So long, and thanks for all the fish

My final blog, ever!

I’ve taken the title of this blog from the fourth book of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (which actually has six books) written by Douglas Adams. It originally came from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy where dolphins used the phrase as they left Earth just before it was destroyed. People use it as a way of saying goodbye and acknowledging that their previous experience had been positive.

I am retiring at the end of this month, and this is my final blog. And, I have rather enjoyed myself.

I started my working life as a science and maths teacher, and I was instrumental in introducing IT into the secondary school that I taught in. My head of department and myself did a training course on how to teach IT to the young people at school. While we were training, I was offered the chance to go into industry to see what it was like in order to tell the youngsters about it. I spent three weeks at an IT bureau called Scicon. They offered me a job!

Scicon had an association with BP. It had Univac computers originally, and I was working as an operator. I was paid more than I had been as a teacher, and I didn’t spend every evening marking books, and every holiday planning for next term. The arrival of an IBM mainframe caused quite a stir. It didn’t work in the same way as the Univac machines. I learned how to use it and to write JCL. And I became the one-man support desk for the IBM machines (they soon got a newer second one). The downside was that I was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Combining my teaching experience with my mainframe experience seemed an obvious next step. I got a job as a lecturer with a company called Protocol, which offered operator training for MVS, VM, and VSE sites. It involved travelling all over the UK and abroad (Europe and the Middle East). I was soon a senior lecturer and writing the training courses that I was delivering. I had young children by that time, and coming home at a sensible time in the evening seemed preferable, so I left and joined Xephon.

Xephon was a much more professional organization, with much higher standards. It offered seminars and publications. I found myself editing their new idea of Update journals, containing code written by mainframers for mainframers. It was the days before the Internet and it was a great way to share information. I also produced some surveys, such as The Help Desk in Action, and I chaired some of the webinars. Over time, I edited most of the Update journals for at least part of their lifespan. I also wrote three books, two on VM and one about automated systems operations.

Xephon was sold, and I set up iTech-Ed Ltd in 2004. I continued producing and editing the Update journals, which were then published by US-based Software Diversified Services (SDS). I also did some other work. At the end of 2007, the Update journals were stopped. By then, people were sharing code on the Internet and so sales, which has peaked in the 1990s, were much diminished. I started working on the Arcati Mainframe Yearbook, and I also launched the Virtual IMS user group at the end of that year. By the time I sold those assets to Planet Mainframe, there was also a Virtual CICS user group and a Virtual Db2 user group. I became an IBM Champion in 2009, and I am still a champion in 2025. After attending the Guide Share Europe (GSE) UK regional conference for many years, I started speaking at it in 2021. Last year, I spoke about How to create Artificial Generalized Intelligence.

In 2008 I started training as a solution-focused hypnotherapist, and I’ve helped people using hypnotherapy since 2009. I also trained as a hypnotherapy supervisor in 2012. At the start of 2012 I joined the executive of the AfSFH (association for solution-focused hypnotherapy). I completed a number of other relevant training courses. I also gave a number of CPDs (continuous professional development) training courses. In 2022 I became a Fellow of the AfSFH, one of the first four people to receive that distinction. I wrote 12 books, and any number of articles and blogs. In 2021, I started the Solutions podcasts with Cathy Eland, and a book containing four years’ worth of scripts is now available.

Worryingly, the school I taught at closed not long after I left. Scicon closed after I left. Protocol grew hugely in terms of staff numbers after I left and then collapsed. Xephon closed while I was still there. And now, my company, iTech-Ed Ltd is closing.

I have written well over a thousand blogs and articles over the years – not all of them published here. I’ve written for Planet Mainframe and TechChannel, and other sites. And I’ve written articles that have been published under other people’s names too.

In terms of legacy, the Arcati Mainframe Yearbook (now called the Arcati Mainframe Navigator) and the three user groups are still going under the Planet Mainframe banner. Some of the CPDs I created are now owned by other organizations and can continue being delivered. My books are available for people to buy. And the people I helped with solution-focused hypnotherapy are hopefully still benefitting from it.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me through the different stages of my working life.

I do have plans for my retirement, although a lot of my time will be spent with grandchildren – which is great.

Welcome to the z17

Last Tuesday, IBM finally unveiled its much-hyped z17 mainframe – and they had much to be excited about with this new mainframe. Like everything else these days, it comes with AI – or, more accurately, it comes with chips designed for AI. The z17s become generally available on the 18 June, with the IBM Spyre Accelerator to follow in the final quarter of 2025. Let’s take a look at the details of the new machine.

We first heard about IBM Telum II chip and the Spyre Accelerator back at the start of September last year, when it was unveiled at the Hot Chips 2024 conference. They told us then that the chips are designed to support a broader, larger set of models with what’s called ensemble AI method use cases. Using ensemble AI leverages the strength of multiple AI models to improve overall performance and accuracy of a prediction as compared to individual models.

