Module 20 RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

MODULE 19: RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Building Rapport and building trust

What to say and what not to say. Connecting positively with the client from the beginning can make the success of their journey come that much faster and easier. Building rapport is building a connection between the client and the therapist that can signify common ground and relatability. Unless the nature of the sessions and practice are relevant it is important to stay away from hot topics like religion and politics. A part of rapport building is allowing the client to understand the distribution of responsibilities in the relationship, stating measurable goals and the expected deliverables from the therapist.

The medical community can be a great source of collaboration when they are educated and focused on the best outcome for their clients. Many practitioners from dentists to surgeons can benefit from partnering with a hypnosis practitioner. Within the professional mental health community there is a growing number of therapists that are trained in hypnosis.

There are many more that are not trained and are open to collaborating with a qualified practitioner. Creating liaisons with those who specialize in other areas of health and well being can help hypnosis practitioners refine their skills and develop a specialization.

Once one begins to find their niche and specialty it is important to align with other hypnosis practitioners that specialize in areas that one does not. For example, if one develops a specialty in confidence and public speaking, it would be beneficial to collaborate with someone who specializes in smoking cessation as the techniques and practices will vary.

How to conduct the first client meeting

In order to set proper expectations, it is important to develop a consistent and easy to follow structure with each client. Intake forms can ask preliminary questions that, depending on your field of specialization, can provide important information. Intake forms can also include disclosures and legal waivers to help protect the hypnotist and their practice.

Setting goals is imperative part of the success of each session. Setting clear expectations can pave the way to open and easy communication with the client from the beginning. This allows the client to know what their role and responsibility is through the sessions. Picking dates ahead of time when working with a client helps to ensure that the client is committed to the goals and limits cancelations.

Talking about money can be uncomfortable for beginning hypnotists. It is important that talking about money comes easily from the beginning. Clients that commit their time and money to their goals tend to commit to their goals. Putting a plan of action in place is another tool that can help with accountability and clarity during the process. Questions to identify good vs bad candidates.

Record Keeping

How long to keep records depends on whether there is any regulations governing the state that the hypnotist practices in. Taking thorough notes in sessions can help to keep track of progress.

When hypnosis sessions are coupled with homework it lends to clearer integration of new habits and behaviors. Often when working with clients that are in therapy at the same time as seeking hypnosis. In order to collaborate with a mental health practitioner, it is necessary to obtain permission from the client and have a third party disclosure form signed.

Basic Business Tools

Defining a niche area can help the hypnotist to develop a deeper understanding on the subject. Picking a niche comes following personal interests and strengths. When looking to grow a hypnosis business, a certain level of marketing is needed.

Knowing how to prioritize and understand marketing can lead to a strong and effective marketing plan. Group workshops are another way to use hypnosis. A large audience can help multiple people to shift behaviors quickly. It is also a good way to market if looking for one on one clients.

Establishing an easy and anonymous feedback system can give the clients an opportunity to open up about their experience. Feedback can help the hypnotist see blindspots they are not aware of.

Testimonials and client reviews are very helpful for attracting new clients and for building credibility. Learning to ask for them ethically is important.

Module 19 notes: