MysticMag chats with Dr. Steven Gurgevich, PhD, a seasoned professional in mind-body medicine, with a career spanning over four decades. Graduating from Purdue University, he pursued graduate training at the University of Arizona, earning two master’s degrees and a doctorate, along with extensive teaching experience. Since establishing his private practice, Behavioral Medicine, Ltd., in 1973, Dr. Gurgevich has specialized in clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy. As Director of the Mind-Body Clinic within Dr. Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine, he shares his expertise in mind-body methods with physicians. With a focus on assisting injured workers with life adjustments and chronic pain issues, spirituality and psychotherapy, and the applications of medical hypnosis, Dr. Gurgevich continues to find psychological counseling both rewarding and meaningful. A prolific author and educator, he has published over 80 audio programs, books, and professional publications, while also serving as a Fellow, Approved Consultant, and faculty member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). Dr. Gurgevich is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), contributing to the advancement of clinical hypnosis through lectures, writings, and clinical practice.
Dr. Steven, you’ve been practicing psychotherapy and hypnotherapy in Tucson for over 50 years. What initially drew you to specialize in mind-body medicine and clinical hypnosis?
When I was 14 years old, I worked as a stock boy at a bank in downtown Gary, IN. In those days, downtowns had department stores on the 1st floor and professional offices on the 2nd floor. One afternoon after leaving work, I passed by a radio station. Curious, I went upstairs to where there were glass panels to watch a live broadcast. One of the broadcasts featured a witch, a medium, and a creepy-looking hypnotist. The host asked the hypnotist if he could hypnotize anyone, and when he spotted me through the glass, he pointed and said he could even hypnotize me. It scared me, so I quickly left and headed towards the billiards. However, the Public Library was next door, and feeling frightened, I went in and asked the librarian about hypnosis.
She took me to the back stacks and pulled out a two-volume set called “Medical Hypnosis” by Dr. Lewis Wolberg from a medical school in New York. I learned how to overcome my fear of needles with hypnosis. I never needed anesthesia for dentistry, but I still didn’t know what it felt like to be hypnotized. Many people ask me how they would know if they’re hypnotized because they feel normal. It’s essentially a focused state, not a state of being unconscious or under someone’s control. We guide individuals to therapeutic benefits using this tool.
That was my first experience with hypnosis, using it to overcome my needle phobia and anesthesia. Then in 1970, I lost my job teaching at the University of Arizona due to administrative changes. I started experiencing debilitating panic attacks. Initially trained in pharmacy, I shifted my focus to economics. A cardiologist assured me it wasn’t a heart attack but stress-induced panic attacks.
I delved into relaxation techniques, realizing that relaxation counters anxiety. I hadn’t experienced anxiety before, so it was a new concept. I began practicing relaxation techniques, similar to meditation, using hypnosis interchangeably. It helped me immensely, prompting me to redirect my academic path into psychology, medicine, and sociology.
Around the age of 21 or 22, I used hypnosis to overcome panic and anxiety disorders. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by the mind-body connection. For the past 51 years, I’ve devoted myself to exploring this field. Now, at 77, I still work alongside Dr. Weil in our integrative medicine fellowship program, training over 5000 physicians and nurse practitioners in alternative and complementary approaches that have proven efficacy, ranging from shamanism to nutrition and everything in between, including the use of hypnosis.
As a faculty member at Dr. Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine, you teach mind-body methods to physicians. How do you see the integration of these methods shaping the future of healthcare?
For some physicians, hypnosis may seem like a novel concept, while for others we train, it’s a desired skillset. The term “hypnotherapy” is often used, but hypnosis itself isn’t exactly a therapy any more than an injection is a therapy. When you’re sick, you don’t seek out an injectionist as a therapy; you visit a physician for diagnosis and treatment. However, in common language today, everyone refers to it as hypnotherapy, myself included.
Hypnosis is more of a tool, and we teach patients by providing them with experiences and helping them learn various techniques. These techniques can involve words, thoughts, ideas, visualization, and many other forms of mind-body interaction. Essentially, we empower patients by giving them the skills to utilize hypnosis effectively in their own lives.
Your practice emphasizes helping injured workers with life adjustments and chronic pain issues. Could you share some insights into how hypnotherapy can aid in managing chronic pain and facilitating life adjustments?
