be incorrect.Christina L. Vair, PhD, is the Whole Health Clinical Director for the Salisbury VA Health Care System and clinical champion co-lead with the VA’s national Integrative Health Coordinating Center. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Geropsychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Her VA career began in 2011 at the VA Western New York in Buffalo, where she completed internship and a two-year postdoctoral residency before serving two and a half years as a clinical researcher. Dr. Vair's professional interests include behavioral medicine, complementary and integrative health approaches, employee wellness, implementation science, and health equity. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her two rescue pups (Gus and Gremlin), hiking, gardening, and rock climbing.

      Pricing: 

      NESCH & NCSCH Members: $199

      Non-members: $245

      Students: $99 (Students must send proof of student status i.e. a letter from their clinical, course schedule, etc.)


      Continuing Education: 

      This event is pending approval for 12.0 ASCH CE credits. 


      This event is pending approval by the NASW-MA for 12.0 CE credits for social workers. 


      The event is pending approval for 12.0 CE credits for licensed mental health counselor.


      This event is pending approval for 12.0 CE credits for psychologists for this educational activity.


      CE approvals will be posted as they are obtained.


      CME credits for physicians are not available. 


      **Note: Tuition does not cover $30 CE fee. 


      Cancellation Policy: 

      Registrations cancelled less than 30 days before the start of the training are subject to a $30 cancellation fee. Unpaid registrations will be cancelled if unpaid after two weeks unless you make an arrangement with the registrar at neschmsc@gmail.com.


