Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
What is Solution
Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a type of ‘talking therapy'. It focuses on the present and desired changes for the future. SFH is only interested in the past for the positive memories, skills and resources which may be helpful establishing a solution and give it longevity. It is made up of two therapeutic approaches, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy.
The client in collaboration with the therapist, via some Solution Focused brief styled questions establishes the solutions to the client’s issues. The therapist will ask clients to consider their preferred future, for instance asking solution-orientated questions. This enables the client’s possible solutions to become more obvious and gives the client a goal to work towards.
SFH is not a judgmental, prescriptive or diagnostic therapy. Whilst the client is in a relaxed trance state, the client's solutions are more likely to be taken on by their sub conscious mind. The client paints a picture of what their desired outcome looks like to them. Then, during trance, their sub conscious mind is more focused and aware of this picture and more likely to create a new "behaviour template", accepting it as the new default into their future.
The hypnotic state or trance is something that we all experience many times throughout a normal day. We can experience trance whilst we read a book, whilst watching a film or even driving a car. The client is conscious at all times, able to process and decide whether information or suggestions are useful to them or not and will not accept or do anything against their will.
Whilst in trance the client becomes very calm, relaxed and anxiety levels are lowered. They are able to visualise images and reflect on different ideas that may be useful to them.
how can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can help individuals experiencing
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Confidence and self-esteem issues.
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Symptoms of stress, low mood, anger and anxiety (including panic attacks), if necessary, in conjunction with medication
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Physical issues such as, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) when it can help people to cope better with their symptoms
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Problems with blood pressure
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Issues with their weight
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Chronic pain conditions.
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Specific phobias such as fear of spiders, water, flying, and public speaking can be minimized.
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Insomnia
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Addictions
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Painful memories and traumatic experiences.
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Relationship/marital difficulties
Also for people who;
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Are suffering with migraine,
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Are attempting to stop smoking
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Experience nightmares.
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Have specific obsessions, fears
What can I expect during an Initial Consultation for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy session?
What can I expect during a typical
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy session?
During a typical session, your Solution Focused Hypnotherapy therapist will start by asking you about your week (or during the time since your last session). This will help you to discuss what positive things have been going on, and whether you have noticed or made any changes in your life that are moving you nearer to your goals. Following this, your Solution Focused Hypnotherapist will discuss aspects about how the brain works and how it relates to your experiences.
Discussions involving some solution focused questions and other techniques will then help you to consider and refine your solutions that can help you to move forward in your life.
Depending on your circumstances, these discussions may also involve other elements of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) as appropriate.
After this, you’ll then be invited to quietly relax (usually in a chair or on a couch), whilst your hypnotherapist speaks and guides you gently into a relaxed state, where you can enjoy resting in a day-dream-like trance state, where your mind can focus on and further absorb and reflect on the things that will have been discussed during the session.
During the session, your therapist may also use other measures to gauge how things are going, such as using a GSR monitor (a small device which uses finger sensors to painlessly measure stress levels), or ask you to respond to items on various rating scales, that can highlight changes in how you are feeling as you progress through your sessions.
The Initial Consultation Session is designed to allow the therapist to gather information about the client for administrative purposes and also to see if there is evidence of underlying anxiety, depression or anger problems. This initial meeting is where the collaboration between therapist and client starts. It allows you to get to know your therapist and to begin to develop a good rapport.
The client will be asked to complete or sign a consent form, which may include terms and conditions of therapy, and how your data will be utilised and protected (you may be asked to complete this prior to the Initial Consultation).
You will discuss the issues for which you are seeking help and how you would like things to be different, including your goals and best hopes for how you would like things to be in the future. This could include a wide variety of things, such as wanting to feel more relaxed or confident, to cope better with things in your life, or to overcome a phobia. Goals may also include wanting to change certain behaviours, such as to sleep better, to create better eating habits or to stop drinking too much – and many other things for which Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can be beneficial.
The therapist will also give you an indication of the likely number of sessions which may be required, this will differ depending on your circumstances and the reasons for you seeking therapy.
Within each session we discuss how the brain works, how we experience emotions in the way that we do and how these can affect us and our habits, and what we can do to change these.
You will also be provided with a relaxation recording to listen to (either as a CD or sent as a link), for you to use in between your sessions, which can help you relax and reinforce the benefits of hypnotherapy.