Division 30 (Society of Psychological Hypnosis) is part of a large community of researchers, educators, and clinicians dedicated to advancing the science and practice of clinical hypnosis. In recent years, the field has moved well beyond research publications and conference presentations, finding its way into podcasts, digital health tools, and evidence-based interventions that reach people far outside the therapy office.
Among the most visible examples is the work of David Spiegel, MD, whose research on clinical hypnosis, trauma, pain, and consciousness has reached broad public audiences through conversations with podcast hosts such as Tim Ferriss, Rich Roll, and Andrew Huberman. Through these discussions, and through his development of the Reveri app, Spiegel has introduced millions of people to clinical hypnosis as an evidence-based approach to self-regulation, stress management, sleep, and overall well-being.
Gary Elkins, PhD, has similarly translated research into practical, scalable interventions, particularly in women’s health. His studies on clinical hypnosis for menopausal symptoms have helped establish it as an effective nonpharmacological treatment, work that informed the development of Evia, an app designed to help women manage menopause symptoms. By delivering hypnosis-based care directly to a smartphone, the app extends access to women who might otherwise lack the time, resources, or proximity to in-person treatment. In recognition of his contributions, Elkins was named to the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List in 2025, placing him among the world’s most highly cited researchers.
Olafur S. Palsson, PsyD, has transformed the treatment landscape for irritable bowel syndrome and other disorders of gut-brain interaction. His pioneering work in gut-directed clinical hypnosis has demonstrated, with rigorous data, how a psychological intervention can produce measurable changes in physical symptoms. That research has since provided the scientific foundation for scalable programs that bring evidence-based gut-directed hypnosis directly into healthcare settings and patients’ hands.
Elvira Lang, MD, PhD, has taken a different but complementary path, focusing on procedural comfort and patient-centered communication. Her research has shown that hypnotic language, used skillfully during medical procedures, can reduce pain, anxiety, and the need for sedating medication. Through Comfort Talk, the training program she founded, Lang has helped bring these techniques into mainstream healthcare settings, demonstrating that compassionate communication is itself a clinical skill worth teaching.
Together, these efforts illustrate how clinical hypnosis is moving from the laboratory into clinics, apps, podcasts, and daily life. Through championing rigorous research, training clinicians, and promoting self-hypnosis as a skill people can learn and practice on their own, Division 30 continues to advance the idea that effective psychological care should not be confined to the therapy office. Much work remains, but the growing evidence base suggests that clinical hypnosis can serve as a powerful complement, and sometimes an alternative, to conventional treatment. Just as important, it offers people practical tools to reduce suffering, improve quality of life, and take an active role in their own care. In this way, Division 30’s work continues to help bring the benefits of psychological science into everyday living, one download, episode, and session at a time.
For more information, visit the Society of Psychological Hypnosis.