These seven approaches are not theories — I use them concretely in sessions, depending on what the situation calls for. Some work through the body, others through the mental representation of a problem, others through the words we use to talk about it. What they share: they don't impose anything. They work with what the person brings.
Ericksonian hypnosis
Ericksonian hypnosis is an approach developed by American psychiatrist Milton H. Erickson. What sets it apart from classical hypnosis is that it's indirect and conversational: no swinging watch, no "you are getting sleepy." The work happens through metaphors, stories and indirect suggestions that speak to the unconscious part of the person without putting the conscious mind on the defensive.
The hypnotic state used in sessions is actually close to what we experience naturally — daydreaming, or the feeling of driving without quite being present. It's not a state of lost control. The person stays fully aware and can come out of it at any point.
I use Ericksonian hypnosis to work on fears, deep-seated blocks, habits that are hard to change through willpower alone, or to help someone access their own internal resources. It's a gentle approach that works at depth.
What to expect in a session
You sit comfortably, eyes closed or open as you prefer. The voice guides your attention inward. There is nothing specific to do: just let come what comes. Some people report images, sensations, sometimes memories. Others simply say they felt very calm. Both are valid.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
EFT combines a verbal focus on a specific problem with tapping on acupuncture points. The idea: by holding the problem in mind while stimulating these points, you reduce the emotional intensity attached to it. It's not an intuitive concept, but it works — and fairly quickly.
It's particularly useful for specific fears, difficult memories, or emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation.
A simple exercise to try
- Close your eyes, breathe deeply and focus on the problem. Rate the intensity from 1 (low) to 10 (high).
- While tapping the point under your hand, repeat three times out loud: "Even though I have [name the problem], I love and accept myself completely."
- Starting from the top of the head and moving downward, tap each point about 7 times while naming the problem out loud.
- Close your eyes again and re-rate the intensity. Repeat if needed.
Bilateral alternating stimulation
Bilateral stimulation involves activating both sides of the body in alternation — tapping under the left and right collarbones in turns, or listening to a sound that alternates from one ear to the other. This kind of stimulation helps disconnect a trigger from the emotional response attached to it.
It's most useful for automatic responses that are hard to control consciously: a fear reaction to something objectively harmless, or a block that reactivates despite your best efforts.
How it works in a session
- We identify the precise trigger (an image, a sound, a situation) and rate the intensity of the feeling.
- While staying connected to that feeling, you listen to a bilateral music track — usually 2 to 4 minutes.
- We re-rate the intensity and repeat until it drops significantly.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP starts from a simple observation: the way we mentally represent a situation directly influences how we experience it. By working on that internal representation — the images, sounds, and sensations associated with an event — we can shift how we respond to it.
This is not positive thinking. It's structured work on how the brain organizes experience. The techniques I use most often include perceptual position shifts (stepping into someone else's perspective in a guided way) and reframing.
Example exercise
Imagine a line on the floor going from 1 (the problem is unbearable) to 10 (the problem no longer exists). Stand physically on your current number, then take one step toward 10. Notice what changes in your body, in your posture, in what feels possible.
Solution-focused approach
Rather than digging into the causes of a problem, this approach looks for exceptions: when the problem was less present, what was different? This tends to move faster because it draws on resources the person already has, even if they can't see them.
I use this often when someone has been going in circles around a problem for a long time. Changing the angle changes what becomes visible.
Key questions
- On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you with this problem right now?
- What would change if it improved by one point?
- If the problem disappeared overnight, what would be the first thing you'd notice differently the next morning?
Self-hypnosis
Self-hypnosis is the ability to bring yourself into a state of calm and inner receptiveness. In that state, suggestions, images and intentions land more easily because the usual critical filter is quieter.
I teach it to my clients so they can use it between sessions: to manage day-to-day anxiety, reinforce a new way of thinking, or prepare mentally for a difficult situation. It's a tool people tend to keep for a long time.
A basic exercise
Sitting in a chair, breathe deeply and let your eyes close. Let your body sway gently from side to side, and bring all your attention to the small movements and sensations that come with the swaying. As the calm deepens, picture someone who loves you unconditionally — see their face, their eyes, their smile. Step into their body and see yourself through their eyes. Feel that gaze. Then return to your own body and breathe deeply to integrate.
Non-Violent Communication (NVC)
NVC offers a framework for expressing yourself without triggering a defensive reaction in the other person. It rests on four steps: observe facts without judgment, name what you feel, identify the underlying need, and make a concrete request.
It's a conflict resolution tool, but also a tool for self-relationship. Shifting "I have to" into "I want to, because..." changes how you approach an obligation entirely. This is not a soft technique — it's a precise one.
The four-step structure
- Observation: what I observe, stated as a fact, without judgment
- Feeling: what I feel when I observe that
- Need: the need that is not being met
- Request: a concrete, realistic request
Example: "When I'm telling you about my day and you keep checking your watch, I feel sad. I need to feel heard. Could you let me know if you have something urgent, so we can find a better time for this?"