“Rest and Digest” - How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Facilitates Change
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
In today’s busy world, many of us live in a state of constant stress, where worries dominate and relaxation feels like a luxury.
This “fight or flight” mode, while helpful in emergencies, isn’t where we thrive.
As a solution focused hypnotherapist, I work with clients to access the “rest and digest” state, a natural calm that supports healing, balance, and positive change.
By combining this state with techniques like solution focused questioning, hypnotherapy creates the perfect environment for overcoming challenges and moving forward.
What is the “Rest and Digest” State?
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) governs the “rest and digest” state, which balances out the “fight or flight” response driven by the sympathetic nervous system.
When the PNS is activated, your body slows down, heart rate decreases, and digestion improves. This state not only restores physical well-being but also helps calm the mind, reducing stress and anxiety.
In this state, the prefrontal cortex—your brain’s “thinking” and planning center—takes charge, enabling clearer, solution-focused thinking. Meanwhile, the amygdala, responsible for triggering fear and stress, takes a back seat.
To explain this, I often use the secretary and boss analogy.
Think of your amygdala as an overzealous secretary who rings alarm bells for every little issue (“What if I mess up?” or “This won’t work!”).
In fight-or-flight mode, the secretary dominates, sidelining the boss (your prefrontal cortex), who should be calmly handling decisions.
Hypnotherapy quiets the secretary, allowing the boss to step back in and take control.
This balance is vital for tackling mental health concerns like stress and anxiety effectively.
The Miracle Question: A Tool for Transformation
The miracle question (a core part of the solution focused approach) is a core technique in solution focused hypnotherapy. It invites you to imagine a better future and what life would look like without your current struggles. For example, I might ask:
“If you woke up tomorrow and a miracle had happened, resolving the issue that brought you here, what would be different? How would you feel? What would others notice about you?”
This question shifts the focus away from problems and toward possibilities, encouraging you to envision realistic, actionable steps toward your goals.
It helps unlock creativity and a sense of empowerment.
Integrating the Miracle Question with Trance
After exploring the miracle question, I guide clients into a state of trance—a deeply relaxed state that mirrors the “rest and digest” mode.
In this state, the brain becomes more malleable and receptive to new ideas. By pairing the solutions discussed during the miracle question with trance, we engage the brain’s neuroplasticity—the ability to form new neural pathways—and begin creating lasting change.
For instance, if you imagine being more confident the trance state allows your brain to “rehearse” this feeling, making it feel familiar and achievable. Over time, these positive mental patterns take root, helping you bring that confidence into your daily life.
How This Approach Helps
By combining the “rest and digest” state with solution focused techniques, hypnotherapy can address a range of challenges, including (but not limited):
• Stress and Anxiety: Hypnotherapy calms the brain, helping you focus on solutions and regain control over your thoughts.
• Sleep Issues: The relaxation of “rest and digest” promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.
• Digestive Disorders: Stress reduction supports the gut-brain connection, easing symptoms of IBS and other digestive issues.
• Building Confidence: Visualising solutions in a relaxed state helps clients develop new, empowering thought patterns.
A Pathway to Positive Change
Solution focused hypnotherapy combines the power of relaxation, goal-setting, and guided visualisation to help clients create meaningful change.
By accessing the “rest and digest” state and envisioning your ideal future, hypnotherapy provides a safe, supportive space to work through challenges and move forward.
If you’re looking for ways to manage stress, improve your mental health, or take the next step toward your goals, I’d love to help.
Contact me to book a free consultation, and let’s work together to create the changes you want to see.
References
American Psychological Association (2024) Solution-focused therapy. Available at: https://www.apa.org/education-career/ce/solution-focused-therapy (Accessed: 28 November 2024).
Harvard Health Publishing (2010) Take steps to prevent or reverse stress-related health problems. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/stress/take-steps-to-prevent-or-reverse-stress-related-health-problems (Accessed: 28 November 2024).
Harvard Health Publishing (2023) Understanding the stress response. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response (Accessed: 28 November 2024).
Want to find out more about how Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help you live the life you want?
The next step is booking a FREE 45 Minute Initial Consultation / Hypnotherapy Discovery Session (no half-measures here).
In-person at my Oxfordshire Therapy Room (Upper Heyford, near Bicester or Online via Zoom).
The first step to setting yourself free and living the life you want.
My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
Hypnotherapy sessions can be done either in my garden therapy room in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire (Near Bicester). Ideally situated, it also serves individuals in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire and I also work online nationwide via Zoom.