Presented by Wendy Lemke M.S.
CFCH-AS Annual Hypnosis Conference
May 1 - 2, 2026
When the Body Speaks: Ego State Therapy & Hypnotic Applications
for Somatic Symptoms Including FND, Chronic Pain & Sleep Concerns
Grand Rockies Resort
Grande Kitchen & Bar
901 Mountain Street, Canmore
Room Booking Link
Early Bird Deadline: March 31st, 2026
Workshop Description
This advanced two-day training is designed for clinicians with prior training in hypnosis who wish to deepen their clinical skills when working with somatic symptoms such as functional neurological disorder (FND), chronic pain, and sleep disturbances. This course, grounded in Ego State Therapy conceptualizes somatic symptoms as meaningful messages from the body and the system of self. These symptoms may reflect internal conflicts, adaptive reasoning, or survival strategies. Ego State Therapy provides several ways to communicate with the body and/or ego states to explore unconscious causes, contributing factors as well as potential solutions for somatic symptoms.
Utilizing ideomotor signaling and other unconscious ways of exploring, participants will learn how to access and communicate with states to elicit information about safety, function, contributing factors, and potential pathways for resolution of somatic symptoms. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic intention, hypnotic suggestions, interventions, and internal negotiations that are respectful of the whole self within a trauma-informed, phase-oriented framework such as the SARI model.
The training will review and apply core Ego State Therapy (EST) principles, including Lemke’s adapted P-Principles, which serve as a template for holding the multiplicity of self in mind when formulating hypnotic suggestions and strategies. These principles were designed to promote safe and manageable unconscious exploration, especially for the internally conflicted traumatized self. EST treatment strategies based on these principles will be presented, such as accessing internal resources and Lemke’s Playing with the Space, an integrative intervention used to shift physiology toward optimal somatic functioning. Demonstrations, case examples, and experiential exercises will be incorporated to enhance participants’ learning.
Learning Objectives
By the conclusion of this two-day training, participants will be able to:
- Summarize research that demonstrates the effectiveness of clinical hypnosis in treating somatic issues such as FND and Chronic Pain.
- Apply Ego State Therapy concepts including Lemke’s adapted P-Principles, to clinically conceptualize and work with the voices of the body by recognizing the multiplicity of self.
- Identify three different ways to access ego states for gathering useful unconscious information about the body to assist in the treatment of somatic symptoms.
- Develop an ego state trauma informed hypnotic approach for a somatic symptom presentation that integrates therapeutic intention and incorporates EST strategies such as Lemke’s ‘Playing with the Space’ strategy.
- Demonstrate the use of ideomotor signaling as a tool to work with the system of self to identify purpose/function, and/or other contributing factors to somatic symptoms.
Wendy Lemke M.S.
Lemke Counseling & Consulting
Wendy Lemke is an American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) Fellow, certified approved consultant, an active member and former Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). She is also an active member of the Minnesota Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MSCH) and has served on the Board and various committees for both organizations as well as teaching basic, intermediate, and advanced workshops at regional and annual conferences.
Wendy is a certified therapist and trainer through Ego-State Therapy International and often incorporates it into her clinical work. She has recieved numerous awards. She's been honored with three from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis: a journal award for publishing, a Merit award, and most recently a Presidential award for her continued efforts to expand clinical hypnosis education to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.
Wendy was also awarded the Daniel P. Kohen M.D. Outstanding Clinician Award in recognition of outstanding leadership in the clinical practice, teaching, and utilization of therapeutic hypnosis by the Minnesota Society of Clinical Hypnosis in June, 2014. Wendy is also a fellow and an active member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). She has published articles in the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Many Voices, and the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. She also wrote and produced the popular DVD: You’re Not Crazy & You’re Not Alone: Inside the Inner World of Dissociative Identity Disorder and has produced Self-hypnosis CD’s as well.
