Assam: National Workshop on Essentials of Hypnotherapy Organised

The North East Indian Association of Applied Psychology (NEIAAP) and Cotton University (CU), in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Health Psychology (IAHP), organised a national workshop titled “Essentials of Hypnotherapy: Basic Skills, Techniques, and Applications” on Friday.

The workshop was organised under the leadership of Dr Dimpy Mahanta, Head & Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Cotton University and President, North East Indian Association of Applied Psychology (NEIAAP). The national workshop was facilitated by the Guest of Honour, Prof. Urmi Nanda Biswas, Head and Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, who shared her extensive expertise on hypnotherapy and its applications in clinical settings.

Prof Anand Kumar, President, Indian Academy of Health Psychology (IAHP) and Dr Bedanta Bora, Academic Registrar, Cotton University, attended the occasion as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, respectively.

The national workshop was inaugurated by Prof Anand Kumar, President, IAHP in the presence of Guests of Honour, Prof. Urmi Nanda Biswas and Dr Bedanta Bora, Academic Registrar, Cotton University who, in his inaugural speech, appreciated the initiatives taken up by the NEIAAP and Psychology department under Dr Mahanta towards organizing such national level workshops for the youth of North East India.

Dr Mahanta underlined the vital importance of organising a national workshop on hypnotherapy to acquaint young scholars with its scientific foundations and therapeutic promise.

She emphasised that the initiative was aimed at equipping participants with essential practical competencies such as induction and deepening techniques. Dr Mahanta observed that through such focused training, students would gain meaningful insight into the wide range of clinical applications of hypnotherapy, witness live demonstrations of its methods, and, most importantly, develop an ethical sensitivity indispensable to responsible practice in this emerging field.

The workshop was attended by over 200 students from ten prominent universities of Assam and North East India, such as Gauhati University, Cotton University, Handique Girls’ College, Girijananda Chowdhury University, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Royal Global University, Assam Women’s University, Jorhat, NERIM Group of Institutions, Assam Down Town University and Assam Don Bosco University.

The workshop aimed to provide participants with a scientific understanding of hypnotherapy, clarifying common misconceptions and myths about hypnosis. Participants were equipped with fundamental skills such as induction and deepening techniques for therapeutic contexts, and were exposed to practical applications of hypnosis in clinical settings.

Prof Urmi Nanda Biswas also conducted live demonstrations of hypnotic techniques, giving participants first-hand experience of the process. The workshop emphasised the importance of ethical considerations in the practice of hypnotherapy, ensuring that future practitioners understand the responsibility that comes with this powerful therapeutic tool.

By the end of the event, participants gained comprehensive knowledge of the scientific basis of hypnotherapy, practical skills to apply in real-world settings, and a clear understanding of the ethical framework essential for professional practice.