Hypnotic-oriented counseling for ambiguous loss in college students

Ambiguous loss involves uncertainty regarding the physical or psychological presence of a significant person and limited opportunities for clear confirmation or closure. Such uncertainty may contribute to persistent emotional distress, difficulty adapting, and reduced psychological well-being. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of a structured, five-session Hypnotic-Oriented Counseling intervention for reducing psychological reactions associated with ambiguous loss and enhancing psychological well-being among college students. Employing an A–B–A single-case experimental design, three undergraduate participants with elevated ambiguous loss and low baseline happiness received weekly Hypnotic-Oriented Counseling. Outcomes were assessed using the Ambiguous Loss Inventory Plus (ALI+) and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire–Short Form (OHQ-SF). Data were analyzed using visual inspection, non-overlap indices (NAP and Tau-U), the Reliable Change Index (RCI), effect size estimates, and post-intervention qualitative interviews. Across participants, visual and quantitative analyses indicated reductions in psychological distress associated with ambiguous loss and improvements in psychological well-being following the intervention, with gains maintained during the post-intervention phase. NAP values ranged from 0.60 to 1.00, and all RCI scores exceeded the |1.96| threshold. Cohen’s d estimates indicated moderate-to-very-large changes across participants. Qualitative findings further indicated improvements in emotional regulation, self-acceptance, and tolerance of uncertainty. These preliminary findings suggest that a structured hypnotic-oriented counseling intervention may be a promising brief approach for college students experiencing ambiguous loss, although the findings should be interpreted cautiously given the three-participant sample and absence of a control condition.