What is a consultation?
In the last blog post I mentioned the word consultation quite a bit. I mentioned that a consultation can be conducted depending on the therapist and how they practice. For example, some prefer to do nearly all of their consultation with a client over the phone and some, like myself, prefer to conduct the consultation in the therapy room in order to discuss the client’s issue face to face. I feel this can be especially important when an issue is sensitive or even because some people dislike talking too much on the phone. This has been my experience as a therapist but there is no one best way.
In this post I will cover topics such as:
- Before your consultation
- What a consultation is
- Why I conduct my consultations in the therapy room
- What further steps to take
Before a consultation
When someone phones me to ask about beginning hypnotherapy with me, although their specific issue does make some difference, I have a chat with them about a few things including (but not limited to):
- The issue they want help with
- How long they have had the issue
- Things which make it worse
- Do they know much about hypnotherapy?
I find that many people have some knowledge of or have at least heard a little about hypnotherapy and explaining more about it at this early stage helps to ease some of the concerns that people may have and helps them to know if they want to proceed to the initial face to face consultation and therapy.
Plenty of clients also email me to find out more information. It doesn’t replace the initial phone call, which really is essential to find out more information, but can be a very quick and easy way to get in touch, especially if it isn’t convenient to make a phone call
What is a consultation exactly?
A consultation is a session in which you can discuss your issue with me face to face in the therapy room and ask any questions that help you decide if hypnotherapy is the way forward for you. It is also for me to ask you questions so I can tailor a plan for your issue and for you as an individual. Since everyone approaches hypnotherapy having had different experiences and outlooks, a consultation is important to understand you as an individual and to understand what you need from hypnotherapy sessions.
I believe that whilst there may be common factors, any particular issue such as stress management, weight loss, low self-esteem etc, can require a very different approach for different people.
Why I conduct a consultation in the therapy room
It can be a little daunting for many clients who are seeking hypnotherapy for the first time and having time to see the clinic and have a relaxed face to face chat in the therapy room can put them more at ease when they do arrive for their first hypnotherapy session. Also, many people feel more at ease to speak about their issue in person as opposed to over the phone and I want people to feel as comfortable as possible.
Of course, as is the way with things today, there are also a few forms to be filled out which includes a little more about you and the reason you have sought hypnotherapy.
What steps to take:
Give me a call
I recommend doing this at a place and time with little or no distraction. Alternatively, you could call or email to arrange a time that is more suitable for a chat.
Book in for an initial consultation
You can do this during our phone chat or call back another time.
Go along to your consultation
As I mentioned, this is such an important part of beginning hypnotherapy, as it would be with many types of therapy. My initial consultation is free of charge with no obligation to proceed to a course of hypnotherapy. I do this as I want people to feel sure that they have all the information they need to make the best choice for them. This can include me as a therapist as well as whether hypnotherapy is the most suitable method for them to deal with their issue.
Book your first session
When you book your first session, I use the information we have discussed and formulate an overall plan which includes session plans. These involve various techniques to help you deal with your issue.
You can get in touch via the Contact Us form:
