I listened to the first CD one month before my double knee surgery and listened to the second when I was coming out of surgery. The CDs are wonderful and I recovered within 1 month!

I'm a firm believer in synchronicity, so when the Stress Free Surgery Hypnosis CDs arrived on my desk for review, it seemed to be too good an opportunity to miss, seeing as I was scheduled for some routine surgery a few weeks later! I did manage to listen to them from a review point of view, before I succumbed to the hypnotic voice of Linda Thomson. She is American, and yet has one of the most calming and reassuring voices I have ever heard ... and she is an experienced health care professional. Over 2 CDs every aspect of your impending 'procedure' is covered, the first one being 'pre-surgery' and the second being 'post surgery'. Pre Surgery focuses on both calming any nerves and encouraging the mind to put the body into the best possible state for surgery. Linda does literally 'walk you through' the process from arriving at the hospital to waking up after surgery. I saved the Post Surgery until after my operation - in fact, I could have listened to it beforehand, but I didn't realise that! The second CD focuses on recovery and pain relief, and in the first week after my surgery, Linda became my best friend. I found the CDs extremely relaxing, reassuring and they had a hugely calming effect on me. I recommended them to everyone else on my ward, and can safely say that this was the most positive surgical experience I have ever had!!

Linda Thomson has created a very relaxing, very useful set of two CDs for use by those due to undergo surgical procedures.

Although the induction on the Pro-op CD is very long, the advantage of this CD is that it has two tracks, so that after the first few hearings, the listener can jump straight to the suggestions without having to go through the induction again. Likewise with the Post-op CD. This also has two tracks so that the introduction can be missed out once it has been heard and understood.

As a long time advocate of mindbody healing, listening to these CDs was a little like preaching to the converted for Me but 1 believe that they would be invaluable to anyone awaiting surgery, even if they were not feeling any apprehension. The Ericksonian type suggestions leave the listener in control of the speed with which recovery is made and one very important suggestion which Linda gives on the pro-op CD is that anything said during surgery that is of a less than helpful nature will seem as if it is being said in a foreign language e and that, when the mind translates the foreign words, they will become positive, healing ones. This one suggestion rules out the possibility of patients' subconscious minds taking on board negative comments made by members of Medical teams who may be under the impression that the patient is incapable of hearing what is said while anaesthetised. Many therapists have had clients in hypnosis recounting unhelpful words said by doctors during operations, which seem to have had an adverse effect on the patient's healing process.

It would, in my opinion, be good for therapists who are working with those awaiting surgery to recommend this CD set to reinforce the work done during hypnotherapy sessions.



For those who haven't resorted to having therapy, listening to these CDs should go a long way towards hastening the healing process and allaying any fears being experienced about the surgical procedure itself.

Dr. Linda Thomson describes her two-CD set, Stress Free Surgery, as a “self relaxation program to help you prepare for and recover from surgery.” The first CD is for listening prior to and during surgery. The second CD is for listening post-surgery. Each CD is approximately 40 minutes in length and they come packaged in an attractive, sturdy plastic case.

The pre-surgery CD opens by explaining the benefits of hypnosis, and describes hypnosis as a method for tapping into inner resources to create an optimum mental state for surgery. She gives reassurances to ensure that listeners understand the purpose of hypnotic suggestions. The hypnosis portion of the CD gives suggestions about accessing feelings of comfort, safety, and relaxation, with additional suggestions that the listener can:
The post-surgery CD uses guided imagery, analogy, metaphor, and progressive relaxation to promote comfort and to reduce pain during the recovery period. The CD offers suggestions that the listener can:
Dr. Thomson speaks to the listener in a soft, soothing voice, with a slow pace that is quite nurturing. She invites the listener to access imagination and positive expectations and beliefs to promote optimum results. Research validates her approach, with findings that patients who are psychologically prepared for surgery have improved outcomes, including shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, reduced need for pain medications, and less anxiety.

