Ran D. Anbar, MD, FAAP, is board certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics, offering hypnosis and counseling services at Center Point Medicine in La Jolla (La HOY-A, I figured it out, thank you very much), California, and Syracuse, New York. Dr. Anbar is also a fellow and approved consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Anbar is a leader in clinical hypnosis, and his 20 years of experience have allowed him to successfully treat over 5,000 children. He also served as a professor of pediatrics and medicine and the director of pediatric pulmonology at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, for 21 years. Dr. Anbar also worked as a guest editor and advisory editor for the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. His experience has offered him the opportunity to direct and co-direct more than 20 clinic workshops on the subject of pediatric hypnosis. Additionally, he has trained more than a thousand healthcare providers and lectured all over the world. In addition to his teaching and lecturing experiences, Dr. Anbar has been the principal investigator in 10 published case studies of pediatric hypnosis and involved in research trials of children with cystic fibrosis and other pulmonary disorders. He is a published author of more than 50 articles, abstracts, and book chapters on pediatric functional disorders and pediatric hypnosis. Graduating from the University of California-San Diego with undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology, Dr. Anbar earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency and pediatric pulmonary fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Anbar received training in hypnosis from the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
In this episode, Dr. Anbar and I talk about what clinical hypnosis actually is compared to what you might see in popular culture, amazing stories of hypnosis in use, how trauma and hypnosis can intersect, and how it can be used for healing. For more information about Dr. Anbar, visit https://centerpointhypnosis.com/dr-anbar. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content! If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are from Colorado and are interested in scheduling a session, please reach out at sojourncounselingco.com/josh or josh@sojourncounselingco.com.
Takeaways
Hypnosis is a way of controlling one's own mind and can be used to address chronic symptoms and psychological issues.
Basic hypnosis techniques, such as relaxation and positive self-talk, can be effective in improving symptoms.
The authority of the hypnotist lies in empowering the patient to tap into their own subconscious and make positive changes.
Words have the power to heal, and the subconscious mind is a source of creativity and wisdom.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Misconceptions and Lack of Awareness
06:00 Conversion Disorders and Hypnosis
10:00 What is Hypnosis?
17:00 Benefits of Hypnosis
23:00 Teaching Basic Hypnosis
30:00 Advanced Hypnosis Techniques
35:06 Preparing the Conscious Mind
36:04 The Power of the Subconscious
37:31 Resolving Issues Without Knowing
38:14 Hypnosis for Entertainment vs. Therapeutic Hypnosis
39:41 The Authority of the Hypnotist
40:07 Overview of the Book
41:22 The Power of Words
42:47 The Subconscious as a Source of Creativity
43:17 The Power of Spirit
45:00 Treating the Whole Person
46:19 The Limitations of Diagnosis
47:05 Misinformation on the Internet
49:43 Hypnosis in the Treatment of Trauma
51:11 Working with Voices and Dissociation
53:36 Revisiting Trauma in a Safe Way
55:07 Using Hypnosis in Personal Life
56:48 Words of Wisdom