Introduction

This volume presents a new discourse on how we understand, investigate, and apply clinical hypnosis. Our scope is systemic, integrative, holistic, biopsychosocial, and neuroscientific. We have invited many of the world's expert theoreticians, researchers, teachers, and practitioners to share their reasons to render the skills of hypnosis as an integral and crucial part of health care. Our collective health and well-being are our common purpose. Interpersonal communication is our method. With this handbook, our goal has been to build and improve upon previous volumes by shining a bright light on the central role hypnosis plays philosophically, phenomenologically, and pragmatically in health and health care. This was the aspiration that guided each contributor.