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• How does BSFF differ from the other techniques you know and have used? Jenny Skewes: BSFF really fits with over 90% of my clients, because it treats fear, anger, sadness, and trauma, which cover most issues. The number of sessions for most people I see has been cut in half. I still incorporate my other techniques at times. I believe having hypnosis training has made me more able to assist clients to become mindful of knowing themselves and trusting themselves to know when things are right. BSFF is my preferred way of working, because I love the way it empowers clients to help themselves. Other techniques are mainly therapist driven, whereas once clients are taught how to utilize BSFF, they take it away and come back with all sorts of new and interesting feats, like improving their golf .

• What is your current personal focus in your professional work with BSFF?

Jenny Skewes: Being a generalist counselor, I find that BSFF fits with nearly everyone who seeks counseling. So, professionally my focus is to empower my clients with a tool that they can apply in life to get past their problems and continue to get the best out of life

Personally, I have severe osteo-arthritis (it is genetic) and since having an operation that cut this away from strangling my spinal cord (it was paralyzing my left arm) about 15 years ago, I have slowly but surely put on weight. I was never a sporty sort, but loved swimming and would regularly plough up and down a pool for an hour to keep fit and to lose weight when required. I also like aerobics.

After the operation, because of the damage caused to my neck and shoulder area, I was told that I was not to swim, because it would aggravate the damage done. I guess I held resentment there and so didn’t feel like doing any exercise at all!

Then my job became more sedentary. I made an effort to walk every now and then, but I really didn’t enjoy it and easily found an excuse not to go. Leigh has used BSFF to very successfully lose weight. So, I decided I could, too! I had already used BSFF to change my should to could—a very simple thing, but it changed me so that I now enjoy walking often.

I also have low Chromium levels and as I was slim when young, I feel that I must have had better levels then. I’m doing some self talk around allowing that to work again. I have had a habit of saying, “I can’t lose weight,” so (spurred on by Leigh’s success) I am currently changing that negative statement and being generally really aware of the messages I give myself. I now say, “Being healthy is my treat,” to try and combat the idea that a biscuit or chocolate is a treat. I am not an overeater, but my job does not burn these odd treats off!

I find that the statement stops my unconscious buying of a chocolate bar when I pop into a shop to buy some milk. I am also more conscious of choices in food. I have only just started all this and don’t believe in diets, so I just want to eat more healthily and exercise an amount that allows the weight to shift away from me. I now believe it is just a matter of time, so I feel it is working.

• What is your background in counseling?

Jenny Skewes: My original training is in Psychiatric Nursing with additional training in counseling. I managed a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program for people with psychiatric disabilities. I actually never dreamed I would start a private practice, but then my teacher and mentor, David Johnson, offered to instruct me how to teach Solution Oriented Counseling. I have always enjoyed witnessing people’s achievements, and I was interested in helping people with depression, anxiety and phobias. Something kept pushing me in this direction, so I took the leap! I quit my job, and now I teach the course each term. I also teach a Diploma in this now, which is a year long course and an absolute joy to teach.

• I am a generalist counselor so I see people with a huge variety of problems. Having over 30 year’s experience of working in the field of Psychiatry I find that I am comfortable working with anyone who walks in my door, no matter the problem. I like to think that no one leaves my practice without hope and something they can use to help themselves. Whenever I discover something I feel I am not fully knowledgeable about, I take time to learn more about it. I like to be open to new discoveries, and I believe I need to be passionate in my work and I know that both Leigh and I are very much that!

• I am a Past President of ASOCHA (Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors And Hypnotherapists of Australia), which is a constituent organization of PACFA (Psychotherapy And Counseling Federation of Australia). I am ASOCHA’s PACFA Delegate, so I meet nationally with delegates of other associations to assist in making what we believe are the best decisions for best practices, etc. The Australian Hypnotherapists Association of Australia has invited me to Sydney to run an introductory workshop on BSFF (after spending time with their secretary at a PACFA meeting). So, I will take that opportunity to advertise Dennis’s BSFF courses.

• I particularly like using the BSFF technique with people who have experienced trauma. How wonderful to see the person so relieved and able to put the past in the past. For people who have been sexual abuse victims, too, it is so lovely to see them no longer the victim!

• Please share one final BSFF story.

Jenny Skewes: A child, who came to me originally with a fear of going to a toilet with a toilet fan, overcame this by calling the BSFF Cue Word “Magic Button” and rubbing his chest. This primary school aged child came back about six months later with another problem around being frightened at night in bed. I soon discovered that the client was being quite resistant! For example, he told me that the Magic Button was out playing golf so couldn’t be of any help! I have a white board in my room, and I decided to use the SUD scale by asking the child to write the numbers up to the fear he felt. This was done very proudly. Then I asked him “If the fear started to go away just a little, what number would you be able to rub out to?” I imagined the client wouldn’t be able to resist rubbing them all out, and I was right. He rubbed away every number, one by one. Eventually he told me that the fear had left by going up my chimney. So, we can adapt this wonderful method to suit children with some fun and imagination

-Jenny Skewes

Skewes Therapy Consultancy skewestc@ncable.net.au

UP CLOSE!

1. The most unusual Cue Word chosen?

"In the Dell" Remember the song "The farmer in the Dell"? A Dell is a pretty area on a farm with a waterwheel.

2. The funniest Cue Word you have every heard a person choose

Female ~ 'Wonder Woman', Male 'Tardus' I have had two men chose this!

3. Your favorite restaurant?

In Ballarat, I enjoy the Eclectic Restaurant, the food is healthy, very yummy and reasonably priced. The surrounds are kitsch ornaments and paintings that give you a chuckle as you remember their eras. The menu is written on a paper bag and the staff are always nice.

4. Your favorite teenage song?

"All Along the Watchtower" Jimi Hendrix, it is still my favorite song!

5. If you had a free day, and could do anything, what would you do?

Go with Leigh down to a place called Ocean Grove, go for a float in the sea, lie in the sun, enjoy a long walk together on the beach and possibly a puddle around the rock pools.

6. The most inspiring figure in your life?

Milton Erickson ~ what an amazing and truly inspiring man!

8. Your favorite knock knock joke (you have these in Australia?)

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Fish

Fish Who?

Bless you!

9. If the Creator of Life let you change one thing about creation for a day, what would it be?

No one would ever go hungry,

Thank YOU Jenny Skewes! for being a BSFF Brave Soul both in this interview and in your work with so many fortunate people.