Teaching healthcare professionals clinical hypnosis interventions that are evidence-based, trauma informed, and client-empowering.
We’re here to help you use trauma-informed hypnosis to empower your patients to reclaim strength, healing, and resilience.
Our Mission
The Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnosis (ITIH) is a training organization committed to teaching healthcare professionals clinical hypnosis interventions that are evidence-based, trauma informed, and empower clients to reclaim strength, healing, & resilience.
How It Works
R.E.C.O.N.
Our clinical hypnosis techniques are grounded in the science of memory reconsolidation and Courtney Armstrong’s signature framework designed to make real world hypnosis practical and applicable for therapists and patients.
Recall the memory or target behavior you want to change.
Explore the Embodied Beliefs associated with the memory or behavior.
Create a Corrective Experience that Elicits New Feelings and Beliefs
Objectively Review the Event and Integrate the Corrective Experience
New Narrative Integration
Courtney Armstrong
Trauma Informed Hypnosis Founder | M.Ed. LPC
With 25+ years experience, Courtney Armstrong is a certified Approved Consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Specializing in grief and trauma recovery, Courtney has studied clinical hypnosis under such masters as Bill O’Hanlon, Michael Yapko, and Lane Wagaman.
She is the founder of the Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnosis, the author of several books, and the creator of the Trauma Informed Hypnotherapy approach.
Through her work, Courtney has brought clinical hypnosis techniques to the forefront of the field of trauma informed therapy.
Not only has Courtney guided thousands of clients to overcome trauma and grief, she has trained thousands of mental health professionals nationally and internationally and has developed successful clinical hypnosis training programs for organizations such as PESI and the Veterans Health Administration.
My Why
I’ve been where you are.
Twenty years ago, I was frustrated with the limits of traditional therapy when it came to helping my clients with trauma, anxiety, pain, and substance use. Although my therapy clients trusted me and were able to gain insight and understand what was causing their issues, they still struggled with feelings of worthlessness, shame, depression, and recurring patterns they couldn’t seem to shake – no matter what we tried.
Doubting my effectiveness, I experienced the all-too-common “therapist burnout.” I tried CBT, EMDR, and other trauma approaches to help my patients. Often, these methods alone were too overwhelming for clients, especially those with complex trauma.
When I began to supplement traditional trauma informed methods with clinical hypnosis, everything changed. Using hypnosis tools and techniques, my clients were able to find relief from anxiety and pain more quickly. My clients actually enjoyed hypnosis and found it enabled them to access hope, inner strength, and positive emotional states. Through hypnosis, we were able to reprocess traumatic memories in a less painful way so that clients felt empowered and uplifted.
Stunned and heartened by the immediate positive effects, I’ve dedicated over two decades to studying clinical hypnosis and refining techniques to specifically meet the needs of trauma clients. Through my work, the Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnosis was born.
Courtney In Action
Listen to Interviews With Courtney Armstrong
Clinical Hypnosis in Trauma Therapy
Therapy Chat Podcast
In this interview with Laura Reagan, Courtney demystifies clinical hypnosis and explains how trauma informed hypnosis can support therapists in practicing more authentically for better therapeutic outcomes.
Five steps for reconsolidating traumatic memories
Science of Psychotherapy Podcast
Learn the five steps for reversing the negative impact of traumatic memories as Courtney, Matt Dahlitz, and Richard Hill discuss how to elicit memory reconsolidation, the brain’s own mechanism for updating memories and making lasting change.
Awakening Positive Emotional States
Shrink Rap Radio
Dr. Dave Van Nuys interviews Courtney Armstrong about how to awaken positive emotional states in your clients with creative interventions that use music, imagery, play, and movement.
Listen NowBuilding rapport with different attachment styles
Trauma Therapist Podcast
Guy Macpherson and Courtney talk about attachment and relationship trauma and how to build therapeutic rapport with the four primary attachment styles.
Rethinking Trauma Therapy
Never Perfect Podcast
In this interview with Dr. Beth Cappechi, Courtney discusses the latest research on updating trauma memory networks and shares her approach to helping people heal from trauma and reclaim inner strength and resilience.
Listen NowTransforming Traumatic Grief
My Trauma Coach
In this interview with Michele Rosenthal, Courtney discusses six steps to move from grief to peace and how to recover the “lost” sense of self many experience after trauma.
What Clinicians Have To Say After Learning From Courtney
"I have known Courtney for some time and find her to be skilled as a presenter/speaker, deeply knowledgeable about her subject area (resilience and traumatic stress among other areas) and in general one of the kindest and generous people you could meet. I hope you get a chance to see or read her work."
Bill O'Hanlon
Developer, Solution Oriented Hypnotherapy
What Clinicians Have To Say After Learning From Courtney
"We contracted with Courtney and ITIH to offer a basic and intermediate skills course at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. Not only did Courtney make the material interesting and relevant to our clinicians, but she was able to teach hypnosis in a way that was easy to understand, implement, and integrate into existing models of treatment. In fact, when I followed up with clinicians who participated in the training, nearly all of them reported applying the skills immediately, and feeling confident in their ability to use hypnosis as a positive adjunct to treatment."
Charles Noel, LCW
Chief of the Whole Health System of Care at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
What Clinicians Have To Say After Learning From Courtney
"The Trauma Informed Hypnosis Level One course exceeded my expectations. Courtney’s ability to communicate rather complex concepts in such a straightforward and understandable way has been incredibly helpful."
Ready to deliver trauma-informed hypnosis techniques with confidence?
It’s easy to get started with our online programs designed specifically for therapists and healthcare professionals like you.
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