Train Your Brain, Change Your Life
The Science Behind How We Work at the Halifax Hypnotherapy Clinic
For years, we've been told not to "bottle up" our feelings or suppress negative thoughts. The common wisdom was that pushing away unwanted thoughts would only make them come back stronger, like a beach ball held underwater. But what if that advice, while well-intentioned, isn't the full story?
Here at Halifax Hypnotherapy Clinic, we practise a solution focused approach. We believe that you, our client, have the inherent strength and resources to create lasting change. Our job isn't to endlessly dig into the "why" of a problem, but to focus on the "how" of the solution. And now, groundbreaking research from the University of Cambridge powerfully supports this modern, forward-thinking approach.
Challenging Old Beliefs with New Science
A fascinating study based on the Cambridge research was recently published in Science Advances and turned the old wisdom about thought suppression on its head.
Researchers at Cambridge hypothesised that actively training people to suppress their unwanted, fearful thoughts could actually improve their mental health. They conducted an experiment where 120 people were trained for just three days to practise stopping their intrusive fears in their tracks.
The results were nothing short of remarkable:
No Rebound, Just Relief: The biggest fear about suppression—that thoughts will "rebound" stronger—was proven wrong. Instead of getting worse, the suppressed fears became less vivid, less memorable, and caused less anxiety. This held true even three months later.
Mental Health Genuinely Improved: The group that practised suppressing their fears reported significantly less anxiety, fewer negative feelings, and lower levels of depression compared to a control group. The reduction in depression was still present at the three-month follow-up.
It Works Best for Those Who Need It Most: In a truly stunning discovery, the participants who started with the highest levels of anxiety and trauma symptoms reaped the largest and most lasting benefits from the training.
How This Science Powers Our Solution Focused Approach at the Halifax Hypnotherapy Clinic
This research provides a powerful neuroscientific blueprint for what we do every day at the Clinic. It confirms that you don't need to be defined by your past or your problems.
We Focus on Skills, Not Scars: The study didn't require participants to understand the origin of their fears. They simply learned a practical, repeatable skill. This is the core of our solution focused modality. We help you build the mental tools—like thought suppression, reframing, and self-hypnosis—that empower you to manage your mind in the here and now. You are learning a skill, not just undergoing therapy.
Your Brain Is Ready for Change: The study showed that even a highly anxious brain isn't "broken"; it's just waiting for the right training. Our sessions are designed as a mental workout for your brain's "manager"—the prefrontal cortex—strengthening its ability to regulate intrusive thoughts and emotions. We know you have the capacity for change; we just help you unlock it.
Creating a Better Future, Starting Today: The participants in the study felt so empowered they started using their new skill spontaneously on new fears that arose later. This is our goal for every client in Halifax and across West Yorkshire. We equip you with strategies that you can apply to any challenge life throws your way, long after our sessions have ended. We are focused on your future, not your past.
The old way of thinking kept people stuck, analysing their problems. The new science confirms our solution focused belief: positive change comes from building practical skills and empowering your mind for a better future.
