During a recent training session with Elliott Connie, I was reminded of a powerful quote from an unexpected source: Sigmund Freud. “Words were originally magic, and to this day, words have retained much of their ancient magical power,” Despite Solution Focused therapy being far removed from Freudian psychoanalysis, this observation rings true in our practice.
Freud was onto something profound. Words have an almost magical quality – they have the power to hurt, heal, and transform our reality. In the Solution Focused approach, we harness this transformative power of words. We focus intensely on using detailed descriptions of the life our clients want to live, encouraging them to paint vivid pictures with their words. We ask about instances from their past when aspects of their preferred future were already happening. It’s not just idle chatter – it’s a deliberate use of language to shape perception and, ultimately, reality.
The power of words isn’t just symbolic – it’s neurological. The brain’s language centres, primarily located in the left hemisphere, play a crucial role in processing and responding to words. We activate complex neural networks when we hear or use words, particularly in a therapeutic context. Positive, Solution Focused language can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with pleasure and well-being. Conversely, negative or problem-focused language can trigger the amygdala, our brain’s alarm system, potentially increasing stress and anxiety.
This is why selecting our words carefully in therapeutic work is so crucial. When we guide clients to describe their preferred future or recall past successes, we’re gathering information and helping create new neural pathways. These pathways can strengthen positive associations and weaken connections to problem-focused thinking.
In hypnotherapy, we leverage neuroplasticity. By consistently using language focusing on solutions, strengths, and positive outcomes, we train the brain to orient itself towards these beneficial thought patterns. It’s like creating a well-worn path in the forest of the mind – the more we traverse it, the easier it becomes to follow.
The power of words reaches its pinnacle in hypnotic trance. During this state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, carefully selected words act as seeds planted in the fertile soil of the subconscious mind. The language used in the trance is designed to consolidate and reinforce the Solution Focused work done in the conversational part of the session.
In hypnosis, we allow these words to seep deeper, enabling the brain to process and integrate them without needing a verbal response. It’s as if we’re allowing the brain to work in silence, free from the constant chatter of conscious thought.
Interestingly, while still Solution Focused, our language in hypnotic trance works slightly differently at a neurological level. Research suggests hypnosis activates the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a brain region that focuses attention, regulates emotions, and modulates pain perception. This activation may explain why hypnotic suggestions can have such a profound impact on behaviour and perception.
The ACC bridges our thinking and feeling brain, helping to integrate cognitive and emotional processes. Engaging this area through carefully crafted hypnotic language can potentially enhance the brain’s ability to adopt new patterns of thought and behaviour aligned with the client’s goals.
The combination of Solution Focused conversation and hypnosis creates a powerful synergy. We use words to paint a picture of possibility in the conscious mind, and then we use hypnosis to allow that picture to be etched more deeply into the subconscious. It’s a testament to Freud’s observation – words retain their ancient magical power, especially when wielded with the precision and care of modern therapeutic approaches.