The Telum II comes with an on-chip AI accelerator, as you’d expect, so the z17 has the ability to process 50 percent more AI inference operations per day than the z16. In fact, it can perform over 450 billion inferencing operations daily with one millisecond response times. There’s also been a 40 percent growth in cache, which goes some way towards making this possible.

The IBM Spyre Accelerator comes on a PCIe card, and provides additional AI compute capabilities, creating environments to support multi-model methods of AI. The Spyre Accelerator is specially engineered to bring generative AI capabilities to the mainframe including running assistants, leveraging enterprise data contained in the system.

Among the AI assistants and AI agents that are supported are IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z and IBM watsonx Assistant for Z. These enhance developer and IT operations productivity. For the first time, watsonx Assistant for Z will be integrated with Z Operations Unite to provide AI chat-based incident detection and resolution using live systems data. IBM Z Operations Unite is a solution designed to unify key performance metrics and logs using OpenTelemetry format. This is expected to accelerate the time to detect anomalies, isolate the impact of potential incidents, and reduce the resolution time.

Ross Mauri, general manager of IBM Z and LinuxONE, IBM said: “With z17, we're bringing AI to the core of the enterprise with the software, processing power, and storage to make AI operational quickly. Additionally, organizations can put their vast, untapped stores of enterprise data to work with AI in a secured, cost-effective way.”

In, what might be called, a teaser trailer, IBM previewed a new version of its z/OS operating system (V 3.2), which will be released in the third quarter of 2025. z/OS 3.2 will support hardware-accelerated AI capabilities across the system and operational AI insights for system management capabilities. What’s more, z/OS 3.2 will support modern data access methods, NoSQL databases, and hybrid cloud data processing, helping AI software tap into a broader set of enterprise data and derive predictive business insights.

Of course, AI isn’t the only thing on the minds of potential customers of the z17. The big issue for many mainframe-using organizations is security. IBM has addressed that worry in the z17 announcement.

The z17 also includes IBM Vault, which will help to standardize secrets management across hybrid cloud, leveraging technology from HashiCorp, which were announced last month. IBM Vault uses identity-based security to authenticate and authorize access to secrets, certificates, keys, tokens, and other sensitive data. With the addition of IBM Vault, clients can have a single solution to help protect critical workloads by managing the entire secrets lifecycle across their full IT estate.

IBM also intends to deliver new capabilities for discovering and classifying sensitive data on the platform. This would tap into Telum II and utilize natural language processing so that mission-critical data can be identified and protected. In addition, IBM Threat Detection for z/OS, a new AI-driven security solution, is designed to detect and identify potentially malicious anomalies that might be the result of a cyber-attack.

IBM Support for z17 helps clients optimize their environments for peak performance to address risk and disruptions for mission-critical operations. IBM's AI processes streamline incident remediation and help improve case resolution time, built on IBM watsonx, now support IBM Z systems.

IBM says that the tenth generation of IBM Storage DS8000 is designed to harness the full power of IBM z17, providing organizations access to critical workloads, consistent and optimized data performance, and a modular architecture to adopt the latest IBM research-backed technologies to fuel business growth while monetizing data.

The z16 has been selling well for IBM over the past couple of years, and investors seem to anticipate much the same for the z17, with a 2% rise in IBM's stock following the announcement.

It certainly seems like IBM is moving in the right direction with this latest mainframe announcement.

IBM protects its IP

Back in the middle of June last year I talked about IBM UK’s court battle against LzLabs in an article unimaginatively called IBM versus LzLabs. Earlier this month, the case concluded with the court finding that LzLabs had unlawfully reverse-engineered IBM mainframe technology. IBM’s intellectual property (IP) rights had been violated.

High Court judge Finola O’Farrell, in a written ruling, said that Winsopia had breached the terms of its IBM software licence and that “LzLabs and Mr Moores unlawfully procured (those) breaches”.

What did IBM have to say about the decision? It wrote: “IBM is delighted that the Court has upheld our claims against Winsopia, LzLabs GmbH, and John Moores. The Court found that these parties had conspired to breach Winsopia’s license agreement in a deliberate, systematic and intentionally hidden effort to unlawfully reverse engineer critical IBM mainframe technology. This technology represents billions of dollars of IBM investment.”

The court rejected claims against LzLabs British subsidiary, LzLabs Limited, as well as the company’s current and former CEOs. There will be a further hearing later this year decide on any damages to be paid to IBM.

So, what had actually happened to cause IBM to bring a case to the London Technology & Construction Court (TCC)? According to IBM, Winsopia, a UK subsidiary of LzLabs, bought an IBM mainframe computer and an accompanying licence in 2013. LzLabs then used this access to reverse engineer IBM’s mainframe software. And the reason they wanted to do that was to create a product allowing customers to migrate off IBM mainframes and onto other hardware platforms without making changes to the software they were running.

The defence case was that LzLabs had been developing its own software for nearly a decade, and there was no unlawful use of IBM’s licenced software.

