As research continues to build around the therapeutic value of hypnosis, Southern Cross University has launched Australia's first university-based course in clinical hypnosis – integrating evidence-based hypnotherapy into mainstream health education.
In clinical and performance settings, hypnosis is currently used in areas including behaviour change, stress and anxiety management, and performance in sport and high-pressure environments.
"Hypnosis helps shift habits, calm the mind, and create meaningful improvements," said Dr Leon W. Cowen, Adjunct Fellow and Teaching Associate at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) . "By combining hypnosis with advanced therapeutic techniques, it uncovers the root cause of challenges more directly and helps resolve them. It's the accelerator that makes counselling and psychotherapy work faster, smoother, and more effectively."
Clinical hypnosis is a core specialisation within the new Professional Certificate in Health (Integrative Clinical Hypnosis) , designed for health professionals seeking practical, evidence-based tools to support patient care.
"Southern Cross University is the first university to offer clinical hypnosis in a university environment. The course will be taught at the NCNM, which is also unique", said Professor Jon Wardle, Foundation Director at the NCNM.
The Professional Certificate in Health comprises two units for the Integrative Clinical Hypnosis Specialisation – Principles and Practice of Integrative Health Care: Foundations, and Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis.
"By teaching clinical hypnosis through the NCNM, we integrate the best of all possible worlds, the best from traditional knowledge and practices, the best from evidence-based practices of the old, and the new. The conventional and the unknown, but always from a patient-centred and evidence-based practice approach," said Professor Wardle.
Designed for busy health professionals, the course is offered as a 14-week part-time program that aims to further skills while increasing career prospects in the growing fields of health and wellness. The professional certificate may meet the requirements of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as part of professional accreditation.
The specialisation in Integrative Clinical Hypnosis is intended to develop practical, evidence-based skills that support behaviour change, help prevent and manage chronic conditions, and enhance overall wellbeing within an integrative healthcare framework.
"Students will gain hands-on experience using hypnosis, building a strong, practical base they can expand as far as they choose," said Dr Cowen.
"If they choose to go further, the solid foundation will allow them to grow their skill and learn how to seamlessly integrate their existing professional expertise into the hypnosis framework. This will enable them to progress and become confident, capable, and highly competent clinical hypnotherapists," said Dr Cowen.
This course also serves as a pathway to several postgraduate degrees in health.
"You don't need to be enrolled in a degree to access the program. But if you want to use it for a postgraduate degree later, you can do so as well," said Professor Wardle.
"It's the best of both worlds, just like integrative medicine is the best of both worlds in applying medicine to practice. We found an integrative education model that can help meet the needs of professional development, as well as those wishing to further their studies," said Professor Wardle.
Graduates of the Professional Certificate in Health will be suited to a wide range of roles in the health and wellness industry, including public, primary, and community health care; fitness enterprises; wellness retreats; corporate wellness programs; and consultancies.
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