Solution Focused
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Kat Turnbull is a Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist, registered with the CNCH, NCH and the AfSFH and as a Hypno4children practitioner.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a modern and thoroughly researched therapeutic approach, used to treat people suffering from stress- related conditions such as anxiety, the symptoms of depression, insomnia, IBS and so much more. It takes into account all of the most recent clinical research. Neuroscience, and our understanding of the brain has developed significantly in the last fifty years, and with it, the therapy we use to treat and manage brain-based issues. There is so much we can do to help.
SFH is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client - there are no magic wands.
But working together, we can forge forward to unearth the real you and the life that you most definitely deserve.
Solution focused hypnotherapy utilises elements of the most successful modern talking therapies such as in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) SFBT (Solution Focused Brief Therapy) and NLP (Neuro- Linguistic Programming) but is also unique in a couple of very important ways. Whereas traditional talking therapies look to the past for answers, SFH focuses on the present, and how to move sensitively, but positively forwards, helping you to imagine your best possible success within therapy, and beyond. All of this is then consolidated and reinforced by the use of trance (hypnosis) which happens in every session.
About Me
My name is Kat Turnbull, and I am a Solution- Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist. I trained with the renowned Clifton Practice in Edinburgh, one of the most prestigious Hypnotherapy schools in the UK (CPHT Hypnotherapy Training Schools) .
I am based at the stunning Cockenzie House & Gardens in East Lothian, Scotland. I see Clients in-person and online over the age of 10.
I am blessed with two amazing and inspiring sons; the loves of my life. They keep my husband and I on our toes, and constantly challenged and entertained. We all live on the beautiful East Coast of Scotland with our two beloved cats, dog and tortoise called Neep!
Experience
Training
I began studying mental health with the wonderful Margaret Christiansen at The Edinburgh College in 2018, where I obtained a foundation qualification in Counselling. I then came across Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, the theory of which truly resonated with me. As a former anxiety sufferer I was looking for practical remedies that I could use to help others. Consequently when I put into practice some of the principles of Solution- focused work, my own lingering symptoms of anxiety of which I had suffered for many years, evaporated. It felt nothing short of miraculous!
I went on to study in a variety of areas to ensure that my clients could feel supported whatever their ailments, with further training for working with children (Hypno4Children) and in TFT (Thought Field Therapy- 'Tapping.')
Registration
After training and registration, I joined the Association of Solution Focused Hypnotherapists, and applied to join the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. The CNHC was set up with governmental support to protect the public by providing a UK voluntary register of health practitioners. CNHC's register has been approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care; a body accountable to Parliament. I was also accepted by the National Council for Hypnotherapists, the UK’s leading not-for-profit Hypnotherapy Professional Association. All practising members are fully insured and trained to the highest standards, and are held accountable by their professional ethical guidelines, and of that of the AfSFH’s.
Being a member of these associations is very important to me, and I work hard every day to maintain their high standards.
Further Study
The Advanced Hypnotherapy Diploma (AHD) is the highest achievable award in Hypnotherapy. You are in good hands.
I am currently studying for my AHD in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, which includes additional CPD training in the following areas:
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Neuroscience
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Psychoneuroimmunology
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Fertility
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Self-Hypnosis for Childbirth
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Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Working with Children
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Mindfulness
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
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Neuroscience & Obesity
Areas of Treatment
The effectiveness of Hypnotherapy in a clinical setting is finally being understood, indeed the NICE have now given the go-ahead that the NHS use Hypnotherapy to treat IBS and anxiety- I'm confident that more recommendations will follow! During Hypnosis, the brain is given an opportunity for optimal and efficient processing of the stress that is held in our nervous system.
This stress is the underlying cause of many symptoms. By encouraging it to be processed naturally by the body, these ailments finally have the chance to resolve. Because of this, many conditions exacerbated by stress, can be aided by Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. Below are some of the areas in which I can help, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Please do get in touch to discuss whether Hypnotherapy might be right for you.
01.
Anxiety & Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety can be horribly debilitating. The latest research in neuroscience tells us clearly that the anxiety response is our brain’s way of protecting us. Symptoms of anxiety can be often be irrational, and difficult to manage. If these patterns of behaviour are used often (every time the sufferer is triggered), it becomes more and more difficult to break out of them. These responses are programmed at a subconscious level – we don’t have to think about reacting this way, it just happens. So even if rationally we understand that there is nothing to be anxious about, it is still very tricky to break the cycle. In session, we will discuss the causes of your anxiety, and work to process your anxious patterns of behaviour, giving you the means to manage them. In trance, we have access to the subconscious mind, which we can encourage to relax, and process the old and unwanted behavioural patterns from the past.
02.
Confidence, Self Esteem & Performance
Issues in confidence can arise at any time of life, and in all personality types. Your primitive brain (part of your subconscious) has focused your attention on what you CAN’T do, and these reoccurring thoughts have affected your confidence, leaving you frustrated, with unfulfilled potential. We will discuss WHY this has happened- why would your brain NOT want to support change and your development? By understanding this, and through the use of positive visualisations and hypnosis, we will work to change your internal dialogue. You can learn to focus on the positives, building and maintaining your own personal resilience, and finally supporting yourself in the face of challenge.
03.
