The Emerging New Reality of Hypnosis Teletherapy: A Major New Mode of Delivery of Hypnotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis Training

ABSTRACT

Remote hypnotherapy is a treatment that is increasingly being utilized internationally. Its adoption has been accelerated following the COVID-19 pandemic when infection control measures mandated its implementation. Remote hypnotherapy via video, rather than telephone therapy, appears to be more popular and effective, which appears to be acceptable to patients and – compared to face-to-face therapy – has the potential to improve access. In this state-of-the-art article, the authors therefore review the latest literature in this exciting field of remote teletherapy, discussing adoption of video hypnotherapy; its evidence, including efficacy compared to face-to-face therapy; patient satisfaction; advantages and disadvantages of teletherapy; as well as practical considerations and factors that should be considered when deciding on the mode of delivery. They also discuss training implications of the recent developments. Finally, they highlight areas for future research and development. Overall, it is likely that remote hypnotherapy via video platforms is here to stay long term and has potential to become the standard form of therapy worldwide. However, recent data suggest that there may still be a need for face-to-face therapy with patient choice being an important factor.

Introduction

The ever-changing face of medicine has led to new ideas and innovations that can be effectively utilized in the provision of healthcare services. It is therefore imperative that providers maintain an open mind and embrace the latest methods and practice of delivering evidence-based treatment. Telemedicine has been used for some time to bring healthcare service to the doorstep of patients. It has proven to be very useful in cases where access to a medical facility is difficult either due to distance from the health provider or patient’s inability to attend because of illness, work commitment or personal preference. This has provided an opportunity to utilize this facility for delivering hypnotherapy via video platforms. The technology enables providers to remotely consult with their clients in the comfort of their home improving accessibility like never before. In addition, it is cost-effective, with reduced overhead expenses being incurred during treatment.

Teletherapy in the Post-COVID Era – the New Norm?

Prior to early 2020, teletherapy use in healthcare settings was often limited to situations where it was preferable for either clinicians or patients, for example, when patients had difficulty traveling to treatment centers, or in those that were either not comfortable with face-to-face therapy or found it less convenient. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and its importance and utility. The rapid development of e-health video platforms and connectivity during the pandemic has revolutionized the way in which teletherapy can be delivered. The clear benefits during the pandemic meant that clients were able to safely maintain physical distancing as per enforced safety restrictions and regulations, without feeling isolated, as the video therapy via telehealth enabled them to communicate with their healthcare providers. In this context, the study by Palsson et al. (2023) published in this edition of International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis has for the first time captured international data on providers utility and perceptions on the efficacy of remote hypnosis via teletherapy during the COVID-19 era (Palsson et al., 2023; in this issue, pp. 92–114). The survey confirms the sudden rise in the utilization of remotely delivered hypnotherapy worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Such was the change that by the time of survey (between November 2020 and February 2021), approximately two-thirds (63.8%) of clinicians reported that they currently provided hypnotherapy via video conferencing, with one in five reporting that they now use teletherapy most of the time (Palsson et al., 2023; in this issue, p. 104).

However, almost three-quarters (73%) of those that currently provide hypnotherapy via video conferencing did not have any experience of teletherapy prior to the pandemic, highlighting just how big a change this is in practice (Palsson et al., 2023; in this issue, p. 104). Importantly, the international clinician survey does suggest that teletherapy is here to stay to some extent in the post-COVID era. Just over half of clinicians (54%) reported that remotely delivered hypnotherapy is just as effective as face-to-face therapy in their experience (Palsson et al., 2023). While views on remote delivery via video conferencing platforms were fairly positive, telephone hypnotherapy was not recommended by the majority of clinicians surveyed (Palsson et al., 2023). Telephone hypnotherapy was used infrequently by around one-third (34.4%) of clinicians, only 33.4%, found telephone therapy to be equally as effective as in person therapy. The lack of visual feedback, is a big drawback in telephone hypnotherapy, as opposed to video or face-to-face therapy. The absence of visual cues makes it more challenging to assess the response to hypnotherapy, ensure patient comfort, and identify any unexpected responses to the therapy.

Overall, the results of this survey by Palsson et al. (2023; in this issue, pp. 97–105) demonstrate that clinicians who never used, or preferred not to use, video conferencing prior to the pandemic had to adapt to this new method of delivering hypnotherapy out of necessity in order to treat their patients during the unprecedented situation that developed (Palsson et al., 2023). However, once they started using this new technology, many clinicians found it to be equally as effective as face–to-face therapy. Thus, these are emerging positives coming out of an extremely negative scenario, as telemedicine in general and teletherapy evolved during this period. This has also given us an opportunity to be better prepared for such situations in the future.

