The history behind Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy has changed a lot since it first began 5,000 years ago and this has changed due to new ideas, new beliefs and new technology.

Milton Erickson, an American Psychiatrist who is the most well known hypnotherapist of the 20th century, worked with people to bring about the desired changes that they visualised. He used the common technique of abreaction, which involved taking a client back to the traumatic episode to relive it and vent it out.

This work was then taken on by psychotherapist Steve De Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1970s who created a Solution Focused approach. This type of therapy encouraged people to talk about their preferred futures rather than focusing on their problems. Exploring their futures and goals using 'the miracle question' which asks a client to imagine and discuss a world where their problems have gone.

How Solution Focused and Hypnotherapy came together

In the 1980s a man called David Newton completed training to become an analytical hypnotherapist. During this time, he was worried that he was doing more harm than good, encouraging misery within the consulting room. This began the start of change. He introduced a lightness and even encouraged his clients to reflect on happy memories. He became more aware of neuroscience and the application of fMRI scans, which measures the brain activity and especially when in a trance state, the brain works hard to come up with solutions. After attending various seminars and training, more change began within his practice and using what he had learnt he became a very successful Solution Focused Hypnotherapist. This resulted in him and his wife founding The Clifton Practice in 1995 and then in 2002 began the very first training course in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.

The Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training school is where I trained and qualified as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy now

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses well researched strategies such a Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to assist people to make remarkable and positive changes to their lives in a relatively short period of time. It is now recognised as one of the most successful interventions in the treatment of Depression and Anxiety (alongside medication if required). Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help with a variety of problems and the length of treatment varies but is generally between 8 and 12 sessions.

As part of the process you will be given access to an MP3 recording and this is an integral part of the therapy. This will assist in focusing the mind and provides solutions between the sessions.