Depressive/ Low moods
The symptoms of depression can happen so gradually that a person may not even realise what is happening, until suddenly they are unable to cope. It can be debilitating, frightening and enormously isolating, and the sooner a person seeks help, the quicker a resolution be found. In Solution focused hypnotherapy, I will help the client understand the reason behind their symptoms, dispelling the myths of depression. Eventually, these 'messages' can be reimagined as informative signals from our brain, letting us know when something needs to change. This will in turn lead to a healthier mind-set and relationship between brain and body- resulting in better sleeping patterns, and inevitably, a gradual and natural climb back to better mental health. It is important to note, that the right therapy will leave the client with effective tools that will help them long into the future, allowing them to maintain their own good mental health.
04.
Specific Fears & Phobias
A phobia is an extreme form of fear which is excessive in comparison to the level of threat posed by the situation or object which triggered it. For someone who experiences a phobia, the physical and emotional symptoms triggered can be utterly overwhelming. And if the subject of your phobia is commonly occurring, it is not unusual for people to organise their whole lives around avoiding it. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy utilises a highly effective technique which safely rewrites the phobic response template stored in your brain, with a template for how you want to react. We don’t use aversion techniques – no pictures and absolutely no real objects are used, and every effort is made to ensure the client’s comfort and relaxation during the session. 4/6 sessions are required in total.
05.
Smoking/ Vaping Cessation
I do not smoke. Even by saying this out loud, or writing it down, you're a wee bit closer to that amazing goal of being a non-smoker, by sending a very clear message to the parts of your brain that will help you to quit for good! My smoking/ vaping cessation session takes place over 1.5-2 hours, starting with an information gathering portion, followed by a discussion about the neurology of smoking- why we choose to smoke, and culminating in hypnosis/ trance to consolidate your healthy new choice. I will then ask you to listen to a special hypnotic download on the two weeks following the session, but truly, many clients leave, and never even have a craving again. What are you waiting for?!
06.
IBS
Between 10-15% of our population will be affected by IBS in their lifetime- it is so common, and can be so debilitating, often with no obvious reason for its materialising. The link between IBS and stress is a well-documented one, and stress is generally recognised as one of the main exacerbaters. The reason behind this, is that when we are stressed or anxious, the brain switches off our ‘Rest and Digest’ function (the Parasympathetic Nervous System) which would usually be in charge of the easy digestion of food. This is meant to be a short term mode, but a chronically stressed person will have this imperative part impaired for longer periods of time, leading to digestive issues. Solution focused Hypnotherapy concentrates on lowering the stored stress in your system, and often in session, you can hear the result of this process of relaxation working- gurgling tummies! A lovely sound that tells us that your digestive issues are resolving themselves!
07.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD is very common, and many people don’t realise how detrimental it can be to those who suffer from it day in, day out. This is largely dependent to the degree in which the sufferer believes it to be a problem. But generally, if it is recognised that symptoms are having a negative effect upon a person’s life, with a lot of time being committed to compulsions, then it is time to seek help. The symptoms of OCD tend to develop as a product of stress, which may or may not be impacting sleep, or a client’s ability to rest. So it becomes crucial that in session, we focus primarily on rest, and lowering a client’s stress levels. This in turn, allows them to feel more in control of their actions. Eventually, we won’t be focusing on the OCD symptoms much at all, as we would expect that they will cease as therapy progresses.
08.
Sleep Issues
Good mental health and healthy sleeping patterns are a match made in heaven. When we sleep, we process daily stresses that are stored in our system, which is necessary for health and mental well-being. When we don’t sleep, we don’t process, and when we don’t process, we can’t sleep! So you can see how this negative cycle needs to be broken! And so to resolve any sleep issues, we must take a holistic approach to therapy, ensuring that by day, a person is relaxed, happy and in control, which inevitably results in improved sleeping patterns. This is very much a collaborative effort, the client must commit to change for new patterns to become effective. Please get in touch to discuss.
09.
Stress
The human brain is magnificent! It is amazing and is capable in ways that currently we are only able to dream of. Our brain is perfectly designed to manage stress and will do so, keeping you in happy, balanced and therefore in control, for the majority of the time. However, if we become ‘stress flooded’; either over a period of time or by immediate trauma, the brain cannot operate at optimum capacity, and this results in us feeling physically and mentally stressed. Over time, this can result in a variety of unwanted symptoms- the body and brain crying out for help. Luckily, there are so many things that can be done to improve stress levels and stress patterns that are stored in your brain. In Solution focused hypnotherapy, we can concentrate the mind on processing stored stress, which will in time, allow the real you to re-emerge. We will also spend time focusing on the positive things in your life, helping you to build resilience and confidence, and allow you to recognise easily if you might be feeling stressed in the future.
10.
Weight Management & Weight Loss
Hypnosis cannot make you look at a doughnut and envisage a hedgehog (although the next time you see one that might be exactly what happens after reading this!) but we do know that neurologically, there is an optimum environment that can best support you on your weight management journey, which is where Solution focused hypnotherapy can help. By managing your stress levels, helping you to reframe your mind-set around your weight goal, and allowing you to focus and build your confidence, happiness is just a few small steps away. [One might also focus on weight because of ongoing stress. It may be, that after a number of sessions, a client might decide that weight isn’t the root of the issue at all. This is to been seen as a huge breakthrough, a wonderful development in a client’s journey towards happiness, and autonomy.
Client Testimonials
