Altered States of Consciousness, the Human Skin, and Skin Disorders: Spiritual and Religious Perspectives
Presented by Philip D. Shenefelt, M.D.
Recorded on Friday, February 9, 2024
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
This presentation will explore the emotional, spiritual, and religious dimensions of skin and skin disorders since ancient times. The presentation draws on historical, anthropological, and medical perspectives, and Shenefelt’s exhaustive review of the published research (Shenefelt, 2014). The presentation prepares clinicians to deal with spiritual or religious issues that emerge in clinical hypnosis and healthcare sessions. Shenefelt’s conclusion is that “sometimes even today healing is hindered until the spiritual aspect is adequately addressed” (2014, p. 210).
The presenter will highlight the universal psychological significance of human skin. The skin is a major sense organ for touch, pain, itch, heat, cold, pressure, and vibration. The skin is also an expressive organ, expressing emotions detectable by others through pallor, coldness, “goose bumps,” redness, warmth, or sweating. Further, human beings throughout history have utilized the skin and decorations on the skin for emotional, cultural, and spiritual expression. This includes skin coverings, scalp and beard hair cutting, shaving, and styling, skin and nail and hair coloring and decorating, tattooing, and intentional scarring of the skin. The presenter will highlight how, historically, spiritual experiences and experiences of altered states have impacted on how humans have chosen to modify the appearance of their skin.
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
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.
This presentation will explore the emotional, spiritual, and religious dimensions of skin and skin disorders since ancient times. The presentation draws on historical, anthropological, and medical perspectives, and Shenefelt’s exhaustive review of the published research (Shenefelt, 2014). The presentation prepares clinicians to deal with spiritual or religious issues that emerge in clinical hypnosis and healthcare sessions. Shenefelt’s conclusion is that “sometimes even today healing is hindered until the spiritual aspect is adequately addressed” (2014, p. 210).
The presenter will highlight the universal psychological significance of human skin. The skin is a major sense organ for touch, pain, itch, heat, cold, pressure, and vibration. The skin is also an expressive organ, expressing emotions detectable by others through pallor, coldness, “goose bumps,” redness, warmth, or sweating. Further, human beings throughout history have utilized the skin and decorations on the skin for emotional, cultural, and spiritual expression. This includes skin coverings, scalp and beard hair cutting, shaving, and styling, skin and nail and hair coloring and decorating, tattooing, and intentional scarring of the skin. The presenter will highlight how, historically, spiritual experiences and experiences of altered states have impacted on how humans have chosen to modify the appearance of their skin.
After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the connection between building resilience and altered states of consciousness and spiritual and religious experiences.
- Recognize the culturally specific contexts in which the spiritual and religious experiences occur.
- Describe the interaction between skin and psyche and their spiritual and religious dimensions.
- Assess the influence of spiritual and religious dimensions on personal and cultural ramifications of skin disorders.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.3: Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 1: Program is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science.
General Admission: $65.00
SCEH Members: $55.00
Students: $15.00*
(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
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.
Philip D. Shenefelt, M.D., M.S.
Dr. Shenefelt is a retired Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. He has used hypnosis to assist in managing skin disorders for three decades and has authored multiple peer reviewed papers and book chapters regarding hypnosis and skin disorders. He is an ASCH approved consultant, is boarded by the American Board of Medical Hypnosis, and is a past president of ASCH. Dr. Shenefelt’s curiosity regarding spiritual and religious aspects of altered states of consciousness has led him into further inquiry into this area, and he is pleased to share his findings with you.
Garb, J. (2011). Shamanic trance in modern kabbalah. University of Chicago Press.
Rock, A. J., & Krippner, S. (2011). Demystifying shamans and their world: An interdisciplinary study. Imprint Academic.
Roman, J., & Elpern, D. J. (2017). Spirituality in dermatology practice: Return to the soul. JAMA Dermatology, 153(7), 629–630. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.0501
Shenefelt P. D. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive hypnotherapy and skin disorders. The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 61(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2017.1419457
Shenefelt, P. D., Shenefelt, D. A. (2014). Spiritual and religious aspects of skin and skin disorders. Psychological Research and Behavioral Management, 7, 201-212.
Sherman, D. W., & Kamel, G. (2019). An introduction to skin as an interface: Implications for interprofessional collaboration and whole-person care. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 32(6), 256–263. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASW.0000557830.01516.6b
Steinhorn, D. M., Din, J., & Johnson, A. (2017). Healing, spirituality and integrative medicine. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 6(3), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.21037/apm.2017.05.01
Winkelman M. J. (2018). Identifying the nature of shamanism. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 41, e90. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X17002217
Target Audience: Health professionals, behavioral health professionals, and hypnosis professionals. Students in training for clinical careers.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 continuing education credits. 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.
Participation Certificate. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is able to provide students and other participants who simply wish to have documentation of their attendance at the program a participation certificate.
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.