Why therapy is a waste of time for driving anxiety, unless...

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro
1:21 - Why you don't need a specialist
3:04 - Why you need a specialist
3:47 - How generalists work
4:40 - How specialists work
5:18 - Generalist vs specialist
7:20 - Simple summary

This can be a very confusing subject so let me explain it in three ways, starting with one sentence followed by an example and then the full details.

The point explained in one sentence:

Therapists who think they can fix any problem don't know what they're doing, whereas those who only fix one thing could actually fix other problems.

Here's an example:

Imagine a brilliant mechanic who can fix any engine but they choose to only work on Ford engines. They won't talk about any other type of engine, won't work on them and have based their whole career on fixing only Ford engines.

Now imagine another mechanic who has a go at fixing anything but doesn't know what they're doing. They're a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Can you see the difference? One of them can fix anything but chooses not to while the other can't fix anything but thinks they can do it all.

Here it is explained in full:

Therapists who think they can fix any problem (anxiety, stopping flying, weight loss etc.) make the mistake of thinking there is a specific method to fixing each problem. They think you have to do a certain thing or use a special technique because each problem is different when the truth is that all problems are the same.

Can you see the contradiction? People who say they can fix anything are looking for a specific fix for each thing! In other words, a generalist is saying you need to be a specialist in something to fix it because you need to know exactly how to deal with THAT problem as though it's different to others.

Most problems that can be fixed with hypnotherapy are found and fixed the same way, but aftercare is something to consider. For example, alcoholics need support to gradually stop drinking because it can be dangerous to stop instantly. The way you fix is however remains the same.

Any problem is only how the real issue is showing itself. Driving anxiety for example is often a repressed feeling from your distant past which is trapped and surfaces when you drive. That's why it makes no sense: the feeling doesn't belong to driving. It's in the wrong place.

Knowing this, the problem you present is never the problem you're dealing with, merely how the problem is showing.

That allows any therapist to fix any problem because...it's never the problem anyway! You help people into hypnosis and they then find whatever needs attention, fix it and the problem goes.

Here lies the problem: only therapists who specialise in something can fix anything.

Generalists often go into private therapy groups leaving messages like "Hey, I have a client coming along with (problem). How do I fix it? Does anyone know a script or method that will work?". I know this because I've been in those groups and seen it.

That shows they don't know what they're doing because they're viewing problems as being separate things with separate solutions.

So...the only way to fix anything is to find a therapist who specialises in something because they understand from working with so many people with the same problem that it isn't the problem anyway.

If that makes sense, you could be in the 1% of therapists who succeed.

[bellejames]

Your posts have been a great help to me in helping me identify what was really happening when l first experienced anxiety while driving . You gave me the insite & tools to help me understand why l was allowing my thoughts to dismantle my driving skills especially on dual carriageways & motorways. I was allowing myself to feel trapped & bullied by speeding drivers, instead of just enjoying my own journey. These old dark anxiety feelings came from a time when l felt trapped in my career. As you say the anxiety is Nothing at all to do with driving.Thank you Paul.