What do we know about LzLabs? It was founded in 2011, and, in 2016, it launched its Software Defined Mainframe (SDM) product that allows mainframe applications written in COBOL or PL/I to run on other platforms, eg x86 servers and Linux. More recently, SDM works with containerized workloads, and LzLabs claims that one client was able to move its entire mainframe workload of business-critical applications to SDM running on Linux systems in the cloud, without having to recompile it.

And who is John Moores? Moores is probably best known for being one of the founders of BMC Software in 1980. He put the ‘M’ in BMC. He now runs a venture capital fund, JMI Equity, which invests in IT businesses. Moores also owns LzLabs, and also founded NEON Enterprise Software (in 1995).

IBM also started court proceedings against LzLabs in Texas in 2022, where they alleged patent infringement. Here, IBM is seeking damages and an injunction to stop LzLabs from marketing products containing any IBM intellectual property.

Interestingly, LzLabs is owned and run by some of the same people who were part of NEON Enterprise Software. And NEON was sued by IBM in 2009. In that case, NEON lost in May 2011 and went out of business. In that case, NEON was selling a piece of software called zPrime that IBM objected to. As you know, IBM charges users by the amount of General Purpose Processor (GPP) they use, while also making specialty processors available for things like Linux and Db2. Now, doing your processing in a specialty processor saves money because you’re not using the chargeable GPPs – and, in real life, it can save money by putting off the need for an expensive upgrade. zIntegrated Information Processor (zIIP) allows users to offload their Db2 processing. Using zPrime, allowed users to run an estimated 50% of their workloads on specialty processors – that’s not just Db2, that was IMS, CICS, TSO/ISPF, batch, whatever.

The court ruling in this case barred NEON and some of its key employees from, reverse engineering, reverse compiling and translating certain IBM software, and also from continuing to distribute zPrime. No fines were imposed.

IBM was also in court early in March with a US$1.6 billion contract dispute between BMC Software and it. However, the US Supreme Court declined to take up the case, which BMC had brought claiming IBM had unlawfully replaced its software with IBM software at AT&T.

Mainframers and burnout

Last time, I looked at Gartner’s top six cybersecurity trends for 2025, which included “addressing cybersecurity burnout”. I thought it would be interesting to look at burnout – what it is, how to identify it, and what to do if you’re experiencing it.

We’re all familiar with the idea of burnout, and yet it was as recently as 2019 that ‘burnout’ was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an ‘occupational phenomenon’.

According to Mental Health UK, burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when an individual experiences long-term stress in their job, or when they have worked in a physically or emotionally draining role for a long time.

So, how do you know whether you have burnout? Burnout manifests itself in various ways, and it is crucial to identify the signs early in order to address the issue effectively. Some common symptoms include:

• Emotional exhaustion – feeling emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and lacking the energy to cope with daily tasks.
• Depersonalization – developing a cynical and detached attitude towards work or personal responsibilities, leading to a loss of motivation and decreased empathy.
• Reduced accomplishment – experiencing a sense of ineffectiveness, decreased productivity, and feeling that one’s efforts are not yielding the desired results.
• Physical symptoms – frequent headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and changes in appetite or weight are often associated with burnout.
• Cognitive difficulties – difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and reduced creativity are common cognitive manifestations.

In other words, people feel overwhelmed, helpless, trapped, and/or defeated. They feel detached/alone in the world and have a cynical/negative outlook. They are filled with self-doubt, and they procrastinate or simply take longer to get things done.

Unfortunately, burnout simply gets worse unless a person addresses the underlying issues causing it.

Herbert Freudenberger, an American psychologist who in 1974 used the word ‘burnout’ in this sense, suggested that there were 12 stages in the progression of burnout. This has now been reduced to five stages, which are:

1.  Honeymoon phase – there are no signs of burnout. People are full of enthusiasm and commitment. However, there is a risk of overworking.
2.  Onset of stress – some days are more stressful than others resulting in less time for family and friends. People begin to find difficulty focusing, and experience headaches, anxiety, and changes in appetite.
3. Chronic stress – a person’s problem-solving skills and performance decrease further, and they start feeling out of control and powerless. people may procrastinate. People start becoming ill more frequently and become more emotional. People may see even less of friends and family, and some people may take to drink and drugs.
4. Burnout – exhaustion makes it hard to cope with work demands. A sense of failure and powerlessness can lead to despair and disillusionment.
5. Habitual burnout – the symptoms of burnout become part of a person’s life. This can affect a person’s career, personal relationships, and life in general.

Burnout may be the result of stress, but they are not the same thing. Typically, stress involves too much pressure demanding too much of a person physically and mentally. Stressed people can still imagine that if they get everything under control, they’ll feel better. Whereas with burnout, people feel empty and mentally exhausted, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People with burnout often don’t see any hope of positive change in their situations.

Hans Selye first used the word ‘stress’, borrowed from physics, to describe the “nonspecific response of the body to any demand”. Selye is known as the ‘father of stress research’, and published his best-known book, The Stress of Life, in 1956.

