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What Actually Is Hypnosis?
It’s worth saying that clinical hypnosis is very different from stage hypnosis.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy describes hypnosis as a natural state of mind — not a sleep state, even though someone in hypnosis may look like they’re dozing. You already move in and out of it several times a day, probably without realising. Perhaps when driving a familiar route and arriving with no memory of the journey, getting lost in a book, or drifting off during a film. These are all everyday examples.
When in this state, brainwave activity slows. This is a measurable shift from a busy, alert Beta pattern to a calmer Alpha (and sometimes Theta) pattern. Similar to what’s measured during meditation. What changes is your relationship with the constant, evaluating “chatter” of the conscious mind. It quietens, which gives you access to the part of the brain that’s more open to new ideas, new perspectives, and change.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy – Where Neuroscience, Psychotherapy and Hypnosis Meet
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) combines this natural state of hypnosis with modern, evidence-informed psychotherapy techniques.
The key word is solution. Rather than exploring the roots of a problem, SFH works from your preferred future — how you want to think, feel and behave — and from what’s already going right in your life, however small. Neuroscience shows that what we repeatedly focus on shapes the neural pathways that get stronger; constantly revisiting problems tends to keep us feeling stuck in them.
That doesn’t mean your difficulties are ignored or minimised. It means the work — the talking, the goal-setting, the hypnosis itself — is aimed forward, not backward.
Hypnosis, in this context, isn’t a magic fix on its own. Think of it as a state of accelerated learning: a way of using your mind that lets you take on new ideas, solve problems and build confidence more readily than you could in an ordinary, “switched-on” state.
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What Happens During the Initial Consultation?
This first session gives us the chance to get to know each other and set the very best foundations for effective therapy. We do not do any hypnosis during this session. I will take some to ask you some questions. You do not have to share anything with me that you are not comfortable doing so. I will also give you some explanations about how the brain works. This is tailored to your specific situation and symptoms. It is often a game changer for clients who get to understand what is going on, and what they can do to help themselves move forward.
What Happens in Follow-Up Sessions?
We aim for all sessions to last 50 minutes although I always suggest people allow an hour. This is the same, whether you see me in Cirencester, Stroud, or online.
1. The “talking” part
We’ll spend time exploring:
- what’s already going well for you, even if it’s only very small things to begin with
- what you’d like to be different
Alongside this, I’ll explain — in plain, jargon-free terms — how your brain is currently working, and why. Clients often say this part alone brings real clarity and relief, before we’ve even started the hypnosis.
2. The hypnosis part
You’re guided into a calm, relaxed state, similar to daydreaming. In this state:
- your mind becomes more receptive to new ideas and helpful suggestions
- the body experiences deep, genuine relaxation
- unhelpful patterns of thought and feeling can begin to shift
- your mind works in a fundamentally different way to normal waking patterns
You remain in control throughout. You can open your eyes, speak, or bring yourself out of trance at any point — nothing happens to you, it’s something we do together.
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How Many Sessions Will I Need?
This varies from person to person, but Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is designed as a brief, results-focused approach rather than an open-ended one. Most clients notice their first shifts within the first few sessions, and typically have somewhere between 8 and 12 sessions in total, depending on their goals and starting point. Some choose to have more.
We’ll review progress together as we go, so the pace and length of the work stays right for you.
What Clients Say
“Alex is truly excellent at what he does. His soothing manner enables one to relax, identify the problem and then sort it out. Highly recommended!” – Jane
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About Hypnotherapy: FAQs
Is hypnotherapy backed by evidence?
There is a growing evidence base for hypnotherapy, particularly for conditions such as IBS, anxiety and insomnia, though it's fair to say the research base is smaller than for some other talking therapies such as CBT, and NICE doesn't currently recommend hypnotherapy as a first-line treatment for most conditions. In my own clinical experience, working with hundreds of clients in Stroud, Cirencester and online, I see it bring about meaningful, lasting change — but I'd always encourage you to see it as one option among several, and to speak to your GP about your symptoms first.
Do I have to talk about my past?
No. One of the biggest reliefs clients describe is that we don't need to 'dig up' the past or dwell on old experiences to get results. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works from your preferred future and the small steps that move you towards it. This gives your brain a picture to move towards, rather than one to run from — and, in my experience, it's often a faster route to feeling better.
