ISH ELECTION 2024 – President-Elect

Anita Jung, MS, LPC-S, LPA

I am deeply humbled and honored to be nominated as the next President-Elect of the International Society of Hypnosis (ISH) and am thrilled about the prospect of contributing to the continued growth and success of our society and the field of hypnosis. Over the past three years, the ISH leadership, of which I have been a proud member, has been committed to fostering connections within the global hypnosis community, culminating in the celebration of our 50th Anniversary. I take pride in having played a role as part of this collective effort.

During this period, our collective focus has centered on key areas aimed at strengthening our community and expanding the reach of clinical hypnosis. Our robust social media presence now allows us to share the remarkable work of our members and disseminate valuable resources. In collaboration with the European Society of Hypnosis, ISH, as a community, established the Crisis Intervention Committee (CIC) to provide support to individuals facing natural and man-made crises globally, with a particular focus on those affected by crises. Under the leadership of the Education and Training Committee, monthly virtual Masterclass webinars took place, covering various topics and techniques, and fostering active participation and learning opportunities. We have witnessed the formation of new Constituent Societies, a testament to our collective commitment to promoting the growth of clinical hypnosis globally through workshops and collaborations worldwide. Additionally, as the chair of the anniversary celebrations, I had the privilege of organizing online and in-person president panels at conferences, bringing together distinguished leaders to share insights and reflections on the evolution of hypnosis over the years.

Professional Credentials

With a career spanning over two decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a leader in non-profit organizations, overseeing counseling and psychiatric programs, including my own venture, the Jung Wellness Institute. Since the early ’90s, I’ve been a licensed professional counselor-supervisor, bringing my wealth of experience to the field.

Besides being a dedicated member of the International Society of Hypnosis, I’ve contributed significantly to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, having served as President and Approved Consultant. Currently, I serve as the President of the Central Texas Society of Hypnosis, furthering my commitment to the hypnosis community.

My passion for advancing hypnosis is deeply ingrained in my professional journey. Notably, I’ve authored a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis (January 2024) and have an upcoming article in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. My innovative approach involves incorporating musical principles into hypnosis, creating a lasting impact for my clientele, a testament to my unwavering dedication to the field.

As a resident of Texas (USA) originally from Bavaria, Germany, I hold the status of an official overseas citizen of India, truly embracing a global identity. Since the year of 2000, I’ve been sharing my expertise globally, teaching hypnosis and family therapy. Additionally, I’ve pioneered hypnotherapeutic audio recordings since the year 2000, published in both the United States and Germany. My commitment to advancing hypnosis remains steadfast, and I look forward to continuing this transformative journey.

My Vision for the Society

As we move forward, my commitment as President-Elect will be to build upon these foundations mentioned above, fostering even stronger connections, and promoting the effective use of clinical hypnosis globally, regardless of political situations. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to serve you and contribute to the leadership of the ISH. Together, let us shape a future where the society continues to be a beacon for the global hypnosis community, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence. In navigating these challenging and unstable times, I aspire to lead with grace and fierce determination, ensuring the society’s stability and success.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Anita Jung, LPC-S, LPA

Katalin VARGA, PhD, DSC – Introduction and proposal for ISH presidency                              

I am a full professor of psychology at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), the head of the Department of Affective Psychology, and past president of the Hungarian Association of Hypnosis. I have also been a board member of International Society of Hypnosis since 2012 .
From the 2nd year of my undergraduate university studies I joined the lab of Prof. Éva Bányai and became involved in hypnosis research. Following my graduation, I was awarded a Postgraduate Fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1986-1990) to study the subjective experiences associated with hypnosis and the role of suggestions in critical states. I was awarded the degree of “Doctor of University” (ELTE) in 1991, and a PhD in 1997 on comparing the subjective and behavioral effects of hypnosis. I got the “Doctor of Science” degree (DSc, Hungarian Academy of Sciences) in 2016 for describing phenomenological synchrony in hypnosis. As a member of the “Budapest hypnosis research laboratory,” I am investigating hypnosis in an interactional framework, and in this multilevel approach I focus mostly on phenomenological data. The International Society of Hypnosis awarded me the Jay Haley Early Career award in 2019 and the Societá Italiana di Ipnosi awarded me the “Wilma Trasarti Sponti” award in 2023.
I was awarded a degree of “hypnotherapist” in 1995 from the Hungarian Association of Hypnosis, and the “Ericksonian Psychotherapist” from the Centro ericksoniano de México in 2018. For the past 25 years I have been working with patients in hospital settings – mostly critically ill patients – applying suggestive and hypnosis techniques. I am the founder and professor of the postgraduate training of suggestive communication in somatic medicine, co-organized by the Hungarian Association of Hypnosis and Semmelweis University School of Medicine, Budapest. I have published numerous articles and books which present the findings from my hypnosis research program, and that also describe my clinical experiences with the application of suggestive techniques with the critically ill. I had held a number of position which have improved my organizational and leadership skills:

• 1997-2001: Coordinating English-language psychology training at ELTE.
• 2005-2010: Serving as deputy head of institute at ELTE Institute of Psychology.
• 2007-Present: Developing and managing the “Perinatal Counsellor” training.
• 2009-2015: Serving as President of the Hungarian Association of Hypnosis.
• 2011-Present: Serving as head of the Department of Affective Psychology

I was one of the co-organizers of the ESH conference “Eurohypnosis 96,” served as chair of the International Conference on Hypnosis in Medicine (2013) and served as chair of the “Hypnosis: New Generation” conference in 2019.
As a board member of the International Society of Hypnosis for more than a decade, I am very familiar with the main issues and processes of the organization. As the editor of the Newsletter of ISH for the past 10 years, I was “forced” to follow the progress and main events of the society and got to know many colleagues better.

If elected, as the next ISH president, my main goal would be to carry forward and reinforce the core values and ambitions of ISH:

• ISH as an apolitical operation, where hypnosis is used to support anyone in need, and promote the well-being, health and welfare of all people throughout the world.
• Open and transparent operations.
• An accepting, colourful cultural context where differences are experienced as richness and strength.
• A very friendly and cooperative working style in the Board.
• Financial and organizational stability.
• In addition, a key goal would be to promote is progress: to get more young people involved in hypnosis, to open up opportunities for new generations, by facilitating more dynamic interactions, interconnections, and collaboration between hypnosis research and clinical applications.

Katalin Varga