“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 spend much of our time in a heightened state of stress, where worries dominate and true relaxation feels rare.
This “fight or flight” mode is useful in emergencies, but it isn’t where we feel our most grounded, creative, or connected.
As a Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist, I offer clients a calm, reflective space that many people associate with the “rest and digest” state — a natural, restful mode that supports clarity, balance, and forward movement.
By combining this relaxed state with Solution-Focused conversations, clients often say they feel better able to explore possibilities, tap into strengths, and take small steps toward the changes they want to make.
What Is the “Rest and Digest” State?
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) governs the “rest and digest” state, helping balance the body after periods of stress or alertness.
When the PNS is active, many people notice:
slower breathing
steadier heart rate
an increased sense of calm
clearer thinking
This state is often experienced as mentally settling, giving people space to reflect without the intensity of “fight or flight.”
To explain this, I often use the “secretary and boss” analogy:
Think of your amygdala as an over-enthusiastic secretary who raises alarms at everything (“What if this goes wrong?” “What if people judge me?”).
When you’re stressed, this secretary takes over, making it harder for the “boss” — your prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning and decision-making — to be heard.
Many clients say that hypnotherapy supports them in accessing a calmer internal state, where the “boss” feels more present and thinking feels clearer.
This balance can be helpful when people are navigating periods of stress or emotional strain.
The Miracle Question: A Tool for Transformation
The miracle question is a core element of Solution-Focused work. It invites you to imagine a future where the issue that brought you to therapy is less dominant or no longer present.
For example:
“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 gently shifts the focus from problems to possibilities.
Many people say it helps them reconnect with creativity, hope, and clarity about what they want.
Integrating the Miracle Question with Trance
After exploring the miracle question, I guide clients into trance — a natural, deeply relaxed state similar to daydreaming or drifting just before sleep.
In this state, many people find it easier to:
imagine helpful future scenarios
mentally rehearse the changes they’d like to make
connect with strengths and intentions
Rather than “changing the brain,” trance simply offers a peaceful space where people can focus more deeply on the solutions they have identified.
Clients often say that when they’ve visualised a preferred future in this relaxed state, it feels more familiar, more achievable, and easier to move toward in daily life.
How This Approach Supports Clients
By combining the “rest and digest” state with Solution-Focused techniques, many people find hypnotherapy offers a supportive environment for navigating challenges such as:
Stress and Emotional Overwhelm: The relaxed, reflective nature of sessions can help people feel calmer and more able to focus on what’s within their control.
Sleep Difficulties: Clients often say the relaxation element helps them settle their mind, supporting a more restful evening routine.
Digestive Discomfort Linked to Stress: Some people notice that when their stress reduces, their digestive comfort improves, reflecting the gut–brain connection.
Confidence and Self-Belief: Visualising preferred outcomes in trance often helps clients reconnect with strengths they already have.
These experiences vary from person to person, but many people value having a space each week that feels calm, grounded, and forward-looking.
A Pathway to Positive Change
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy blends relaxation, goal-setting, and guided imagery to create a space where clients can explore what they want instead of what they fear.
By accessing the “rest and digest” state and imagining your preferred future, many people feel more able to move gently toward meaningful change.
If you’re looking for ways to navigate stress, reconnect with yourself, or explore your goals, I’d love to talk.
Contact me to book a free consultation — and we can explore together whether this approach feels right for you.
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 support you as you explore the life you’d like to create?
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.