• Converse with the surgical team prior to anesthesia


• Constrict the flow of blood at the surgical site


• Regulate blood pressure, as well as the supply of glucose and nutrients to the tissues during surgery


• Pay attention to any voice that speaks directly to the patient during surgery


• Allow for healing and mending after surgery


• Expect to return to normal or improved physical functioning

• Access comfort and healing


• Reduce pain and nausea


• Anticipate improvement in health and physical functioning


• Take fluids and nourishment as appropriate


• Expect that medications are working effectively


• Sleep well


• Apply the skills of pain reduction, self soothing, and self appreciation

I highly recommend this CD set for people who might be somewhat anxious about the prospect of surgery, or who are apprehensive about hospitals and medical procedures, or who are having post-operative discomfort. The CD set also provides an excellent starting point for practitioners who use hypnotic approaches to help their clients mentally prepare for hospital stays.

For clients who are highly phobic of hospitals, doctors, and medical procedures, this CD set could be used as an adjunct to in-office methods that address phobias, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety. An example of one such method is the NLP process called Visual Kinesthetic Dissociation. I can speak to the efficacy of pre- and post-surgery hypnosis on the basis of personal experience. I have used NLP and hypnotic relaxation methods with three clients who were highly phobic of hospital procedures, and in all three cases, obtained very good results. While individual case examples do not constitute scientific proof, hypnosis does seem to have a positive effect on surgical outcomes. Thompson's CDs seem to be right on target in every way.

The Author



Linda Thomson is a nurse-practitioner who has 30 years of experience in family and pediatric practice. She received her training in hypnosis via the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and the International Society of Hypnosis. She is an Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis and has also published Harry the Hypno-Potamus, a delightful book of metaphorical tales for explaining clinical hypnosis to children. A major focus of her life's work is to change the attitudes of health care professionals regarding clinical hypnosis and promote wider acceptance of hypnotherapy interventions.

This CD set is well structured in that it provides both pre-surgery and post-surgery hypnosis. The preamble at the beginning of each recording sets the scene well and leads into a deeply relaxing session where Linda Thompson covers all the bases in ensuring that the listener is not only relaxed in a general sense but also at ease in the specific surroundings of the medical environment.

It's not an easy task to produce recordings that suit everybody's needs, even when it's for a narrow market such as those undergoing surgery. These CDs represent a good effort by someone who is obviously skilled in this area of work and who really knows her stuff.

Linda Thomson has created a very relaxing, very useful set of two CDs for use by those due to undergo surgical procedures.

Although the induction on the Pre-op CD is very long, the advantage of this CD is that it has two tracks, so that after the first few hearings, the listener can jump straight to the suggestions without having to go through the induction again. Likewise with the Post-op CD. This also has two tracks so that the introduction can be missed out once it has been heard and understood.

As a long time advocate of mindbody healing, listening to these CDs was a little like preaching to the converted for me but I believe that they would be invaluable to anyone awaiting surgery, even if they were not feeling any apprehension. The Ericksonian type suggestions leave the listener in control of the speed with which recovery is made and one very important suggestion which Linda gives on the pre-op CD is that anything said during surgery that is of a less than helpful nature will seem as if it is being said in a foreign language and that, when the mind translates the foreign words, they will become positive, healing ones. This one suggestion rules out the possibility of patients' subconscious minds taking on board negative comments made by members of medical teams who are under the impression that the patient is incapable of hearing what is said while anaesthetised. Many therapists have had clients in hypnosis recounting unhelpful words said by doctors during operations, which seem to have had an adverse effect on the patient's healing process.

It would, in my opinion, be good for therapists who are working with those awaiting surgery to recommend this CD set to reinforce the work done during hypnotherapy sessions.

For those who haven't resorted to having therapy, listening to these CDs should go a long way towards hastening the healing process and allaying any fears being experienced about the surgical procedure itself.

