A Tool of Versatility: Clinical Hypnosis for Cardiac Patients
Presented by Huaiyu Zhang, PhD, MS
Recorded on Friday, February 14, 2025
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
In recent years, the American Heart Association (AHA) has summarized updated research on the connection between psychological health and cardiac health and has published open statements (2021) acknowledging the clear association between psychological well-being and cardiovascular diseases. The potential benefits of psychological interventions in improving cardiovascular health are strongly indicated. Notably, cardiac psychology, a subfield of health psychology, has been burgeoning in a few leading academic institutions. This webinar aims to explore the applicability of various clinical hypnosis techniques with cardiac patients. The webinar will review current research on the mind-heart-body connection, followed by exploring areas of cardiac patients’ well-being where clinical hypnosis techniques can have beneficial impact, using the construct of AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 (2022), 8 metrics substantiated by scientific investigations that serve as significant predictive factors for cardiac health, such as diet, sleep, and physical activity. This will be followed by case examples with cardiac patients, involving using a variety of clinical hypnosis techniques and integrating hypnosis with other therapeutical modalities. Case examples may include using progressive relaxation hypnosis to lower blood pressure, integrating hypnosis and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma recovery, and using motivational interviewing and age progression suggestions to support lifestyle changes.
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 1.5 CEs for Psychologists, 1.5 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, or 1.5 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSW, and LMFTs.
In recent years, the American Heart Association (AHA) has summarized updated research on the connection between psychological health and cardiac health and has published open statements (2021) acknowledging the clear association between psychological well-being and cardiovascular diseases. The potential benefits of psychological interventions in improving cardiovascular health are strongly indicated. Notably, cardiac psychology, a subfield of health psychology, has been burgeoning in a few leading academic institutions. This webinar aims to explore the applicability of various clinical hypnosis techniques with cardiac patients. The webinar will review current research on the mind-heart-body connection, followed by exploring areas of cardiac patients’ well-being where clinical hypnosis techniques can have beneficial impact, using the construct of AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 (2022), 8 metrics substantiated by scientific investigations that serve as significant predictive factors for cardiac health, such as diet, sleep, and physical activity. This will be followed by case examples with cardiac patients, involving using a variety of clinical hypnosis techniques and integrating hypnosis with other therapeutical modalities. Case examples may include using progressive relaxation hypnosis to lower blood pressure, integrating hypnosis and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma recovery, and using motivational interviewing and age progression suggestions to support lifestyle changes.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- Describe critical factors that impact cardiovascular health and common services that cardiac psychologists provide to cardiac patients.
- Apply specific clinical hypnosis techniques to help improve the psychological and physical well-being of cardiac patients who present with a range of problems and challenges.
- Integrate hypnosis with other therapeutic modalities, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Motivational Interviewing, to support cardiac patients’ goals of recovery and growth.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.
General Admission: $65.00
SCEH Members: $55.00*
Students: $15.00*
(Please email [email protected] for coupon code. Code must be entered at time of checkout to receive discount.)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Huaiyu Zhang, PhD, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Medicine – Cardiovascular Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine
Huaiyu Zhang, PhD, MS, is a clinical psychologist and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. She obtained her MS in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California in 2004 and earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Emory University in 2013. She completed both her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. Prior to joining Stanford in 2023, Dr. Zhang worked with medically ill inpatients at Indiana University Hospital as a consultation liaison psychologist and supported survivors of interpersonal violence at the University of California San Francisco Trauma Recovery Center. Currently as a cardiac psychologist at Stanford, she focuses on using an integrative, contextualized, evidence-informed, and strength-based approach to provide care to individuals with cardiovascular conditions, including processing cardiac experience, preparation for cardiac surgeries, improving health behavior, changing undesirable habits, stress management, and pain reduction. Dr. Zhang applies clinical hypnosis techniques to support her patients’ various treatment goals. Her current professional interests include lifestyle medicine, integration of different therapy techniques, and exploring de-pathologizing and strength-enhancing narratives, case conceptualizations, and interventions for personal healing and growth. She provides services in English and Mandarin.
Ahmad, B., Gill, I., Liblik, K., Uppal, J. S., & El-Diasty, M. (2023). The Role of Hypnotherapy in Postoperative Cardiac Surgical Patients, A Scoping Review of Current Literature. Current problems in cardiology, 48(9), 101787.
Gaffey, A. E., Rollman, B. L., & Burg, M. M. (2024). Strengthening the Pillars of Cardiovascular Health: Psychological Health is a Crucial Component. Circulation, 149(9), 641-643.
Levine, G. N., Cohen, B. E., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Fleury, J., Huffman, J. C., Khalid, U., … & American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. (2021). Psychological health, well-being, and the mind-heart-body connection: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 143(10), e763-e783.
Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Allen, N. B., Anderson, C. A., Black, T., Brewer, L. C., Foraker, R. E., … & American Heart Association. (2022). Life’s essential 8: updating and enhancing the American Heart Association’s construct of cardiovascular health: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 146(5), e18-e43.
Thompson, T., Terhune, D. B., Oram, C., Sharangparni, J., Rouf, R., Solmi, M., … & Stubbs, B. (2019). The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 99, 298-310.
Tigges-Limmer, K., Brocks, Y., Winkler, Y., Stock Gissendanner, S., & Gummert, J. (2024). Clinical experience with medical hypnosis as an adjunctive therapy in heart surgery. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1356392.
Target Audience: Health professionals, mental health professionals, hypnosis practitioners, cardiovascular rehabilitation professionals, researchers, educators, students.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available 1.5 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hour of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.