Hypnosis in Childbirth Work Shop

The BST Foundation is delighted to introduce as apart of its ongoing continual professional development (CPD) programme in hypnotherapy, a two day workshop in Clinical Hypnosis for Childbirth. The course has been designed to give hypnotherapy practitioners additional skills and knowledge to work with women during the early stages of pregnancy, the actual birth process and immediate post-natal period. Some of the methods taught may also be useful in aiding those who are having difficulty conceiving or carrying a child to full term.

The course content draws on many different themes and methods, including seldom taught approaches devised by American gynaecologist and obstetrician, the late David Cheek MD. Dr Cheek, a contemporary and associate of Milton Erickson, pioneered the use of hypnosis in childbirth and various other elective medical situations.

There is a solid research base showing that hypnosis can facilitate the childbirth process, leading to:

-Shorter labour times
-Reduced/eliminated need for chemical pain relief
-Increased incidence of spontaneous birth (i.e. reduced need for forceps, ventouse delivery or caesarean section)
-Reduced likelihood of complications
-Shorter post-natal hospital stays
-Significant amelioration of post-natal depression
-Subjectively more satisfying and enriching childbirth experience

Our two-day workshop is designed for those who are already qualified to Diploma level, or who are pursuing training to Diploma level with the BST Foundation. Suitability of applicants with qualifications from other training organisations will be assessed on an individual basis. Successful completion of the course will lead to the award of a Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis for Childbirth. Current BST Foundation Students who successfully complete their Diploma studies will then also be entitled to use these skills and qualification in aspects of their own practice.

During the training course, students will cover the following areas:

-Overview of pregnancy and the birth process
-Basic physiology of pregnancy and childbirth
-The role of expectation/conceptualising childbirth
-Locus of control in the birth process
-Involvement of the partner
-Involvement of medical professionals
-Additional techniques for self-hypnosis during pregnancy
-The use of self-hypnosis to manage nausea, disrupted sleep and discomfort
-Self-hypnosis and visualisation for mother/child bonding
-Dealing with unhealthy habits and lifestyle issues in the expectant mother
-Exploring and reframing unconscious concerns over childbirth
-Identifying and resolving secondary gain from pregnancy discomfort
-Future orientation and rehearsing a comfortable birth
-Reframing and re-languaging the birth experience
-Techniques for addressing anxiety in the expectant mother
-The use of hypnosis during the birth process
-Application of suitable anchors.
-Managing discomfort with hypnosis
-Hypnosis to control post partum blood loss
-Hypnosis to facilitate swift recovery and encourage lactation (if desired)

This is a non-examined programme and credits are awarded for information acquired during the course that will contribute to the Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis for Childbirth being awarded. Students will receive their certificate at the end of the course. The workshop will be held over two separate Saturdays (see booking form) and will be held at the BST Foundations usual training venues.

If you would like to pay the full course fee by credit card please call the Foundation on 020 8946 1432 and complete the application form which must also be returned to the Foundation. All other cheque payments should accompany the booking form upon application for the course.