Michael Heap
Clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice and an Honorary Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sheffield. He has practiced and taught hypnosis over the last 38 years in the UK and other European countries, Canada and the USA. He has published many learned papers and chapters on hypnosis and several books describing its clinical application.
Clinical and experimental hypnosis: are they the same?
Is hypnosis as it is applied in the clinical context the same as hypnosis as it is investigated in the laboratory and on which theories of hypnosis are based? By referring to the results of laboratory research and the latest theories of hypnosis, the speaker will argue that clinical and experimental hypnosis have gradually grown apart and there is now only a small overlap. The consequences of this for the practice of clinical hypnosis will be discussed with particular reference to induction procedures.
Workshop: Hypnosis: medico-legal and forensic issues
There are occasions when an expert in hypnosis is asked for an opinion for legal purposes. For example: Should there be laws about who may use hypnosis? Should hypnosis be used for the interrogation of witnesses in criminal investigations? Can hypnosis be used to make people commit crimes? Can a hypnotised person be unable to resist assault by the hypnotist? Can false memories of sexual abuse be created by hypnosis? How does one assess a claim of psychological harm due to hypnosis (including stage hypnosis)? The workshop will include group discussions of actual cases with which the workshop leader has been involved and participants will be able to share their own experiences.