Burnout is typically caused by a combination of internal and external factors. Some common causes include:

• Work-related factors – high job demands, long working hours, lack of control over work, insufficient support from colleagues or superiors, and monotonous or unfulfilling tasks.
• Lifestyle imbalance – neglecting personal needs, inadequate self-care, and an imbalance between work and personal life.
• Personality traits – perfectionism, high self-expectations, and the inability to delegate or set boundaries.
• Lack of social support – limited social connections, inadequate emotional support, and feeling isolated.

So, what can mainframers and other people do to prevent burnout, if they feel that they are beginning to struggle with it? Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial, but it is equally important to take proactive steps to prevent and recover from it. Here are some effective strategies:

• Self-care –adopt healthy habits, including regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet. Engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation.
• Set boundaries – learn to say no and establish boundaries to prevent overcommitting and excessive workloads. Delegate tasks where possible, and communicate your limits to colleagues or superiors.
• Get help – reach out to friends, family, or professionals for emotional support and guidance. Consider joining support groups or seeking therapy to share experiences and learn coping strategies.
• Time management – organize and prioritize tasks effectively, break larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks, and schedule regular breaks to avoid overwhelm.
• Develop coping mechanisms – engage in stress-reducing activities such as mindfulness, meditation, deep-breathing exercises, or journalling to manage stress levels and promote mental wellbeing.
• Evaluate and reflect – regularly assess your goals, values, and motivations to ensure they align with your personal and professional aspirations. Look for opportunities for growth and make the necessary adjustments to restore a sense of purpose.

What can employers do about burnout in the workplace? There are two possibilities. The first is to produce a wellbeing plan that can be used as a tool by employees to help identify what good wellbeing looks like for them, as well as what things looks like when they aren’t so good. Secondly, stress risk assessments can be used by staff to identify how stressed they feel at work. The next step is to find ways of removing or reducing the risk of burnout.

Burnout is a serious condition that can have a significant impact on individuals’ lives, but it is not an insurmountable challenge. By recognizing the signs early on, understanding the causes, and implementing effective prevention and recovery strategies, it is possible to overcome burnout and restore a person’s wellbeing.

Top six cybersecurity trends for 2025

As someone who writes regularly about mainframe security and AI, you’ll not be surprised that Gartner’s recent announcement of the top cybersecurity trends for 2025 caught my eye. Let’s take a look at the six trends they identified.

Trend 1: GenAI driving data security programs

Most security efforts and financial resources are traditionally focused on protecting structured data such as databases. However, the rise of GenAI is transforming data security programs, shifting focus to protect unstructured data – text, images and videos.

Trend 2: managing machine identities

Increasing adoption of GenAI, cloud services, automation, and DevOps practices has led to the prolific use of machine accounts and credentials for physical devices and software workloads. If left uncontrolled and unmanaged, machine identities can significantly expand an organization's attack surface.

According to Gartner, security and risk management (SRM) leaders are under pressure to build a strategy to implement robust machine identity and access management (IAM) to protect against attacks, but it must be a coordinated enterprise-wide effort. A Gartner survey of 335 IAM leaders globally, conducted between August and October 2024, found that IAM teams are only responsible for 44% of an organization’s machine identities.

Trend 3: tactical AI

SRM leaders are facing mixed results with their AI implementations, leading them to reprioritize their initiatives and focus on narrower use cases with direct measurable impacts. These more tactical implementations align AI practices and tools with existing metrics, fit them into existing initiatives, and enhance visibility of the real value of AI investments.

“SRM leaders now have clear responsibilities to secure third-party AI consumption, protect enterprise AI applications and improve cybersecurity with AI”, said Michaels. “By focusing on more tactical, demonstrably beneficial improvements, they can minimize the risks for their cybersecurity programs and can more easily demonstrate progress.”

Trend 4: cybersecurity technology optimization

According to a Gartner survey of 162 large enterprises, conducted between August and October 2024, organizations use an average of 45 cybersecurity tools. With over 3,000 vendors in cybersecurity, SRM leaders need to optimize their toolsets to build more efficient and effective security programs.

Gartner recommends aiming for a balance that procurement, security architects, security engineers, and other stakeholders are satisfied with to maintain the right security posture. To achieve this, SRM leaders should consolidate and validate core security controls and focus on architecture that enhances portability of data. Threat modelling and organizational technology drivers such as AI adoption can also be used to assess advanced needs.

Trend 5: extending security behaviour and culture program value

Security behaviour and culture programs (SBCPs) have reached an inflection point for most organizations. Effective SRM leaders recognize the value these programs bring to improve their cybersecurity posture. According to Gartner, one of the largest drivers of change in these programs is GenAI – enterprises combining the technology with an integrated platforms-based architecture in SBCPs will experience 40% fewer employee-driven cybersecurity incidents by 2026.

This trend is gaining traction due to increasing recognition that both good and bad human behaviour are critical components of cybersecurity. As a result, cultural and behaviour-focused activities have become a prominent approach to address cyber-risk comprehension and ownership at the human level. This reflects a strategic shift toward embedding security into the organizational culture.

