What happens in a Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Session?

Many people who come to see me have never had hypnotherapy before and lots don’t know what to expect. While I do explain this in the initial consultation, it can also be helpful to understand it even before you reach out for an appointment, especially if anxiety is something you need help with.

Our brains love predictably – it feels safe to them – so having a reliable structure to the session helps to increase its effectiveness. With that in mind, after our hellos and some upbeat small talk, the opening question is always about what’s been good since the last meeting.

Looking for the good things in life helps make a habit out of positive thinking and gratitude, which are scientifically proven to increase our happiness. Positive thought helps to promote a good flow of serotonin, which helps us feel better able to cope with life and reframes our experience.

Then in every session we’ll chat about how the brain works. Some of this is information covered in the initial consultation, but it’s also where you can learn new ways to build a healthy brain and improve your mental health. I’ll share new ideas from psychology and neuroscience to give you greater insight into your grey matter. Knowledge is power and the more knowledge you have about how to change your thoughts and habits, the more power you have to get yourself into a really good place.

The final section before the trance work is about scaling yourself – where are you on that scale of coping, or confidence or happiness? And then the most important part…. What do you need to start (or stop!) doing to improve that score and feel even better? This is your chance to identify those small steps you need to take. And because you are coming up with the solutions, you feel empowered and in control. I’m not here to make you better, I’m here to help you make yourself better!

With these nice positive ideas bubbling away in your mind as you think ahead to how much better you will feel once you have been for a run or booked that deep clean of your house or finally started looking for a new job, it’s time for trance. Trance is very ordinary, you are always in control and it’s a state of focused attention and deep relaxation.

As you lie down and listen to me read to you, you can float away and simply have some time to yourself. Trance work helps empty away the stresses you came in with so that you feel able to make the changes you have identified in the session.

And that’s how the hour pans out. I hope this has given you more of an idea of what a solution-focused hypnotherapy session involves. I’m always here to answer questions or perhaps this has been just what you needed to feel ready to book in with me? Click here to arrange your free initial consultation.