Strategic Hypnosis

Strategic Hypnosis represents an advanced form of hypnotherapy that actively guides clients toward customised solutions. This Strategic Hypnotherapy method integrates elements from various therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), while also incorporating Gordian Therapy.

The recently developed Gordian Pillars of Psychotherapy framework is a key component of Strategic Hypnosis. This framework identifies consistent patterns of thought and behaviour underlying common psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, OCD, PTSD, and post-natal depression. These patterns are based on cognitive distortions, which are familiar concepts in CBT. However, the Gordian approach uniquely organises these distortions into predictable unconscious patterns for each specific psychological issue.

A significant advantage of Strategic Hypnosis is its targeted approach. Rather than relying primarily on relaxation, general ego-strengthening techniques or positive affirmations, Strategic Hypnosis aims to address specific perceptual errors. This focus is supported by research that questions the effectiveness of positive affirmations. For instance, a study by Wood, Perunovic, and Lee (2009) published in Psychological Science found that for individuals with low self-esteem, repeating positive self-statements like “I am a lovable person” actually led to lower self-esteem compared to those who did not repeat the statements or who focused on how the statements might be true or false.