John williamson business page.

27/06/2025

**This might take effort to get your head around, but it will give you so much more choice in life**

This approach to mental health and well-being may not appeal to everyone because it offers a tool to discover direct solutions, which might seem "unfeeling" or just too simple for some people.

To be clear, freeing ourselves from unwanted emotions makes it easier to make clearer and more rational decisions, which is essential for the quality of our life experiences.

During times of stress, anxiety, or uncertainty, we often rely more on our emotions than on our rational thinking. These feelings can make us feel helpless or even childlike, complicating our ability to access the solutions we need.

Some situations can trigger strong emotions, leaving us stuck in an "emotional state" until we actively take the time to step out of that feeling and reconnect with our logic and problem-solving abilities. While this is not always easy, it is indeed possible.

It is important to recognise that some people are naturally more "feeling-oriented." They automatically evaluate everything based on how it makes them feel. Contrary to popular belief, this is less of a choice for them; the impulse they experience can be much stronger than most people might experience.

**The Science Bit**
When we encounter a situation or issue, our senses first gather information about our environment, such as temperature (warmth or coolness) and brightness. They also pick up on other factors, like a person's mood, which contributes to both the physical and psychological atmosphere.

Next, our nervous system processes this sensory information "intuitively." Only after this does our brain engage in a "process of comparison," evaluating what we've sensed against what we already know. Remarkably, this whole process can happen in the blink of an eye; we only become conscious of the result, often in the form of a feeling.

I encourage you to explore the implications of this whole process and how it can provide you with greater choices. Taking the time to understand this process opens a world of options and possibilities. It shows that our feelings and reactions to situations are not "set in stone."

Furthermore, there are a couple of valuable insights that you can apply to various situations:

1. Our brains tend to compare a current situation with past experiences, which form the basis of how we understand what something means to us. However, suppose we accept that every day is a new day (just look at a calendar). In that case, we can recognise that each experience is also a new experience, offering a new opportunity.

2. And interestingly, our brains only provide us with the closest "approximation" based on our past experiences. It is just one example; you could possibly think of better ones. Therefore, the responses our brains or bodies offer in response to a situation or issue may not necessarily be "true."

So, why not choose how you feel and where you feel it?

What if we could replace vulnerability with resilience, confusion with curiosity, anger with energy, or an end with a beginning? Or transform a "mistake" into an opportunity?

After all, most of what we do is based on a guess anyway!

— John Williamson

(Please note that these ideas and opinions belong to John Williamson and do not represent the views of the NHS or other practitioners.)

Unlock your potential with expert life coaching.

17/06/2025

100% FREE consultation.

03/06/2025

We all have questions, but that doesn't automatically mean we need therapy.
When life becomes challenging, it's natural to seek answers.
Our ability to ask questions and solve problems is one of the things that sets us apart from animals. However, not everything needs to revolve around discovering "who we really are."

Just having an easier way to solve those day-to-day questions frees us up to reconnect with our full capacity and reclaim our energy, focus, and time.

When life is challenging, it is easy to get stuck in a cycle of questioning (overthinking) one step removed from our actual experiences and the wealth of possibility, choice, and potential it holds for us. This can make life feel unfulfilling or less dynamic than we might want it to be.

Unknowingly, we may have developed the habit of asking questions, yet we don't have any clear answers. That's not living.

Excessive questioning can also imply that we somehow lack what we need or are searching for something we do not have. In reality, all you truly need at this moment is to breathe. Everything else is a choice, no matter how difficult that may seem.

Living is in connecting; it's in the places, people, and experiences that we live through and the unacknowledged qualities that they offer us, which make our lives feel lived. It doesn't always have to be about resolving questions.

Fun, enjoyment, satisfaction, and excitement come from engaging in our experiences, not merely from the Information we seek about our experience.

The irony is that the solutions we need are often found in our own experiences; it is our own experiences that hold the power to heal us.

What we actually need is a way to read or interpret our own experience; below is a list of tools which can help unlock our own solutions.

Originally, these tools were something that somebody did, which allowed them to overcome a problem.

Therapists understood through a process of "modelling" how they did what they did and developed what they understood into forms of "therapy". In essence, these tools serve as resources that unlock solutions. They provide a way of thinking about or processing a situation or feeling that opens up new choices and possibilities.

Of course, being able to see and accept a solution is something else; it's not always easy to accept when the path has become clear.

Counselling creates a better environment and energy for problem-solving. However, initially, it is about exploring the situation and giving us the chance to express our thoughts and feelings. The second part of counselling is about offering direction, often towards a place where we can find solutions from our own experience.

CBT focuses on using targeted questions which give us accurate answers. There is a very real difference between habitually asking questions and a targeted question that answers what we need to know, sometimes referred to as the miracle question.

Hypnotherapy helps us reconnect with a forgotten skill or ability, which, once realised, solves the problem and transforms our experience, leaving no doubt about what feels right.

Mediation and mindfulness are about not needing to ask anything and simply being. Often, just paying attention to the simple qualities of our immediate experience.

Of course, we may choose to ignore our questions, but they often linger in the background until we address them, leaving us with a sense of "unfinished business." This "environment of uncertainty" can affect our overall well-being more than we realise.

(These thoughts and opinions belong to John Williamson and do not reflect the views of the NHS or other practitioners.)

John Williamson.

Call now to connect with business.

30/05/2025

Also, CBT, hypnotherapy, and mindfulness. 07970 331741

24/05/2025

*** When it comes to being human***
Understanding and advice alone may not be enough to solve a problem. We can know everything there is to know about a situation, every detail, and still, it doesn't change how we feel about it. That's because we are human, not robots.

