Dear colleagues,
Whether you are passionate about providing mental health care for your patients or simply wish to better support your loved ones, I would like to share something that I believe will be valuable for many of you.
Since beginning my residency in Psychiatry in Germany, I have tried to follow the training curriculum as closely as possible and to attend as many educational courses as I could. Completing both the theoretical and practical components of residency requires dedication, as the syllabus includes psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, emergency psychiatry, psychotherapy supervision, and many other mandatory requirements. The list is certainly extensive.
Today, I would like to focus on one specific part of the curriculum that I know will be particularly useful, especially for those currently completing their specialist training in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy or Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy.
Relaxation Techniques During Residency
As part of the specialist training, residents are required to complete both a basic and an advanced module in one of the following relaxation techniques:
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Jacobson)
- Autogenic Training
- Medical Hypnosis
These seminars are usually organised either by accredited psychotherapy institutes or by experienced physicians and psychotherapists who specialise in these therapeutic methods.
One of the most important things to remember is that the course must be recognised by the relevant Medical Chamber (Ärztekammer) and approved for specialist training. Before registering, always confirm that the course will be accepted toward your residency requirements. This is particularly important because, in many cases, registration is financially binding.
Unfortunately, there is an overwhelming number of course providers. While many offer excellent education, others advertise certifications that are not recognised by the Medical Chamber or originate from organisations with questionable accreditation. Therefore, it is essential to verify the course beforehand—you do not want to discover that your investment of both time and money does not count toward your specialist training.
How Can You Complete This Requirement?
There are generally two ways to obtain this education:
- By organising it yourself. You register and pay for the course independently, and depending on your employer, your clinic may reimburse part or all of the costs.
- Through courses organised by your hospital or training institution. These are often provided free of charge for residents.
However, there is one important disadvantage to relying solely on your hospital’s educational programme. If your clinic offers its own course, you are often expected to attend only that one. Should you prefer an external course, you may have to finance it yourself.
On the other hand, some hospitals do not provide these courses at all and are therefore willing to reimburse external training.
Another issue is that scheduled seminars occasionally get cancelled at short notice. When this happens, the next available course may not take place for another six months or even longer. Considering the already demanding workload during residency, these delays can be incredibly frustrating and may significantly disrupt your educational plan.
Is it really worth postponing your progress because of repeated cancellations?
In my opinion, the answer is no.
My Journey into Medical Hypnosis
From the very beginning of my residency, I knew that I wanted to complete my relaxation-method training in medical hypnosis. Unfortunately, my hospital did not offer this course, so I decided to organise it independently.
Searching for the right course was surprisingly challenging. The prices varied enormously, many courses conflicted with my work schedule, and available weekends filled up quickly. Nevertheless, I remained persistent.
Eventually, I came across exactly what I had been hoping for.
The Medical Chamber announced a Basic Course in Medical Hypnosis, organised directly by the Chamber itself. I could not have been happier. The timing was perfect—it coincided with my holiday—and, most importantly, the course automatically fulfilled the accreditation requirements for my specialist training.
Learning from Prof. Dr. Uwe Ross
The course was led by Prof. Dr. Uwe Ross, a renowned ENT specialist as well as a specialist in Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy.
His teaching combined a solid theoretical foundation with extensive practical exercises, allowing participants to gradually develop the basic skills necessary to use medical hypnosis as an adjunct to psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
What impressed me most was Prof. Dr. Ross himself. His decades of clinical experience as both a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, particularly in the treatment of patients suffering from tinnitus, made every lecture fascinating. His calm teaching style and practical approach created an excellent learning environment.
The Advanced Module
After such a positive experience, I decided to continue with the Advanced Module approximately seven months later.
One of the highlights was learning about preoperative hypnotherapy, an application of hypnosis that I had not previously considered. One of the participants was an anaesthesiologist who wanted to incorporate hypnosis into perioperative care to reduce the need for premedication and improve patient comfort.
I found it inspiring to learn alongside colleagues from different medical specialties. Watching how she naturally integrated the newly acquired techniques into practical exercises demonstrated how versatile medical hypnosis can be across various fields of medicine.
An Important Rule for Psychiatry Residents
There is one crucial detail that every psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine resident should know.
The Basic and Advanced Modules must be completed at least six months apart.
If the second module is attended earlier, it may not be recognised by the Medical Chamber for specialist training. It is therefore essential to plan your education carefully to ensure that all completed courses remain valid.
Continuing Beyond the Mandatory Curriculum
After completing both required modules, I decided to attend a third, non-mandatory module under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Ross.
It turned out to be one of the most rewarding educational experiences of my residency.
Medical hypnosis has significantly broadened my understanding of psychotherapy and strengthened my desire to provide more comprehensive care for patients. Rather than viewing it as a separate therapeutic technique, I now see it as a valuable complement to evidence-based psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment.
For me, continuing this educational journey was an easy decision.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Have you ever experienced a session of medical hypnosis?
What is your opinion of this therapeutic approach?
If you had the opportunity, would you consider trying it yourself—either as a patient or as a healthcare professional?
I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
Helena Mamić - soprano 