About this event
- Date and time Thu 21 Jan 2027 from 9:15am to 4:45pm
- Location Royal Society of Medicine
Join the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section and the Manchester Neurogastroenterology Unit for this six-day professional development programme on Manchester gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH). Based on the internationally recognised Manchester Protocol, the programme will equip healthcare professionals with the practical skills, knowledge and confidence to use hypnotic techniques in the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other disorders of gut-brain interaction.
Despite NICE and British Society of Gastroenterology recommendations, access to gut-directed hypnotherapy remains limited across the UK. Developed by Professor Peter Whorwell and Dr Dipesh Vasant, this programme builds on the pioneering Manchester Protocol that helped establish gut-directed hypnotherapy as an evidence-based treatment for IBS and related disorders. Through practical teaching and supervised learning, participants will develop the skills and confidence to integrate these techniques into clinical practice.
Programme overview
The six-day programme combines virtual and face-to-face learning.
- Day 1: Introduction to hypnosis (Thursday 21 January 2027, virtual) – Establish a foundational understanding of hypnosis in the context of functional gut disorders, including communication strategies, hypnotic techniques, safety and ethics.
- Day 2: Hypnosis for gut symptom management (TBC, virtual) – Explore the evidence supporting gut-directed hypnotherapy and develop skills in constructing and delivering hypnotic suggestions and imagery for IBS and other gut disorders.
- Day 3: Applying hypnosis to accompanying symptoms and in practice (TBC, virtual) – Learn how to adapt hypnosis for insomnia, chronic pain and other clinical scenarios, while exploring service delivery and practitioner resilience.
- Day 4: Enhancing clinical confidence (TBC, in person in Manchester) – Consolidate learning through practical exercises, case discussions and experiential application of hypnotherapeutic techniques.
- Days 5 and 6 will be announced shortly.
Why attend?
- Learn Manchester gut-directed hypnotherapy directly from the team behind one of the world's most established and evidence-based programmes
- Hear from leading experts including Professor Peter Whorwell, Dr Dipesh Vasant, Dr Gillian Smith and Jean Rogerson
- Develop practical skills in hypnosis, imagery, suggestion and self-hypnosis that can be applied immediately in clinical practice
- Explore the evidence supporting gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS and other disorders of gut-brain interaction
- Build confidence in identifying appropriate patients, delivering interventions safely and knowing when referral is required
Aims of the event
- Develop participants' knowledge and practical skills in gut-directed hypnotherapy
- Explore the role of hypnosis in the management of IBS and other disorders of gut-brain interaction
- Support healthcare professionals in integrating evidence-based hypnotic techniques into clinical practice
Learning outcomes
By attending this course, participants will be able to:
- Recognise and evaluate when hypnosis is appropriate within a patient's clinical care
- Identify hypnotic techniques applicable to the management of IBS and functional gut symptoms
- Teach patients suitable methods of self-hypnosis, imagery and therapeutic suggestion
- Apply hypnotic procedures safely and competently within professional practice and identify when referral is appropriate
Who should attend?
This course is suitable for:
- Gastroenterologists and healthcare professionals working in gastroenterology services
- Specialist nurses, allied health professionals and advanced practitioners involved in digestive health
- Psychologists and mental health professionals with an interest in disorders of gut-brain interaction
- Dietitians and nutrition professionals supporting patients with IBS and functional gastrointestinal disorders
- Consultants, GPs, SAS doctors and resident doctors interested in evidence-based behavioural approaches to symptom management
- Healthcare professionals seeking to develop practical skills in gut-directed hypnotherapy and clinical communication
RSM members enjoy free access to over 200 expert-led events each year, including CPD-accredited learning.
Become a memberLocation
Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole St, Marylebone, London, W1G 0AE, United Kingdom
Registration for this event will close on 21 January 2027 at 8:00am (GMT). Late registrations will not be accepted.
The agenda is subject to change at any time
If the event is recorded, we are only able to share presentations that we have received permission to share. There is no guarantee that all sessions will be available after the event, this is at the presenter’s and RSM’s discretion.
All views expressed at this event are of the speakers themselves and not of the Royal Society of Medicine, nor the speaker's organisations.
This event will be recorded and stored by the Royal Society of Medicine and may be distributed in future on various internet channels.