Creating SMART goals

 


Understanding SMART Goals in mental health: How hypnosis and EFT can help clients overcome stress, anxiety, and depression. Setting clear and achievable goals is an essential tool in promoting mental well-being. Whether it’s overcoming stress, managing anxiety, or navigating depression, having a structured plan can provide the necessary focus and direction for recovery. This is where SMART goals come into play.


So what are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym that stands for:


S**pecific

M**easurable

A**chievable

R**elevant

T**ime-bound


These principles can be applied to any goal, whether it's personal or professional, and they create a clear, actionable path to success. When it comes to mental health, SMART goals can guide clients through a journey of transformation, helping them regain control over their lives, reframe negative thinking, and work towards lasting well-being.


In this blog post, we’ll explore how SMART goals help clients focus on their mental health recovery and how hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) integrate these goals to shift negative thought patterns and foster positive changes.


Specific: Identifying the Core Issue and Desired Outcome


The first step in creating SMART goals is to make them specific. In the context of mental health, this involves narrowing down exactly what the client is struggling with and what they hope to achieve.


For example, a client dealing with anxiety might specify, "I want to reduce my anxiety levels so I can feel more at ease in social situations." This provides clarity on the issue (anxiety) and the desired outcome (being more at ease in social situations).


How Hypnosis and EFT Can Help:

Hypnosis. In a hypnotherapy session, the practitioner can help the client focus on the specific aspects of anxiety that need attention, such as a particular trigger, like public speaking or social gatherings. By focusing the mind on these exact situations, the client can start to reprogram their subconscious mind to react differently.

  

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). EFT, often referred to as tapping, helps clients focus on specific negative emotions tied to their anxiety. By tapping on specific meridian points while verbalising the distress, the client can begin to process and reduce the intensity of these emotions, addressing the root cause directly.


Measurable: Tracking Progress and Celebrating Success


SMART goals are measurable, which means it should be clear how to track progress. In mental health, measuring progress may seem more abstract, but it can still be done. For example, the client could track how often they feel anxious in social situations or rate their anxiety levels on a scale of 1 to 10 each day.


How Hypnosis and EFT Can Help:

Hypnosis: As clients engage in regular hypnosis sessions, they can keep track of how their symptoms are changing over time. This might include noting when they feel less anxious or are able to handle stressors with more calm. Hypnosis can reinforce these positive changes and allow clients to feel empowered by their progress.

  

EFT: With EFT, clients can rate their emotional distress on a scale before and after tapping. This allows them to physically see the decrease in emotional intensity, helping them visualize the progress they’re making. Additionally, setting specific measurable outcomes for how they want to feel after tapping, such as "I want to feel calm and centered," can also help track improvements.


Achievable: Setting Realistic, Small Steps Toward Recovery


For a goal to be achievable, it must be broken down into smaller, realistic steps. Trying to completely eliminate anxiety or depression overnight is unrealistic, but small incremental changes can lead to greater improvement. An example might be setting a goal such as "I will engage in one mindful breathing session each day" or "I will confront one social situation per week."


How Hypnosis and EFT Can Help:

Hypnosis: In a hypnotherapy session, the therapist can guide the client through a progressive process, starting with small changes that feel manageable. For instance, the client might first focus on overcoming minor anxiety before gradually addressing more significant fears or stressors.

  

EFT focuses on addressing specific emotional charges, and clients can gradually increase the intensity of what they address. For example, clients may start by tapping on mild stress and progress to more deeply ingrained fears and anxieties. EFT helps clients feel that their goals are achievable because they can break down the emotional blockages into manageable pieces.


Relevant: Aligning Goals with Core Values


The relevance of a goal means it must align with the client’s core values and overall purpose. A mental health goal should matter to the client and be meaningful in their life. For example, a client might set the goal to "improve my mental health so I can be a more present parent." This goal aligns with the client’s values of family and connection, making it more motivating.


How Hypnosis and EFT Can Help:

Hypnosis: In hypnosis, the therapist can help the client uncover and reinforce their deep motivations. By identifying what is truly important to them (such as family, career, or self-esteem), hypnosis can create a sense of alignment between the client’s goals and their intrinsic values, making the recovery process feel more purposeful.

  

EFT works by uncovering emotional triggers that prevent clients from living in alignment with their values. As clients clear these emotional blockages, they can reconnect with what is important to them and align their goals with their values. For instance, if a client values their health but feels overwhelmed by stress, EFT can help clear the stress and bring the client back into alignment with their health goals.


Time-bound: Creating a Clear Timeline for Achievement


Lastly, SMART goals must be time-bound, meaning there should be a clear timeline for achieving the goal. For example, a client might set the goal of reducing their anxiety levels by 50% within three months.


How Hypnosis and EFT Can Help:

Hypnosis: Hypnosis sessions can be scheduled over a period of time, such as once a week or fortnightly. With each session, clients can track their improvements, reinforcing the time-bound nature of their goals. A clear timeline for improvement helps to keep clients motivated and accountable.

  

Like hypnosis, EFT can be practiced regularly, and clients can set goals to achieve specific results by a certain time. For example, a client might set the goal of being able to walk into a crowded room with minimal anxiety in six weeks. With regular EFT sessions, clients can gauge their progress and celebrate each small victory along the way.


Using SMART goals in hypnosis and EFT to cultivate positive change


By setting SMART goals, clients can structure their mental health journey in a way that is clear, manageable, and motivating. These goals allow clients to track their progress, stay focused on their recovery, and feel a sense of achievement as they move forward.


Hypnosis and EFT are powerful tools that integrate beautifully with the SMART goals framework. By utilising these techniques, clients can break through negative thought patterns, address the root causes of their stress, anxiety, and depression, and ultimately cultivate a new mindset that fosters self-love, peace, and resilience.


If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, consider using SMART goals alongside hypnosis or EFT to create a holistic and structured path toward healing. The combination of goal-setting and therapeutic techniques can help you build the mindset needed to transform negative thinking into lasting, positive change.


Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, bereavement or looking to break habits, reframe fears, or phobias. Phiona can help you develop approaches to overcome these barriers that prevent you from living life to the fullest. Helping you navigate life’s challenges and take the next step towards a brighter, calmer future.


If you feel you would like support, and you feel therapy may be the answer. I offer 15 minute complimentary  consultations, for you to have the chance to discover how therapy might support you. Visit my website for more information. 


www.mindfulmomentstherapies.co.uk


Or email

mindfulmomentstherapies@gmail.com


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