In this commentary, we provide a state-of-the-art summary on current and future perspectives on the utility of remote hypnotherapy via teletherapy including a review of the latest literature and sharing our experience as a center that was one of the first to adopt video-hypnotherapy long before the COVID-19 pandemic (Hasan et al., 2019).

Adoption of Teletherapy in Hypnotherapy – the Rationale and Early Experience

Hypnotherapy has been used for the treatment of a variety of conditions ranging from physical, psychological, and behavioral problems to dentistry, surgical situations, and childbirth. It has been found to be effective in providing benefits both physically and mentally to many patients. One application of hypnosis that has been researched extensively over several decades is gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) for the treatment of disorders of gut–brain interaction within the field of gastroenterology (Vasant & Whorwell, 2019). Gut directed hypnotherapy was one of the first hypnotherapy applications to have outcomes evaluated via telehealth delivery using video technology with its use having been compared to face-to-face therapy well before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in our unit (Hasan et al., 2019). Gut directed hypnotherapy aims to control and normalize bowel function (Gonsalkorale & Whorwell, 2005), providing patients with an understanding of their gut function and helping them modify it (Vasant & Whorwell, 2019). There is evidence for the use of GDH in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, noncardiac chest pain, globus pharyngeus, and its use is now recognized in international guidelines within the field (Vasant & Whorwell, 2019). The first trial of hypnotherapy in IBS was reported in 1984 by Whorwell and colleagues, (Whorwell 1984) and since then various studies have shown the therapeutic effects of hypnosis (Hasan et al., 2021; Sasegbon et al., 2022; Vasant et al., 2020). Not only does GDH provide symptomatic relief but it can also have a positive effect on the psychological and physiological components of IBS (Miller & Whorwell, 2009), with long-lasting effects (Gonsalkorale et al., 2003).

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the drivers for innovation and delivery of treatment via telehealth was improving accessibility. As a service innovation, our hypnotherapy unit recognized the impact of patients suffering from chronic gastrointestinal or similar debilitating chronic conditions finding it difficult to travel to the hospital for their appointments. It was observed that some of our patients were not able to attend the clinic due to the severity of their condition, conveyance issues, time constraints due to work commitments, or in cases where they reside a long distance from the hospital or are based abroad. In the past, we had patients coming to our unit with a lot of difficulty using crutches, wheelchairs, and scooters. Some patients even came along with their oxygen cylinders as they had concomitant COPD or other respiratory problems. We have also had patients who were not able to travel on their own and therefore had to arrange for caretakers or family members to accompany them for their appointments. Sometimes the patients had to wait several hours for the hospital transport to take them back home after their hypnotherapy session had finished.

In addition, as a course of GDH involves up to 12 consecutive weekly visits to the clinic spread over a period of over 3 months, it can become rather inconvenient for patients as they have to plan their journey to and from the hospital, keeping in mind their debilitating bowel symptoms, especially if they have severe diarrhea, urgency, or fecal incontinence. This is more troublesome as over a third of our patients reside greater than 20 miles away (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). For example, many patients who have diarrhea predominant IBS would need to take a sufficient dose of antidiarrheal medications to cover their entire journey. However, in constipation-predominant cases, they avoid taking laxatives not just on the day but often also on the day before their appointment, in the fear of needing to use the toilet either while traveling or during their hypnotherapy session. This additional stress understandably often proves to be counterproductive for the treatment.

Telemedicine has already been shown to have a major role within gastroenterology, and within the practice of disorders of gut-brain interaction (Kichloo et al., 2020; Soon et al., 2021). Thus, several years ago, we decided to use this innovative technology and treat our patients suffering from refractory IBS using Skype teletherapy (Hasan et al., 2019). Initially, it was apparent that those patients who would have opted out from face-to-face treatment readily accepted the offer of this evidence-based treatment being provided in the comfort of their home.

To assess the effectiveness of the treatment being provided remotely, we studied the outcomes of treatment in patients that were treated via Skype. In that study, 65% of the patients achieved a clinical response to hypnotherapy and also achieved significant improvements in all other outcomes measured including somatic extra-intestinal symptoms, quality of life scores, anxiety, and depression scores, as well as 30% or more reduction in abdominal pain score, with effects that were noninferior to the outcome of 1,000 patients that had undergone face-to-face therapy (Hasan et al., 2019).

