2026 NZAPH Conference
2026 NZAPH Conference
The New Zealand Association of Professional Hypnotherapists (NZAPH) is preparing to host its next national conference, bringing together clinical hypnotherapists, educators, and allied professionals from across Aotearoa.
This upcoming event will offer:
• High-quality professional development
• Evidence-informed presentations
• Ethical and clinically grounded discussions
• Connection with like-minded practitioners
• Conversations shaping the future of hypnotherapy in New Zealand
Whether you are an experienced practitioner or growing your clinical skills, this conference will provide an opportunity to deepen your knowledge, strengthen professional standards, and connect with the wider hypnotherapy community.
Wellington, New Zealand at Te PAPA
3-4 October 2026
🔔 Speaker announcements and programme details coming soon
We look forward to welcoming you.
Stay tuned for updates.
Buy your tickets today!
Karl Smith
Keynote Speaker (Live, In Person for Both Days)
We are thrilled to welcome internationally recognised hypnotherapist and innovator Karl Smith to New Zealand for the very first time.
Karl will be with us in person across both days of the conference, bringing his signature blend of clarity, curiosity, and transformative insight.
While his final session topics are still being confirmed, Karl’s presence alone signals something extraordinary. His teaching style is known for being dynamic, practical, and deeply engaging the kind of learning that stays with you long after the conference ends.
Whether he presents one keynote or two, attendees can expect sessions that expand capability, spark new thinking, and offer fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of hypnotherapy.
This is a rare opportunity to learn directly from Karl in a live setting an experience that promises to be inspiring, energising, and truly memorable for practitioners at every level.
Michael Yapko
Keynote Speaker (Live Via Zoom Interactive Q&A Session)
A rare chance to engage directly with one of the world’s most influential voices in clinical hypnosis.
We are honoured to welcome Dr Michael Yapko to the 2026 NZAPH Conference for a very special live appearance via Zoom. Dr Yapko’s international schedule is exceptionally limited, and opportunities to interact with him in real time are rare making this session a standout moment for practitioners across Aotearoa.
His 60‑minute live interactive session has been crafted to offer both depth and connection. The first half will feature NZAPH‑curated spotlight questions, giving attendees the chance to hear Dr Yapko’s insights on the evolving field, therapeutic nuance, and the future of clinical hypnosis.
The second half opens into a live audience Q&A, where practitioners can ask their own questions directly. This format creates a uniquely personal learning experience one that blends wisdom, curiosity, and the kind of professional growth that only happens through real‑time dialogue with a global leader.
Dr Yapko’s presence brings a sense of international connection, inspiration, and professional enrichment to our conference.
For many, this will be a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity to learn from a figure whose work continues to shape the field worldwide.
Meredith McCarthy
The Future of Hypnotherapy: Human Connection, Ethics, and the Rise of AI
In this timely and thought‑provoking session, Meredith McCarthy explores the evolving role of hypnotherapists in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital interaction.
Drawing on clinical experience, emerging research, and current developments in technology, she examines the crucial differences between simulated engagement and genuine therapeutic relationship a distinction that sits at the heart of effective change work.
This presentation weaves together neuroscience, attachment theory, nervous system regulation, and the growing public health impact of loneliness. Meredith highlights how attunement, rapport, and co‑regulation remain central to client outcomes, even as technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
Attendees will gain insight into
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the opportunities and limitations of AI within hypnotherapy
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why human connection remains essential for meaningful therapeutic change
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the role of presence, relational safety, and attunement in clinical practice
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how to maintain ethical, human‑centred practice in an increasingly digital world
Designed to spark reflection and deepen professional awareness, this session invites practitioners to reconnect with the core of the work the human relationship while thoughtfully navigating the future of the profession.
Dean Badcock
Integrating Top‑Down and Bottom‑Up Hypnotherapy: A Neurobiological Framework for Clinical Practice
In this deeply integrative and clinically grounded session, Dean Badcock explores how hypnotherapy is evolving in response to contemporary neuroscience, trauma‑informed practice, and a more nuanced understanding of mind–body processes.
While traditional hypnotherapy has long emphasised cognitive, linguistic, and imaginative pathways the classic “top‑down” mechanisms modern research highlights the equally essential role of nervous system regulation, interoception, and relational co‑regulation in shaping therapeutic responsiveness.