I developed a special interest in injured workers because my father returned from World War II disabled. I know firsthand what it’s like to lose your ability to work. He had minimal education, maybe up to the 8th grade. Experiencing the loss of our house and having to move into a relative’s basement for a year or two further sensitized me to the struggles of those facing similar challenges.
Insurance companies often treat injured workers poorly, simply wanting to wash their hands of them. That’s why, for the past 40 years, I’ve focused on treating injured workers. For example, hypnosis can be incredibly effective in various situations. Take the case of someone experiencing phantom limb pain after a traumatic amputation. Hypnosis can help alleviate this pain by modifying anxiety levels.
I’ve found hypnosis particularly useful in managing chronic pain disorders like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and trigeminal neuralgia. By teaching relaxation techniques and helping individuals focus their minds, we empower them to better manage their pain. Chronic pain, unlike acute pain, doesn’t just go away. It requires ongoing strategies to cope with its impact on daily life.
In my experience, hypnosis isn’t about putting someone into a trance; it’s about entering a focused state of consciousness where the mind-body connection can be accessed. By asking metaphorical questions during hypnosis, we can uncover what the body is expressing through its symptoms. This approach has been invaluable in treating a range of issues, from dermatological problems to gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.
Our subconscious mind, often referred to as the mind of the body, plays a significant role in our physical health. Hypnosis allows us to tap into this subconscious realm, offering creative solutions to address underlying issues contributing to various health problems. Through hypnosis, we can harness the power of the mind to promote healing and alleviate symptoms, offering hope and relief to those struggling with medical challenges.
With over 80 published audio programs, books, and professional publications, you’ve made significant contributions to the field of clinical hypnosis. What inspired you to share your expertise through these mediums?
I mentioned earlier that I came across these books when I was just 14 years old. Interestingly, about 20 years later, while in Mexico, I had the opportunity to meet the author, Lewis Wolberg, before he passed away. Back in the 1970s, when I earned my doctorate degree, professional associations that provided training in clinical hypnosis were quite restrictive. Initially, only MDs were allowed in. However, over time, they began to admit PhDs like myself.
I began my training with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and within three years, I was teaching alongside them. I’ve continued to teach with them because that’s where I received my foundational training. I’m grateful for the education I received there, as it was focused on helping individuals with stress, medical issues, and some psychological challenges.
How do you balance the demands of running a private practice with your commitment to patient care and teaching?
It’s been my life’s work, and it’s all I’ve ever known. I’m now 77, and over the past 20 years, I’ve downscaled to a smaller office. My wife and I used to work together, but after she passed away, I decided not to hire or train anyone new, especially at my age. So, I handle everything myself, spacing out my patient appointments over three days a week.
Aside from seeing patients, I also teach in the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona when called upon, and I continue to teach with organizations like the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Sometimes, I also mentor others in the field. It’s definitely a balancing act, but it’s what I’ve always done since earning my doctorate and master’s degrees. And it’s still a passion of mine.
I’m continually amazed by the creativity of the mind and how to tap into it. I guide and assist people in discovering how hypnosis can help them, and I teach them how to develop these skills within themselves so they can continue using the tools on their own. It’s incredibly rewarding to see someone overcome long standing issues from within themselves. Every morning, I express gratitude in my prayers, asking for guidance to help as many people as I can. It’s a fulfilling journey, and I’m grateful to be on it.
One thing I always aim to impart to people is that anyone can learn hypnosis for themselves. However, there are three vital ingredients that make hypnosis effective.
Firstly, motivation is essential. You have to genuinely want something, whether it’s better health, comfort, or any other goal.
Secondly, belief plays a crucial role. You need to believe that achieving your goal is possible, even if that belief isn’t perfect. The law of dominant effect states that the subconscious acts on whatever belief is the strongest, even if it’s just slightly more than 50%.
Thirdly, expectation matters. While we may not always get exactly what we want, we often receive what we expect, in some form or another.
When we learn to manage these three ingredients through visualization, affirmations, and projecting ourselves into a future where our goals are accomplished, hypnosis becomes a powerful tool for personal transformation. These ingredients form the foundation of effective clinical hypnosis.
If you would like to find out more about Dr. Steven Gurgevich, please visit http://www.healingwithhypnosis.com/
