Verónica Valderrama: "Hypnosis is surrounded by many myths".

Psychologist and hypnotherapist Verónica Valderrama talks to us about the keys to clinical hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a phenomenon that has long been part of popular culture. However, the fact 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 spectacular hypnosis shows that many people think of when they think of this concept, it is an element whose therapeutic potential has been used for years by health professionals for purposes that have nothing to do with entertainment. To better understand what clinical hypnosis is, 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.

Interview with Verónica Valderrama Hernández: what is clinical hypnosis?

Verónica Valderrama Hernández is a psychologist and Director of the center PsicoAlmeríalocated in the center of the capital of Almeria. 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 to us about the therapeutic potential of this last tool: clinical hypnosis used to treat patients.

What is clinical hypnosis, and is there any difference between this concept and that of hypnosis as such, in terms of 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. In the center of PsicoAlmería, I am the psychologist and hypnotherapist in charge of conducting clinical hypnosis sessions, and I have the necessary university training for this practice in addition to a long career.

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

Are there any side effects that leave after-effects? For example, producing permanent altered states of consciousness.

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

It is always important that it is performed by professionals, because as with other psychological techniques, what is at stake is our health. However, it will never produce altered states of consciousness, neither during the technique, much less permanently.

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 trance. Consciousness continues to function properly, the patient is aware and communicates actively, but his or her focus is improved in important aspects in which he or she is being guided: emotional, behavioral, cognitive states... 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 show up in different circumstances in a disproportionate manner or in emotional disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, specific phobias and depressive disorders, among others.

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

These changes can also occur in a conventional context of long-term psychological therapy, but with clinical hypnosis the involvement is greater, the person can let go and live it with intensity and with the assurance that it is being in a controlled environment.

As for depression, we work on the negative thoughts that the person has, on his negative vision of himself, of the world and of the future (Beck's cognitive triad). Certain suggestions and guided imaginations adapted to each case are made, including exercises where 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 can be achieved by following the guidelines and objectives proposed in therapy.

How is hypnosis used in cases of addictions?

For addiction cases we have developed very complete guidelines according to the type of addiction (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pathological gambling, technology addiction, sex, etc.). These guidelines are adapted to the person and his or her 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 regarding addictions is to work on hypnotic suggestions and post-suggestions related to impulse control, physical suggestions that will help in times of greater weakness and relapse prevention (behavioral techniques), as well as cognitive suggestions that will facilitate therapeutic change. Among the latter we find feelings of aversion to the addiction not previously experienced, focus of attention on other pleasurable activities and changes in habitual thoughts that maintain the addiction.

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

In PsicoAlmería we have elaborated a complete program for therapy in addictions using more techniques besides clinical hypnosis; however, we obtain better results including clinical hypnosis than doing without it.

From what you have seen 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 to whom this technique is not performed because it is not viable, such as people with severe mental retardation, Alzheimer's, psychotic disorders, etc.

In general terms, in order for a person to benefit from clinical hypnosis, he or she must be willing to let go, be willing to live the experience and be suggestible (most people are suggestible).

My clinical hypnosis sessions are between two and two and a half hours. The first session, which is the longest, has a first part where we treat the objectives and motives of the person, I inform about clinical hypnosis as a technique, clear the doubts of the patient and demolish myths, thus eliminating insecurities.

Subsequently, I carry out 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 their case. Then, I carry out the clinical hypnosis session, with induction and deepening processes until reaching an optimal level in which to work and in which the person will be active and communicative at all times. Finally, we work on a closing in consultation, during which the person tells his or her experience and experiences its benefits.

Can hypnosis exert a lasting beneficial influence on the self-esteem of patients?

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 lack self-confidence and to not see him/herself as capable of achieving goals or objectives. In clinical hypnosis we work on those thoughts, most of them irrational and cognitive biases that the person uses.

In addition to working on changing those thoughts, we teach the person tools and coping skills to use both in the present and in the rest of his life, so we get lasting changes.