Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a combination of clinical hypnosis with psychotherapy. There are many and varied forms of psychotherapy and the one I am trained in is Solution Focused Psychotherapy, a modern psychotherapeutic approach which I use to help people feel better and to achieve their goals.
A forward-looking modality
In Solution Focused Psychotherapy we look forwards rather than backwards, focusing on solutions for the future rather than dwelling on problems of the past. We don’t analyse the problem or why you have it but instead we help you find the solutions.
This is the crucial component of this forward-facing approach, because we don’t expect you to constantly relive the things that have brought you to this point; on the contrary, reliving, retelling and re-experiencing painful or traumatic memories can be very unhelpful to bringing about positive change and is therefore not part of our practice.
Our goal is to get you from where you are and how you feel in the present, to where you want to be and how you would like to feel in the future, and we won’t achieve that by analysing painful memories. So if you have experienced unpleasant events in the past, we respectfully acknowledge them, and then focus on moving forwards.
The use of psychotherapy is not new, and most people will understand it as a way to help people overcome stress and emotional problems. You might have heard it called “talking therapy”, because the therapist and client talk together to create strategies to overcome their difficulties.
Clinical Hypnosis
Psychotherapy itself is extremely beneficial and with the application of hypnosis we enable the subconscious mind to make the appropriate changes. As a Clinical Hypnotherapist I combine modern psychotherapy with the use of hypnosis to help people achieve positive and constructive changes in their life.
We live in a fast-paced, demanding world with busy lives, daily challenges, and often feel like we are being pulled in all directions. Hypnosis applied in a therapeutic way reduces anxiety and calms the mind, acting as a buffer, and for those experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety it can offer very effective relief.
About Hypnosis
Hypnosis is simply a trance state, which is a very natural state of the body and mind, something we do several times a day without realising it: when we’re watching T.V., driving the car, out for a run – we do it all the time. These are all states of focused attention which are similar to the feeling of being hypnotised. In this way hypnosis feels quite ordinary, like being in a daydream guided by the hypnotherapist, but it is a very efficient technique for psychotherapists to use.
Debunking the myths around hypnosis
You will be in control throughout, so that if, for example, you wanted to come out of hypnosis at any time you can do so by simply opening your eyes. No-one is in control of your mind but you, which may be contrary to what you believe from films, books, and the media. Nobody can hypnotise you against your will and nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to do – your subconscious mind will happily and vigorously reject any suggestion that is inappropriate for you. Clinical hypnosis is nothing like the images stage hypnotists have created.
It’s a partnership
Hypnotherapy is more of a collaboration between you and the therapist rather than something that we do to you. There’s no magic wand and we can’t simply hypnotise your problem away. The change happens because you want it to happen and are prepared to work with me to enable it to happen. So an important part of your contribution is your willingness to make changes to the way you think.
The Solution Focused process means we will:
1. Discuss where you are currently and
2. Determine where you want to be and then
3. Help you make the necessary changes
– and we avoid problem-talk.
Hypnosis in the therapeutic setting – what to expect
I offer a free initial consultation where we meet, assess your needs and discuss what you want to achieve, how hypnotherapy can help you and how many sessions you are likely to need. The subsequent psychotherapy sessions involve much more than hypnosis. We will meet, normally on a weekly basis, with each session building on the previous ones.
The first part of each session is a discussion about the progress you have made and I will be encouraging you to express yourself positively so that we focus on solutions rather than problems. The next part is where I guide you into imagining your desired future, exploring how you will get there and enabling you to view things from a helpful perspective.
The final part of the session is the hypnosis part, where we reinforce what has been covered in the session. I will lead you into a deeply relaxed state of focused attention where you will feel warm, comfortable and safe and you can hear everything that is being said to you. While you are in this relaxed state of awareness I will continue to talk to you, making beneficial suggestions directed towards the subconscious mind which is more responsive in this state. These suggestions are designed to help you change unhelpful thought patterns. This part is very relaxing and calming and you can simply get comfortable and enjoy it.
Please get in touch if you have questions. I’d like to help.
Tel : 01594 862862
Email : info@hypnity.co.uk