Stefan Wiesel
Stefan Wiesel is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and president of the Milton Erickson Society Austria (MEGA). He studied psychology at the University of Vienna and business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. In addition to his clinical work, he has more than 12 years of experience in academic teaching and research at universities and universities of applied sciences.
His psychotherapeutic work is rooted in behavioural therapy and strongly influenced by Ericksonian hypnosis, systemic approaches, schema therapy, and ego-state-oriented work. For more than 15 years, hypnosis has been central to his professional practice and attitude, not only as a clinical method, but as a respectful, resource-oriented way of meeting people.
As president of MEGA, he has focused on strengthening the society’s organisational stability, developing its training programmes, supporting professional exchange, and building on the work of previous generations. MEGA and Austria will host the ESH Congress in Vienna in 2029.
Motivation and goals within the ESH
Stefan’s motivation for serving on the ESH Board of Directors is rooted in a strong belief in European collaboration. Across Europe, hypnosis societies share many similar opportunities and challenges: maintaining high-quality training, connecting clinical practice with research, supporting professional recognition, and making hypnosis visible as a serious, humane, and scientifically grounded field.
Within the ESH, his focus is on strengthening the connection between the ESH and its constituent societies. He is particularly interested in supporting exchange and shared learning between national hypnosis societies, developing common European perspectives, and encouraging collaborative projects that can benefit societies across countries. A further aim is to help build bridges between clinical practice, research, universities, and hypnosis societies. In his view, hypnosis can develop most sustainably where professional societies, practitioners, researchers, and training institutions remain in active dialogue with one another.
As a member of the ESH Board of Directors, Stefan is grateful for the trust placed in him and looks forward to contributing his clinical, academic, and organisational experience to the further development of the ESH. He is also looking forward to supporting the preparation of the ESH Congress 2029 in Vienna as a truly European meeting place for hypnosis.