Hypnosis is a powerful and well established tool to help deal with a variety of issues including self confidence, weight loss, smoking cessation and medical problems. In this excellent two CD set, Linda Thomson helps listeners with the stress of surgery. Whether a particular hypno-therapist will “work” for you is a matter of personal preference. I find Ms Thompson's voice very soothing and her approach very gentle and elegant.

It is a very well put together programme. In the first CD Ms Thomson provides a five minute introduction to the nature of hypnosis followed by a 40 minute induction to help you prepare for hospital admission and surgery. On the second CD we have the same introduction and a different 45 minute induction to help with recovery.

For me the second disk is the superior (though both are good). It's language is very soothing, and the visual imagery elegant. Her guidance on controlling pain and discomfort is superb. Indeed I believe this disk could be used to help you with any medical concern or problem. I used it to prepare for a visit to the dentist (something I do not enjoy) and it certainly helped reduce my stress.



Overall then an excellent programme which can help with a wide range of medical issues.

This 2 CD set by Linda Thomson blends her gentle toned, soothing hypnotic suggestions with positive comforting imagery to guide you through surgery smoothly and easily.

The first CD decreases pre-surgery fears and apprehensions and uses imagery suggestins to promote feelings of calm and composure before and during the surgery. It also applies the imagery to reduce blood flow to the area of operation which is a very useful addition.

The second CD is used post surgery to assist with the healing and recuperation aspect of surgery. Both CDs are very easy to listen to. Indeed Linda's soft reassuring voice leads you gradually into a very relaxing trance state and the suggestions and imagery are very powerful, yet permissive.



I believe that this is an invaluable tool for anyone undergoing surgery.

The fist CD is heavily focused on suggestions of relaxation, comfort, and going deeper and deeper into a state of tranquility. The approach is directive and uses a slow voice pattern inviting progressive muscle relaxation and describing the likely occurrences leading to and through the operation with suggestions for transformation of unhelpful emotions into more resourceful experiences. The medical background of Dr. Linda Thomson and her hypnosis work in the operating room clearly come through in the understanding of the working of a surgical enterprise.

The second CD to be used in preparation and conquering of the postoperative period. It contains much of the beautiful imagery Dr. Linda Thomson is best known for from her widely acclaimed and classic book of Harry the Hypnopotamus - Metaphorical Tales for Children. The flow is more fluid and offers many choices for the patient to engage in healing.



In the emerging filed of procedural hypnosis Dr. Thomson has taken on the challenge to guide a patient without being present and obtaining cues of progress. This is no minor fat considering that the hypnotist cannot adjust to preferences of the listener. The CDs will likely be of most benefit to patients who can take the time and enjoy a focus on relaxation in a quiet place guided by a slow flow of suggestions.

Linda Thompson's `Self Relaxation Program to Help You Prepare for and Recover from Surgery` is an excellent adjunct to conventional, modern surgical treatment of patients. This 2 CD set contains scripts carefully crafted by a highly respected hypnotherapist, who herself has undergone surgical procedures. The patient who is contemplating surgery would be well advised to take time to prepare him or herself for this event by listening to her smooth, soothing voice. The effects will be like a healing balm applied to the incisions. These set of 2 CD's will be a very welcomed addition to the medicines that the patient may receive.

Linda Thomson, PhD is a very skilled and experienced Hypnotherapist who has developed 2 CD set entitled: Using Hypnosis to Prepare For and Recover From Surgery. This is a valuable and powerful techinque which can be used effortlessly by any individual, themselves, who has to undergo surgical procedures.

Linda Thomson's “Scripts for Surgery” can make a wonderfully helpful contribution to people needing comfort and support at a most vulnerable time in their medical care. Her positive, supportive and gentle hypnotic encouragement to move through surgery and post-surgery with a calm and positive frame of mind can make a big difference in how well and how quickly someone recovers. Anyone going through surgery can benefit from listening to these well-constructed sessions.