Rather than viewing these approaches as separate or competing, Dean presents a unified clinical framework that brings them together in a way that reflects how change actually occurs within the human system. Central to this presentation is the RAISE model Regulate, Access, Integrate, Stabilise, Embed a structured sequence that aligns therapeutic interventions with the neurobiological processes underpinning memory, prediction, and emotional learning.
This session explores:
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Co‑regulation as a foundational therapeutic process that supports nervous system stability and access to deeper change work
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Implicit memory as the substrate of many emotional and behavioural patterns, often operating outside conscious awareness
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Memory reconsolidation, the neurobiological mechanism through which durable change becomes possible when activated patterns are updated in experience
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Physiological state as a key determinant of cognitive flexibility, responsiveness, and the effectiveness of hypnotic interventions
Dean will demonstrate how top‑down and bottom‑up processes are not opposing methodologies, but interdependent components of effective hypnotherapy when applied within an integrated, neurobiologically informed framework.
Through theory, clinical examples, and practical sequencing, attendees will learn how to apply the RAISE model to enhance outcomes across a wide range of presentations including dysregulation, low affect, and clients who may be less responsive to traditional hypnotic methods.
This presentation invites practitioners to refine their clinical decision‑making, deepen their understanding of the nervous system, and integrate cognitive and somatic processes in a way that supports sustainable, embodied change.
Wellington Free Ambulance Service Guest Presentation
Crisis Response and Mental Health: Perspectives from the Frontline
We are honoured to welcome representatives from Wellington Free Ambulance Service as guest speakers at the 2026 NZAPH Conference.
Their presentation will offer valuable insights into the realities of emergency response and the human side of care in moments of crisis.
Drawing from their frontline experience supporting individuals in distress, the team will share reflections on communication, calm presence, and compassionate response under pressure.
This session will highlight the intersection between physical and emotional wellbeing, and the ways emergency services contribute to community mental health.
A full session description will be shared soon as final details are confirmed, but attendees can look forward to an engaging and meaningful presentation from those who serve our communities when it matters most.
Morella Lascurain
Rewiring Pain Circuits: Neuroscience Meets Hypnosis in the Treatment of Chronic Pain
In this illuminating and clinically grounded session, Morella Lascurain bridges the worlds of neuroscience and hypnotherapy to explore how chronic pain is generated, maintained, and ultimately transformed. Drawing on her medical background and decades of experience in MindBody therapy, Morella offers a clear and accessible overview of how the nervous system processes pain and how hypnosis can help rewire those circuits toward healing.
The presentation introduces key concepts such as central sensitisation, modulation, and predictive processing, alongside the psychosocial factors that contribute to persistent pain. Morella demonstrates how hypnotic interventions can influence neural mechanisms by altering perception, reducing threat responses, and supporting neuroplastic change.
Attendees will gain insight into
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how the brain and body collaborate in the creation of chronic pain
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the difference between acute and chronic pain — and why pain can persist without tissue damage
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how attention, fear, and expectation shape the pain experience
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ways to use neuroscience‑informed explanations to reduce fear and increase engagement
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practical strategies for integrating these principles into hypnotherapy practice
This session offers both scientific clarity and therapeutic inspiration, helping practitioners translate complex neurobiology into client‑friendly language and effective clinical tools.
Morella’s integrative approach invites hypnotherapists to see pain not as a fixed state, but as a dynamic process one that can be reshaped through understanding, compassion, and the power of focused mind‑body work.
Glenn Conley
Turning Down the Dial. Using Titration to Safely Manage Regression Triggers in PTSD Clients
Working with PTSD clients in regression requires precision, attunement, and a deep respect for the fragility of the therapeutic window. Move too fast, and the client becomes overwhelmed. Move too cautiously, and the work stalls. In this practical and safety‑focused session, Glenn Conley explores how titration the deliberate, gradual exposure to traumatic material can be integrated into hypnotherapeutic practice to support meaningful progress without destabilisation.