Only when we experience our own solutions—our resources, energies, and strengths —directly or indirectly, do we move beyond a simple black-and-white answer. Sometimes, it is a feeling solution we need, which "information" alone cannot provide.

Information and advice are only ever about our experience; our experience is the real thing. Therefore, it is our own experience which can offer us a real solution.

Asking the right question at the right time is one way to empower us. Our response can feel like an epiphany, where, in a moment, everything suddenly falls into place. It's as if the filters drop away from our eyes, and everything becomes clear. This clarity allows us to see, hear, and, if we choose to relax, not needing anything at all, which leads to a feeling of contentment.

Counselling is about understanding and direction. When we access our resources, it moves us in the right direction. It leads us to a more helpful part of our own experience, where, amongst other things, it becomes possible to solve problems instinctively.

Having a clear purpose and direction within a secure environment is essential. It inspires hope and encourages us to explore potential realistic choices and solutions. This is something we cannot achieve by merely "understanding the problem." It requires a shift in focus. We need to make a feeling solution available.

(These thoughts and opinions belong to John Williamson and do not reflect the views of the NHS or other practitioners.)

John Williamson.

11/05/2025

Free consultation 07970 331741

07/05/2025

FREE 30-minute consultation either online or face-to-face.

07/05/2025

FREE 30-minute consultation. Either online or face-to-face.
Do you use WhatsApp?

23/04/2025

👉👉 It's not always about our feelings 👈👈
Counselling offers a rare opportunity to be truly heard and understood. Many people may not realise that it can also be an effective platform for problem-solving. There is a framework or blueprint that can be applied to solve any problem, no matter how challenging it may seem.

The essence of counselling is to stimulate and encourage, providing that "blueprint for solutions." This may not necessarily involve exploring our deepest emotions, as some people are simply not wired that way. 🙃
www.better-than-hypnosis.co.uk

22/04/2025

*** Waiting for luck or fate to provide hardly ever works ***
The quality of our experience doesn't typically improve on its own because, fundamentally, we are creatures of habit. Our feelings shape what we pay attention to, and the things we notice reinforce those feelings. Life improves when we actively choose to break this cycle. Action is key to making life better.
www.better-than-hypnosis.co.uk

18/04/2025

*** Sometimes, we just need a good map ***

Counselling is often underestimated for what it can deliver - Ultimately, it provides a very real opportunity to identify new choice, possibility, and direction unique to each person.

Not everyone wants to "get deep and meaningful." And explore their emotions. Not everyone "occupies that space" Unfortunately, this is the assumption some people (and some counsellors) have made; most people simply want a solution and choice.

Talking to a counsellor is primarily about creating a unique space, a comfortable place to explore our concerns, ideas, feelings and expectations equally. A supportive, relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere can also encourage us to explore unrecognised possibilities and choices.

Expressing our thoughts can in itself be a therapeutic experience, especially when we feel comfortable doing so. Sharing what’s on our minds often gives us a sense of "letting it go." It is the counsellor's job to assist you in this process.

Sharing our thoughts with friends and family isn't always the right place to do that. Unfortunately, people judge, and without experience, often unintentionally, they will give you advice based on what they would do. Sometimes, being understood in someone else's terms is worse than not being understood at all.

There is a very real difference between listening to respond and listening to understand. It takes practice and training to understand what is “ours” and what is someone else's, but there is no substitute. It takes many years experience to truly appreciate another person's world.

Counselling is a rare opportunity for you to be genuinely heard. It is a different type of dynamic between two people, one built on curiosity and possibility. (and positivity)

It’s this resourceful alliance between two people that creates a climate of choice, opportunity, and support. Unfortunately, the value of a human connection has been overlooked in modern times, probably because it requires patience, skill, and experience, as well as a profound understanding of one another.

It's unfortunate that some individuals and organisations have tried to replace the essence of "being human" — our mistakes, uncertainties, creativity, and need for validation — with techniques and questionnaires.

However, there's an instinctive ( perhaps rebellious) part of us that recognises when we are being treated as a number and expected to conform to the techniques applied to our situation instead of being acknowledged as a unique human being.

Relying solely on standardised procedures lacks the flexibility to create an authentic atmosphere filled with possibilities and creativity. The truth is that a standardised approach can never accommodate the incredible variety of possibilities we are capable of as human beings.

Our capacity for a human connection is often the key to "unlocking solutions," which actually means the most authentic solutions we can experience already exist within us.

This dynamic, created by two often different "personalities"—the very essence of being human—ignites our curiosity and allows for natural connections to be made, leading to the discovery of genuine, lasting solutions.

From time to time, we all need a good map to find our way. It's important to note that a good map can guide us to locations that might otherwise be difficult to find—places that give us access to our own resources, possibilities, and solutions. Often, the solutions we seek only become visible when we arrive at "the right place" to see them.

Connecting with someone who possesses a good map and has experience navigating different terrains can be extremely beneficial.
— John Williamson,

To be clear, this represents the view of John Williamson, which may not align with other counsellors or the NHS.

www.better-than-hypnosis.co.uk

11/04/2025

****100% FREE session****
To celebrate our new office, I'm offering a complimentary 30-minute online consultation—absolutely free.
I aim to share some helpful insights and advice based on my 28 years of experience. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to ask questions or discuss anything that's on your mind, and it's all confidential. If you’re interested, I warmly invite you to take advantage of this opportunity. Curious? Just click on Book Now to arrange an appointment, online or face-to-face.

Speak to you soon 👍 John.