Adjunctive medical hypnosis: Simple, effective, non-pharmacological intervention

Dr Simon Tunstill has been a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital since 2011. Having always been interested in the psychology of medicine and how interactions between healthcare professionals and patients can be enhanced by optimal communication, he undertook the Advanced Professional Diploma in Medical Hypnosis with the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis in 2018. Since then, his interest has focused on the informal use of psychological and hypnotic principles incorporated into communication during everyday clinical practice to enhance patient experience. He regularly teaches multidisciplinary colleagues locally and has spoken nationally at various Association of Anaesthetists events on this subject. 

Dr Kate Berry

Dr Kate Berry studied medicine at Leeds University and graduated in 2010. She completed anaesthesia training and became a consultant in 2022. She currently work as a locum consultant at the Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, specialising in trauma, orthopaedics and ENT. Dr Berry studied hypnosis with BSCAH (British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis) during the early part of the pandemic and completed the graduate certificate in clinical hypnosis in 2021. Since then, she has been using hypnotic techniques to help patients, friends and family. 

Dr Samantha Black

Dr Samantha Black is a Consultant Paediatric and Perioperative Anaesthetist with a specialist interest in pre-assessment and anxiety management. She is the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ Patient Information Lead and is also part of the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Perioperative Care Group. Dr Black also recently co-wrote the first national paediatric pre-assessment guidelines. 

Mr Mike Stylianou

Mr Mike Stylianou has a special interest in education, performance enhancement and anxiety management. With more than 18 years’ experience as a hypnotherapist, he is BUPA (British United Provident Association) registered and has practised at the Priory Hospital for over 20 years. He is part of the Great Ormond Street Practice Education Team and lectures at London South Bank University. Mr Stylianou is a co-founder of POEMS (Positive Outcome and Experience Management Strategies) For Children, a Director of POEMS For Children Limited, a Trustee of The POEMS For Children Charity, a member of The Institute for Learning, a Fellow of The Royal Society of Art, a member of The Royal Institute of Philosophy and a member of BSCAH (British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis). 

Dr Philip Cunnington

Dr Philip Cunnington has completed a comprehensive training in hypnotherapy at The BST Foundation where he graduated with distinction. He has a specialist interest in education, the management and prevention of procedure-related anxiety, performance anxiety—with a particular interest in examination stress, giving interviews and presentations. He is a co-founder of POEMS for Children, a Director of POEMS For Children Limited, a Trustee of The POEMS For Children Charity, a Member of the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine. 

Following a degree in the Biological Sciences, and after working as a Marine Ecologist with indigenous fishing communities in remote parts of Indonesia, Dr Mia van Manen undertook an MPhil in Medical Anthropology, writing a thesis focusing on embodiment and cross-cultural experiences of ageing. The public health aspect of anthropology led her to clinical medicine, and then onto anaesthetics and critical care. Having experienced the benefits of hypnosis for patients first hand whilst working with Dr Simon Tunstill at Royal Berkshire Hospital, she went on to work with Dr Paul Slater at Northampton General Hospital. She undertook the PGCert in Clinical Hypnosis, using and developing hypnotic techniques for both patients and staff in critical care during the Covid pandemic. She was the 2021 winner of the Royal Society of Medicine Elliotson Prize in Hypnosis. Dr Mia van Manen is currently undertaking a research fellowship in Anaesthetics, with a special interest in pre-hospital medicine, trauma and regional anaesthesia, while using and teaching hypnotic communication skills.