This is the only academic level 6 or 7 stand alone university accredited course in clinical hypnosis and communicative techniques in the UK.
If you are a registered healthcare professional who is seeking to improve your clinical skills through learning the theory and application of hypnosis and communication skills, this course is for you. You will learn how to develop and apply your communication and personal stress management skills whilst gaining theoretical and practical knowledge of hypnosis and related techniques. This will help you in busy clinical settings and improve and enhance your consultation skills.
When Starting 14th September 2024 part time over a year.
Closing date for applications Friday 26th July 2024
Location/delivery: Hybrid delivery. You can choose to be completely online or online with some face to face teaching days at Birmingham City University
Dates 2024 – 2025 (STC)
Introduction & navigating the course: Virtual for all | Sat 7th September 2024 |
Module 1: | |
Day 1: Virtual for all | Sat 14th September 2024 |
Day 2: Face to Face & Virtual | Fri 27th September 2024 |
Day 3: Face to Face & Virtual | Sat 28th September 2024 |
Module 2: | |
Day 1: Virtual for all | Sat 18th January 2025 |
Day 2: Virtual for all | Sat 1st Feb 2025 |
Module 3: | |
Day 1: Virtual for all | Saturday 5th April 2025 |
Day 2: Face to Face & Virtual | Friday 9th May 2025 |
Day 3: Face to Face & Virtual | Saturday 10th May 2025 |
F2F Presentations Module 3 assessment | Saturday 14th June 2025 |
Virtual presentations Module 3 assessment | Saturday 21st June 2025 |
Graduation | July 2026 (TBA) |
Why This Course?
“This is what I have been waiting for, for so many years.” Nurse
- Current healthcare services are under immense strain and healthcare professionals are exhausted, burnt out and often demoralised.
- Evidence tells us that communication is fundamental to health outcomes, patient experience and quality of care as well as limiting potential litigation.
- This innovative course has been developed to meet the needs of a wide range of registered healthcare professionals, where the provision of hypnosis could become or is part of your professional role.
- It aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of hypnotic language as a form of communication within individual specialities, particularly when working with anxious or stressed patients/clients in a medical, dental, or health/social care context.
- It will help you to develop your professional and personal communication skills.
Why Choose Us?
“I have enjoyed the last couple of days & felt the academic and practical content was very well balanced. There is a lot to learn & understand but the arena makes it safe to explore issues. I was hesitant in relation to how I could use hypnosis initially but now can foresee how I can incorporate it into my future practice.” Anaesthetist
- BSCAH has considerable experience in supporting healthcare professionals and has successfully partnered with BCU since 2016.
- The teaching team are BSCAH Accredited and are specialists within the field.
- A truly multi-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning where professional hierarchy is left at the door.
- Techniques learned on the course will positively impact on patient care while recognising the current stresses and high pressured environments.
- Graduates have the opportunity to continue their studies with BCU and to access ongoing support and CPD through joining BSCAH.
“I felt that as a professional within the NHS, the course was appropriate, full of depth and clinical relevance. The tutors showed great knowledge and ability to teach.” Dentist
Course Aims & Learning Outcomes
This course is designed to enhance and complement your existing skills within your specialist field as a health practitioner.
“Even though I have been using hypnosis in my own practice for years, I have learned so much in the first 2 days of the course that I have ‘come out of the closet ‘ as it were. I have a renewed confidence and am practicing hypnosis in front of colleagues now openly! I highly recommend this course….” Oncologist
The course specifically aims to enable a wide range of healthcare professionals to share their experiences in the various areas of clinical hypnosis from different perspectives, to support students to reflect on their own experiences and gain a deeper insight into applying clinical hypnosis to their practice.
This award is based upon an existing, well established and subscribed course offered to Doctors, Dental Practitioners, Dental Nurses, Psychologists, Registered Nurses, Midwives and other healthcare professionals registered with the HCPC, where the provision of hypnosis could become, or is part of their professional role. The award will be delivered by accredited members BSCAH.
The underpinning philosophy of the course will support the specialist student to blend together new learning with their existing knowledge and experience. Ultimately, the course aims to support the students to produce summative work that is highly relevant to their own professional practice and chosen clinical area to impact positively on care delivery and outcomes by utilising knowledge and skills of clinical hypnosis.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and a systematic understanding of the underpinning historical, theoretical, and ethical principles and practice of hypnosis
- Critically analyse a range of hypnosis techniques and exercises to support practical application
- To be cognisant of a range of hypnosis techniques with patients, clients and/or colleagues within the students own area of clinical practice and for personal use
- Critically evaluate processes involved in clinical hypnosis and communicate the findings to specialist and non-specialist colleagues and patients/clients
- Develop a reflective approach and awareness of listening and communication skills and its application in clinical practice
- Critically evaluate and apply best contemporary evidence-based research and theory to inform practice, appraising the benefits and limitations of clinical hypnosis
- Recognise own accountability when working with hypnosis and related techniques, adhering to codes, professional and ethical values.
- Recognise the importance of correct use of language in bringing about improved communication with patients and colleagues
- Demonstrate a safe hypnotic induction using a recognised consensual technique
- Apply established language techniques in order to effect improved outcomes.
