What is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy?
First of all, its good to have an understanding of what Hypnosis is. And for that its useful to start with being clear about what it is not. Many people have ideas about hypnosis formed around stage hypnotists who apparently manage to get people to do all sorts of odd things purely for the entertainment of the audience. Hypnosis as used in therapy is not like that at all – hypnosis is simply a highly focused state of awareness in which it becomes possible to access and communicate more directly with a person’s sub-conscious mind.
We all experience hypnotic, highly focused trance-like states all the time. Think of the times when you have been totally absorbed in a good book, TV programme or film – we may literally feel we are in a different time and place and our sense of time may slow down or speed up. Any highly focused repetitive activity such as jogging, dancing or cycling can also produce a state where people experience thoughts and actions flowing more effortlessly.
Hypnosis as therapy
Many people suffering from fears, phobias, anxiety or unwanted behavioural patterns realize that these patterns of thought or behaviour are unhelpful but feel unable to change. It’s as though they are rooted deep down in some unaccessible place. Hypnosis can be understood as a highly effective way of talking directly to those unconscious parts of the mind in order to produce change. In deep trance-like states, experience shows that previously rigid patterns of thought and behaviour become more accessible and flexible. In short, more open to change.
Solution Focused – what is that about?
For a long time, the whole field of psychotherapy and counseling was locked into the idea that the nature of a person’s problems had to be thoroughly investigated and understood. By getting to understand ‘the root of the problem’, the client gained insight and this would enable the person to deal with the problem more effectively. With this kind of therapy, ‘the problem’ can become the whole focus of attention, with months – sometimes years – of treatment time devoted to unraveling layers of issues.
In contrast, with the solution-focused approach we accept that there is a problem which needs to be resolved, we need to determine what your goals are and then find ways to help you feel better as quickly and effectively as possible by focusing on solutions rather than problems.
Hypnotherapy
Patrick Shaw MBA, DHypPsych(UK)