Not only was Skype hypnotherapy found to be quite effective (65%), 71% who received Skype therapy in this study would have been unable to access treatment without the Skype option, confirming its role in improving accessibility (Hasan et al., 2019). Following this study that confirmed its feasibility, remote hypnotherapy became an option for all our patients regardless of their proximity to the hospital, especially if it was felt that attending for in-person therapy would jeopardize or compromise their treatment outcome. In our experience, this is most applicable to those with diarrhea-predominant IBS (Hasan et al., 2019).

While studies have consistently shown that the beneficial effects of face-to-face hypnotherapy are long-lasting, with some patients requiring an occasional “top-up” session (Gonsalkorale et al., 2003), there have been no long-term studies yet on the outcomes following remote hypnotherapy via teletherapy. This should be the subject of future study.

Video-hypnosis has also been utilized in other situations, including adolescent school refusal and psychotherapy (Aviv, 2006; Jesser et al., 2022; Meyerson, 2022; Simpson et al., 2002). Teletherapy via video platforms has emerged as a good alternative to face-to-face hypnotherapy, especially when the availability of hypnotherapy locally is limited, or when subjects find traveling difficult, and also in unprecedented situations like we have recently witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The international survey by Palsson et al. (2023; in this issue, see pp. 92–114) suggests that teletherapy is likely to remain a feature in the post-COVID era. However, it would be worth considering repeating this survey to assess for changes in trends and demands now that the pandemic emergency has settled to see if perceptions and trends have changed over time.

Tele-Hypnotherapy Post-COVID-19: What Have We Learned and Is It Here to Stay?

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when social distancing restrictions were put into place for the purpose of infection prevention, the utility of teletherapy to provide video hypnosis became indispensable. Those providers who were already using video hypnosis for some patients moved all their remaining patients to teletherapy. Patient acceptance for remote delivery has also increased during the period after the onset of COVID-19. Some patients who initially resisted trying teletherapy changed their minds as the pandemic restrictions continued for an extended period of time and as acceptance/perceptions of remote therapy evolved over time. In our experience during the COVID-19 era, only a minority of our patients were reluctant to be treated via Skype for reasons such as lack of computer skills, or because of the unavailability of required equipment or internet connection. Some patients felt that they did not have a suitable environment at home, or they had a personal preference for face-to-face therapy.

Previously we conducted a study on patient perceptions about GDH delivered face-to-face and found it to be very encouraging. However, it did not include any data about their experience regarding remotely delivered hypnotherapy (Donnet et al., 2022). Therefore, we recently conducted a study to understand patient experience and acceptance of this mode of tele-hypnotherapy by evaluating patient experience and satisfaction following remote GDH treatment (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). Patients were asked to complete a feedback form on their experience after completing their course of 12 sessions of remote-video hypnotherapy. The data were compared between patients who reported positive and negative experiences. Patients were also asked if they felt that they would have had more benefit from face-to-face treatment. According to this survey, 52% of patents said that they would have preferred to have remote GDH irrespective of the pandemic restrictions, and these patients were found to be more likely to have a higher level of satisfaction from the treatment. Patients found the online process easy to use, and the infrequent difficulties encountered during remote sessions had no impact on their satisfaction. As far as the improvement in their symptoms are concerned, 58% reported 30% or more reduction in global IBS symptoms, and 46% reported 30% or more reduction in pain (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). Most patients reported that they would recommend remote hypnotherapy to others. However, 39% felt that they would have benefitted more if they had received face-to-face treatment. Factors such as patient age, gender, and distance from the hospital did not have any influence on the outcome of treatment. These factors also did not affect satisfaction or their prospect of recommending this mode of treatment to family and friends with the same condition (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

The patient experience data therefore provide valuable insight into the further development of teletherapy services and the future role of face-to-face hypnotherapy. Even though it clearly supports the need to continue developing remote hypnotherapy in the post-COVID-19 era, the data also suggest that there is still a role for face-to-face hypnotherapy, with patient choice being an important factor (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

As highlighted by the Palsson et al. (2023; in this issue, pp. 92–114) study, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated wide scale adoption of remote care and adoption of teletherapy. This has also been greatly accelerated in gastroenterology, and the need for effective and accessible therapy has only increased with severe refractory IBS in tertiary care having a significantly higher symptom burden during the COVID-19 pandemic (Noble, Hasan, Whorwell et al., 2022).