- Exhibit in-depth knowledge and a systematic understanding of the underpinning historical, theoretical, and ethical principles and practice of hypnosis
- Critically explore and analyse a range of hypnosis techniques and exercises to support practical application
- To be highly cognisant of a range of hypnosis techniques with patients, clients and/or colleagues within the students own area of clinical practice and for personal use
- Critically reflect and evaluate processes involved in clinical hypnosis and communicate the findings to specialist and non-specialist colleagues and patients/clients
- Formulate an advanced reflective approach and awareness of listening and communication skills and its application in clinical practice
- Critically evaluate and synthesise best contemporary evidence-based research and theory to inform practice, critically appraising the benefits and limitations of clinical hypnosis.
- Critically appraise own accountability when working with hypnosis and related techniques, adhering to codes, professional and ethical values
- Critically analyse the importance of correct use of language in bringing about improved communication with patients and colleagues
- Critically apply a safe hypnotic induction using a recognised consensual technique
- Critically apply established language techniques in order to effect improved outcomes
Entry Requirements (UK) level 6 & 7
This course is suitable for healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration with a UK recognised professional regulatory body for example the GMC; GDC; NMC, HCPC, BaDn, BACP (Accredited), BABCP (Accredited).
Applicants will need confirmation of support in their workplace for developing the necessary skills to successfully complete the course.
Students must also provide evidence of indemnity insurance for provision of hypnosis as part of their professional practice. For those students whose current professional indemnity insurance does not cover them for the practice of hypnosis (or those with Crown Indemnity), the team will signpost them to an independent provider of indemnity for the practice of hypnosis whilst on the course.
Prior to commencing the level 6 course, applicants must show evidence that they have:
- achieved 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5 (equivalent to a Foundation Degree or Dip HE)
Applicants who have not achieved the equivalent to a Foundation Degree or Dip HE may apply to do the Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies award.
Applicants are advised to contact the Academic Development Department for advice on the appropriate entry level for them. Applicants can also discuss this with the Programme Administrator, Programme Lead or Academic Advisor.
Prior to commencing the level 7 course, applicants must show evidence that they have:
- a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level
Additionally, an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 or equivalent.
This section sets out the learning and teaching approaches, activities and experiences that your course will offer.
Learners enrolled on this course have the option to study purely online or in a blended format (online and face to face). Both courses are taught at the same time with sessions of live streaming on face-to-face days for online learners.
Fully Online course / Online part of Blended course
For the online learning you will engage in both asynchronous and synchronous activities which will include small group sessions and individual tutorials. You will be provided with podcasts that are delivered asynchronously, with opportunities to discuss these during synchronous online events. Student cohorts are limited to a number that can be realistically facilitated using MS Teams to enhance your experience and engagement with the course. You will be asked to have cameras and mics turned on during teaching sessions to maximise interaction and collaborative learning. Usually there will be 4 tutors guiding the teaching sessions.
Face to face part of Blended course
In addition to the online teaching, four of the days will be delivered face to face at Birmingham City University Faculty of Health Education & Life Science, City South Campus. This will provide you with an opportunity to meet and work with your peers in person. The practical elements of the course will be delivered in a classroom environment with opportunities to work in small groups and to experience hypnosis in a face-to-face environment. These sessions will be live streamed for the online course learners who will be using supervised breakout rooms for practical group work.
In addition to the scheduled teaching, you will be given pre and post classroom activities. You will be expected to engage in independent study, to give you the opportunity to read around subjects in more depth and in preparation for assessment activity. It is an expectation that you will fully engage with all of the resources available to you to maximise your learning opportunities. The library will play a key role in your learning journey, and you will receive both written and verbal guidance regarding accessing library resources.
The course will be assessed through a variety of methods:
Module 1: 2500 word essay and a 20 minute practical (Level 6 & 7)
Module 2: 3000 word essay (Level 6 & 7)
Module 3: 25 minute case presentation (Level 6 & 7)
This multimodal approach will help you to develop your clinical presentation skills as well as allowing the course team to assess your new knowledge and skills through a variety of media. Formative and summative feedback will be provided to enhance your learning experience.
You will be allocated a personal tutor who will be with you throughout your journey. An important resource and the person to go to if you have concerns or issues that you feel may impact upon your successful completion of the course.
The content of the three modules will cover both basic theory and practical application of hypnosis and stress management with emphasis on theoretical underpinnings and targeting those areas where hypnotic approaches can be useful; such as anxiety and pain. The course will also focus on the principles and practical application of stress and anxiety management for both healthcare practitioners and patients. As the course progresses more advanced techniques for specific problems will be explored. A syllabus is available upon request: hilary.walker@bcu.ac.uk
Paying for the course and reserving a place
“The course organisers have been fantastic in making the process of joining and starting the journey a really smooth process. A wonderful team is supporting the organisation of this course. The help offered is invaluable.” ODP
Total amount payable: £2400
A deposit £480 must be made to reserve a place. Our refund policy is available upon request.
There are two payment options available:
- Payment in full on application.
- Deposit and instalments.
Securing a place early in the year
Please be aware that demand is high and this annual course becomes fully subscribed quickly with places being awarded on a strictly first come first served basis.
For an application, further information or clarification please contact Hilary Walker: hilary.walker@bcu.ac.uk
Closing date for applications Friday 26th July 2024
Look forward to seeing you!
Simon Barnett BDS LDSRCS AdvDipClinHyp
BSCAH Accredited member & BSCAH Programme Lead
Programme Administrator: Hilary Walker E: hilary.walker@bcu.ac.uk T: 07702492867