A hipnoterapia destaca-se como prática complementar no tratamento da obesidade, podendo ser conduzida por psicólogos de forma integrada a planos terapêuticos, respeitando a singularidade e a disponibilidade subjetiva de cada paciente. Este relato apresenta a utilização da hipnoterapia como recurso terapêutico em um hospital especializado no tratamento da obesidade. A experiência envolveu atendimento psicológico individual com hipnoterapia a pacientes internados por até seis meses, com suporte multidisciplinar e dietas hipocalóricas, entre janeiro de 2020 e novembro de 2022. As sessões eram aplicadas quinzenalmente, com duração de sessenta minutos, focando na regulação emocional, autoestima, compulsão alimentar e motivação para mudanças no estilo de vida. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa (parecer nº 7.498.693).
Os pacientes apresentavam histórico de insucesso em tentativas anteriores de perda de peso e resistência a mudanças de hábitos. Foi necessário promover autogestão emocional e autocuidado para manter o peso clínico saudável adquirido durante a internação. As intervenções hipnóticas contribuíram para a redefinição de experiências, acesso a estados de tranquilidade e reorganização de crenças, essenciais para mudanças no estilo de vida.
Relatos espontâneos mostraram alívio emocional (80%), melhora do sono (39%), redução da ansiedade alimentar (50%) e maior disposição para atividades físicas (60%). Metade dos pacientes utilizou exercícios de auto-hipnose em momentos de tensão, relatando sensação de estabilidade e segurança.
A implementação da hipnoterapia exigiu adaptação do ambiente, capacitação profissional e monitoramento contínuo. O espaço foi equipado com cadeira adaptada para até 300 kg, som e iluminação configurados para recepção e relaxamento. Foram realizados cursos de capacitação em hipnoterapia para garantir segurança e eficácia. O acompanhamento contínuo incluiu escuta ativa das demandas e desejos dos pacientes, dentro de uma perspectiva de cuidado ampliado. Quando utilizada com responsabilidade técnica e ética, a hipnoterapia potencializa o cuidado humanizado e fortalece a experiência subjetiva de mudança, sendo um recurso relevante na atenção integral a pacientes com obesidade.
In the treatment of obesity, hypnotherapy stands out as a complementary practice, which can be conducted by psychologists in an integrated manner with therapeutic plans, respecting the uniqueness and subjective availability of each patient. This work aims to report the use of hypnotherapy as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of obesity, promoting emotional self-management and self-care. This experience report describes the use of hypnotherapy as a complementary practice in a hospital specialized in the treatment of obesity. The experience involved individual psychological care using hypnotherapy in patients hospitalized for a period of up to six months, with multidisciplinary support, very low-calorie diets, between January 2020 and November 2022. Hypnotherapy was applied, biweekly, to 120 patients of both sexes, aged ≥ 18 years, during consultations with psychologists, lasting sixty minutes. Hypnotherapy was used as an auxiliary resource to psychotherapy, focusing on emotional regulation, self-esteem, binge eating and motivation for lifestyle changes. The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (opinion no. 7,498,693) and aimed to expand therapeutic resources to deal with eating impulses, anxiety, hopelessness and low self-esteem, commonly present in the weight loss process.
The patients in this study reported a history of failure in previous attempts to reduce weight and demonstrated resistance to new lifestyle changes. In this sense, it was necessary to promote emotional self-management and self-care necessary to maintain the healthy clinical weight acquired during hospitalization through behavioral changes. Hypnotic interventions contributed to the redefinition of experiences, access to states of tranquility and the reorganization of beliefs, aspects necessary for lifestyle changes.
Among the patients who received Hypnotherapy, spontaneous reports were observed that evidenced emotional relief (80%), improved sleep (39%), reduced food anxiety (50%) and greater willingness to do physical activities (60%). Half of the patients reported using self-hypnosis exercises in moments of tension, referring to a feeling of stability and security.
The implementation of hypnosis in the treatment of obesity required adaptation of the environment, professional training and continuous monitoring. The space was equipped with a chair adapted to support up to 300 kg, in addition to sound and lighting environments configured for reception and relaxation. It was necessary to carry out a training course in hypnotherapy for the team of psychologists, aiming to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of the care provided. During the entire hospitalization, continuous monitoring was carried out with active listening to the demands and desires of the patients, within a perspective of expanded therapeutic care. It is important to emphasize that obesity treatment institutions have qualified professionals and integrated therapeutic plans, favoring the ethical, safe and qualified use of hypnotherapy. When used with technical and ethical responsibility, hypnotherapy enhances humanized care and can strengthen the subjective experience of change. Thus, hypnotherapy is configured as a relevant resource in the comprehensive and humanized care of patients with obesity.
