November 2006, VOLUME 34, NUMBER 2, Abstract 6
THE APPLICATION OF HYPNOSIS IN THE TREATMENT OF A WOMAN WITH COMPLEX TRAUMA
Priscilla S. K. Kwan, Social Welfare Department of Hong Kong
This case study describes the application of hypnosis in the treatment of a Chinese-born Indonesian woman, Mrs B, who had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from her long history of being maltreated by her father and witnessing his acts of violence when she was in Indonesia. Although she seemed to be able to suppress her negative feelings about these events after she came to Hong Kong, her psychological condition deteriorated in 2004. She was referred by the Family Service Centre to the Clinical Psychology Unit of the Social Welfare Department for psychological treatment. Through the use of hypnosis, her symptoms of PTSD were eliminated, her self-efficacy was enhanced, and her relationship with her husband and children improved as well. Six months after the last treatment session, she was contacted for follow-up, and no relapse had occurred.