Why is the initial consultation so important?

What factors will an ethical therapist

cover at this time?
I suspect that the primary ethical note that Chrysalis will be looking for is that of
contraindicators, i.e. is hypnotherapy suitable for this person?
In the module notes there is a section somewhere on who they think we should not
use hypnotherapy on, e.g. schizophrenics. I would say that pretty much everyone on
their list could be questioned. However, that may be a debate for another time!
Also, on this topic, you might want to mention something about when you would
require consent from a GP, etc.
The initial consultation is important - in their eyes - because it is where all the
previous stuff is assessed. You also use the time to discuss any
fears/questions/misconceptions regarding hypnosis. This is also the place where you
would build rapport, look at modalities, induction style, discuss payment, etc.
You might also want to drop a sentence in about whether or not to offer a free initial
consultation, or charge?
Realistically, the initial consultation is a place for acquiring information and exploring
the client's history. It is also when you might choose to assess their learning style,
modalities and so on. However, in terms of ethics, the above is essential information
to remember to put in the essay. The rest of the stuff you will already know about
from your previous essay on personalised inductions.
Useful References
Heap, M. (2009) Introduction to Hypnosis. In M. Heap and W. Dryden (Eds.),
Hypnotherapy: A Handbook (Chapter 1, pp. 1 -14). Berkshire: Open University Press.
Karle, H. W. A. (2009) ‘Professional and Ethical Issues.’ In M. Heap and W. Dryden
(Eds.), Hypnotherapy: A Handbook (Chapter 11, pp. 184 -199). Berkshire: Open
University Press.
The Hypnotherapy Society Code Of Ethics

Homework Assignment: Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors

will an ethical therapist cover at this time?

Introduction
The initial consultation before therapy is probably the most important part of the
whole procedure. As this will form the basis of the therapy. It is very important for
the therapist to begin gathering information on a client from the moment they first
walk through the door. The correct steps that need to be taken in order to make the
therapy a success can begin to be formed from that point on.
On the other side of the fence it is equally important for the client to make a positive
connection with the therapist. It is very important for the therapist to instil a feeling
of confidence and trust that can then be built upon and intensified.
As we have learnt in previous modules, all people are individual, and that there is no
prescribed ‘one size fits all’ induction and therapy. Therefore all that can be learnt
initially is of great importance. The first consultation’s goal is to uncover the best
route of therapy for the client making it as individual as they are.

In this essay I shall attempt to describe how the first consultation can pick out the
best route of therapy for a client because from the moment we are born our
subconscious starts to store the knowledge that we need for survival. When a client
comes to us we must try to find out the learnt information that has been stored in
their subconscious so that we can retrain the part that has gone wrong.

Why is the initial consultation so important?

To understand why the initial consultation is so important we need to look back at
how the conscious and subconscious minds work for us. When we are born our
experiences are a blank page. We have genetic information from our biological
parents and our functional instincts which are etched into our...

Word count 1,883

Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?

In this essay I will discuss the importance of client consultation, talk about the
questions the therapist should ask the client and the ethical reasons and
contraindications the therapist should be looking out for.

When a person has a specific problem, whether it is a fear or phobia or

something they wish to change about themselves, they may consult a hypnotherapist
to help them overcome their problem, during hypnotherapy the therapist will address
the clients specific needs. But before the therapist can decide the correct route to
therapy it is necessary for them to conduct an assessment of the client during the
first consultation. They may advertise a free initial consultation, if they do, it should
be made clear that only the first half hour is free, then if both the client and therapist
are happy to continue, the client must then pay for the therapists time. There should
be a contract between the client and therapist outlining the estimated number of
therapy sessions needed, what will be involved and the therapist must complete the
therapy as soon as they believe the client has overcome the problem they have
consulted the therapist about.

It is important that the relationship between client and therapist never oversteps
the boundaries of a professional relationship, it is necessary to build a relationship
with a client but this relationship may never become anything else, if at any time the
therapist suspects the relationship is becoming anything but client and therapist, they
must end any treatment and refer the client to another therapist. A therapist can also
use the initial assessment to make sure they do not already know the person they
are about to treat, this is called a dual relationship. The therapist must also ensure
they do not have any other personal feelings for the client.

During the...

