In considering the applicability of hypnosis to treating Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) we examine the relationship between trauma, hypnosis, and dissociation, the latter being a common response to traumatization that is particularly salient in C-PTSD. We then provide an overview of the nature of C-PTSD, which research is beginning to demonstrate is considerably more prevalent than the more circumscribed PTSD syndrome depicted in the DSM. Building on this foundation, we discuss the reasons why hypnotically structured treatment is particularly well suited for C-PTSD, explaining how each of the major aspects of this syndrome can be addressed within a hypnotic framework.
Keywords: Complex PTSD; contextual Trauma Therapy; dissociation; hypnosis.