Moving forwards, it is therefore important to utilize the findings of the studies conducted on teletherapy to plan hypnotherapy services in the postpandemic period. Regardless of the pandemic situation, at least half of our patients indicated a preference for having their GDH remotely via Skype rather than face-to-face (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). This suggests that even after the pandemic, there is likely to be an ongoing demand for teletherapy, which may permanently become the predominant form of delivery in the post-COVID-19 era not least because of its cost-saving benefits.

In addition to this, remote hypnosis is being used in several other conditions including in pediatrics, and the results have been quite promising. Setting up centers for providing telehealth at pediatric units and primary care centers can effectively and efficiently provide mental health care and create a closely coordinated network with primary care physicians. In this way, one physician can work at different sites remotely thereby improving access to healthcare (Anbar, 2008; Nelson et al., 2017; Olson et al., 2018; Vasant et al., 2020).

Currently, a randomized controlled trial of face-to-face compared with remotely delivered GDH is being conducted in the Netherlands (NCT03899779). The results of this study would put further light on the effectiveness of the two modes of treatment. However, from the outcomes of the studies conducted so far, it is clear that both face-to-face hypnotherapy and remotely delivered teletherapy via video consultation have their own roles and indications in clinical practice that can be utilized and modified according to the needs of the patient and prevailing conditions such as the recent pandemic.

Initially, some clinicians and patients were reluctant to move from face-to-face treatment to teletherapy as it was a new way of treating clients that had not been experienced before. However, with the passage of time as more and more people embraced telehealth technology, it was found to be almost equally effective in addition to having other advantages.

Advantages of Teletherapy

Teletherapy has been shown to have several advantages over face-to-face treatment, as it can be both cost-effective and time-efficient and reduces barriers to healthcare access – especially for those in rural areas or with chronic, debilitating symptoms. Generally, patients report that teletherapy is easy to use and to communicate with their therapist via video platforms such as Skype (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

Over two-thirds of patients treated remotely at our center report that teletherapy via video improved their access to treatment (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). Approximately, three-quarters found the remote approach convenient, reducing their cost of travel and related expenses such as parking charges (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). Age does not appear to be a factor, with no suggestion of a technology gap across older generations acting as a barrier to benefit from teletherapy via Skype (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

Remotely delivered hypnotherapy has the potential to widen access over a larger geographical area and effectively treat more patients in a safe, convenient, and efficient way. We can treat patients across continents – literally anywhere in the world, but keeping in mind the difference in time zones. In addition to being cost-effective, convenient, and personally preferred by some patients, the provision of teletherapy such as remote hypnotherapy allows patients to be reviewed and monitored regularly, thereby providing personalized strategies to deal with their individual symptom burden. This leads to not only a reduction in hospital waiting times but may also potentially reduce direct healthcare costs, such as emergency admissions and a reliance on expensive pharmacological interventions.

Patients have reported that offering the option of remote treatment reduced the “stress and anxiety of travelling” (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). They can have their treatment in the comfort of their home and maintain their privacy and get used to practicing in the same environment on their own, while listening to the audio recordings. Patients don’t have to take time off work as they can even have a session at their workplace as long as there is a quiet area available where they can attend their hypnotherapy session without any disturbance.

Disadvantages of Teletherapy

However, there are some disadvantages highlighted by patients either at the time of booking their appointments or during the consultations. Some patients do not like the idea of telemedicine for fear of security issues on platforms. The lack of face-to-face contact is also considered to be a compromise for some patients (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022). In addition to this the lack of physical examination in a medical setting using telemedicine seems to be quite a disappointment for patients who feel that they would have benefited from a face-to-face clinical visit (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

Issues related to a poor internet connection is one of the biggest problems while delivering teletherapy online, in our experience. In addition, lack of technical skill or unavailability of the video calling equipment is an issue for some patients. Sometimes sessions can be interrupted due to pets, children, another family member, or a colleague in the workplace (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

Other Patient-Specific Considerations for Teletherapy

Several other factors should be taken into consideration when deciding on the mode of delivering hypnotherapy. These include patient preference, convenience, distance of travel, suitability for remote therapy including Wi-Fi access, suitable technical equipment or devices, and the home environment including potential interruptions and space (Noble, Hasan, Simpson et al., 2022).

