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As the chapters of Healing From Within illustrate, clinical applications of hypnotic interventions are flourishing in the area of women's health care. However, it appears that clinical applications have advanced more rapidly than empirical research in many of the health areas. What can we take away from this volume as clinicians and researchers?We would like to draw attention to four themes that emerged for us across the chapters. The first relates to the value of a biopsychosocial approach, in that clinically relevant factors can easily be overlooked in the current nonintegrative (mind-body duality) approach to health care. The second pertains to the application of hypnotic methods in general, substantive considerations for the clinician and researcher. The third relates to the benefits of using hypnosis intensively with a particular health condition, in that one develops practical wisdom for adapting hypnotic methods for greater effectiveness. The fourth addresses recommendations for future research to move forward the empirical knowledge base.

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To begin this exploration of the contributions of hypnosis to an integrative approach to women's health, we invite readers to imagine the following.You have been treating Theresa A. in psychotherapy for 6 months. She initially sought treatment because she felt exhausted by the multiple demands and responsibilities of her daily life that included working a 30-hour week at a law firm, raising two young children, and caring for her ailing mother. Last week, at the age of 41 years, Theresa was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer and is completely overwhelmed. * * *Karen B. is a new patient in your gynecology practice and is suffering from dysmenorrhea. At the age of 26 years, she has never had a pelvic examination because she panics and leaves the office before the examination can begin. You suspect that Karen might have been sexually traumatized earlier in her life.