Understanding the past can be valuable, and experiences from our past can undoubtedly influence how we think, feel and behave today.

Solution-focused work simply starts from a different question.

Rather than asking only “Why do I feel like this?”, we might also ask: “What would I like instead?”

That change of focus can help us notice possibilities that are difficult to see when our attention is dominated by the problem.

I'll look for signs of what's already working, times when the problem is less noticeable, strengths and resources you may be overlooking, and small changes that could move things in the direction you want.

You don't need to arrive knowing the answers. Finding them is part of the work we do together.

Despite what stage hypnotists and films might suggest, hypnosis isn't sleep, unconsciousness or mind control. It's better thought of as a state of focused attention.

We naturally experience similar states quite often - becoming absorbed in a book or film, losing track of time while doing something familiar, or arriving somewhere and realising we remember very little of the journey.

During hypnosis, I'll guide you into a comfortable state of relaxation and focused attention. You'll still be able to hear me, move if you need to, reject anything that doesn't feel right and bring yourself out of the experience. You remain you throughout.

Our brains are remarkably good at learning patterns. That's useful when those patterns help us navigate life efficiently. It's less helpful when worry, avoidance, unhelpful habits or automatic reactions have become familiar enough that they seem to happen before we've consciously decided anything at all.

Stress can also affect attention, memory, decision-making and the way we respond to perceived threats. When we're calmer, it can become easier to step outside familiar patterns and consider different responses.

Hypnosis is associated with changes in attention, awareness and the way different brain networks communicate. Researchers are still investigating exactly how and why hypnosis produces its effects, and there isn't one single brain mechanism that explains the whole experience.

So you won't hear me tell you that one half of your brain has switched off or that I've gained direct access to your subconscious. The brain is rather more interesting than that!

There's no single correct way to experience hypnosis. Some people feel very deeply relaxed or pleasantly heavy. Others feel light, notice tingling sensations, become less aware of their surroundings or simply feel as though they're listening with their eyes closed.

And some people spend part of the time wondering: “Am I actually hypnotised?” That's perfectly normal too.

You don't have to feel dramatically different for hypnosis to be useful.

You also don't need to visualise vivid pictures in your mind. People experience imagination in different ways, and hypnosis doesn't depend on having a strong visual imagination.

Sessions begin with conversation. We'll talk about what's been going well, changes you've noticed and what you'd like to move towards next. I'll ask questions designed to help you explore possibilities, recognise your own resources and identify useful next steps.

We're interested in progress rather than perfection. Small changes matter. The hypnosis part usually comes towards the end of the session. You'll make yourself comfortable, close your eyes if you're happy to do so, and I'll guide you into relaxation while we continue working with the ideas and direction we've explored together.

There's no performance involved and nothing you need to get “right”.

Only if it's useful to you. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy doesn't require you to repeatedly revisit painful experiences or describe everything that's happened in your life.

That doesn't mean the past is dismissed or considered unimportant. If something from your past is relevant to what you're experiencing now, you're welcome to talk about it.

Our main focus, however, will usually be on where you are now and where you'd like to go next.

There isn't a universal number because people, circumstances and goals differ.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is generally intended to be a relatively brief approach, and we'll regularly consider what has changed and whether our work together is continuing to be useful.

The aim isn't to keep you in therapy indefinitely. It's to help you reach a point where you feel able to continue using what you've learned without needing me.

No. Hypnosis doesn't remove your ability to make decisions or override your values. You'll remain aware enough to respond if you need to, and you can stop the session at any point.

I can't make you reveal secrets, behave against your wishes or leave convinced that you're a chicken!

Which, admittedly, makes professional hypnotherapy considerably less dramatic than television would have you believe.

You don't need to be especially suggestible, imaginative or good at relaxing.

Hypnosis isn't something I “do to” you. It's something we create collaboratively, and people experience it differently.