      For more information please see our Cancellation & Grievance Policy

      For more information email neschmsc@gmail.com

    Past events

    2025-03-08 2025 Level II Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (4-Day Training)
    2025-01-12 LIVE WEBINAR on Using Hypnosis to Enhance Performance and Creativity, Dana Lebo, Ph.D.
    2024-11-03 LIVE WEBINAR on Hypnosis in the Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation with Carmen Pepicelli, M.Ed., LMHC, PhD
    2024-10-05 2024 Max Shapiro Level 1 VIRTUAL Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis, Oct. 5-6 & 19-20, 2024
    2024-09-08 LIVE WEBINAR: Hypnosis in Dealing with Grief, Death, and Spirituality with Ran Anbar, MD
    2024-06-09 Virtual PEARLS FROM PRACTICE
    2024-05-04 (REGISTRATION CLOSED) Hypnosis for Chronic Pain Management featuring Dr. Mark P. Jensen, 2024 Dr. Thomas Martin Advanced Training (Hybrid- In-person & online)
    2024-03-02 2024 Level II Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (4-Day Training)
    2024-01-21 LIVE WEBINAR: Healing Grief with Hypnosis Presented by Courtney Armstrong, M. Ed., LPC
    2023-11-05 LIVE WEBINAR: Useful Biology to Know When Utilizing Clinical Hypnosis with Harvey Zarren, M.D., F.A.C.C.
    2023-10-14 2023 Max Shapiro Level 1 Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis, Oct. 14-15 & 28-29, 2023
    2023-09-10 LIVE WEBINAR: Utilizing Hypnosis in the Healing of Narcissistic Wounds in Psychotherapy with Eric Spiegel Ph.D.
    2023-06-11 LIVE WEBINAR: PEARLS OF PRACTICE IN THE HYBRID AGE OF TELEHEALTH AND IN-OFFICE VISITS
    2023-05-20 2 Day Advanced Training in Clinical Hypnosis -- Hypnotic Utilization: Harnessing Your Own and Your Patients' Unique Qualities To Navigate the Rough Waters of Change with Dr. Suzanne Candell
    2023-03-11 2023 Level II (Intermediate) Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (4-Day Training)
    2023-01-22 LIVE WEBINAR: Clinical Hypnosis for Habit Change Disorders with Dr. David B. Reid
    2022-11-20 LIVE WEBINAR: Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis with Ran D. Anbar, MD, FAAP
    2022-10-08 2022 Max Shapiro Level 1 Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis, Oct. 8-9 & 22-23, 2022
    2022-09-18 LIVE WEBINAR: Hypnosis at the Medical Frontlines - Challenges and Opportunities with Elvira Lang, M.D., FSIR, FSCEH
    2022-06-05 LIVE WEBINAR: PEARLS OF PRACTICE IN THE HYBRID AGE OF TELEHEALTH AND IN-OFFICE VISITS
    2022-05-21 Advanced Fundamentals in Tailoring our Hypnotherapy to Heal Trauma with Dr. Rob McNeilly, May 21-22, 2022
    2022-03-12 2022 Level II (Intermediate) Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (4-Day Training)
    2022-02-06 LIVE WEBINAR: Sleep: Working Hypnotically with Complex Cases with Suzanne Candell, PhD, LP
    2022-01-09 LIVE WEBINAR: Hypnotic Applications for Complex PTSD, Trauma Resolution, and Attachment Repair with Louis F. Damis, Ph.D.
    2021-11-07 LIVE WEBINAR: The Unrepressed Unconscious, Complex PTSD, Attachment, and Repair with Louis Damis, PhD, November 7, 2021
    2021-10-16 66th Annual Max Shapiro Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (formerly known as Level I (Basic) Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis), Oct. 16-17, 2021 & Nov. 13-14, 2021
    2021-09-19 LIVE WEBINAR: Helping People Who Are Currently In or Have Left a Controlling Person, Cult, or Belief, September 19, 2021
    2021-06-13 FREE LIVE WEBINAR: Hypnosis in the Digital Age, June 13, 2021
    2021-05-02 90-Minute Advanced Workshop with Carolyn Daitch, PhD
    2021-03-13 2021 Level II (Intermediate) Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis (4-Day Training)
    2021-02-06 Two Day Advanced Virtual Workshop, "Changing Our Minds About Changing Our Minds" with Laurence Sugarman, MD
    2021-01-10 LIVE WEBINAR: Transforming Traumatic Memories with Hypnosis and Memory Reconsolidation with Courtney Armstrong, LPC, NBCC, January 10, 2021
    2020-11-08 LIVE WEBINAR: Integrating Mindfulness Meditation in Your Hypnosis Practice with Akira Otani, Ed.D., ABPH, November 8, 2020
    2020-09-13 LIVE WEBINAR: Hypnosis & Neurofeedback with Dr. Sarah Gray, September 13, 2020
    2020-07-19 LIVE WEBINAR: Practical Considerations in Doing Hypnosis via Telehealth with Lorna McKenzie-Pollock, LICSW, Harvey Zarren, MD, Stephanie Kriesberg, PsyD, & Kaloyan Tanev, MD on July 19, 2020
    2020-01-12 "Conversion Disorders" with Daniel P. Brown, PhD - January 2020 Quarterly Meeting
    2019-11-10 Linda Thomson, PhD, APRN, ABMH, "Empowerment by Design with Hypnosis: Mental Skills Training for Peak Performance" - November 2019 Quarterly Meeting
    2019-10-05 2019 NESCH Basic (Level I) Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis, Oct. 5-6, 2019 & Oct. 26-27, 2019
    2019-09-15 Rick Miller, LICSW, "Expanding Your Inclusive Abilities: Using Hypnosis With Gay Men, a Multi-Cultural Approach" - September 2019 Quarterly Meeting
    2019-06-02 Pearls from Practice - June 2019 Quarterly Meeting
    2019-05-18 2019 Rev. Thomas W. Martin, PsyD, Annual Advanced Workshop, Speaker Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD
    2019-05-05 " EXTRA" QUARTERLY MEETING WITH A DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER - Dr. Shaul Navon
    2019-03-15 2019 NESCH Intermediate Workshop, March 15-17, 2019
    2019-02-03 Harvey Zarren, MD, "Hypnosis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia" - February 2019 Quarterly Meeting
    2018-11-04 Tobi B. Goldfus, LCSW-C, BCD, "Young People, Smart Phones and the Power of Social Media: Using Hypnotherapy and Somatic Experiencing to Activate Healthy Ego States and Charge Up the ‘Inner Selfie’" - November 2018 Quarterly Meeting
