Initial telephone interview for prospective clients

[Nat]

Hi, I'm thinking that I would like to create an intial telephone interview form to use on prospective clients. Does anyone have one that they use that they may be open to sharing? Nat

[Don]

I would like to suggest that there are a few things you want to accomplish:

1) Qualify. Is the person wasting your time or can they be helped with hypnosis? Is the change the person desires in your field of expertise, or should you refer them to someone else?

2) Get them off the phone and into your office. You don't get paid for being on the phone. Once you've qualified them, set the appointment.

3) Begin the work. Hypnotherapy begins from the time you answer the phone and say "hello."

[Terry (existing)]

My experience bears out Don's comments. Those who waste time on the phone, not only WASTE time, but annoy the ass off the client in many cases. It is unbusinesslike and inefficient. To a knowledgeable person, it is an indicator of both inefficiency, and lack of confidence. The client isn't phoning you to boost your confidence, but to get help for themselves....

[Poodle]

Don and Terry are very correct. They will eagerly tell you the problem, you immediately book them. They always want to know how much too so tell them the truth and explain why it is such a bargain. Next questions: Can I be hypnotized? Your answer -- Well, since you speak English and have a body temperature of approximately 98.6 you are an excellent candidate for hypnosis. 1. They know their problem will be taken care of
2. They know you are honest and know what know you are doing as you know the price and how many sessions are necessary (also for weight loss and tobacco cessation I tell them they can come back any time for a year for free - this they LOVE as it means I really CARE about them and they WILL succeed.) Send out Thank You cards, Christmas Cards, check on them by phone if they have not already called you to tell you how wonderfully they are doing. Hypnosis is a people business and you need happy clients. They have paid you a lot of money and without happy clients you have NO business. People LOVE to be remembered!!
3. They are assured they can be hypnotized
4. Leave your business cards EVERYWHERE!!
5. If qualified to work on clinical cases, contact the Drs' offices for referrals -- they love to get rid of problem patients
6. Make arrangements with local "health food stores" (leaving cards and brochures) like for every 5 clients you send me, you get a free session and I can see right now you are under a lot of stress so let's get rid of it as soon as possible. They will LOVE you.
7. If you know NLP, I would suggest a very NLP'sih
name for your business
8. Never assume you know everything. Continually seek out more and better training than you have already had.
9. The client is always RIGHT even when totally WRONG so learn to work around it. Continually say That's right, you are doing beautifully, etc. because they have absolutely no idea how they are doing at all. If your induction is not working properly, slip to another without missing a word and they will never know the difference.
10. Time is money so keep the inductions short, and hammer home the patter. Emerge.
11. Make them pay first. People are usually a little spacey after trance. Don't push them out of the door after trance. A little chit chat while trance wears off and then out the door. WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE HERE!!

This is probably the most I can say to help you. I hope you have learned something here that you previously didn't know. Good luck! You will do well! Pood (see, i'm not always grouchy)

[Nat]

I was thinking more about maybe asking them if they were on any psychotropic medications, things like that. I wasn't really looking to them to boost my confidence level. I guess I'm safe in assuming that not many people use any kind of intake form. OK, got it!

[Poodle]

Whoa there son! We most certainly DO use intake forms and know each and every medication the client is on and why and who and who their personal physician is. This is done after they come into your office before the induction, you meet them, establish rapport and start filling out paperwork. It's just like going to a medical doctor, dentist or anything else. What would happen if you got rid of an allergy and that particular person has to have an antihistimine or they will go into shock. If you send me your email address thru PM, I will scan and forward an intake form to you. You need name, address, phone no., email address, cell number, DOB, marital status, husband/wife's name, no. of children etc., etc. You need to keep records of what the client wants to accomplish, inductions used and results. In the USA the Court has the right to subpoena your records so you had better have them!! Did you not learn all of this at your training?????

I might also suggest that you write a very self-serving article on hypnosis in general with a little bit about you opening your new business and submit it to the health editor of a major paper somewhere near where you live. If you pester that person enough, a journalist will be sent out to interview you and you will get to PERSONALLY explain away the myths of hypnosis, the multitude of benefits of hypnosis and just how capable you are at hypnosis. You will have clients driving hundreds of miles to meet you and will become an instant celebrity. FREE ADVERTISING IS WONDERFUL!! Please be kind enough to offer the journalist a free session with you. You need rapport with news people and that is a sure way to get it. AGAIN, hypnosis is a PEOPLE business!! If the journalist has time to come in and experience hypnosis before writing the article so much the better. It is easier, of course, to write what one has experienced than a shot in the dark.

Sorry kid. Pood has to go now!

[Poodle]

Last piece of advice Nat -- you need a VERY GOOD pre-induction talk!! Pood

[Nat]

I come from a mental health background and I tend to overthink things. What you said was very concise and very helpful. You really know your stuff. thanks again, Nat