Verónica Valderrama: «Hypnosis is surrounded by many myths»

Hypnosis is a phenomenon that has long been a part of popular culture. However, that practically everyone has a vague idea about what this process is and what it consists of, does not mean that these beliefs correspond to reality.

The truth is that far from the spectacularity of hypnosis shows that many come to mind when thinking about this concept, it is a element whose therapeutic potential has been used by health professionals for years, with purposes that have nothing to do with the entertainment. To better understand what clinical hypnosis consists of, in this case we have interviewed an expert on the subject who offers this kind of interventions both in person at her therapy center and through online sessions: psychologist Verónica Valderrama Hernández.

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Interview with Verónica Valderrama Hernández: what is clinical hypnosis?

Verónica Valderrama Hernández is a psychologist and Director of the PsicoAlmería center, located in the center of the capital of Almería. Throughout her professional career, she has specialized in the use of contextual and cognitive-behavioral therapies, as well as hypnotherapy. In this interview he talks about the therapeutic potential of this last tool: clinical hypnosis used to treat patients.

What is clinical hypnosis? Is there a difference between this concept and plain hypnosis, regarding the nature of this process beyond the context in which it is used?

Initially, we must start from the fact that clinical hypnosis should always be used by health professionals trained in this technique.

In hypnosis as a procedure, a series of suggestions are used for different purposes, including entertainment. However, in clinical hypnosis the objective is very different and relevant, since its purpose is always to facilitate therapeutic change. At the PsicoAlmería center, I am the psychologist and hypnotherapist in charge of carrying out the sessions of clinical hypnosis, and I have the necessary university training for this practice in addition to a long trajectory.

Clinical hypnosis is framed as an effective tool within a psychological therapy, combinable with other techniques to achieve positive results in less time. During clinical hypnosis sessions I use this technique together with other cognitive techniques behavioral and third generation, always adapting to each patient and thus achieving very good results.

Does it have side effects that leave sequelae? For example, produce permanent altered states of consciousness.

The only “secondary effects” that will occur will be those focused on and related to the objectives set, that is, beneficial effects. As a technique it is not dangerous, unfortunately it is surrounded by many myths that served to fuel the hypnosis of the shows. These myths currently lead people who would benefit from it not acceding out of fear and uncertainty.

It is always important that it is carried out by professionals, since as with other psychological techniques, what is at stake is our health. However, it will never produce altered states of consciousness, not during the technique, much less permanent.

There are many debates about the definition of hypnosis, but from my perspective, and that of other professionals, it is not an altered state of consciousness or a trance. Consciousness continues to function properly, the patient is aware and actively communicates, but sees improved their focus on important aspects in which they are being guided: emotional, behavioral, cognitive... producing the necessary therapeutic change.

What are the types of emotional disorders in which clinical hypnosis is most effective?

Clinical hypnosis is being very effective in people with anxiety, stress and depression. These symptoms can be shown in different circumstances disproportionately or in emotional disorders such as Generalized Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, specific phobias and depressive disorders, among others.

Certain levels of anxiety or situational stress in the face of a stressor are natural phenomena; the problem occurs when they are excessive and maladaptive for the person. Through clinical hypnosis, the person visualizes and becomes emotionally involved in the stressor (in this case imagined) to work together with the hypnotherapist to control their symptoms. behavioral (objective / physical) and cognitive (subjective such as thoughts, beliefs ...), through the use of suggestions and post-suggestions that will subsequently act upon actual circumstances.

These changes can also occur in a conventional long-term psychological therapy setting, but with clinical hypnosis the Involvement is greater, the person can let go and live it like this with intensity and with the certainty that he is being in a checked.

Regarding depression, it works on the negative thoughts that the person has, on their negative vision of themselves, the world and the future (Beck's cognitive triad). Certain suggestions and guided imaginations are carried out adapted to each case, including exercises in which to relive the past to conceptualize it in a more efficient way. (cognitive restructuring) as well as other final motivational exercises such as projections to a positive future that you can achieve by following the guidelines and objectives proposed in the therapy.

How is hypnosis used in addiction cases?

For addiction cases we have developed very complete guidelines according to the type of addiction (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pathological gambling, addiction to technology, sex, etc.). These guidelines are adapted to the person and their circumstances, since the same "script" should never be established for everyone, each case and person is different.

What our clinical hypnosis sessions have in common when it comes to addictions is working on hypnotic suggestions and post-suggestions related to the control of impulses, physical suggestions that will help them in moments of greater weakness and prevention of relapses (behavioral techniques), as well as cognitive suggestions that will facilitate the change therapeutic. Among the latter we find feelings of aversion to addiction not previously experienced, focusing attention on other pleasurable activities and changes in the habitual thoughts that they maintain The addiction.

In cases in which the motivation to change is low or they do not assume the addiction, we use dual projective suggestions, with which the person lives with intensity a possible future in which the addiction and its long-term negative consequences do not stop, experiencing, among other symptoms, anguish, loneliness and despair. Later, to increase motivation and adherence to treatment, live the positive future that you would like to achieve.

At PsicoAlmería we have developed a complete addiction therapy program using more techniques in addition to clinical hypnosis; however, we obtain better results including clinical hypnosis than without it.

From what you have been seeing in your experience in psychotherapy, can anyone benefit from the effects of clinical hypnosis?

The percentage of people who can benefit from clinical hypnosis is very high. However, and for obvious reasons, there are people with cognitive impairment who are not performed this technique for not be viable, such as the cases of people with severe mental retardation, Alzheimer's, psychotic disorders, etc.

Generally speaking, for a person to benefit from clinical hypnosis they must let go, be willing to live the experience and be suggestible (most people are suggestible).

My clinical hypnosis sessions are between two hours and two and a half hours. The first session, which is the longest, has a first part where we discuss the objectives and motives of the person, I report clinical hypnosis as a technique, cleared the doubts of the patient and demolished myths, thus managing to eliminate insecurities.

Subsequently, I perform a suggestibility test with different exercises (emotional, physical, cognitive, etc.) checking the level of suggestibility of the person and which suggestions will be more efficient in your case. Next, I carry out the clinical hypnosis session, with induction and deepening processes until reach an optimal level in which to work and in which the person will be active at all times and communicative. Finally, a closure is worked in consultation, during which the person recounts her experience and experiences the benefits of it.

Can hypnosis have a lasting beneficial influence on patients' self-esteem?

Yes, self-esteem, like self-concept, is strongly related to thoughts about ourselves. Low self-esteem is related to negative thoughts that cause the individual to not have confidence in himself or to see himself able to achieve goals or objectives. In clinical hypnosis we work on those thoughts, most of them irrational and on cognitive biases that the person uses.

In addition to working on changing these thoughts, the person is taught tools and skills of coping that you will use both in the present and in the rest of your life, in this way we achieve changes enduring.