As a local Solution Focused Hypnotherapist (SFH) I have had to embrace technology in my Taunton based clinic.

I’m a bit of a technophobe, but given the challenges we face currently, I have had to get creative to ensure my clients still get the support they need. Despite the concerns, research consistently shows that online treatment can be very effective for many mental health issues.  I recently read a 2014 study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy, the study found that online therapy was effective in treating anxiety disorders, which is my specialism, so that’s handy. 

I have also found that online therapy helps people overcome barriers that may have precluded them from seeking therapy in the past. For example, people with limited abilities or living in rural or remote areas where there are no therapeutic services, can benefit from the accessibility of online treatment. 

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can also be effective in encouraging children and teenagers to receive therapy, as they seem to be more comfortable with using the internet. 

There is no doubt in my mind that online therapy is convenient. Both the therapist and the client have the convenience of working with each other at a range of times. This style of therapy can take away the hassle of scheduling and setting appointments more common in traditional settings and creates an opportunity for me to extend my services to more clients as appointments can be potentially scheduled over 24 hours and reach a larger geographical region. 

People who are ambivalent about Solution Focused Hypnotherapy or who are uncomfortable with traditional models of therapy seem to find online treatment more suitable. I’ve found in my clinic, online therapy seems to be preferred by people who are uncomfortable with talking face to face about their problems or who are suffering from social phobias, agoraphobia or anxiety disorders. 

On line Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is also effective in eliminating social stigma associated with receiving therapy, it allows people access to services in private, without having to visit me in the clinic, this reduces the risk of clients being seen going into my clinic so, online Solution Focused Hypnotherapy clearly does offer people a degree of anonymity that can reduce social stigma and therefore prompt people to seek assistance when they might otherwise have hesitated. 

I offer treatment through most online platforms, whilst conforming to government guidelines, insurance expectations and GDPR requirements.

During the hot summer months there is always an increase in calls enquiring whether hypnotherapy can support women during the menopause, these women found the heat exacerbated their symptoms and the medication they were on wasn’t improving matters. In 2016, the International Menopause Society suggested that hypnosis may be useful for treating and managing menopausal symptoms such as Insomnia and hot flushes. I believe, a standard Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) session works well with reducing the intensity and frequency of hot flushes in women during menopause. Research tells us it is the action of hypnosis via the vagus nerve that improves the action of the parasympathetic nervous system that causes the improvement in frequency and severity of hot flushes. The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of us that reduces heart rate, calms our breathing, calms our digestion and brings us out of fight or flight. Our work as solution focused hypnotherapists is designed to improve vagal tone using a CD and in-session trance, and this is why our technique is extremely effective in improving not just a person’s psychological health but often their physical health too.