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The Florida Society of Clinical Hypnosis Workshop

Hypnosis, Meditation, & Neuroscience: Integration & Application

Presented by: Louis Damis, PhD, ABPP, FASCH, and Akira Otani, EdD, ABPH

WHEN: Sunday, March 2, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm EST
WHERE: Via ZOOM Video Workshop

  • REGISTRATION IS OPEN! (Scroll to bottom of page)
  • Intermediate/Advanced Workshop
  • Sabbath-Friendly Virtual 6-hour Workshop
  • 6 Florida CEU's and Credit Toward ASCH Certification

Presented by: Louis Damis, PhD, ABPP, FASCH, and Akira Otani, EdD, ABPH 

Louis Damis, PhD, ABPP, FASCH

Louis Damis, PhD, ABPP, FASCH, is a Diplomate with the American Board of Professional Psychology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Health Psychology, the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He is an Assistant Professor at the UCF College of Medicine and an ESTI-accredited Ego State Therapist. Dr. Damis is a licensed psychologist with ASCH Consultant Status and Certification in Clinical Hypnosis. He is a Past President of ASCH and the Florida and Washington DC Societies of Clinical Hypnosis. He has taught hypnosis for over 25 years for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, the Florida Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and the Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Dr. Damis maintains a private practice and works as an instructor, author, and consultant.

Akira Otani, EdD, ABPH, FASCH

Akira Otani, EdD, ABPH, FASCH, is a psychologist at Waypoint Wellness Center in Annapolis, MD. He previously served on the graduate faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Clinical Counseling Program (1986-1988) and later at the University of Maryland Counseling Center (1988-2008) as a Senior Staff Psychologist. During his sabbatical in 2016, he spent 5 months in Kobe, Japan, teaching a graduate seminar on mindfulness while studying Theravāda Buddhist meditation. Integrating mindfulness meditation and clinical hypnosis from the scientist-practitioner framework has been of significant interest to him over the last decade.  His other professional interests include psychological trauma, anxiety disorders, and psychotherapy skills training. Dr. Otani has published 10 books (in Japanese) and more than 70 journal articles and book chapters on these topics (in English and Japanese).

Workshop Details:

Hypnosis, Meditation, & Neuroscience: Integration & Application

Clinical hypnosis and mindfulness meditation have become established treatments for a wide range of medical and psychological disorders. In this timely advanced workshop, the participants will acquire the latest neuroscientific information underlying hypnosis and meditation. The neurophysiological mechanisms of pain processing and the mechanisms by which hypnosis and meditation modulate pain will also be delineated. This workshop will also integrate clinical hypnosis with mindfulness. First, it will review the background of contemporary mindfulness in the context of Buddhist meditation. The three popular forms of Buddhist meditation, vipassanā (open monitor), samatha (focused attention), and mettā (loving-kindness) provide rich material for clinical hypnosis practice. Second, it will introduce the Touch-and-Return mindfulness method, which may be utilized for trance induction. The participant is welcome to experience it during the workshop. Finally, the workshop introduces the eight stages of mental absorption, i.e., rūpa and arūpa jhanas, as described in the Buddhist texts. This topic is highly relevant to hypnotic trance but has received little attention from hypnosis researchers and practitioners to date. No prior experience or knowledge in mindfulness or meditation is required to attend this workshop.

Learning Objectives:

Participants attending this workshop will be able to:

  1. Describe three functional neurophysiologic changes associated with hypnotic and meditative states.
  2. Explain the difference in neuroplasticity between hypnosis and meditation.
  3. List the four brain networks associated with chronic pain and its modulation.
  4. Describe two mechanisms by which hypnosis and meditation differentially modulate pain.
  5. Specify the three fundamental forms of Buddhist meditation related to contemporary mindfulness.
  6. Acquire the 4-step Touch-and-Return mindfulness protocol.
  7. Become familiar with the 8 stage concepts of mental absorption described in the Buddhist meditation texts.

Location: Via ZOOM Video Workshop

automatically reports to cebrokerContinuing Education Credit:

We offer 6 Florida CEU's for licensed psychologists under 490 (Provider #50-774, Exp. 5/26); clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists under 491 (Provider #50-774, Exp. 3/27), and all our workshops count toward ASCH certification requirements. We automatically report to CEBroker.  All registrants must have completed a 20-hour ASCH-approved basic workshop in clinical hypnosis.

Mutter Scholarships:

Mutter Scholarships are available to 6 student/intern FSCH members who will receive a 40% discount off the registration fee. Student memberships are $25 and entitle you to student rates at our Spring and Fall workshops as well. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about availability of scholarships.

Registration Information

If you prefer to pay by check, mail your printed registration form with your check payable to FSCH to 13705 SW 91 CT, APT C, Miami, FL 33176

    Registration Fee
Members   $225
Non Members   $300
Graduate Students/Intern Members   $150
Graduate Students/Intern Non-Members   $200