Now that they are on the lips of all the television programs that perform “hypnosis” live, it is time for psychologists to raise their voices. Throughout this article I will try to demolish the myths and mistaken beliefs that create these types of programs . In addition, we will see in which clinical settings their use is beneficial.

The hypnosis that we psychologists perform in our offices is called clinical hypnosis . Using it as an emotional disinhibitor, it is defined as the use of suggestion to provoke changes in the patient’s cognitive, physiological, emotional and behavioural processes. Clinical hypnosis is a facilitator of therapeutic change; it will always, always, be accompanied by other treatment techniques, and will be included in a therapeutic package tailored to the patient and his or her problem.

Myths and Misbeliefs

Let’s go over some false beliefs about clinical hypnosis.

1. “With hypnosis I will lose consciousness”

He will never lose consciousness. The hypnotized patient participates actively in the process . He has to concentrate on the suggestions that the therapist is telling him, imagining and getting emotionally involved in them. If at any time the patient loses consciousness it is simply that he has fallen asleep.

2. “If you hypnotize me I will tell you everything, I cannot lie to you”

Fake. As in any other psychological technique the patient can lie, it doesn’t serve to get the truth out. With hypnosis, cognitive flexibility is encouraged , to the extent that the patient lets things happen, if he does not let himself go, nothing remarkable will happen. The important point for the patient not to lie to us and tell us the truth, as in any treatment, will be the trust and therapeutic relationship we have established with the patient.

3. “Hypnotists have special powers”

Absolutely not, therapists who are experts in hypnosis are not born with a special power under the full moon . A good hypnotist, like a good therapist, applies the right techniques at the right time, adapting everything to the patient’s reality. As in any relaxation technique, the important thing here will be the handling of the voice.

4. “When you hypnotize me I will do everything you ask me to do, whether I want to or not, I will lose control of what I do”

Of course this is false, as we have commented before hypnosis is about letting go, if you don’t let go there is no hypnosis . The patient will be influenced by the hypnotic suggestions up to the limit they consider appropriate. As well as starting the process, the patient can finish it if he wants to.

Areas of application of clinical hypnosis

In which cases and areas is it possible to apply this therapeutic tool?

1. Pain management

The use of hypnosis in both acute and chronic pain is undoubtedly the clinical field par excellence of hypnosis.

Hypnotic analgesia techniques encourage the patient not to pay as much attention, as they usually do, to the area of pain. It also helps to implement the idea that the intensity of that pain can be managed and modulated by them. It also favours the reinterpretation of the painful sensations, making them more tolerable and less disabling. Therefore, hypnosis favours the idea that the patient can exercise some control and regulation over their pain.

2. Anxiety Management

In addition to all types of relaxation existing for the management of anxiety, the effectiveness of clinical hypnosis in anxiety disorders such as specific phobias (e.g. fear of dogs or fear of flying), panic disorder, agoraphobia and social phobia is remarkable. The relationship between the degree of suggestibility (the more suggestible you are, the better the hypnosis will be) and anxiety is two-way, so the use of this technique will be very beneficial.

3. Psychophysiological disorders

We include in these disorders those physical alterations that, either in their cure and/or maintenance, are influenced by psychological factors. We are talking about cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory and dermatological disorders … etc. Hypnosis as a complementary technique can help reduce symptoms through suggestion and reduce the patient’s general stress level through relaxation. In addition, they encourage coping strategies for this stress.

4. Trauma

Clinical hypnosis facilitates access to the sequence of traumatic memories, encouraging exposure and coping with these memories in a progressive way.

These are some of the uses and applications that clinical hypnosis has in the field of psychology. Please, let’s not fall into cheap tricks like those shown on TV programs. Hypnosis will always be carried out by an expert psychologist or doctor within a therapeutic package .