What is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?

The philosophy of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is based on the work of Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and the technique they developed, solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). This form of therapy is used in different types of treatment, including psychotherapy, and of course, hypnotherapy.

Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is based on the philosophy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and, as the title suggests, is concerned with addressing the solution rather than the problem. It can be very effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders, phobias and depression as well as many other issues.

The approach uses the Miracle Question which encourages the client to contemplate, verbalise and consider what would be different to their present situation.  Insoo Kim Berg (1998) co-founder of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and her team experimented with the Miracle Question after listening to a client struggling to respond to straight-forward questioning. The Miracle Question enables the client to imagine what would be different for them on waking if a miracle had happened in relation to the problem while they had been sleeping.

As well as the Miracle Question, Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy also uses scaling, which allows the client to consider where they believe they are at that point in time with their issue, so providing both the client and the therapist with a ‘frame of reference’ which can be worked with to establish movement forward or backward and to map progress as the therapy progresses.

Hypnosis (trance) is a vital part of the process and is used within every treatment session with the client. It is the trance part of the sessions that really reinforces the changes that the client is positively working towards. Hypnosis trance sessions help the client to develop a good, natural REM sleep process: an essential quality of mentally healthy sleep pattern. The client is provided with their own trance CD/mp4 recording that they can use at home every night just prior to their normal sleep routine.