Ideal client

[Ruth2]

For those of you are are professional hypnotists/hypnotherapists:

What do you look for in a client? What are the questions you'd like them to ask you when you first meet? What don't you want them to ask you?

Thanks muchly!

Ruth2 (who's just discovered that Claritin and Benadryl do not play nicely together, even if taken 20 hours apart....)

[Poodle]

We don't have to ask much in the way of questions. Clients see us as someone they can unload on.

We may have to rearrange some language as often they tell us what they don't want instead of what they do want. This then gets it correctly established in their minds and they need to know what they want is achievable and ecological in the way they want it and if it is not, they need to know what to expect and the client needs to be willing to uphold their end too.

It's the same old thing we have been writing about here for years -- no bad clients -- numerous bad hypnotherapists. Some are even taught to write scripts to read AT their clients.

I'll be sure to pass your words of wisdom on to my vet about benadryl and Claritin. If this were for an allergy, how about seeing a NLPer and getting rid of it. Yes, we do that too. :)

[Don]

Pood, although I agree that there are no bad clients, I would like to make even more clear that there may be clients who are not ready for hypnotherapy. For example, a person who doesn't want to stop smoking but his children bought a gift certificate with a hypnotist for smoking cessation.

[skip]

I prefer warm and breathing.

AND I like clients who know what they want, althouh it is also fun to explore with a client the possibilities they didnt know existed for them.

skip

[Poodle]

Time Line Therapy or Essence as it can have a 4 hour plus intake.

I'm getting suspicious about Ruth. I BELIEVE she is about ready to "pounce" and is just making sure that she will be a great client. We LOVE intelligent clients so that assures all of us here that she will be an absolutely PERFECT client plus the fact we know she has an amazing inner mind.

Don, I don't do gift certificates and if the person showing up cannot convince me that it is their true desire, then I do not accept them. This comes from a few medical referrals wherein it was their physician's idea and not theirs so I have asked those same physicians to please stop sending me this type of person until that physician is totally sure of their patient's wishes. People already know the facts, the costs so it's useless for their MD to push them into something they are not ready for YET.

[Ruth2]

Hey Pood, Don and Skip!!

Of course I want to be a great client! LOL!

I don't necessarily want to go in with a laundry list of questions and goals but neither do I want to show up, totally passive and say "Do me." I've found several that may be just the one but one wants to do inner healing work with an emphasis on forgiveness. Another specializes in stop smoking and weight reduction. Great, but what about this pesky wart I've got, and my allergies and the patch of ADD I hit when I write... I've asked around and the general info I get on the hypnotists/hypnotherapists around here is "well, you go in and they'll determine what you need and work with you based on their assessment." Uh, no.

So I'm working on finding a good fit. I haven't given up. I may have to go "next door" (next closest city) to find someone but I'd like to not do that if I can help it.

Thanks all for your input; I really appreciate it!

Ruth2

[Don]

Don, I don't do gift certificates...

Neither do I, but some do.

...and if the person showing up cannot convince me that it is their true desire, then I do not accept them.

Nor do I. As I wrote, they're not ready for hypnotherapy.

This comes from a few medical referrals wherein it was their physician's idea and not theirs so I have asked those same physicians to please stop sending me this type of person until that physician is totally sure of their patient's wishes. People already know the facts, the costs so it's useless for their MD to push them into something they are not ready for YET.

Exactly. So I wouldn't say they're a "bad" client, only that they're not ready for hypnotherapy...yet. :D

[Connie]

Hi, Ruth!

You wrote: "well, you go in and they'll determine what you need and work with you based on their assessment." Uh, no.

Yes, and no. It's an interplay and a collaboration. If you don't accept the idea that the person you're working with has skills and knowledge and positive intentions to guide you to what is best and most efficient to acheive your stated goals...well, then...you're not ready for hypnosis.

Find a professional you can TRUST. And do trust. And allow them to guide you. That's why you are going to a professional. If you want to play with self hypnosis, do so!

[skip]

"well, you go in and they'll determine what you need and work with you based on their assessment." Uh, no.


I agree.

AND I agree with Connie too.

And that isnt exactly holding two opposite view points at the same time, although you can think of it that way if you wish.

How about ...

You go in with a list of what you want to happen with the idea that you might choose to modify it some, if you understand it is in your best interest to do so, and let the hypnotist determine the best course to get you what you want?

You get the results you really want, using the methology determined as best by the hypnotist.

NOW...

That said; I dont feel comfortable with going to someone who already has an agenda.

They dont know you, yet. How can they pre-determine that you need to forgive yourself? (Yes I know it is a metaphor technique) Or how can they pre-determine that you in some past life ... bla bla bla.

To me that smacks of someone who is a one trick pony. They learned a one size fits all methodology and they attempt to tailor the client to fit their remedie, not the other way around. Or worse they think they know the truth!!!!

Personally I would feel much better going to someone who upon being asked would say something like this, "I dont know yet. I havent had time enough to learn about you and what you want, hopefully after some conversation I will have a thought or two on that."

The truth is that each and every time the hypnotist ought to begin afresh calibrating where the client is, becaue they have CHANGED since they saw them last. To assume they can pick up where they left off is exactly as ludicrous as assuming that your niece who was 5, when you last saw her 10 years ago, is still the same.

cheers,

skip

PS you will do just fine, when you go.

[Ruth2]

Hi Connie and Skip,

Thanks for the reply. A collaboration/partnership is fine. After all, if I could do it all on my own I wouldn't be there. It's the "nevermind what you said; I'll determine what you need and how long you will remain in therapy" approach that gets to me.

As far as self-hypnosis, I'd love to learn that. I don't think it's the first step I should take, though.

Thanks guys! Ruth2

[Merlin]

Of course I want to be a great client! LOL!

I don't necessarily want to go in with a laundry list of questions and goals but neither do I want to show up, totally passive and say "Do me."



yes, do me
:D:eek:

[Ruth2]

LOL! Thanks Merlin!