Drawing on RTT, Ericksonian hypnotherapy, Parts Therapy, and somatic‑informed principles, Glenn offers a clear framework for recognising regression triggers, pacing the depth of therapeutic work, and maintaining rapport and safety throughout the session. He demonstrates how titration allows clients to approach difficult material in manageable doses, reducing overwhelm while still engaging the core of the trauma.
The presentation also introduces pendulation as a companion technique the intentional movement between activation and resource states. Attendees will see how titration and pendulation work together: titration controls the dose of traumatic content, while pendulation provides the rhythmic return to safety that strengthens the nervous system’s capacity to process and integrate.
Attendees will learn
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what titration is and why it is essential in trauma‑focused hypnotherapy
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how to identify and anticipate regression triggers before and during a session
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practical pacing strategies using RTT, Ericksonian, and Parts Therapy approaches
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how to respond effectively when a client becomes triggered
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how to sequence titration and pendulation within a single session for safety and progress
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Grounded in both clinical training and lived experience, Glenn brings a rare combination of technical skill, compassion, and personal insight to trauma work.
His approach emphasises safety, structure, and the belief that even the most overwhelming experiences can be processed when approached with care, pacing, and attuned therapeutic presence.
Interactive Q&A Panel.Insights, Laughter, and Real Conversations
Join a selection of our conference presenters for a dynamic and engaging Q&A session designed to bring the day’s ideas to life.
This is your chance to ask questions, explore nuances, challenge assumptions, and hear our speakers respond spontaneously from their unique areas of expertise.
Expect a blend of professional insight, practical wisdom, and genuine human connection as our panelists share stories, clarify concepts, and offer behind‑the‑scenes perspectives on their work.
Whether you’re curious about clinical techniques, personal journeys, or the “how” behind their approaches, this session invites open dialogue and meaningful exchange.
Come ready to participate, reflect, and enjoy a lively conversation that weaves together the diverse voices shaping this year’s conference.
Teresa Saunders
The Inheritance We Don’t Talk About: Exploring Generational Patterns Through Somatic Awareness and Hypnotherapy
Many clients carry emotional responses, beliefs, and survival strategies that did not begin with them. In this experiential and reflective session, Teresa Saunders invites participants to explore how generational patterns become embedded within the subconscious mind and nervous system and how somatic awareness and hypnotherapy can support individuals in gently exploring and shifting these inherited imprints.
Through storytelling, guided reflection, and simple embodied experiences, Teresa illuminates how meaning can subtly change as it passes from one generation to the next. Participants will explore how words, gestures, and protective intentions often originally offered in love can be interpreted differently over time, shaping emotional responses and internal narratives in ways families rarely discuss.
This session blends generational insight, nervous‑system awareness, and therapeutic presence, offering participants a chance to notice how inherited patterns live in the body and how curiosity and compassion can begin to soften them.
Without revealing the specifics, attendees can expect a few playful, grounding activities designed to bypass the thinking mind and open space for gentle internal shifts.
Attendees will learn to
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recognise how generational experiences influence subconscious beliefs and emotional responses
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understand how trauma responses can become embedded and transmitted through family systems
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explore how curiosity, compassionate awareness, and therapeutic presence support clients in reframing inherited patterns
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experience somatic and reflective exercises that demonstrate how hypnotherapy can support shifts in deeply held beliefs and emotional responses
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consider ways hypnotherapists can help individuals and families move from inherited survival patterns toward emotional resilience and connection
This session offers a gentle yet profound exploration of the unseen inheritance we all carry and how awareness, embodiment, and compassionate practice can help transform those patterns into sources of strength for future generations.
Thank You for Celebrating 25 Years of NZAPH
What an incredible milestone! The 2025 NZAPH 25th Anniversary Conference was a true celebration of the growth, professionalism, and heart of clinical hypnotherapy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who attended, shared in the learning, and contributed to the warmth and energy of the event. Your enthusiasm, insights, and connection made this conference truly special.
A heartfelt thank you to our speakers — both local and international — who inspired us with their expertise, wisdom, and generosity of spirit. From keynote presentations to practical workshops, each session offered something unique and valuable for our profession’s future.
This event marked 25 years of dedication, community, and excellence — and it’s only the beginning. Together, we continue to uphold the highest standards of professional hypnotherapy and celebrate the power of the mind to heal and transform.
Ngā mihi nui to all who helped make this event possible.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference!