Organization: North Texas Society of Clinical Hypnosis NTSCH
Website: https://northtexashypnosis.org/
Event Title: Between Memory and Merrigolds: Culturally Responsive Hypnosis for Grief Through the Lens of Día de Muertos
Agenda: NTSCH_October_Presentation-_CEU_Application_Nubia_Ballesteros_M.S.__LPC (1)NTSCH_October_Presentation-_CEU_Application_Nubia_Ballesteros_M.S.__LPC (1)
Dates: 10/07/2026
Location: Virtual
CE: 1
Contact : Nubia Ballesteros; Nballesteroslpc@gmail.com
Description: Grief is shaped not only by individual experiences of loss but also by cultural beliefs, family traditions, spirituality, and practices of remembrance. This 60-minute experiential presentation explores the culturally responsive integration of Mexican Día de Muertos traditions and symbolism into clinical hypnosis for grief. Participants will examine how culturally meaningful elements—including cempasúchil (marigolds), ofrendas, photographs, candles, food, music, and other sensory memories—may serve as therapeutic metaphors when they are consistent with a client’s individual cultural and personal meaning system.
The presentation begins with a brief experiential hypnosis demonstration incorporating grounding, imagery, symbolic remembrance, continuing bonds, values-based suggestions, future orientation, and reorientation. The clinical rationale for the intervention will then be examined through concepts of continuing bonds, meaning-making, and movement between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented experiences of grief.
Emphasis will be placed on cultural humility and client-led exploration rather than assuming that Día de Muertos practices or meanings are shared by all Mexican or Latino clients. Participants will also consider informed consent, appropriate titration of emotionally evocative imagery, and ethical safeguards related to memory and spiritual or supernatural interpretations. The presentation provides clinicians with a practical framework for integrating culturally meaningful symbolism into grief-focused hypnosis while supporting remembrance, resilience, and continued engagement in life.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify at least three culturally meaningful elements of Mexican Día de Muertos traditions that may be incorporated into grief-focused clinical hypnosis when appropriate to the client’s cultural and personal meaning system.
- Describe two ways that continuing bonds and meaning-making concepts can inform the use of hypnotic imagery and symbolism in grief treatment.
- Demonstrate a brief hypnotic intervention for grief that incorporates grounding, culturally responsive imagery, symbolic remembrance, values-based suggestion, and reorientation.
- Identify at least three clinical and ethical considerations when incorporating culturally meaningful imagery into grief-focused hypnosis, including cultural humility, informed consent, client-led meaning, and avoidance of imposed spiritual or supernatural interpretations.
Speaker info: Nubia Ballesteros M.S., LPC Ballesteros_C.V._2026