Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a type of talking therapy which combines psychotherapy with hypnosis.

A typical hypnotherapy session is structured firstly to help you positively define the changes you are seeking in your life.  We also take time to understand how the brain is actually working, directly relating this to the particular issues you wish to address.

We follow this with hypnosis, some time spent in a state of deep relaxation which helps to consolidate this focus and understanding.

“Focus On The Solution Not The Problem”

The type of hypnotherapy I practice is known as Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.  This is a particular specialism which, instead of looking back at all that has “gone wrong” in your life, encourages you to focus on what you want for your future.

The major advantage of this approach is the speed with which significant improvements can often be achieved.  By switching your focus to a positive view of your own desired future, your subconscious can become a powerful ally in helping you to achieve this.

It may also be reassuring to know that you will not be asked to revisit old problems or relive past trauma.  There is no need to get to the “root of the problem” – in reality we sometimes simply don’t know where it all began or the reason why we feel as we do.

“What we focus on we amplify.  By focusing on what is wrong we very quickly forget everything that is right in our lives.  Fortunately the reverse is also true”.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy removes that pressure and offers a gentle and positive way to take control and move forward with your life.

What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is one element of your hypnotherapy session and, put simply, is just a state of focused attention.

It is similar in many ways to daydreaming, or to being so engrossed in a task that time flies by without you even noticing.

The main difference between daydreaming and hypnosis is that, with hypnosis, I as your hypnotherapist will guide you into this focused state in a more purposeful way.  We use the time while you are there to reinforce the positive direction and thought patterns that you have identified during your therapy session.

Most people fine this a very pleasant and relaxing experience.

How you experience hypnosis depends on you.  You may find that you relax into a deep trance and that time loses meaning, or you may feel that you are completely awake and aware throughout – this really doesn’t matter, and good results can still be achieved either way.  Even if you believe that you “can’t” be hypnotised you can still benefit enormously from this process.

It is important to note that, contrary to the image portrayed in the media, hypnosis does not mean any loss of control.  It is not possible for anyone to put in place suggestions or triggers without your knowledge.  You remain in control throughout, and you can return to full waking awareness at any point should you feel that you want to or need to.

Am I Going Mad?
It's been the strangest couple of  years - more so than any in living memory perhaps. It's particularly striking at the moment how many of my clients are people who have never experienced poor mental health previously.  Those who have always regarded themselves as strong, capable people now genuinely concerned ... Read more
Hidden Anxiety
I am often asked 'What is the most common reason people seek you out?'. Without a doubt it's some form of anxiety.  Anxiety has a sneaky way of hiding itself in a range of seemingly unrelated symptoms. We’re probably all familiar with the immediate physical symptoms of anxiety – the ... Read more

Am I Going Mad?

It’s been the strangest couple of  years – more so than any in living memory perhaps. It’s particularly striking at the moment how many of my clients are people who have never experienced poor mental health previously.  Those who have always regarded themselves as strong, capable people now genuinely concerned at their own inability to deal with things they would usually take in their stride.

If this sounds like you I would like to reassure you, you are not going mad.

This is a real concern that I’ve heard more than once during recent sessions. It’s a very rewarding part of my job to be able to explain what’s happening, how we can start to put it right, and to see the relief that this explanation brings.

The fact is that brains change all the time (neuroplasticity), and the experiences of the last 18 months have inevitably changed some parts of the brain, often in ways that we find unhelpful.  Approached in the right way we can take conscious control of some of these changes and effectively reshape our own brain to work in the way that we want.  At the same time we can harness the power of the subconscious to work with us rather than against us.

In every first consultation with a new client I take time to explain some of the science of why the brain behaves as it does, and the steps we can take to influence our own mental state.

Many new clients find this extremely useful even before any treatment begins, as understanding it immediately puts them more in control.  We then follow this up with gentle and focused techniques to help the brain return to normal service, and to help them return to being the strong, capable person they really are.

Hidden Anxiety

I am often asked ‘What is the most common reason people seek you out?’.

Without a doubt it’s some form of anxiety.  Anxiety has a sneaky way of hiding itself in a range of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

We’re probably all familiar with the immediate physical symptoms of anxiety – the racing heart, feeling short of breath, a churning stomach or feeling hot and sweaty.

However, in the longer-term anxiety can manifest in a multitude of other ways, some without an obvious connection to our state of mind.   Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a classic example of this, but other physical complaints such as difficulty sleeping, migraines, skin conditions, over-sensitivity to pain or noise, high blood pressure etc. can equally have their foundation in anxiety.

And the list goes on.  Traits that we sometimes regard as part of who we are can also be indications that anxiety levels are running higher than is healthy.  Lack of confidence, fear of change, inability to stand up for yourself, fear of driving, phobias, discomfort in social situations, inability to cope with the simplest of challenges, becoming withdrawn or bad-tempered are just some of the clues that tell us that all is not well.

There is sometimes a perception that “well that’s just how I am”, however by working together in sessions we can often address underlying anxiety, achieving positive changes in areas of life where perhaps a change was least expected.

It’s unlikely any of us will ever be in a situation where there are no potential causes of stress, but we can help ourselves get to a more robust mental state so that we can cope better and alleviate some of the many possible symptoms of stress and anxiety.