IMAGINE A LIFE WHERE YOU NO LONGER FEEL
ANXIOUSDEPRESSEDOVERWHELMEDTIREDCHRONIC PAINISOLATED
I focus on the what next. What you can do to break the cycle. What tools will actually work for your situation. What steps will move you forward—not in months, but in weeks.
Many people won’t need counselling to feel better. Sometimes all you need are practical strategies that fit your life, and someone clinically trained who can help you to move forward, not stay stuck in a rut or analysing the past.
That’s exactly what I do.
Darren Finley
DSFH, HPD, MNCH, MAfSFH
What is Solution Focused Talking Therapy?
Solution Focused Talking Therapy is a modern, evidence-based approach that combines practical conversation with guided relaxation techniques. Unlike traditional therapy that dwells on problems, this method focuses on your goals and the solutions that will help you achieve them.
This methodology is also called Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, but many people are put off by the term “hypnotherapy” because they imagine being put to sleep or losing control.
In reality, we use a gentle trance state – similar to the focused relaxation you experience when absorbed in a good book or driving a familiar route. You remain fully aware and in control throughout.
How It Works
Unlike traditional therapy that focuses on exploring problems in detail, Solution Focused Talking Therapy concentrates on solutions and your goals for the future. Each session has two distinct parts: practical discussion followed by guided relaxation.
During the talking portion, we explore what’s already working in your life, identify your strengths, and clarify what you want to achieve. We use specific techniques to help you imagine how your life would look if your problems were resolved overnight – to help you visualise your goals clearly.
The relaxation segment involves guided imagery and positive suggestions while you’re in a calm, trance-like state. This isn’t sleep or unconsciousness – you’ll be aware of everything happening and remain in complete control. This relaxed state allows your mind to absorb positive suggestions more effectively and helps rewire unhelpful thought patterns that may be contributing to your stress.
What will you learn
You’ll learn practical techniques to manage anxiety, improve sleep quality, and boost your confidence, which you can apply immediately in your daily life. The approach is gentle, evidence-based, and designed to fit around your busy schedule. Sessions are available online or in-person across Newcastle, Durham, and the wider North East, making it accessible however you prefer to work.
Common challenges I help with
Whether you’re dealing with workplace anxiety or coping with stress at home, you don’t have to struggle alone. Solution Focused Talking Therapy is particularly effective for professionals who find that challenges in one area of life inevitably impact everything else.
The most common challenges my clients face that I help them overcome are:
- Workplace anxiety and stress that follows you home
- Sleep problems caused by an overactive mind
- Confidence issues and imposter syndrome
- Work-life balance struggles
- Presentation nerves and public speaking anxiety
- Relationship stress that affects work performance
- Negative thought patterns that hold you back
- Decision-making difficulties and overthinking
How is this different from traditional therapy?
The beauty of Solution Focused Talking Therapy is that it provides practical tools for lasting change. Rather than spending months analysing why problems developed, we focus on building the skills and mindset you need to move forward. Many clients begin to notice improvements within the first few sessions. The combination of practical strategies and deep relaxation creates lasting change that you can maintain long after our sessions end.
Each person’s journey is unique, and the approach is tailored to fit your specific goals and circumstances.
Book your FREE 20-minute introductory chat today
Here’s a brief outline of what we’ll cover in your no-obligation session:
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I will ask brief me on your challenges and what you want to achieve from therapy
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We’ll determine which kind of therapy would be best for you
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If Solution Focused Talking Therapy is the right choice and you’re happy for me to be your therapist we’ll discuss the next steps to get you on the path to feeling ‘like you’ again
Use the link above to choose your slot.
Talking Therapy Deep Dive
These extended 60-minute sessions follow the same format as the Accelerate Programme.
The additional 15 minutes allows more time to process, focus and ask more questions, which I find some clients prefer.
This option includes:
- Initial Consultation
- 6 x weekly 60 min sessions
- Mp3 language pattern to help develop effective and restful sleep.
- The option to continue session by session should you need them at £60 per session.
Talking Therapy Accelerate Programme
A focused series of 6-8 weekly sessions designed to build momentum and measurable progress. Each 45-minute session keeps you moving forward with clarity, accountability, and actionable strategies tailored to your goals.
This option includes:
- Initial Consultation
- 6 x weekly 45 min sessions
- Mp3 language pattern to help develop effective and restful sleep.
- The option to continue session by session should you need them at £45 per session.
The Initial Consultation
During the Initial Consultation, I’ll assess your needs and discuss your health history to create a tailored treatment plan with suggested time frames to achieve results.
As I am qualified and therefore required to do so, during this first session there are regulatory forms to complete.
I’ll explain how the brain works in simple terms, helping you see how to regain control and begin the journey back to ‘being you’ from this first session.