Why is the Initial Consultation so Important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?
The initial Consultation is important because it will give a chance for the
hypnotherapist to meet the client face to face, and look for indications of the physical
condition which may underline a substantial psychological problem. There is a vast
amount of information to obtain on the patient in question. This information will aid
the hypnotherapist in building a rapport with the patient; also allow a connection trust
to be formed. Of course the information acquired on the patient is the key to the
initial assessment and to establish if the therapist is necessary but inevitably it
comes down to the therapist and their manner.
The reason why an ethical therapist would offer a free initial consultation is because
it would show the commitment to the client through devoting their time to them, to
talk, get to know them and make them feel comfortable.
A hypnotherapist can find out why the client has come to see them, what their
problems are and whether or not hypnotherapy is right for them, and whether they
have had hypnotherapy before if not then the therapist can explain to the client what
hypnotherapy is and how it can help them, they also will need to find out whether
they are on medication or not, and to see if they will need their gp’s permission
before giving hypnotherapy.
The first consultation can be free and last up to 30 minutes. The consultation can
give the client a chance to ask questions, find out more about Hypnotherapy and
decide whether these solutions focused approaches are right for them. There will be
an opportunity to talk about the issues they want to address in complete confidence
and also to use the time to discuss any fears, phobias, anxiety, and stress. This is
also the place where you would build rapport and look at modalities, induction style
and discuss the payment charges. You will have a chance to build rapport with the
client by...

Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?

The initial consultation may well be the most crucial aspect of all therapies.
Everything from the interpersonal dynamic to the eventual success of the
intervention has a basis in this first meeting between the client and the therapist. In
seeing a client for the first time , some hypnotherapists offer a free consultation
usually lasting 15 to 30 minutes to get to know the client, You will have to decide
whether or not to give your consultation away free,

Indeed, the client’s decision to remain engaged with the therapeutic process will be
determined by factors from this early stage. The consultation process is concerned
with two primary aims; knowing the person and informing the person. The latter is
somewhat less involved and aims to ensure that the client has a clear understanding
of the therapist, the nature of hypnosis, and the guidelines within which both are
framed.
the initial consultation is a place for acquiring information ( name and the name by
which they like to be known, address, contact details, occupation ,whether they have
a partner or children, medication the client is taking, you can see if they have had
any other therapies or counselling in the past and what that was for, medical history,
family medical history).You also use the time to discuss any
fears/questions/misconceptions regarding hypnosis. This is also the place where you
would build rapport, look at modalities, induction style, discuss payment,
Before gathering all the information you must explain to the client that all their notes
will be stored away safely and it will be kept confidential. The client needs to
understand this because respecting the client’s confidentiality is a fundamental
requirement of keeping trust.
Once you have gathered all the information you need from your client you can use
this information to decide whether the client will be suitable for...

Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?”

2023
Our personality and belief system is shaped from when we are born as we
experience different things; learning things that our subconscious has stored as
being necessary for our survival. If we have a negative concept of ourselves it’s the
hypnotherapists job to find out as much information about the client as possible,
therefore reprogramming a positive concept into the clients subconscious by using
positive suggestions, this is why an initial consultation is so important. During this
essay I am going to be describing and discussing “why the initial consultation so
important and what factors an ethical therapist will cover at this time?”
The initial consultation usually lasts for half an hour and gives the client the
opportunity to meet the therapist in person and are ‘able to assess their suitability for
your expertise’ (chrysalis pg15). It can help determine whether the client feels
comfortable discussing and disclosing information with the therapist. You can also
assess whether or not you can work with the client and especially if they feel they
can work with the therapist and also whether hypnotherapy is suitable for the client.
An ethical therapist needs to take make sure there is no sexual attraction, if this is
the case the therapy should not continue. Obviously in the initial consultation you
can determine the nature of the clients problem, this then depends on how many
sessions the client will need, for example a one off quit smoking session may differ to
another problem which may need 3-6 sessions or more. Therapists ‘work solely with
neuroses and not psychoses’ (chrysalis mod2 p22) ethical therapists should cover
this when assessing a client in an initial consultation and will discuss with the client
what medical and mental health issues they may have so the therapist is aware of
any contraindications or issues that might make inductions...

WHY IS THE INITIAL CONSULTATION SO IMPORTANT? WHAT FACTORS WILL

AN ETHICAL THERAPIST COVER AT THIS TIME?

In this essay I will be looking at the purpose of the initial consultation, what happens
during this meeting and why it is such an important time in the client/therapist
relationship. Obviously the main objective of this meeting is to establish if the client
is suitable for this type of therapy and if there is a satisfactory therapeutic fit. There
are many other factors to be considered during this first meeting and various issues
surrounding these. I will endeavour to cover as many of these issues as possible in
order to illustrate the importance of this initial consultation.

