Understanding Catastrophising and How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You
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.
So, you're reading this blog, which probably means something here feels familiar to you.
Understanding Catastrophising and How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You
Catastrophising is a common thinking pattern where the mind jumps straight to the worst possible outcome. It can make relatively small challenges feel much bigger or more threatening than they actually are.
While this thought pattern is very human and rooted in the brain’s natural survival instincts, many people find it unhelpful — especially when it begins to colour everyday situations.
Understanding why catastrophising happens, and having supportive tools for approaching it differently, can make a meaningful difference.
What Is Catastrophising?
Catastrophising involves imagining the worst-case scenario and feeling as though it’s imminent or unavoidable.
It’s like placing a magnifying glass over a small concern and suddenly seeing it as something overwhelming.
Examples include:
worrying that a minor mistake at work means you’re at risk of losing your job
assuming a slight change in someone’s tone means a friendship is ending
imagining that a single physical symptom signals something serious
These thoughts can create distress and make everyday life feel emotionally heavier than it needs to be.
Examples of Catastrophising
Health Anxiety
A person notices a mild headache and begins to fear it may be a sign of a serious health condition, even when they’ve been told otherwise by a healthcare professional.
Work-Related Stress
After receiving constructive feedback, an employee imagines being dismissed, losing income, and facing financial instability — despite having no evidence to support these fears.
Social Situations
Someone declines an invitation and later becomes convinced others will be upset or judge them negatively, imagining social rejection or isolation.
Why Do We Catastrophise?
Catastrophising is linked to the brain’s built-in survival system.
The amygdala — the part of the brain responsible for detecting threat — can become highly alert during stress, uncertainty, or emotional overwhelm.
In prehistoric times, this was essential for survival. Today, however, the same instinctive response can activate when:
you receive an unexpected text
you’re waiting for an email
you’re facing a challenging conversation
you encounter uncertainty
During these moments, the brain’s protective mechanisms can override calmer, rational thinking from the prefrontal cortex, leading the mind to imagine the worst as a way of preparing you for danger.
It’s not a flaw — it’s a natural survival response that sometimes becomes unbalanced.
How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) combines elements of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with guided relaxation.
Many people find this approach supportive when they want to explore different ways of responding to unhelpful thinking patterns such as catastrophising.
Here’s how SFH is often experienced in this context:
Creating a Calmer Internal Space
Clients frequently describe hypnotherapy sessions as a calming environment where they can momentarily step back from racing thoughts and reflect with more clarity.
Exploring More Helpful Thinking Patterns
In the relaxed state of trance, many people say it feels easier to focus on strengths, resources, and future possibilities rather than defaulting to worst-case scenarios.
Focusing on Solutions Instead of Problems
Solution-Focused conversations centre around:
what’s already going well
how you would prefer things to be
small steps that feel achievable
This shift in focus often feels empowering and grounding for clients who experience catastrophising.
Building Awareness and Confidence
Through guided imagery and reflective questions, clients often become more aware of their thought patterns.
Many say this helps them recognise when they’re starting to catastrophise, giving them space to consider different perspectives.
Conclusion
Catastrophising is a very human response rooted in the brain’s natural survival system.
While it can feel overwhelming, understanding why it happens — and exploring supportive ways to respond differently — can create space for a more balanced, grounded outlook.
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy offers a gentle, future-focused environment where many clients explore new perspectives, reconnect with strengths, and develop a greater sense of emotional steadiness.
If you find yourself frequently caught in cycles of “worst-case scenario” thinking, you’re not alone — and there are supportive, compassionate ways to explore this pattern.
If you’d like to explore SFH with me, I offer a free initial consultation (in-person or online). It’s simply a chance to talk through what you’re experiencing, ask questions, and see whether this approach feels like the right fit for you.
Want to find out more about how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can support you in exploring catastrophising and unhelpful thinking patterns?
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 behaviors 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.