What Happens in a Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Session?
Is It Safe - And How Is It Different from CBT?
When people hear “hypnotherapy,” they often picture stage shows or mind control.
That version of hypnosis has nothing to do with what happens in a professional therapy room.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a structured, evidence-informed psychological therapy.
It is calm, collaborative and grounded in neuroscience.
And if you’re considering it -particularly during perimenopause - it’s completely reasonable to ask:
- Is this legitimate?
- Is this safe?
- How is this different from CBT?
- What if I’ve already tried therapy?
Let’s answer those properly.
Professional Background & Qualifications Matter
Before becoming a hypnotherapist, I was a registered nurse for over 30 years, trained at Guy’s Hospital in London.
Much of my career was spent in mental health services within the NHS.
That background shapes how I practise.
It means I work within:
- Clinical governance principles
- Ethical boundaries
- Safeguarding awareness
- Professional accountability
I later trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training (CPHT), one of the UK’s leading training organisations.
I hold the Diploma in Hypnotherapy Practice (DHP) - widely regarded as the gold standard qualification in UK hypnotherapy.
I also engage in regular clinical supervision.
Supervision is a professional requirement in therapy. It means I meet with an experienced senior supervisor to review cases confidentially, ensure best practice, and maintain high clinical standards.
It protects clients and supports safe, ethical work.
This is not informal coaching.
It is regulated professional practice.
What Happens in a Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Session?
Sessions are structured and purposeful.
You remain aware and in control throughout.
A typical session includes three parts.
1.A Solution-Focused Conversation
We do not analyse the past in depth or repeatedly revisit trauma unless clinically necessary.
Instead, we work in a structured way to:
- Clarify how you want to feel
- Identify small signs of progress
- Strengthen what is already working
This approach is based on Solution Focused Brief Therapy and incorporates principles used within CBT.
The brain under stress becomes threat-focused.
Solution-focused work deliberately trains it back towards possibility and regulation.
2.Understanding the Brain and Nervous System
Many women arrive blaming themselves for:
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Irritability
- Emotional eating
- Low confidence
Part of my role is to explain what your nervous system is doing - especially during perimenopause, when stress sensitivity increases.
Understanding reduces fear.
Reduced fear lowers stress.
Lower stress improves emotional regulation.
This is neuroscience, not positive thinking.
3. Hypnosis (Guided Therapeutic Relaxation)
You are not unconscious.
You are not controlled.
You can open your eyes and speak at any time.
The state we use is similar to deep absorption or pre-sleep relaxation.
In this state:
- The stress response reduces
- The parasympathetic nervous system activates
- The brain becomes more receptive to constructive suggestion
We use carefully structured language to:
- Lower baseline anxiety
- Rehearse calm responses
- Strengthen confidence
- Reduce automatic negative thinking
Many women describe it as the first time their system has properly slowed down in years.
How Is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Different from CBT?
Many of my clients come to see me after having had CBT.
CBT is highly effective for many people. It focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns.
However, some women tell me:
- “I understood the logic, but my body still felt anxious.”
- “I knew my thoughts weren’t rational, but I couldn’t switch them off.”
- “It helped intellectually, but I still felt wired.”
CBT works primarily at a cognitive level.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works at both a cognitive and physiological level.
Because we include the relaxation component, we are directly working with:
- The stress response
- Adrenaline levels
- Nervous system regulation
- Subconscious patterning
For women in perimenopause - where hormonal changes increase nervous system sensitivity, this body-based regulation often makes a significant difference.
It isn’t that one therapy is “better.”
It’s that different brains respond to different approaches.
Some women find that SFH succeeds where purely cognitive approaches felt incomplete.
Is Hypnotherapy Safe During Perimenopause?
Yes.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is:
- Non-invasive
- Medication-free
- Safe alongside HRT and medical care
- Structured and professional
It does not override your thinking. It works with your nervous system.
What Makes a Hypnotherapist Reputable?
If you are researching hypnotherapy, look for:
- Recognised qualifications (such as the DHP)
- Clear theoretical grounding
- Ongoing supervision
- Professional insurance
- Ethical practice standards
- Realistic claims
You should feel confident asking about training and standards.
Reputable therapists will welcome those questions.
Who Is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Helpful For?
Can I help you with perimenopause symptoms?
Solution Focused hypnotherapy can be especially supportive if you are experiencing:
- Anxiety during perimenopause
- Sleep disruption
- Emotional eating patterns
- Irritability or overwhelm
- Loss of confidence
- Stress-related symptoms
- Feeling “wired but tired”
It does not change your hormones.
It changes how your brain responds to stress and that often changes everything.
CONSIDERING your Options
If you’ve tried CBT before and felt it didn’t fully address how your body responds to stress, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy may feel different.
If you’re simply curious about how it works, you’re welcome to book a free initial consultation.
We can discuss your experience and explore whether this approach feels right for you.
Choosing therapy should feel informed and comfortable.
Hypnotherapy with Bonnie
I specialise in supporting women who feel unsettled, anxious or not quite themselves during perimenopause.
My work focuses on helping the nervous system calm, confidence rebuild, and emotional steadiness return in a practical, structured way.
I work from my practice near Canterbury in Kent and also online, so sessions are accessible wherever you’re based in the UK.
Many of my clients appreciate being able to do this work from home - especially when energy and time feel limited.
If you’re looking for steady, professional support during midlife, you’re in the right place.
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