In meeting with the client for the first time it is very much learning about the client
and their needs and of course their expectations of the possible therapy, and for the
client to establish if this feels right for him in all aspects of the service being offered.
This session will be often be free and therefore relatively short, as well as being a
crucial time for the therapist to gather as much information to begin a successful
therapeutic relationship or not! Information and data will usually be collected and
added to a form that is generally referred to as a ‘Notation’. This will cover
questions such as:
 * Full name (also name they like to be referred to)
* Address and contact details (including permission to use these contact numbers
etc)
* Occupation-current and previous
* G.P. name and surgery
* Medical history - current Medication and health problems, addictions
* Relationship status-names and ages/any long term relationship breakdown
* Childhood – brief description eg happy, average, bad childhood
* Hobbies/interests
* Problems in work life
* Problems in close relationships
* Any previous experience of Hypnotherapy or other therapies
* Dislikes/fears
* What is the clients goal and is this a long term problem/If...

In this essay I will be looking at the purpose of the initial consultation, what happens
during this meeting and why it is such an important time in the client/therapist
relationship. Obviously the main objective of this meeting is to establish if the client
is suitable for this type of therapy and if there is a satisfactory therapeutic fit. There
are many other factors to be considered during this first meeting and various issues
surrounding these. I will endeavour to cover as many of these issues as possible in
order to illustrate the importance of this initial consultation.

In meeting with the client for the first time it is very much learning about the client
and their needs and of course their expectations of the possible therapy, and for the
client to establish if this feels right for him in all aspects of the service being offered.
This session will be often be free and therefore relatively short, as well as being a
crucial time for the therapist to gather as much information to begin a successful
therapeutic relationship or not! Information and data will usually be collected and
added to a form that is generally referred to as a ‘Notation’. This will cover
questions such as:
* Full name (also name they like to be referred to)
* Address and contact details (including permission to use these contact numbers
etc)
* Occupation-current and previous
* G.P. name and surgery
* Medical history - current Medication and health problems, addictions
* Relationship status-names and ages/any long term relationship breakdown
* Childhood – brief description eg happy, average, bad childhood
* Hobbies/interests
* Problems in work life
* Problems in close relationships
* Any previous experience of Hypnotherapy or other therapies
* Dislikes/fears
* What is the clients goal and is this a long term problem/If...

Introduction

The initial consultation is important because it is where the clients concerns are
addressed. This time is also used to discuss any problems, phobias, fears or
misconceptions that may arise from hypnotherapy. This is also the time to start
building a connection with the client by asking questions and answering any they
may have. It is at this initial meeting that you can start to look at modalities and
induction styles. During this period you must speak about payment and the cost of
the treatment. All the relevant information gathered by the therapist can be used to
help the client solve their problems.

The Initial consultation

When meeting with the client for the first time, it will be a learning process for both
the therapist and the client. This initial consultation is designed to gather important
information by exploring the client’s background. The therapist will need to ask
questions about the clients family both immediate (Mum, Dad and siblings) and
marital (spouse and children). This type of information is sometimes very personal
to the client and their emotions may start to appear. This is a good time to show your
professionalism by expressing empathy and not sympathy. There may be other
questions that come out of this, question about friends, problems at home,
relationships, childhood or the work place. The therapist will also need to ask some
personal questions like their full name, age, address and contact number and how
best to contact them (E-mail or Phone). The therapist must ask the client if they are
on any medication or are under a Doctor for treatment, the therapist will also need to
ask whether they need to gain the doctors permission, to use hypnotherapy as a
treatment for this condition. The therapist should ask, whether they have had
hypnotherapy before for this condition or any other, and did it work. This...

Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?

Jane has been married for five years to her husband Peter. Peter suggested Jane
tried to do something about her smoking habit and Jane decided to seek the help of
a hypnotherapist who was recommended by a friend. On the initial questionnaire
that Jane was required to fill in was the question: “When did you start smoking?”
Jane’s answer was that she first started in her teenage years but managed to give
up the habit by the time she got married at twenty. She started again five years later
when she found out her husband was having an affair with her best friend.

It was apparent from other answers she gave on the questionnaire that Jane may
also be suffering from drinking problems and it looked as though both issues were a
direct result of the infidelity which she suspected was continuing to this day. Further
answers she gave at the interview led to the conclusion that she may be suffering
from feelings of inadequacy due to her marriage which was also affecting her
relationships at work.

The hypnotherapist needed to be aware that he was obliged to treat only the original
issue which was the smoking habit. He also needed to assess the chances of a
successful treatment. He decided the best course of action was to refer Jane to a
marriage guidance counsellor first as he considered that treating the cause would lay
the proper foundation to stop the bad habits she had acquired. The suggestion was
accepted and it was left that she would contact him after marriage guidance
counselling if the habits she wanted to change persisted.
The hypnotherapist must always work within a strict ethical code of conduct. Not
only must he work within a field that he is competent in but also make realistic
assessments of the chances of success which he should discuss with his client
before treatment. He is further obliged...

Why is the initial consultation so important?

The initial consultation is important (in a potential client’s eye) because it is where all
their problems are assessed. You also use the time to discuss any
fears/questions/misconceptions regarding hypnosis. This is also the place where you
would build rapport, look at modalities, induction style, discuss payment, etc.
Realistically, the initial consultation is a place for acquiring information and exploring
the client's history. It is also when you might choose to assess their learning style,
modalities and so on.
In seeing a client for the first time , some hypnotherapists offer a free consultation
usually lasting 15 to 30 minutes to get to know the client, from the consultation a
hypnotherapist can find out why the client has come there today, what their problems
are, find out whether or not hypnotherapy is right for them, ask if they ever had
hypnotherapy before if not then the therapist can explain to the client what
hypnotherapy is and how it can help them, they can check if the client is on any
medication, whether you will need there gp’s permission before giving hypnotherapy,
find out the clients history, you will have chance to build rapport with the client, asses
their goals and what they want to achieve, find out if they have any fears or phobia’s
are so the therapist can change the induction accordingly and maybe even help
them cure those fears and phobias, find out what they do like (hobbies, interests etc)
to change the induction accordingly, find out there modalities whether they prefer a
direct or indirect suggestions, whether they find visual descriptions more powerful or
whether they prefer a kinaesthetic or an auditory description would be better suited,
you can make sure that you are not sexually attracted to the client as that will totally
interfere with your therapy, and you can discuss your fee’s for each session and the
best...

Introduction
All reputable therapists will offer an initial consultation. This gives the therapist the
opportunity to get to know the client and build up a rapport with them. It is the time
when the therapist can gain the information needed to successfully treat the client,
both current issues and circumstances and past issues if necessary. The therapist
will also ascertain whether they have the competence to successfully treat the client.
Hypnotherapists and counsellors are professional people, they belong to
professional bodies such as the Hypnotherapy Society and the BACP (British
Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the professions have to seek a
professional and ethical reputation, not only for the client but also for the good of
these professions. In this essay I aim to explain in detail the issues that should be
explored at the initial consultation and the code of ethics to which therapists must
adhere to.

Building rapport
Telephone interview
This may begin by means of a telephone conversation, when the client first
approaches the therapist. The client may have been recommended by one of the
therapist’s previous clients; they may or may not have sought therapy before but
whoever the client is they will need to be reassured that the therapist has the
competence to help them. Therefore, it is vital, that the therapist is as professional as
possible and instils a confidence in the client and builds a rapport. The therapist will
communicate to the client in many ways: by our behaviour, body language, posture
and speech. On the phone the therapist must speak calmly and clearly, listen
carefully to the client and respond with empathy to allow the client to feel the
therapist has everything under control. They should discuss the problem the client
wants to resolve and what the desired outcome would be. Explanation of the
therapies offered may be discussed and any questions the client has can be
answered.

The environment
In addition to the...
Consultation Guidelines For Hypnotherapy
The initial consultation may well be the most crucial aspect of hypno-psychotherapy,
if not all therapies. Everything from the interpersonal dynamic to the eventual
success of the intervention has a basis in this first meeting between the client and
the therapist. Indeed, the client’s decision to remain engaged with the therapeutic
process will be determined by factors from this early stage. Despite this, it is not
possible, or even desirable, to proscribe the process. As a dynamic, evolving
interaction, dependent on the individuals involved and the course the therapy is to
take, until the consultation begins to take shape it is unhelpful to try to impose too
much structure upon it. This view is expressed by the NCHP, as evidenced by the
following;
It is, therefore, not possible, or even desirable, to suggest a blueprint which all
should follow. (NCHPa)
With this in mind the following discussion will be concerned with one individual’s
approach and focus primarily on those features that this author believes are most
decisive in fulfilling the aims of a consultation. If it is not wise or helpful to be
prescriptive then we can perhaps understand Feltham’s (1997) comment,
"the best we can aim for is practitioners who are honest, conscientious, flexible and
experienced enough to offer each client suitably individualised counselling."
The goal of the consultation is to provide direction for informing therapeutic
intervention. At the most basic level there are certain physical factors that are likely
to play a role in a successful consultation. For example, a room that is suitably
furnished and offers quiet, comfort and provides confidentiality. The exact details will
be dependent on the therapist’s style, budget etc and the desires of the client (e.g.,
temperature, lighting, distance between client and therapist etc).
However, obvious considerations are furniture that is adaptable to a range of
positions and for a range of...

Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist
cover at this time?

The initial consultation is probably one of the most fundamental aspects of any
therapy with hypnotherapy being no exception. Everything from building a rapport
with the client to the eventual success of the therapy has a basis in the first meeting
between client and therapist. The client’s decision to remain engaged with the
therapeutic process will be determined by factors from this early stage. This essay
will determine the reasons why the initial consultation is so important and discuss the
factors that an ethical therapist will cover at this time. It will take into account all
considerations before concluding with my personal observation. In this essay I have
taken the term “s/he” meaning he or she.
The Initial Consultation

During the first consultation, you will gather information concerning the client’s
problem. The more fully you understand the causes of a problem, the better you will
be able to define it and resolve it. At the same time, it is also necessary to educate
your client about hypnosis. Potential clients may be hesitant, nervous, and or
sceptical about the benefits or idea of hypnosis. They may have certain
preconceptions of hypnosis from how it is often portrayed in the media for
entertainment purposes etc and so the initial consultation enables the therapist to
walk the client through the processes involved in hypnotherapy and to explain how it
can help the client, hopefully alleviate any fears that the client may have so that the
client feels comfortable and safe. The more the client understands, the more
confidence they will have in the hypnotic process. This is also time to establish a
rapport and trust. ‘Reassuring your client of their safety will be receptive to a good
working relationship’ (Hadley and Staudacher 2001: 276).
The use of an initial consultation notation form can be used in the first instance for
information...

Why is the initial consultation so important?

A client can feel a lot of anxiety and mixed emotions when they come for their initial
consultation. During this essay I am going to discuss why the initial consultation is so
important and the factors an ethical therapist will cover at the time of the first
consultation.

The hypnotherapy society says that “all clients are entitled to a good standard of
care from their practitioners in Hypnotherapy”. They say that “good standards of
practice and care require professional competence, good relationships with the
clients and colleague, and commitment”. As an ethical therapist I would offer a free
initial consultation because it would show my commitment to the client through me
devoting my time to them, to talk and get to know them, hopefully I will be able to
build confidence and show the client that I am a competent therapist, all of this
should start to build a relationship and rapport with the client, also the initial
consultation gives both the client and the therapist a chance to decide whether you
can work together. The flaw in offering an Initial Consultation is that you could get
time wasters, also people might not show up for the appointment.
When you first meet your client it is very likely they will be extremely anxious and it’s
your job as the therapist to make them feel at ease, at this point you should start to
build rapport with your client. Rapport is a process of building a sustain relationship
of mutual trust, harmony and understanding. Rapport is one of the most important
features or characteristics of the subconscious communication. It is seeking common
ground in order to be totally in sink or being on the same wavelength with the person
with whom you are talking. When you build rapport with a client it helps them to feel
safe, it can also take away the clients sense of vulnerability. Once you have built
Rapport with your client they will find it easier to open up to you, gathering the
information...

The initial consultation is important for both the therapist and the client; it gives the
opportunity to gain a good understanding of each other but is mainly focused on
gathering a lot of information about the client also known as notation. Throughout the
time of the consultation many factors are reflected on and briefly discussed and then
taken highly into consideration in future session. First impressions are lasting. The
client may focus on the Appearance of the therapist, dressing smartly can give the
impression of professionalism and a figure of authority which is ultimately what the
clients are looking for but this form of dress code may make them feel a little uneasy
so keeping a smart/casual look can be the best way. The consultation room also
plays a key role in helping the client to relax - natural colours and cosy furniture can
set the atmosphere were the client can feel as ease and ready to begin a session. As
every client is unique anything applied further to help them to relax e.g. music
candles or fragrance should be part of the assessment where information is gathered
in the initial consolation as it may not be to the liking of everyone.

The initial consultation is the foundation or may even be at the heart of client
success to interpersonal dynamic. The first meeting between client and therapist will
leave a lasting impression it can either define the success of therapy and
intervention or failure of it. I believe it is also important that the client is able to
understand who they are working with- the role of a hypnotherapist and how
productive and profitable this type of therapy will be to them. This can work as a
means to gain enough confidence to be as genuine as possible in the coming
sessions.
In the book my voice will go on Sidney Rosen writes about Milton H Erickson talk of
his susses in his first meeting with a client and the result of this...
A man from Philadelphia whose headaches I cured...

Introduction:

The initial consultation is one of the most important factors in hypnotherapy, it is

used to get to know your client, determine the dynamics involved, and used in
planning a successful and empowering outcome for the client.