There are also some basic requirements for conducting teletherapy that need to be fulfilled when patients decide to proceed. It requires a quiet, peaceful place with a comfortable couch, chair, or bed in a room with appropriate lighting. The equipment required for having a hypnotherapy session online could either be a laptop, a PC with camera, a tablet, or a smart phone with a good Wi-Fi connection. Noise-canceling earphones can also be used to enhance the sound quality. In theory, sessions can be delivered via any standard video conferencing software as long as the connection is secure and confidential. Many different treatment centers now have their own hospital systems for video calling following the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is essential to advise the patient to take steps to minimize disturbances during sessions such as pets crawling, children crying or family, friends or colleagues barging into the room. Moreover, patients need to adhere to the time allocation fixed for the session and must commit to be available for the duration. They should not be rushing in and out of the hypnotherapy session as it defeats the whole purpose of treatment. It is preferable to fix the same time and day for weekly session to develop a routine. Furthermore, the camera should be positioned in such a way that the therapist is able to see the patient’s face and upper body, as it is important to observe their response and reaction during the hypnotherapy session.

Another preventive measure that needs to be taken is to request the patient to have a telephone next to them during the hypnotherapy session. This is helpful in case the internet connection is lost, the audio or video freezes, and in case the battery of the laptop or tablet runs flat. The availability of the telephone line makes it possible to complete the session rather than finishing off abruptly.

The Training Implications of Teletherapy

Most practitioners currently practicing teletherapy will have been inevitably trained and observed via traditional face-to-face methodology. Skills training is now widely available online for those who are interested in learning hypnosis. These training programs have become more easily accessible during the pandemic due to the social distancing measures. Due to the success of these online programs, it seems that they will continue to provide training online. However, there is always the need for face-to-face practice or observed clinical experience that must be completed in due course of time. Future work should look to develop competency assessments for hypnotherapists during observed online teletherapy. The technology allows more than one individual to connect remotely at any given time, and hypnotherapy assessors, trainees, and trainers alike could therefore all link into calls remotely, with the potential to improve training and the quality of future teletherapy.

Some Views of Therapists

I am able to meet all the same needs for my clients online as I am in the office. Because hypnosis does not require touching the client-working online is a great option. I also notice when clients are in the comfort of their own home they are able to have a more in-depth experience because they feel safer and more relaxed at a subconscious level. There’s no worry about catching the flu, parking, driving or finding the location. They just turn on their computer or phone and connect with me directly – it’s really that easy. (Adrian Rusin, Hypnotherapist in Dubai website, https://uaehypnosis.com/hypnotherapist-dubai-adrian-rusin/)

Home visits through video conferencing were used predominantly during the pandemic and provided me with insights into the patients’ home environments that may have impacted their mental health. These visits also allowed me to establish better rapport with my patients as they were able to easily share their interests, toys, and activities while they were at home. Because of insurance reimbursement issues, “home visits” could not be provided routinely despite their convenience for the patients and possible enhanced therapeutic benefit as the result of increased rapport. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understanding-hypnosis/202110/hypnosis-children-through-telehealth.

Conclusion

The journey of teletherapy so far, based on the experience of patients and hypnotherapists while at the same time backed up and endorsed by the ongoing evidence-based research, makes us feel confident in the ever-growing acceptance and utilization of video-therapy in the future. While there remains a role for face-to-face therapy for some patients, teletherapy is not only here to stay but is certain to continue to evolve and develop into an even more effective, reliable, convenient, and efficient way of delivering hypnotherapy remotely both for the patient and the hypnotherapist. With further innovations in technology, more and more people are likely to embrace this mode of treatment in the times to come to the extent that it may permanently become the predominant method of delivery in the future.

Die aufkommende neue Realität der Hypnose-Teletherapie: Eine wichtige neue Form der Vermittlung von Hypnotherapie und Training in klinischer Hypnose

