Psychologist Bianca Radu

When I work with children, the first question I ask myself is: how can I behave differently from other adults in order to achieve the desired results, namely the child’s cooperation?

I listen to adults carefully and with empathy, I help them make sense of what they’re telling me, and I help them become aware of and make use of their own resources in achieving their goals – which, ultimately, are to resolve the dental problems that brought them here.

There are patients – both children and adults – who are afraid of something specific: drills, needles, anaesthesia, loud noises or pain; but in fact, many of them are afraid of the ‘unknown’. They do not know what to expect or exactly what the procedure involves, and so they end up amplifying their own fear by imagining the worst-case scenarios.

The presence of a psychologist at the clinic is an opportunity for the patient. I am there to build a relationship of trust with them; to begin with, I am their ‘safety net’, their source of moral and motivational support throughout their journey until the end of treatment.

Together, we embark on a journey in which the patient, guided by me, comes to understand their fears, learns to manage them and discovers the inner resources that will help them cope with future challenges and other situations in life. This helps them to move on from me and look to the future with confidence and strength.

I was delighted to find that the doctors at DENT ESTET were open to the idea of bringing a psychologist onto their team, recognising the importance of counselling in the medical field. This collaboration brings me great satisfaction, delivering tangible results for patients who, out of fear, had been putting off visits to the dentist. By working together, they gain the confidence to look after their oral health.

Doctors refer patients to me, having observed the impact I have on their complex cases. I collaborate successfully with surgeons such as Dr Raluca Drăgan, Dr Cătălin Martișcă, Dr Mihai Ioan, and prosthodontists – Dr Adelina Budiș and Dr Daiana Roșu. At DENT ESTET 4 Kids, I work alongside all the dentists: Dr Laura Velcu, Dr Aura Florea, Dr Andreea Pavel and Dr Ioana Babuț.

Every patient has their own story and I learn something from each of them, but my satisfaction is all the greater when I manage to help a patient who does not believe in psychologists, in hypnosis, or in anything that this approach entails, and in the end, it seems incredible and unreal to them that they managed to get through a procedure so easily – one they’d put off all their life out of fear.

Patients who tell me they do not believe in hypnosis are a challenge for me; nevertheless, we establish right from the start that they are in control and are the sole experts on their own lives. I’m simply there to support them. But they need to be committed – willing to do this for themselves. And more often than not, it works because no other method has worked, so they’re open to trying something new.

I’d like to start by debunking the myths surrounding hypnosis. To quote a professor, we’re in a trance when we watch a film, a show or listen to music. In practical terms, we’re looking at a screen where images unfold that make us cry or laugh, as if we were living there alongside the characters.

My suggestion is to try a 10-minute relaxation trance. The feedback I most often receive from patients is that they have never felt so relaxed in their lives.

Hypnosis is a state of well-being that you can achieve using your own resources, and it’s a shame not to want to use them, especially as they are fully supported at DENT ESTET clinics.

What I do is take on the role of a storyteller, rather like Creangă. I find out what a patient’s strengths are and then recount them in their own words; that’s why I’m fully in tune with them, and they’re perfectly aligned with their own story. During a trance, part of their mind remains conscious, but they let go of control because the world unfolding before them is so pleasant that they prefer to stay there.

Calm, warm, patient, understanding, open-minded, spontaneous, creative... I’ve heard many words of praise directed at me; some seem overwhelming to me, others a bit ‘too much’ 😊, but essentially, that’s who I am. 😊 I see myself this way because I actually dive right in with them into the trance I create for them, and we share this beautiful experience together.