You’ll receive a tailored relaxation track (worth £15) and a clear explanation of the treatment process and what to expect.
(Approximately 50 minutes).
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
- Initial Consultation
- PAYG weekly 60-minute sessions (min. 6 recommended)
- MP3 language pattern to help develop effective and restful sleep
My path to becoming a Solution Focused Talking Therapist hasn’t been straightforward … and that’s exactly what makes me effective at helping busy professionals break free from the stress cycles that impact every area of their lives.
Level 4 Diploma to practice in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy
Rated Excellent on Google and Trust Index
Affordable, Dependable, Confidential
Working Together
My practice serves people across Newcastle, Durham, South Tyneside and the wider North East, offering both online and in-person sessions to fit around your schedule. Every client’s journey is unique, but what remains constant is my commitment to providing a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore what you want to achieve and develop the tools to get there.
If you’re ready to break the cycle of stress affecting every area of your life, I’d be honoured to work with you on that journey.
My Approach
I qualified with a Level 4 Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (DSFH) and Psychotherapy and hold professional memberships with the National Council for Hypnotherapy and the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. But beyond the qualifications, what I bring is a genuine understanding of the challenges many people in today’s fast paced media driven world.
Whether you’re struggling with overwhelm, work-life balance, experiencing sleep problems, or finding that stress in one area of your life is affecting everything else, I understand these challenges because I’ve faced them myself.
My approach combines evidence-based Solution Focused Talking Therapy techniques with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. And, of course, a sense of humour, so I’ll make you smile, however much you may fight it!
Focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems will build on your existing strengths and can help you create practical strategies that work. Let me show you how.
My Path to Becoming a Solution Focused Talking Therapist
Well, it hasn’t been straightforward … and that’s exactly what makes me effective at helping people break free from the stress cycles that impact every area of their lives.
Over the past three decades after leaving the armed forces, I’ve experienced life from multiple perspectives: as a police officer, as an employee navigating workplace pressures, as a manager responsible for team performance and wellbeing, and as a business owner understanding the unique stresses that come with building something from the ground up.
This varied experience means I truly understand the pressure many of us endure. And I know first hand that problems at work impact our personal lives… and vice versa. Each role and life experience taught me something different about resilience and the human capacity to adapt and thrive under pressure. And that’s what I draw on in my role as a therapist.
The Personal Experience That Informs My Practice
My own 12-year journey through highly effective therapy is what shapes my approach. After experiencing significant personal trauma that led to living with Complex PTSD, I understand firsthand what it feels like when life feels overwhelming and out of control. I know the exhaustion of work stress following you home, the frustration of personal worries affecting your professional performance, and the isolating feeling that you’re the only one struggling to keep it all together.
Through my own therapeutic journey, I’ve moved from merely surviving to genuinely thriving. This personal experience isn’t something I take lightly – it’s the foundation of the empathy and understanding I bring to every session. I know what it’s like to sit in the client’s chair, to feel vulnerable about seeking help, and to wonder if things can really get better.
There are a few things I always consider when choosing a service. How much will it cost, what problems might I encounter, is it the right service for my needs… and is it the best available? If you’re the same this might help!
Problems
Ensure your therapist is qualified, specialises in your needs, and that your personalities match.
Jumping in without fully researching or taking advantage of a discovery call could result in choosing the wrong therapy for your challenges.
This lack of understanding wastes precious time, money and delays your recovery.
Cost
Free discovery call
Initial consultation £35
Continuation sessions £65
Commit to 6 week programme 1 session per week from as little as £300 total.
Discounts available when paid in full upfront.
Language Pattern Relaxation track included. Investment in your mental wellbeing with no hidden costs or surprise fees.
Best In Class
Level 4 qualified Hypno/Psychotherapist with 12 years of personal therapy experience.
Combined 25 years of Armed Forces and police service, plus corporate experience with Southwest Trains and BT, and business ownership.
I understand work/home life pressures from employee, manager and business owner perspectives.
Comparisons
Counselling explores past problems, often reliving traumas. Hypnotherapy uses suggestion and commands when in a hypnotic state. CBT identifies and challenges negative thoughts through structured sessions and homework. Solution Focused Talking Therapy helps you understand how to rewire your brain to focus on solutions, helping you live your best life. For more complex problems, a course of CBT then SFTT can be a powerful therapeutic combination.
Reviews
What others think matters and we listen because we want to find the best service we can, right?
So I’m proud to have achieved a consistent 5.0 star rating across 18 client reviews on TrustIndex.
(It’s not always easy to go public with your mental health challenges. So a huge thank you to those who have taken the time to review my service.)
Clients consistently praise my professional, empathetic approach and effective results. But I don’t rest on my laurels! The bar is now set …