What is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is an integrative therapeutic approach that combines elements of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (talking therapy) with hypnosis, and neuroscience principles that can help you overcome mental health and psychological conditions which are typically made worse by, or cause by some level of stress or anxiety.
Unlike traditional therapy, which may delve into past traumas and past problems, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy focuses on your present and preferred future, when things are better, because you can't change the past, but you can change the way you think about it, as well as the way you think about your present and your future possibilities.
In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, you can expect a collaborative and supportive approach during each session, where you'll be encouraged to focus your strengths, skills and solutions for change that helps you establish a different perspectives and more positive thought patterns that bring about lasting and beneficial changes in the way you think and respond to situations in your life now and in the future.
Hypnosis, (or trance), allows your brain to consolidate the changes faster than just talking therapy alone. It's a relaxing experience that helps you to overcome your issues at a deeper level by harnessing the power of your subconscious mind through guided visualisation and suggestions which induce a deep state of relaxation and a calmer state of mind allowing you to think differently and more rationally about your situation, whilst listening to positive suggestions that support the changes you desire.
![]()
How long does Solution Focused Hypnotherapy take?
Typically, people have between six to eight therapy sessions with a solution focused hypnotherapist for conditions related to anxiety and stress and find it an effective way to create lasting change.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is considered a brief therapy because it focuses on achieving specific changes and goals in a relatively short amount of time and is underpinned by up-to-date research in the fields of neuroscience and brain-based therapies.
Unlike traditional therapy, which may delve extensively into past experiences, emotions, and traumas, solution focused hypnotherapy focuses on your future and emphasises practical solutions building on your strengths and resources to create change quickly.
Of course, as with anything, lasting change does require some practice and repetition for good results because our brains are wired to form habits through repetition, so the success of therapy relies on your willingness to engage and commit to the process.
How does Solution Focused Hypnotherapy utilise brain science?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy sessions help you gain a simple neuroscientific understanding about your brain in relation to your issues. It's central to the Solution Focused Hypnotherapy method because understanding how your brain works is a powerful tool which helps you to cope and perform better.
Right from your initial consultation, you'll gain an understanding of how your brain working in any given situation and what you can do to encourage it to work in a more positive way, to help you overcome unwanted symptoms and difficulties rather than exacerbating them.
What role does understanding brain function play in effective therapy for behavioural change?
Understanding how your brain works in therapy provides valuable insights into the patterns and triggers that influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. You'll learn to recognise recurring patterns and identify the triggers that evoke specific emotional responses.
This simple neuroscientific understanding gives you insight into the interplay between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, allowing you to interrupt harmful cycles and develop more adaptive coping strategies.
Solution focused questioning during sessions also helps you spend more time in the rational part of your brain, which helps the process as you're able to consider small changes you make over the next few days that will help you move towards your desired change.
This process encourages you to engage your intellectual mind, involved with conscious thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. It activates your left prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with positive emotions and cognitive control promoting positivity and clarity in addressing challenges. And, overtime, you'll begin to gain greater intellectual control, many clients notice sleeping better as stress is reduced, feeling more confident and making better decisions creating healthier patterns of thought and behaviour.
What happens in the brain during hypnosis?
During hypnosis your brain experiences changes that help create a relaxed and focused state. This altered state involves increased activity in regions responsible for attention and cognitive control, while decreasing activity in areas related to self-awareness. Your brain shifts in brain wave patterns linked to relaxation and suggestibility, theta brainwaves dominate, allowing you to visualise how positive change will benefit your life.
In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy techniques like relaxation, positive visualization, and changing negative thoughts can help rewire your brain to reduce anxiety. By practicing these techniques during hypnosis sessions, it helps you create new pathways in your brain linked to calmness and confidence, while weakening old pathways associated with anxiety and stress. It helps you learn to manage your emotions better, change unhelpful thought patterns, and gradually overcome anxiety in daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions about Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
What Are the Benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy has many well documented benefits. The positive approach is effective in treating a number of psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic attacks, social phobia, depression, OCD and more. Any condition which is caused by or made worse by ongoing stress or anxiety can benefit from Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. The approach is practical, modern and an evidence based approach to problem-solving, so rather than analysing your past or diagnosing specific disorders, the therapeutic process focuses on finding solutions. This reflects the basic belief that problems are best solved by focusing on what is already working, and how you'd prefer your future life to be. It's also a brief therapy, allowing you to make changes in a shorter period of time, on average people tend to have between six to eight hypnotherapy sessions to create lasting change.
What can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy help with?
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can help with a broad range of issues and challenges, including: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, Low Mood, Stress, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Issues, Low Confidence and much more. Overall, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy offers a positive approach that helps you get back to the real you again. Happier, Confident and in control.
What is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that combines solution-focused talk with hypnosis and is used to treat a whole range of psychological conditions which are often caused by or made worse by stress and anxiety. The Solution Focused approach focuses on the outcome you want, rather than the issues that prompted you to seek out support, so the emphasis is on your future and how you want things to be, so you won't need to analyse your past or painful memories. The addition of hypnosis is extremely beneficial because hypnosis allows your brain to consolidate the changes faster than just through talking therapy alone.
How does Solution Focused Therapy differ from traditional therapy?
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy differs from traditional therapy because the focus is on solutions and your preferred future, when things are different, and offers a more positive way to overcome challenges. While traditional therapy may delve into past traumas and deficits, Solution Focused Therapy helps you focus on how you want things to be and solution focused questioning and discussions, allow you to gain a different perspective and find the solutions that are right for you, which helps you make positive changes, establishing new healthier and positive patterns of thought.
