Solution focused Hypnotherapy is a combination of Solution focused brief therapy (the talking bit) and Hypnotherapy (the nice bit at the end where you just relax)
What is Solution Focused Therapy?
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) was developed in the early 1980s. It was created by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and their colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg are considered the primary pioneers and founders of this therapeutic approach. SFBT emerged as a response to traditional problem-focused therapies and aimed to provide a more efficient and effective approach to therapy by focusing on solutions and building on clients' strengths.
Why do clients love Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?
Have a chat with someone you trust and try this experiment. Talk about something that's happened in the past that's made you sad. Remember how you felt and note down the emotional response. Are you crying? Do you feel flat and sad when you recall it? Now ask yourself this question. Has anything changed about the event that I shared? The obvious answer is no! You have coped with and survived everything from your past. Sharing this event hasn't changed it, just reminded you and your body how it felt.
Now try another method. Discuss what you did to change or recover from the sad event. Did you hug a loved one? Sleep extra. Take a run. Have a good cry and make a plan for something fun. These are all coping skills. Now notice how you feel after you've discussed this part. Are you feeling stronger? More resourceful and less emotional?
This in a nutshell is why Solution focused approach is less emotive than traditional counselling. We discuss healthy coping strategies that you have used in the past and turn your focus to your personal incredible strengths and strategies. We even try out some new ones. Believe me when I tell you, you have ALL of the solutions to your problems even if right now you cannot imagine what they are. The beauty of YOUR solutions is that they are more likely to work, and also more likely to stick!
What's the Hypnotherapy part?
Hypnosis, in medical terms, refers to a therapeutic technique that involves inducing a trance-like state in an individual. It is a state of altered consciousness where a person becomes highly responsive to suggestions and instructions. This happens to us naturally many times a day. When we are driving a familiar route and we don’t remember how we got there. When we are watching TV and just drift off for a moment. Maybe when we are listening to birds in the garden. During therapy-induced hypnosis, the person's attention is intensely focused, and their mind becomes more open to accepting and incorporating suggestions from the hypnotherapist.
In medical settings, hypnosis is often used as a complementary therapy to support various medical and psychological treatments. It can be utilised to manage pain, alleviate anxiety and stress, assist in behaviour change, and enhance relaxation. Hypnosis is typically performed by a trained healthcare professional, such as a licensed hypnotherapist or a healthcare provider with specialized training in hypnosis techniques. It is important to note that hypnosis is not a standalone treatment but is used in conjunction with other forms of medical or psychological interventions.
What can solution-focused Hypnotherapy help with?
The easiest answer to this question is anything! The list is endless. It can help with Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Sleep problems, phobias, stress, public speaking or social anxiety. Unexplained infertility, immune system conditions, pain…… the list really is almost endless.
I’ve written more on each of these on my web pages.
What can I expect in a Solution focused Hypnotherapy session?
The first session will be slightly different to the subsequent sessions. In the first session I will explain in detail, how you are suffering, why and what we are going to do about it. You will have a clear understanding of your specific problem from a neuroscience perspective and then a clear roadmap to how we begin the change.
You are given small tasks to do each week depending on what your complaint is. This could be something as simple as increasing your water intake if I think that is playing a role in your challenge. In addition to this, you will decide on a commitment that you have suggested with the help of my questioning.
Subsequent sessions are much more flexible with our discussions about your future life in the foreground.
At the end of each appointment, you will be offered a hypnosis session which will relax you and will actually embed what we have discussed.
You will also be given a recording to listen to at home to keep the work going between sessions.
What is a typical free initial consultation session like?
In the initial consultation, I will of course ask you how you would like me to help. You will explain how your complaint is affecting your life and what you would like the outcome to be. We will get to know one another to give you the opportunity to make an informed decision about whether to embark on this journey with me. If you don’t like my approach or my answers you will be encouraged to seek someone else. I will even offer to help you find someone different. The most important thing to any therapy is that you feel safe, heard and hopeful. I will discuss how many sessions I imagine you will need.
So what are the 3 main principles of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution Focus: The therapy focuses on identifying and amplifying the client's desired outcomes and goals rather than dwelling on the problems or difficulties. The emphasis is on exploring the client's strengths, resources, and potential solutions rather than analyzing the causes or origins of the issue.
Trance and Hypnosis: Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy incorporates hypnosis techniques to induce a relaxed, trance-like state. Trance allows the client's subconscious mind to become more receptive to positive suggestions and imagery that align with their desired outcomes. The hypnotic state can facilitate relaxation, visualisation, and deeper engagement with the therapeutic process.
Collaborative Approach: The therapist and client work together as active partners in the therapeutic process. The therapist guides the client towards their desired goals by asking solution-focused questions, encouraging positive thinking, and exploring potential strategies for change. The therapist respects the client's expertise and autonomy, focusing on their unique strengths and abilities.
These principles aim to promote a forward-looking, goal-oriented approach that empowers clients and facilitates positive change. Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy seeks to assist individuals in accessing their inner resources and strengths, enabling them to find effective solutions and create positive outcomes in their lives.
How much does Solution Focused Hypnotherapy cost?
An initial consultation for solution focused hypnotherapy with me is FREE
Where are the sessions?
The sessions are either in my Harpenden Clinic face to-face or via Zoom online. Both are equally as successful, it is purely a matter of personal choice and geographical location.