Trend 6: addressing cybersecurity burnout

SRM leader and security team burnout is a key concern for an industry already impacted by a systemic skills shortage, according to Gartner. This pervasive stress stems from relentless demands associated with securing highly complex organizations in constantly changing threat, regulatory and business environments, with limited authority, executive support and resources.

“Cybersecurity burnout and its organizational impact must be recognized and addressed to ensure cybersecurity program effectiveness,” said Michaels. “The most effective SRM leaders are not only prioritizing their own stress management, they are investing in teamwide wellbeing initiatives that demonstrably improve personal resilience.”

 

In terms of managing machine identities, organizations that are still relying on manual identity governance and administration (IGA) processes are going to find their processes inefficient and potentially exposed to cyberattack.

I’m not surprised that burnout is now an identified issue because anecdotal reporting has been going on for a while now, and, these days, individuals are more prepared to speak out about feelings of being overwhelmed at work or experiencing burnout. Not only that, surveys are beginning to pick up on the problem. Gartner’s Peer Community Survey found that 62% of cybersecurity leaders have experienced burnout. A 2024 study by Hack The Box found that 90% of CISOs were concerned about stress, fatigue, and burnout affecting their team’s wellbeing. Devo’s Cybersecurity Burnout Survey found that 83% of its respondents said burnout in their workplace has led to errors resulting in a security breach. ISACA’s State of Cybersecurity 2024 report found that 46% of cybersecurity professionals gave high stress as a reason for leaving their role.

I would suggest it’s worth not only IT staff, but also all C-level employees taking a look at the report in order to familiarize themselves with what needs to be done to keep their data safe, and their company’s reputation intact, and also keep their employees mentally healthy and functioning optimally.

Putting the best online AIs to the test

So, what are the best online AIs? It’s generally thought that the online AIs that are worth using are Claude from Anthropic, ChatGPT from OpenAI, Gemini from Google, Llama from Meta, and Perplexity from Perplexity AI. In addition, there are DeepSeek’s DeepSeek V3 and Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5. The last two are recent arrivals from China.

I tested them by asking, “Tell me about solution-focused hypnotherapy”. Why did I choose that question? I qualified as a solution-focused hypnotherapist in 2009. It’s a topic that I think I know something about, but it’s not something that lots of people are aware of.

Here are the answers I got to my questions (with original spelling and punctuation)…

 

Claude

Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a modern therapeutic approach that combines solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) with clinical hypnosis. Here are the key aspects:

Therapeutic Approach:

• Focuses on solutions rather than problems, helping clients imagine and work toward their preferred future
• Uses positive, goal-oriented strategies rather than dwelling on past issues
• Combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques with hypnotic trance work

The Process:

• Initial consultation typically explains how the brain works and how thoughts affect behavior
• Subsequent sessions combine solution-focused discussion with relaxation and trance work
• Uses techniques like guided visualization and positive suggestion
• Generally involves fewer sessions than traditional psychotherapy

Key Components:

• Scaling questions to track progress
• Miracle questions to help envision positive outcomes
• Future-focused dialogue
• Trance work to reinforce positive changes
• Homework assignments to practice new skills

Common Applications:

• Anxiety and stress management
• Depression
• Phobias
• Sleep issues
• Confidence building
• Weight management
• Smoking cessation

The hypnosis component helps access the subconscious mind while in a relaxed state, making it more receptive to positive suggestions and new patterns of thinking. The solution-focused aspect keeps clients oriented toward their goals rather than analyzing problems.

Unlike traditional hypnotherapy, this approach spends less time exploring past events or traumas, instead emphasizing forward movement and positive change. The therapist acts more as a facilitator helping clients access their own resources rather than as an authority fixing problems.

 

ChatGPT

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a modern approach to hypnotherapy that combines solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) with hypnosis. It helps individuals focus on their goals and the solutions needed to achieve positive change, rather than dwelling on problems or past traumas.

Key Principles of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

1. Goal-Oriented Approach – Rather than analyzing past difficulties, SFH emphasizes what the client wants to achieve.
2. Positive Focus – Clients are encouraged to focus on their strengths, resources, and successes.
3. Collaborative Process – The hypnotherapist and client work together to create small, achievable steps toward the desired outcome.
4. Use of Hypnosis – Hypnosis is used to help clients access a relaxed, focused state where positive suggestions can be more effectively integrated.
5. Neuroscience-Informed – SFH often incorporates an understanding of how the brain works, particularly in relation to stress, anxiety, and habits.

How a Typical SFH Session Works

1. Discussion & Goal-Setting – The therapist helps the client define clear, achievable goals.
2. Positive Psychology Techniques – Clients are encouraged to reflect on what is already working well in their lives.
3. Trance/Hypnosis – A guided relaxation and visualization process helps reinforce solutions and new ways of thinking.
4. Review & Action Steps – The client leaves with a clearer mindset and practical steps to continue progress.

What Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help With

• Anxiety & Stress
• Depression
• Phobias & Fears
• Sleep Issues
• Confidence & Self-Esteem
• Habits & Addictions (e.g., smoking, overeating)
• Sports & Performance Enhancement

How It Differs from Traditional Hypnotherapy

While traditional hypnotherapy may focus on regression and uncovering past events, SFH is future-focused and does not dwell on past trauma. Instead, it works on reinforcing positive thought patterns and behaviors.

 

Gemini

Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a modern and effective therapeutic approach that combines the principles of solution-focused brief therapy with the power of hypnosis. It focuses on helping individuals identify and achieve their desired outcomes by utilizing their inner resources and strengths.  

Key principles of solution-focused hypnotherapy:

• Focus on solutions: Unlike traditional therapies that delve into past problems and traumas, solution-focused hypnotherapy emphasizes identifying and working towards desired solutions and future goals.  
• Utilization of inner resources: This approach recognizes that individuals possess the necessary resources and capabilities to overcome their challenges. The therapist guides the client in accessing and utilizing these resources to create positive change.  
• Hypnosis as a tool: Hypnosis is used to induce a relaxed state of focused attention, allowing the client to access their subconscious mind and explore new possibilities and solutions more effectively.  
• Collaboration and empowerment: The therapist and client work together collaboratively, with the therapist acting as a guide and facilitator, empowering the client to take control of their own progress.  

Benefits of solution-focused hypnotherapy:

• Effective for various issues: It can be applied to a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, stress, phobias, low self-esteem, sleep problems, and habit change.  
• Relatively short-term: Compared to traditional therapies, solution-focused hypnotherapy often requires fewer sessions to achieve significant results.  
• Positive and empowering: By focusing on solutions and inner resources, this approach promotes a positive mindset and empowers individuals to create lasting change in their lives.  

What to expect during a session:

A typical solution-focused hypnotherapy session involves a combination of discussion and hypnosis. The therapist will begin by exploring the client's goals and desired outcomes. They will then guide the client into a relaxed state of hypnosis, where suggestions and visualizations are used to reinforce positive thoughts and behaviors. The client remains in control throughout the session and is gently guided back to full awareness at the end.  

Finding a qualified practitioner:

It is essential to seek a qualified and experienced solution-focused hypnotherapist. Look for practitioners who are registered with professional organizations and have undergone appropriate training.

 

Llama

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that combines the principles of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) with hypnotherapy. This approach focuses on helping individuals identify and build on their strengths, rather than dwelling on their problems.

Key Principles:

• Focus on solutions: The therapist helps the client to identify and focus on solutions, rather than problems.
• Goal-oriented: The therapy is goal-oriented, with the client setting specific, achievable goals.
• Empowerment: The client is empowered to take control of their life and make positive changes.
• Positive thinking: The therapy encourages positive thinking and a positive outlook.

How it Works:

1. Initial consultation: The therapist and client meet to discuss the client's goals and what they hope to achieve from the therapy.
2. Induction of trance: The therapist induces a state of trance, which allows the client to access their subconscious mind.
3. Solution-focused questioning: The therapist asks the client solution-focused questions, such as "What would you like to achieve?" or "How will you know when you have achieved your goal?"
4. Reframing negative thoughts: The therapist helps the client to reframe negative thoughts and focus on positive outcomes.
5. Visualization: The client is guided to visualize themselves achieving their goals and overcoming challenges.

Benefits:

• Rapid results: Solution-focused hypnotherapy can produce rapid results, with some clients experiencing significant improvements in just a few sessions.
• Increased confidence: The therapy can help to increase confidence and self-esteem.
• Improved mental health: Solution-focused hypnotherapy can be used to treat a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress.

Conclusion:

Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a powerful and effective form of therapy that can help individuals to achieve their goals and improve their mental health. By focusing on solutions, rather than problems, and empowering the client to take control of their life, this approach can produce rapid and lasting results.

 

Perplexity

Solution-focused hypnotherapy (SFH) is a modern therapeutic approach that combines hypnosis with principles from solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to help individuals achieve positive changes in their lives. Unlike traditional therapies, SFH focuses on solutions and future goals rather than delving into past problems or traumas124.

Key Features of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

• Focus on Solutions: SFH emphasizes identifying and working toward desired outcomes rather than analyzing the causes of issues. Clients are encouraged to visualize their preferred future and set realistic, actionable goals145.
• Combination of Techniques: SFH integrates structured questioning from SFBT, relaxation and trance states from hypnosis, and tools from CBT and NLP to create a holistic approach to change24.
• Present and Future Orientation: The therapy avoids exploring past traumas, focusing instead on current strengths and future possibilities. This makes it particularly appealing for clients who find traditional approaches too emotionally taxing35.
• Hypnosis and Relaxation: Hypnosis is used to induce a deeply relaxed state, enabling clients to focus on positive suggestions and create new neural pathways that support desired behavioral changes46.

Benefits of SFH

• Short-Term Therapy: SFH often leads to significant results within 4–12 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues being addressed2.
• Wide Applicability: It has been found effective for treating anxiety, stress, phobias, PTSD, weight management, and other challenges by helping clients break negative thought cycles and adopt healthier patterns of thinking36.
• Empowering Process: By focusing on solutions and achievable goals, SFH helps clients feel empowered and capable of making positive changes in their lives27.