SYED SHARIQ HASAN UND DIPESH H. VASANT

Zusammenfassung: Fernhypnotherapie ist eine Behandlungsform, die weltweit zunehmend genutzt wird. Ihre Einführung wurde durch die COVID-19 Pandemie beschleunigt, als Maßnahmen zur Infektionskontrolle ihre Umsetzung vorgeschrieben. Fernhypnotherapie mittels Video scheint beliebter und effektiver zu sein als über Telefon, von Patienten angenommen zu werden und – verglichen mit Therapie von Angesicht zu Angesicht – eine verbesserte Zugangsmöglichkeit zu bieten. Im Beitrag zur aktuellen Situation geben die Autoren einen Überblick über die neueste Literatur auf diesem spannenden Gebiet der Ferntherapie, wobei sie die Einführung der Video-Hypnotherapie diskutieren sowie deren Belege und Wirksamkeit verglichen mit Face-to-face Therapie, die Patienten Zufriedenheit, Vor- und Nachteile der Ferntherapie, ebenso wie die praktischen Überlegungen und zu berücksichtigenden Faktoren bei der Art der Vermittlung. Auch werden Konsequenzen der jüngsten Entwicklung für die Ausbildung erörtert. Schließlich werden die Bereiche für zukünftige Forschung und Entwicklung aufgezeigt. Insgesamt ist es wahrscheinlich, dass die Fernhypnotherapie über Videoplattformen auf lange Sicht Bestand haben wird und sie hat das Potenzial, zur Standardform der Therapie weltweit zu werden. Indessen legen weltweite Befunde nah, dass es auch noch einen Bedarf an persönlicher Therapie von Angesicht zu An- gesicht geben könnte, wobei die Präferenz des Patienten ein wichtiger Faktor ist.

Alida Iost-Peter

Dipl.-Psych.

La nouvelle réalité émergente de la téléthérapie par hypnose : un nouveau mode majeur de prestation de formation en hypnothérapie et en hypnose clinique

SYED SHARIW HASAN ET DIPESH H. VASAN

Résumé: L’hypnothérapie à distance est un traitement de plus en plus utilisé au niveau international. Son adoption a été accélérée à la suite de la pandémie de COVID-19 lorsque des mesures de contrôle des infections ont rendu obligatoire sa mise en œuvre. L’hypnothérapie à distance par vidéo, plutôt que la thérapie par téléphone, semble être plus populaire et efficace, ce qui semble être acceptable pour les patients et, qui par rapport à la thérapie en face à face, a le potentiel d’en améliorer l’accès. Dans cet article sur l’état de l’art, les auteurs passent donc en revue la littérature la plus récente dans ce domaine passionnant de la téléthérapie, discutant de l’adoption de la vidéo hypnothérapie ; ses preuves, y compris l’efficacité par rapport à la thérapie en face à face ; la satisfaction des patients ; avantages et inconvénients de la téléthérapie ; ainsi que des considérations pratiques et des facteurs à prendre en compte lors du choix du mode de réalisation. Ils discutent également les implications pour la formation des développements récents. Enfin, ils mettent en évidence les domaines de recherche et de développement futurs. Dans l’ensemble, il est probable que l’hypnothérapie à distance via des plateformes vidéo soit là pour rester à long terme et a le potentiel de devenir la forme de thérapie standard dans le monde. Cependant, des données récentes suggèrent qu’il pourrait encore y avoir un besoin de thérapie en face à face, le choix du patient étant un facteur important.

Gérard Fitoussi, M.D.

President-elect of the European Society of Hypnosis

La Nueva Realidad Emergente de la Teleterapia de Hipnosis: Un Nuevo Modo Importante de Entrega de Hipnoterapia y Capacitación en Hipnosis Clínica

SYED SHARIQ HASAN Y DIPESH H. VASANT

Resumen: La hipnoterapia a distancia es un tratamiento cada vez más utilizado a nivel internacional. Su adopción se aceleró luego de la pandemia de COVID-19 cuando las medidas de control de infecciones ordenaron su implementación. La hipnoterapia remota a través de video, en lugar de la terapia telefónica, parece ser más popular y efectiva, lo que parece ser aceptable para los pacientes y, en comparación con la terapia presencial, tiene el potencial de mejorar el acceso. Por lo tanto, en este artículo de vanguardia, los autores revisan la literatura más reciente en este emocionante campo de la teleterapia remota, discutiendo la adopción de la hipnoterapia a través de video; su evidencia, incluyendo la eficacia en comparación con la terapia presencial; satisfacción del paciente; ventajas y desventajas de la teleterapia; así como consideraciones prácticas y factores que deben tenerse en cuenta al decidir el modo de entrega. También discuten las implicaciones de capacitación de los desarrollos recientes. Finalmente, destacan áreas para futuras investigaciones y desarrollos. En general, es probable que la hipnoterapia remota a través de plataformas de video esté aquí para quedarse a largo plazo y tiene el potencial de convertirse en la forma estándar de terapia a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, datos recientes sugieren que todavía puede haber una necesidad de terapia cara a cara, siendo la elección del paciente un factor importante.

Vanessa Muñiz

Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA