What is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH)?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy takes a fresh approach to permanent, positive change. It can be particularly effective for:
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a modern type of talking therapy that uses solution focused questioning techniques combined with trance, helping people to make positive, lasting changes in their lives
Core belief of the solution-focused approach
A core belief of the solution-focused approach is that you have the necessary skills and resources to find solutions to your problems. Your Solution Focused Hypnotherapist will work alongside you, asking questions to help you recognise where you are now, visualize where you’d like to be, and develop your own strengths to make that solution a reality. These ideas and strategies are then reinforced in hypnosis: an enjoyable, natural, but powerful way to engage your subconscious mind in helping make the changes you’d like. Where other schools of Hypnotherapy may deal directly with a problem, eg weight management (making chocolate cake taste like cigarette ash), Solution Focused Hypnotherapy recognises that, if the underlying issues are not addressed (eg anxiety leading to poor choices), this approach is likely to have limited effect. We believe that, in working towards increased general wellbeing and self-esteem, you will make the changes you need to get back on track. So, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help not only with your presenting problem, but can also help you feel more in control of your life overall.
The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) is an independent body which was founded in 2010. It is the only professional association dedicated to the discipline of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) and its practitioners. We take pride in our ever-growing national and international membership, and our mission is to help raise the standards and profile of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and the work of all our members.
All AfSFH Hypnotherapists have been trained to a high standard of competency and are required to undertake continuing professional development to ensure they are up to date with the latest neuroscientific research and Solution Focused methods.
How does Solution Focused Hypnotherapy work?
It’s not magic - although it may appear to work like that! By visualizing where you’d like to be in life, instead of focusing on the problems that have brought you to where you are, we’ll start your journey towards positive transformation. In this mindset we then use hypnosis to engage your subconscious, using the brain’s natural adaptability to forge new, more helpful pathways towards those desired changes.
What happens in the brain during hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a totally natural state of relaxed hyper-focus which you slip into all the time, for example when you drive somewhere safely but can’t remember the route, or get ‘lost’ in a book or a film; when you’re ‘miles away’ but can easily be brought back to reality if circumstances change. In hypnosis your creative, Theta brainwaves dominate, allowing you to envisage vividly how positive change will benefit your life. Your subconscious mind becomes open to positive suggestions which it can then work on over time, while you feel deeply relaxed and supported.
Why is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy effective?
Your Solution Focused Hypnotherapist will give a clear explanation of how the brain works in relation to your challenges, and use careful prompts and questions to focus on solutions to these problems, rather than the problems themselves. This knowledge and forward-looking focus can prove very empowering, and the hypnosis section of your session offers an opportunity to relax and engage your subconscious mind in making those solutions a reality. Over time, hypnosis can build more positive neural pathways in the brain, so the improvements you experience feel like natural developments rather than forced change. Solution Focused Hypnotherapists combine the established best practices of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SBT), alongside elements of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) where appropriate.
Is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy safe?
Yes. Therapeutic hypnosis is a collaborative process, using your brain’s natural ability for trance to optimize your best hopes for the future. You are in control throughout, and your subconscious mind only accepts suggestions it recognises as beneficial. Your AfSFH therapist is subject to a strict code of conduct as part of their membership. They cannot do anything to you with hypnosis, but will facilitate you making the changes you need in hypnosis. Hypnotherapy is not an ‘alternative’ therapy; it is based in neuroscience and has been recognised by the British Medical Association since 1892.
Read about the safety of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.How long does Solution Focused Hypnotherapy take?
The unique approach of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can offer rapid, lasting change. We recognise that it’s important to find a pace that suits you, so we suggest 8-10 sessions, but that’s a broad estimate; smoking/vaping cessation takes just one session, for example. Talk to your Solution Focused Hypnotherapist about a plan that will work for you.
Can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy work online?
Yes! In fact, many people prefer the comfort and convenience of online sessions. Things to consider when deciding which would work best for you might include:
Face to face:
- Offers in-person contact;
- Will be free from technical hitches (if you have an unreliable internet connection);
- Offers a confidential setting away from the distractions of home.
Online:
- Offers the opportunity to relax in the comfort of your own home (if that is a confidential space for you); no travel inconvenience;
- Can offer more flexible booking options;
- Can offer a more intense audio experience via headphones for the hypnosis section.
If you’re not sure which you would prefer, discuss your needs with your Solution Focused Hypnotherapist. Whichever you choose, you can look forward to a safe and welcoming space in which to explore your best hopes for therapy.
Find a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist near me
Finding a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist couldn’t be easier – click here to access our directory of qualified members and start your solution-focused journey today. You can search by area, or by name, and explore our members’ profiles to find the best match for you. There’s lots to explore in each profile, from the purely practical, such as whether they work online or are local and accessible to you, to whether they have submitted articles or have a website or social media accounts. Shortlist a few who seem a good fit and get in contact to discuss your situation, and select the therapist who you feel will suit you best.
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