What's the difference between hypnotherapy and meditation?
They share some similarities — both involve a calm, focused state and slower brainwave activity. The difference is intent and direction: meditation is generally about being present and observing the mind without judgement, whereas hypnotherapy uses that same relaxed, receptive state to work towards specific, personal goals, guided by a therapist. As a colleague once put it: "meditation focuses on what is and hypnosis focuses on what might be".
What's the difference between Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and traditional talking therapy?
Many traditional therapies spend time exploring the causes and history of a problem. SFH instead focuses on your strengths, what's already working, and your preferred future. By training your brain to focus on where you want to get to, rather than what's gone wrong, you build confidence and resilience more quickly. Because hypnosis, sometimes described as a state of accelerated learning, changes can happen faster and embed more quickly.
Can hypnotherapy help with anything, or are there conditions it's not suitable for?
Hypnotherapy isn't a universal fix, and it isn't right for everyone or every condition. It works best for people who are open to the process and motivated to make changes. Certain conditions — for example, some forms of psychosis or severe untreated mental illness — need to be managed by the appropriate medical professional first. If you're unsure whether hypnotherapy is right for your situation, it's always worth a conversation, or a chat with your GP, before starting.
Are sessions available online, and are they as effective?
Yes. I see clients at my practices in Stroud and Cirencester, and online across the UK via video call or telephone. My online sessions are often the most flexible options too. Online hypnotherapy is just as effective as in-person work — many clients find being in their own space actually helps them relax more easily. All you need is a quiet space and a stable connection.
Is hypnotherapy backed by evidence?
There is a growing evidence base for hypnotherapy, particularly for conditions such as IBS, anxiety and insomnia, though it's fair to say the research base is smaller than for some other talking therapies such as CBT, and NICE doesn't currently recommend hypnotherapy as a first-line treatment for most conditions. In my own clinical experience, working with hundreds of clients in Stroud, Cirencester and online, I see it bring about meaningful, lasting change — but I'd always encourage you to see it as one option among several, and to speak to your GP about your symptoms first.
Do I have to talk about my past?
No. One of the biggest reliefs clients describe is that we don't need to 'dig up' the past or dwell on old experiences to get results. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works from your preferred future and the small steps that move you towards it. This gives your brain a picture to move towards, rather than one to run from — and, in my experience, it's often a faster route to feeling better.
What's the difference between hypnotherapy and meditation?
They share some similarities — both involve a calm, focused state and slower brainwave activity. The difference is intent and direction: meditation is generally about being present and observing the mind without judgement, whereas hypnotherapy uses that same relaxed, receptive state to work towards specific, personal goals, guided by a therapist. As a colleague once put it: "meditation focuses on what is and hypnosis focuses on what might be".
What's the difference between Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and traditional talking therapy?
Many traditional therapies spend time exploring the causes and history of a problem. SFH instead focuses on your strengths, what's already working, and your preferred future. By training your brain to focus on where you want to get to, rather than what's gone wrong, you build confidence and resilience more quickly. Because hypnosis, sometimes described as a state of accelerated learning, changes can happen faster and embed more quickly.
Can hypnotherapy help with anything, or are there conditions it's not suitable for?
Hypnotherapy isn't a universal fix, and it isn't right for everyone or every condition. It works best for people who are open to the process and motivated to make changes. Certain conditions — for example, some forms of psychosis or severe untreated mental illness — need to be managed by the appropriate medical professional first. If you're unsure whether hypnotherapy is right for your situation, it's always worth a conversation, or a chat with your GP, before starting.
Are sessions available online, and are they as effective?
Yes. I see clients at my practices in Stroud and Cirencester, and online across the UK via video call or telephone. My online sessions are often the most flexible options too. Online hypnotherapy is just as effective as in-person work — many clients find being in their own space actually helps them relax more easily. All you need is a quiet space and a stable connection.
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Local and Online Hypnotherapy
I work with clients from Cirencester, Stroud and the surrounding areas of Gloucestershire — including Dursley, Gloucester, Kemble, Malmesbury, Nailsworth, Stonehouse and Tetbury — as well as online across the UK, which can be just as effective as in-person sessions.
Hypnotherapy is effective. Results may vary and success is not guaranteed. Full client commitment is important and the client will want to make changes.
Registered with the Hypnotherapy Directory.