Typical Session Structure

1. Goal Setting: The therapist works with the client to identify specific goals for therapy.
2. Exploration of Solutions: Discussion focuses on what has worked in the past and potential strategies for improvement.
3. Hypnosis: The client enters a relaxed state where positive suggestions are introduced to reinforce desired outcomes.
4. Progress Review: Sessions include an assessment of progress toward goals, adjusting strategies as needed14.

Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a structured, practical approach that appeals to individuals seeking rapid, goal-oriented results without revisiting painful past experiences.

 

DeepSeek

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a therapeutic approach that combines principles from solution-focused brief therapy with clinical hypnotherapy. It is a forward-looking, positive, and practical form of therapy designed to help individuals achieve their goals and overcome challenges by focusing on solutions rather than problems. Here’s an overview of its key aspects:

Key Principles

1. Solution-Focused Approach: Instead of delving deeply into the root causes of problems, SFH emphasizes identifying and building on existing strengths, resources, and successes. The focus is on what the client wants to achieve (their preferred future) rather than what they want to avoid.
2. Collaborative and Client-Centered: The therapist works collaboratively with the client, respecting their expertise in their own life. The client is seen as the expert in their own experiences, and the therapist acts as a guide to help them uncover solutions.
3. Future-Oriented: SFH encourages clients to envision a positive future and take steps toward it. This helps shift focus away from past difficulties and toward achievable goals.
4. Utilization of Trance: Hypnotherapy is used to induce a relaxed, focused state (trance) where the subconscious mind becomes more open to positive suggestions and change. This state helps clients access their inner resources and creativity to find solutions.

How It Works

1. Initial Assessment: The therapist gathers information about the client’s goals, strengths, and past successes. This helps tailor the therapy to the individual’s needs.
2. Goal Setting: Clients are encouraged to define clear, realistic, and achievable goals. These goals are often framed in positive terms (e.g., "I want to feel more confident" rather than "I don’t want to feel anxious").
3. Hypnotherapy Sessions: During sessions, the therapist guides the client into a relaxed trance state. While in this state, the therapist uses positive suggestions, metaphors, and imagery to help the client reframe their thinking and focus on solutions.
4. Building on Success: Clients are encouraged to notice and build on small successes and positive changes, reinforcing progress and motivation.
5. Homework and Action Steps: Clients may be given tasks or exercises to practice between sessions, helping them integrate new skills and perspectives into their daily lives.

Applications

SFH can be used to address a wide range of issues, including:

• Anxiety and stress
• Depression
• Phobias and fears
• Insomnia and sleep issues
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Weight management
• Habit control (e.g., smoking cessation)
• Pain management

Benefits

• Efficiency: SFH is often a short-term therapy, with many clients seeing improvements in just a few sessions.
• Empowerment: Clients feel empowered as they focus on their strengths and take active steps toward their goals.
• Positive Focus: The emphasis on solutions and positive outcomes can create a more optimistic and hopeful mindset.

Limitations

• Not Suitable for Everyone: SFH may not be appropriate for individuals with severe mental health conditions or those who prefer to explore the root causes of their issues in depth.
• Requires Active Participation: Clients need to be motivated and willing to engage in the process for it to be effective.

Overall, solution-focused hypnotherapy is a practical, positive, and empowering approach that helps individuals make meaningful changes in their lives by focusing on their strengths and future possibilities.

 

Quen

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy: An Overview

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a modern, evidence-based approach to therapy that combines elements of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) with hypnosis. It is designed to help individuals overcome psychological and emotional challenges by focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. The approach is goal-oriented, positive, and forward-looking, making it particularly effective for people who want to make rapid and lasting changes in their lives.

Key Principles of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

1. Focus on Solutions, Not Problems : Unlike traditional forms of therapy that may spend significant time exploring the root causes of issues, SFH emphasizes identifying and building on existing strengths and resources. The therapist works with the client to envision a preferred future and develop practical steps to achieve it.
2. Positive Psychology : SFH draws heavily from positive psychology, which focuses on fostering well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Clients are encouraged to focus on what is working well in their lives and how they can build on these positives.
3. The Role of the Subconscious Mind : Hypnotherapy taps into the subconscious mind, where deeply ingrained habits, beliefs, and emotions reside. By accessing this part of the mind, SFH helps clients reframe negative thought patterns and replace them with more constructive ones.
4. Neuroplasticity : SFH incorporates the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. Through guided visualization and positive suggestions during hypnosis, clients can create new, healthier pathways in the brain, leading to improved mental and emotional well-being.
5. Empowerment and Self-Efficacy : A core tenet of SFH is empowering clients to take control of their own healing process. Clients are seen as experts in their own lives, and the therapist acts as a facilitator, guiding them toward discovering their own solutions.