    2018-09-29 2018 NESCH Basic Workshop in Hypnosis, Sept. 29-30, 2018 & Oct. 13-14, 2018
    2018-09-23 Nancy Riemer, LICSW, "Induction, Improvisation, and Generosity" - September 2018 Quarterly Meeting
    2018-06-10 June 2018 Quarterly Meeting
    2018-04-28 “Honing Your Hypnotic Voice: Delivering Strategic Interventions for Mind/ Body Healing,” Thomas Martin Annual Advanced Workshop, Speaker Carol Ginandes, PhD, ABPP
    2018-04-06 2018 Intermediate Workshop (registration closed)
    2018-02-11 Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, "Integrating Hypnosis and Native American Healing into Clinical Practice" - February 2018 Quarterly Meeting
    2017-12-10 Susan Dowell, LICSW, "An Introduction to Ego-State Therapy" - December 2017 Quarterly Meeting
    2017-09-23 2017 NESCH Basic Workshop in Hypnosis, Sept. 23-24, 2017 & Oct. 14-15, 2017
    2017-09-10 Maureen Turner, MEd, LMHC, RNBC, LCSW, "Hypnotic Interventions for ADHD and Co-Morbid Conditions" - September Quarterly
    2017-06-11 "Pearls from Practice" - June 11, 2017 Quarterly Meeting
    2017-05-06 63rd Annual Advanced Workshop, Fundamental Principles & Practices in Ericksonian Approaches in Hypnosis, Brent Geary, PhD
    2017-03-31 2017 Intermediate Workshop
    2017-03-12 Jean Fain, LICSW, “The Self-Compassion Diet: Hypnotically Treating Eating Issues with Kindness” - March 2017 Quarterly Meeting
    2016-11-06 Joanne Twombly, LICSW, "The Use of Hypnosis in Treating Complex Trauma and the Dissociative Disorders" - November 2016 Quarterly Meeting
    2016-10-22 NESCH Basic Workshop in Hypnosis
    2016-09-11 Lynn Lyons, LICSW, "Beyond Calming Down" -September 2016 Quarterly Meeting
    2016-04-10 Lorna McKenzie-Pollock, LICSW, "Trance Ratification in Traditional Healing Ceremonies" - April 2016 Quarterly Meeting
    2016-03-18 Intermediate Workshop
    2016-01-10 Steven Hassan, MEd, LMHC, "Cult Mind Control" - January 2016 Quarterly Meeting
    2015-11-15 Anne Webster, PhD of the Benson Institute, "Mind/Body Medicine Techniques: Applications and Components" - November 2015 Quarterly Meeting
    2015-10-24 NESCH Basic Workshop
    2015-09-27 September 2015 Quarterly Meeting - Pearls from Practice
    2015-06-06 NESCH 60th Annual Advanced Workshop, Dabney Ewin, MD,FACS
    2015-05-17 NESCH May 2015 Quarterly Meeting - "Strengthening Willpower: Practical tips for using hypnosis to help the brain help us," Speakers: Drs. Pamela Devaney & Rebecca Johnston
    2015-04-26 NESCH April 2015 Quarterly Meeting - "Center Core Phenomena: How Can We Use Them and What do they Do?" with Dr. Claire Frederick
    2015-03-14 NESCH 60th Annual Basic Workshop: Part 2
    2015-02-28 NESCH 60th Annual Basic Workshop: Part 1
    2014-12-07 NESCH December 2014 Quarterly Meeting - Another Way of Looking at Patients/Clients with Chronic Conditions of Unclear Etiology, Speaker: Dr. Harvey Zarren
    2014-10-26 NESCH October 2014 Quarterly Meeting - "Hypnotic techniques and the patient experience" with Dr. Elvira Lang
    2014-06-14 NESCH 59th Annual Advanced Workshop, Claire Frederick, MD
    2014-05-18 NESCH May 2014 Quarterly Meeting - "Pearls from Practice, Presenters: NESCH Members"
    2014-01-26 NESCH January 2014 Quarterly Meeting - "Inviting the Muse: Trance Enhancement of Creativity,” Presenter: Carol Ginandes, Ph.D., ABPP
    2014-01-12 Skills Workshop: "Alert Hypnosis and Anxiety Management” with Max Shapiro PhD
    2013-12-08 NESCH December 2013 Quarterly Meeting - "Hypnosis and Trauma Treatment," Presenter: Lorna McKenzie-Pollack, LICSW
    2013-09-29 NESCH September 2013 Quarterly Meeting, "Unwrapped: The Transformative Impact of Experiential Learning Using Hypnosis with Gay Men," Presenter: Richard Miller, LICSW
    2013-05-18 NESCH 58th Annual Advanced Workshop, Michael Yapko, PhD
    2013-03-03 NESCH February Quarterly Meeting: Presenter: Max Shapiro, PhD“What we can learn from single-session resolution of a presenting complaint”
    2013-01-20 Trauma Workshop
    2012-12-02 NESCH December Quarterly Meeting: Presenter: Larry Peltz, MD; The Dr. Tom Martin Memorial Lecture generously sponsored by the Martin Family
    2012-10-20 NESCH 58th Annual Basic Workshop
    2012-09-30 Sunday, September 30th Dr. Zarren Presents Framework of Patients with Fibrmyalgia
    2012-06-10 Half Day meeting, "Pearls from Practice"
    2012-04-21 Stuck in Deep Trance: Trauma and Hypnosis, Presenter Nancy Riemer, LICSW
    2012-02-12 Eva Szigethy, MD, Hypnosis and GI Disorders
    2012-01-22 Hypnosis Skills Refresher Workshop
    2011-12-04 "The Dr. Tom Martin Memorial Lecture" FULL DAY - Alert Hypnosis, David M. Wark, PhD, ABPH
    2011-10-22 NESCH 57th Annual Basic Workshop
    2011-09-25 Hypnosis and Dreams with Deirdre Barrett, PhD
    2011-05-14 NESCH 56th Annual Advanced Workshop with Daniel Brown, PhD
    2011-04-03 Insomnia and Preparation for Medical, Dental & Surgical Procedures, Max Shapiro, PhD
    2011-02-13 Hypnosis and Mindfulness Meditation: Common Ground and Divergence
    2010-12-12 Pearls from Practice
    2010-11-10 55th Annual Basic Workshop: Hypnosis in Clinical Hypnosis
    2010-10-03 Chronic Pain: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Related Syndromes
    2010-06-13 Pearls from Practice, Max Shapiro, PhD
    2010-05-01 NESCH 55th Annual Advanced Workshop with Peter Bloom M.D.
    2010-02-07 Hypnotic Enhancement of Creativity, Nancy Riemer, LICSW
    2009-12-06 Pediatric Hypnosis in the Hospital and in the Office, Bob Deutsch, PhD
    2009-10-11 Hypnosis and Weight Mangement, Deirdre Barrett, PhD
    2009-09-12 NESCH Basic Workshop
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