From âBest Hopesâ to âBest Intentionsâ:
How Language in Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is Empowering Clients
Solution-focused hypnotherapy (SFH) has long been known for its positive approach to helping clients overcome challenges by focusing on their strengths and desired outcomes. One subtle but significant shift in the practice that has emerged recently is the move from using the term âbest hopesâ to âbest intentions.â This simple change in language has profound implications for client progress, responsibility, and empowerment.
The Foundation of âBest Hopesâ
Traditionally, solution-focused hypnotherapy starts by asking clients what their âbest hopesâ are from the therapy. The term âbest hopesâ was rooted in the idea that it would encourage clients to think about their desired future without feeling overwhelmed by expectations. The language here is aspirational, leaving space for flexibility and adaptability. For many, it invited a sense of possibility, removing pressure and allowing the client to dream freely about what they might achieve through therapy.
While effective, there was often a passive element attached to âhopes.â The term implied that while a person might hope for things to improve, they were somewhat dependent on external factors. Hopes, by their very nature, do not require full ownership of the journey ahead. They can sometimes feel like something outside of oneâs control, leading to potential passivity in the change process.
The Shift to âBest Intentionsâ
Recently, some solution-focused practitioners have adopted the term âintentionsâ instead of âbest hopes.â This shift represents more than just a linguistic tweakâit signifies a change in the dynamic between client and therapist and, more importantly, a shift in the clientâs mindset.
Where âhopesâ suggest a wish or a dream, âintentionsâ imply action and ownership. When a client is asked about their intentions, they are encouraged to take an active role in their own change. Intentions invite a client to not only envision their desired outcome but to actively plan for it. The word carries with it a sense of purpose and commitment, making the process more goal-directed.
How the Language Tweak is Making a Difference
This change from âhopesâ to âintentionsâ is more than semanticâit is reshaping how clients engage with the therapeutic process in several key ways:
- Empowerment and Responsibility
Intentions place responsibility back in the clientâs hands. When clients articulate their intentions, they are acknowledging that they have the power to influence their outcomes. This language shifts them from passive recipients of therapy to active participants in their journey. They are not merely hoping for change but intending to make it happen.
- Increased Focus on Action
âBest hopesâ allow for broad, aspirational goals, which can be difficult to break down into actionable steps. In contrast, âintentionsâ imply a more deliberate course of action. This shift encourages clients to focus on specific steps they can take, helping to create a clearer path forward. With this focus on actionable intentions, clients are more likely to commit to taking small, measurable steps that contribute to their overall progress.
- Cultivating a Sense of Control
By setting intentions, clients foster a greater sense of control over their lives. Intentions empower individuals to recognise their agency, fostering a belief that they are capable of initiating and sustaining change. This leads to a stronger sense of autonomy, which is critical for long-term progress.
- Clarifying Motivation
Intentions often come with deeper reflection on oneâs motivations and desires. When a client frames their goals as intentions, they are encouraged to connect with their intrinsic motivationsâwhy they want the change in the first place. This deeper connection helps sustain momentum, even when challenges arise.
- Strengthening Commitment
Intentions naturally lead to a stronger commitment to the therapeutic process. When clients express their intentions, they are making an internal pledge to themselves to act. This mental shift often results in more engagement, increased accountability, and a higher likelihood of follow-through.
Real-Life Impacts on Client Progress
Therapists who have adopted this shift in language report that their clients demonstrate a marked difference in both attitude and progress. Clients who focus on intentions tend to come to sessions with clearer goals, more specific feedback, and a greater willingness to engage in therapeutic exercises. They are quicker to recognise their own role in creating change and less likely to feel disempowered by circumstances outside of their control.
Clients themselves have expressed feeling more in control of their therapeutic journey. The switch from hoping for change to intending it has given them the confidence to take ownership of their mental, emotional, and behavioural patterns. This sense of ownership naturally leads to faster progress, as clients feel they have an active role in shaping their future.
Conclusion
Language is a powerful tool in therapy, and the transition from âbest hopesâ to âintentionsâ in solution-focused hypnotherapy is proving to be a game-changer. By shifting the focus from passive hope to active intention, clients are encouraged to take greater responsibility for their growth, leading to faster progress and lasting change.
This simple yet profound shift in language empowers clients to not only envision a better future but to actively create it, making the journey of self-improvement more intentional, focused, and achievable.
Melanie Cook is a solution-focused therapist, sound healing practitioner and supervisor.Â
If you would like to explore your best intentions and what this means to you, either personally or in your professional life then please get in touch.
07746 438276
melaniecookhypnotherapy@gmail.com
www.melaniecookhypnotherapy.com