How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Works

1. Initial Consultation : The process typically begins with an initial consultation, where the therapist gathers information about the client’s goals and challenges. This session also serves to educate the client about how the brain works, the role of stress, and how hypnosis can help.
2. Goal Setting : Clients are encouraged to set clear, achievable goals. These goals are often framed in positive terms, such as "I want to feel more confident" or "I want to sleep better," rather than focusing on what they want to avoid.
3. Hypnosis Sessions : During hypnosis sessions, the therapist guides the client into a relaxed, trance-like state. In this state, the client is more open to positive suggestions and can access the subconscious mind more easily. The therapist uses techniques like guided imagery, metaphors, and affirmations to help the client reframe negative thoughts and reinforce positive behaviors.
4. Homework and Practice : Clients are often given tasks or exercises to practice between sessions, such as mindfulness techniques, journaling, or visualization exercises. These activities help reinforce the work done in therapy and encourage ongoing progress.
5. Progress Monitoring : Throughout the process, the therapist regularly checks in with the client to assess progress toward their goals. Adjustments are made as needed to ensure the therapy remains effective and aligned with the client’s evolving needs.

Applications of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

SFH has been successfully used to address a wide range of psychological and emotional issues, including:

• Anxiety and Stress Management : SFH is highly effective for reducing anxiety and managing stress by helping clients develop coping strategies and shift their focus away from worry.
• Depression : While not a substitute for medical treatment, SFH can complement other therapies by helping clients break free from negative thought cycles and focus on positive actions.
• Sleep Disorders : Many people struggle with insomnia or poor sleep quality. SFH can help clients relax and reprogram their minds to establish healthier sleep patterns.
• Phobias and Fears : Whether it’s fear of flying, public speaking, or social situations, SFH can help clients confront and overcome irrational fears through gradual desensitization and positive reinforcement.
• Confidence and Self-Esteem : SFH can help individuals build self-confidence by reinforcing positive self-beliefs and encouraging them to take small, manageable steps toward their goals.
• Weight Management and Healthy Habits : SFH can support clients in adopting healthier lifestyles by addressing underlying emotional triggers for overeating or sedentary behavior and promoting mindful choices.
• Pain Management : For chronic pain sufferers, SFH can be a valuable tool for reducing the perception of pain and improving overall quality of life.

Benefits of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

• Rapid Results : Because SFH is goal-oriented and focused on solutions, many clients experience noticeable improvements in a relatively short period of time.
• Empowerment : Clients are actively involved in their own healing process, which fosters a sense of empowerment and self-efficacy.
• Holistic Approach : SFH addresses the mind-body connection, promoting overall well-being rather than just alleviating symptoms.
• Non-Invasive : Hypnotherapy is a non-invasive, drug-free approach to mental health care, making it appealing to those who prefer natural methods.
• Customizable : SFH is highly adaptable and can be tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual.

Limitations and Considerations

While SFH is a powerful therapeutic tool, it may not be suitable for everyone. Some considerations include:

• Severe Mental Health Conditions : Individuals with severe mental health issues, such as psychosis or certain personality disorders, may require more specialized forms of therapy.
• Client Readiness : Success in SFH depends on the client’s willingness to engage in the process and commit to making changes. Those who are resistant to change or skeptical about hypnosis may not benefit as much.
• Not a Substitute for Medical Treatment : SFH should not replace medical treatment for conditions that require medication or other interventions. It is best used as a complementary therapy.

Conclusion

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a dynamic and effective approach to mental health and personal development. By combining the power of hypnosis with solution-focused techniques, it empowers individuals to take control of their lives, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Its emphasis on positivity, empowerment, and rapid results makes it an appealing option for those seeking meaningful change in a relatively short period of time.

 

My conclusion

So, what did I think of the responses? They all seem to give a good general overview in so far as solution-focused hypnotherapy (SFH) is focused on the future the client wants and doesn’t dwell on the past. Clients are informed about how the brain works in order to understand what is going on inside them. And the process is usually over in four to 12 weekly sessions, whereas traditional psychotherapy can last much longer. Perplexity was the most interesting because it included links to show where it got the information from.

While they are all very similar, only Claude mentions the miracle question which is a core feature of SFH. ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek mention the need for client participation or collaborative working. Llama. Perplexity, DeepSeek, and Quen mention client empowerment, which again is important. ChatGPT and Llama mention positive thinking. And only DeepSeek highlights building on success as a technique.

All of the AIs tested are good – if you wanted to write some text about SFH on a website – but they need to be taken together in order to produce something that is closest to what solution-focused hypnotherapy really is.

What we can learn from this is that the answers we get from an AI to the kinds of question we might ask them is that they are not 100% complete or accurate. The one bright spot is that I didn’t find any inaccuracies in their responses. It will be interesting to compare the responses from the different AIs in, say, a year’s time to see whether they have improved and by how much.

 

 

References:

https://claude.ai/new
https://chatgpt.com/
https://gemini.google.com/app
https://www.meta.ai/
https://www.perplexity.ai/
https://chat.deepseek.com/
https://chat.qwenlm.ai/