When I first heard about offering therapy over the phone, I’ll admit I was sceptical. How could I help others without seeing their facial expressions or body language? But when I reflected on the principles of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) it started to make more sense.

SFBT is postmodern and minimalist. It gently challenges assumptions in earlier therapeutic approaches, like the belief that a therapist must analyse a client’s unconscious motivations and early childhood experiences. Instead, it focuses entirely on the client’s desired outcomes and their language to describe their desired future.

This minimalism is embodied in Ockham’s razor, the principle that “plurality should not be posited without necessity.” In other words, simpler explanations are preferred to more complex ones. I was taught to “shave off” any unnecessary elements of the therapeutic process, leaving only the most essential: the client’s language.

In the Solution Focused modality, the therapist follows the client’s lead, asking questions to help them envision and describe their preferred future. Things like body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice fade into the background. The client’s words take centre stage.

I’ve seen the power of this minimalist approach first-hand through my volunteer work at Let’s Keep Talking. Since May 2023, I’ve provided Solution Focused Brief Therapy solely over the phone. Not seeing my clients made me tune into their words even more closely. I learned that with the “noise” of nonverbal cues removed, a client’s language becomes even more salient.

After several months and dozens of phone sessions, I feel confident offering hypnotherapy by phone as well. The structure remains the same: a short meditation, Solution Focused conversation, explanation of brain-based techniques, and hypnotic trance.

Hypnotherapy by phone can benefit those uncomfortable on video calls, as well as anyone wanting to limit screen time. For many, laptops evoke negative work associations. Personally, I can’t imagine using Microsoft Teams for therapy since that’s what I use for my corporate job. But Zoom feels neutral.

Critics argue that the lack of nonverbal information hinders rapport and effectiveness. But my experience shows otherwise. Without visual distractions, I can focus fully on each word clients say, letting their narrative guide our conversation. My questions emerge organically from their statements, demonstrating deep listening skills tailored to their unique needs. This language-centred approach builds trust and rapport as clients feel heard, understood, and empowered through their own words.

Change starts with language. The words the clients use reveal their unique goals and values. I offer brain-based explanations tailored to these circumstances while staying aligned with the minimalist approach. I highlight neurological concepts that resonate with the client’s desire for change. This preserves our laser-focus on their narrative without burdening them with unnecessary details.

You might wonder how this relates to hypnosis. Hypnotic trance harnesses the power of language in a slightly different way. With eyes closed, conscious analysis fades. Carefully crafted metaphors crystallise into vivid images, consolidating change processes beneath words. I gently guide this dance, using language to activate resources and shift patterns at the subconscious roots. No direct terminology is needed – evocative metaphors speak directly to the subconscious, facilitating deep transformation. Trance allows therapeutic change to sidestep conscious thought and rewire neural pathways at their core. This laser-focused (I’m aware I used this expression before because I like it) process amplifies the linguistic landscape, enacting lasting change at one’s core.

If you have reservations about therapy by phone, I understand. I once shared those doubts, too. But after working this way for months at Let’s Keep Talking, I’ve found it highly effective for my clients. More importantly, it aligns with my core belief: their words matter most.

Please reach out if you have any other questions! I offer phone hypnotherapy sessions for a similar sliding scale rate, around £70 for a 75-minute session on average. I’m happy to explain more about this approach and why I’ve found it worthwhile.