Within this first meeting, first impressions are established, and the therapist and
client can start to get to know one another. The consultation can be a powerful tool
used, for the therapist and client, either used over the phone to gather some
information before they meet or during the first session.

In this essay we will be discussing why the initial consultation is so important, and
ethical issues the therapist maybe presented with during the consultation.

Main essay:

When we are born our personality and belief system is shaped as we experience
different things. We store learned experiences and behaviours in our subconscious
and instincts for survival are etched into it. Our conscious mind develops a little later
and as we experience more and more things it delegates these new messages to the
subconscious, and this creates our belief system. It is important to understand who
the person is and what their beliefs are, so we use the initial consultation to gather
this information

The initial consultation is a place for acquiring information and exploring the client’s
history and on average takes about 30 minutes. Within this time you would start
building a rapport with your client, and gives the client the opportunity to see if the
therapist will be someone they can trust and gives the therapist an opportunity to
assess their own ability as to whether they can work with the client and whether the
client feels that the therapist can work with them.

The time spent with the client in this initial part of the therapy is also used to acquire
information on the person’s fears, dislikes, likes what their thoughts are about the
therapy, and opportunities to discuss any misconceptions they have.

Some clients maybe...

Find a comfortable position. Lie on your back or sit in a chair with your back
supported.
Place your hands at your sides, palms up.
Close your eyes if you wish.
Now begin to become aware of your breathing..... Focus on slowing down the rhythm
of your breathing..... Your chest and abdomen will expand outward with each breath,
like a balloon gently filling with air....
Imagine your ribcage moving out to the sides when you inhale.... and gently inward
as you exhale....
Slowly take a deep breath in.... Pause for a moment.... and then exhale slowly. Let
the tension melt away as you relax more deeply with each breath...
Continue breathing slowly and gently....
Now turn your attention to the top of your head. Feel the passive progressive
relaxation beginning at the top of your scalp, and spreading slowly downwards....
Even your ears are becoming relaxed and heavy.... Feel your eyebrows resting,
gently resting downward.... Your forehead is becoming relaxed and smooth....
Allow your temples to relax... let your jaw relax by allowing your mouth to be slightly
open with your lips apart, or gently touching.... Allow your tongue to relax...
Feel your throat relaxing.... relax your cheeks, nose, and eyes.... Feel your eyelids
becoming very heavy.... and very relaxed.... more and more relaxed....
Continue the passive progressive relaxation... enjoy the feeling of relaxation you are
experiencing.
Now turn your attention to your neck.... allow a feeling of relaxation to begin at the
top of your neck, and flow downward...
Feel the relaxation as your shoulders become relaxed and loose.... Let your
shoulders gently sink downward.... as they become relaxed.... and heavy.... very
heavy.... and very relaxed.... deeper and deeper.... relaxed....
Feel your collar bones becoming relaxed as your shoulders move gently back, and
your chest widens slightly....
Allow all the muscles in your shoulders to feel smooth... and relaxed.... as the
muscles give up their hold completely...
Continue the passive progressive relaxation... enjoy the feeling of relaxation you are
experiencing.
Notice your breathing once again... see how regular it has become... continue to take
slow.... smooth.... deep breaths... Breathe in the feeling of relaxation... and breathe
out any tension... your breathing allows you to become more and more relaxed....
deeply relaxed..... Now turn your attention to your right arm..... Feel the relaxation
flowing down from your right shoulder.... allow your upper arm to relax... your
elbow.... lower arm... and wrist become loose and relaxed....
Continue the passive progressive relaxation... enjoy the feeling of relaxation you are
experiencing.
Enjoy the feeling of passive progressive relaxation as the muscles of your right arm
give up their hold.... Feel the relaxation flowing into your hand... Let all the tension
drain out each finger tip and flow away.... the relaxation spreads to your thumb...
index finger.... middle finger... ring finger... and little finger....
Feel the relaxation flowing down your left arm... Let the muscles of the left upper arm
relax.... Relax your elbow.... lower arm.... and wrist.... Feel the relaxation flowing
down your left arm....
Continue the passive progressive relaxation... enjoy the feeling of relaxation you are
experiencing.
Let the tension melt away.... imagine the tension flowing right out your finger tips...
Allow your left hand to relax completely.... relax your thumb... index finger.... middle
finger... ring finger... and little finger....
Both of your arms are now totally relaxed... allow them to be free and limp...
pleasantly relaxed...
Enjoy the feeling of relaxation you are experiencing... let the passive progressive
relaxation continue to flow... spreading easily down your body.... continue the
passive progressive relaxation...
Allow the feeling of relaxation to continue to your chest and stomach.... feel the
relaxation there... becoming deeper with each breath....
Now turn your attention to your upper back... Feel the relaxation flow down your
spine... Let all the muscles give up their hold.... relax your upper back... middle and
lower back.... allow your back to relax completely..... Feel the relaxation in your
whole upper body ....
Relax more deeply with each breath.... more and more relaxed.... deeply relaxed and
calm....
Let your hip muscles relax.... Relax all the way from your buttocks, down the back of
your thighs... relax the muscles on the front of your thighs... Feel the relaxation in
your upper legs moving down to your knees... your calves and shins.... your
ankles.... and your feet.... allow all the muscles to relax and go limp....
Allow any last bits of tension to flow right out the soles of your feet.... Feel the
relaxation flowing through your body... From the top of your head... down to the
bottoms of your feet.... become more relaxed with each breath.... enjoy the feeling of
total relaxation.....
You are now as relaxed as you want to be.... Experience the feeling of deep
relaxation... enjoy the feeling.... relaxed.... calm..... at peace
Focus on the feeling of relaxation throughout your body.... Notice your breathing....
Your relaxed muscles.... Your calm thoughts... Memorize this feeling so you can re-
create this relaxed state whenever you wish....
Enjoy relaxing for a few moments more....
When you are ready to return to your day, reawaken your body sowly... gently move
your muscles... roll your shoulders slowly forward.... then slowly backward.... lean
your head gently to the left... return to centre.... lean your head gently to the right...
turn your head...
Wiggle your fingers and toes....
Gently open your eyes.... Feeling alert... calm.... and full of energy.
“Why is the initial consultation so important “

An initial consultation is important because, this is the point where the Ethical
therapist and the

Client will meet for the first time, “Ethical frameworks are divided into, values,
principles and

Personal moral qualities “(first steps in counselling page92) these moral codes must
be used

Throughout each and every session. ” All clients are entitled to a good standard of

Care from there practitioners in hypnotherapy good standards of practice and care
require

Professional competence, good relationships with clients and colleagues, and

commitment to and

Observance of professional ethics” (hypnotherapy codes of ethics)

It is important that where your practice feels informal modestly

decorated and is of a

Comfortable temperature and will provide comfort for the client, you will need to have
a separate

reclining chair or a sofa so that when the client has there scripts read to them they
are as

Comfortable as possible, having a desk between you can be seen as formal so

having an open space

Between you would be the best option.

In this first initial consultation it is when the

Client will make there assumption’s on you, and this will be done in the first few
seconds, based on

Your appearance, your body language and your speech pattern keeping it informal
by calling them

By their preferred name, will all help to build a good rapore.

The client must know that you are listening to them

without distractions, so

Always keeping eye contact and keeping an open Posture, making sure telephones
are on silent. All

Is important measure s to take into account. And it is of the upmost importance

That this can be delivered in the correct manor for both parties, in a nurturing way,
being able to

Show empathy and not sympathy, smiling or nodding while they are in
conversation...

Introduction
This essay will describe and discuss why the initial consultation is so important and
the issues that an ethical therapist will cover during this consultation. The reason
why a client first goes to a hypnotherapy appointment is to receive help with a
problem or issue that they would like to resolve. The very first hypnotherapy
consultation is important for therapists to use this time to understand the client’s
needs and make sure they have the best plan of action to help the client achieve
their goal. In this essay I will further discuss what is to be expected in an initial
consultation appointment and detail the ethical elements the therapist will have to
cover to ensure the client gets what they need from the first consultation including
setting out expectations on both parties’.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………
First of all initial appearance is most important the old saying holds true “You only get
one opportunity to make a first impression” a good first impression can have a
significant impact on the success of the meeting and the subsequent outcome.
Image may not be everything, but it does speak volumes about the therapist’s
values, achievements, work ethic, and professionalism. First impressions are based
on overall appearance, and people often decide whether or not they like you, and will
do business with you, here on and in the future within 10 seconds of a first
encounter. It is well documented that juries make up their mind about the guilt or
innocence of the accused in the first few minutes even seconds and spend the rest
of the time gathering information that supports their feeling about the individual.
Character, attitude, time management, and communication also play major role in
work ethic but your appearance deals with every aspect of how we are perceived as
individuals. Clients will have a perception of what to expect when they arrive at their
appointment. Appropriate dress, grooming, hygiene, and...

The first hour of the first session is devoted to getting to know the
client, finding out why they have come to see you, (I think you can handle those two
things without any coaching) having them fill out forms (which we will cover later),
and
giving them the pre-talk.
Responsibilities of a Hypnotherapist
To help move hypnotherapy into the mainstream, hypnotherapists should adhere to
the
following guidelines:
1. Do no harm. This course provides powerful tools for tapping into the
subconscious mind. In doing so, you must first make a commitment to making
only positive changes in your patients’ lives. If you have a client whose idea of a
“positive change” differs from yours, you have a responsibility to refuse to
perform therapy on that client. For example: If a weight loss client wants to lose
15 pounds in one week, you should explain to him that this is unhealthy. Then
offer a more reasonable plan, and refuse to treat him if he insists on attempting
to lose 15 pounds in one week.
2. If hypnotherapy is not working on a given patient, stop treatment and refer the
patient elsewhere. Do not waste time with clients. If you continue to treat a client
who is not getting the results he wants, you will have wasted your client’s time
and money, and damaged not only your reputation, but also the reputation of
hypnotherapy in general. Not all patients will respond to hypnotherapy, and not
all patients will respond to your method of hypnotherapy. Accept this, and move
on if goals are not being met. For example: Let’s say you have a client who is a
mortgage broker and wants to make more money . You should initially have her
agree to three to six sessions. At the end of those sessions, you must assess
how the treatment is progressing and if it is of any benefit to the client. I always
assign homework to patients to get a measure of how invested they are in their
own change and to keep them moving toward their goal. For this client, I would
have her make a certain number of calls per week. If she has not made calls
after the third session, we are obviously wasting each other’s time. I would then
terminate the hypnotherapy.
3. Set reasonable, solid, and productive goals. Set goals that are attainable. Aim
high, but give your clients time to respond. Never promise clients that they will,
for instance, lose 50 pounds in three weeks. Instead, do research and set a
reasonable goal. Do not set your clients up for failure. For instance, with the
mortgage client discussed above. I would break up her homework into small
steps. In week one, she should make ten calls. In week two, she should make 20
calls, etc. Expect that your client will get off to a slow start. Perhaps she will not
do the homework at all the first week. Keep in mind that many people expect you
to wave a magic wand that forces them to accomplish their goals. These people
are waiting for a zombie-like trance to take over their mind and body and cause
them to make those calls uncontrollably. By week three, reality should set in.
The patient either understands that she has to work or I explain to the patient that
she is wasting her money. Believe it or not, some clients would be happy to
undergo hypnosis for years because it makes them feel and appear like they are
trying. Never allow this. When hypnosis works, it works quickly. Long-term,
wonderful effects may reveal themselves later, but most of the change begins to
happen within a few weeks. Take things slowly when you have a client who
wants to lose 100 pounds, for example, but make sure he is at least doing his
homework and making small steps forward.
4. Follow all state and federal laws. For instance, legislation in early 2003 requires
California hypnotherapists to disclose certain information to their clients. It is
YOUR responsibility to know the law in your area concerning hypnotherapy.
Consult an attorney if you have to. Do the right thing in your practice. Unlike
many medical professionals, hypnotherapists are given a lot of leeway. In many
states, we are not strictly regulated. In any situation, you have a built-in compass
for right and wrong. Use it. Treat people with care and respect.
5. Check with your client’s physician before performing hypnosis to determine
whether the client has a medical condition related to his or her hypnotherapy
goals. Perhaps your client wants to lose weight, but has a history of bulimia that
he “forgot” to mention. Make sure that you have permission (a signed form or
letter authorizing the treatment) from a client’s physician before moving forward
when you are treating any medical condition using hypnosis.
6. Likewise, if another healthcare professional refers a client to you for treatment of
a specific problem, treat only that problem. You have not been handed a blank
check. Respect the process of the M.D., hypnotherapists, or psychotherapist. Do
your job, report your findings to the healthcare professional, and end th

Occasionally you will receive a call from a potential client who is not an appropriate
client for a hypnotherapist. You will know when you are in “over your head.” It is
always
a good idea to refer out (send to a more appropriate healthcare provider) anyone
who
tells you they are schizophrenic or psychotic, for example. These are serious mental
health cases that you are NOT trained to handle. Also, anyone who wants to uncover
past memories of abuse. You are NOT trained to deal with the emotional fallout of
such
scenarios.
As hypnotherapists, we work with changing behavior in otherwise high functioning
clients. This means they are stable individuals who simply need help losing weight,
gaining motivation, being more confident, stopping smoking, etc. We enable
behavioral
changes stemming from changes in their belief systems. We do NOT turn insane
clients
sane, psychotic clients “normal,” etc.
I cannot list all of the types of cases which you should refer out, but use your
judgment.
Never take a client just for the money. If you feel you are not qualified to handle the
case, you are RIGHT. Refer them out.