Intake and Interview - prior to hypnotherapy session

 

Intake and Interview


The entire process before an individual becomes your client is the Intake and Interview. As such, everything you have done thus far – explaining to (introducing & educating) the individual about hypnosis as well as conducting the suggestibility assessments – are part of this process. While the primary purpose of the intake and interview process is to collect information, there is more to it than just gathering information to help you prepare for the actual hypnotherapy session.

Four Goals of the intake:

1.            Eliminate fear and misconceptions about hypnosis.
You do this through your explanation of what hypnosis is and is not. It is essential that we “demystify” the many misconceptions the public has with regards to hypnosis.
Remember:
-  Hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon. We have all experienced it, and in  
   fact we experience this on a daily basis.
-  It is not mind control. You cannot be made to do anything you do not want to do.
-  It is a state of directed/focused consciousness/awareness.

2.            Establish the therapeutic objective of the visit.
This is achieved (completed) during the interview section. What is the reason this individual is
seeking hypnotherapy? What is the presenting issue?

3.            Understand client’s motivation.
This is also determined during the interview section.  What is the reason this individual is 
seeking change?

4.             Prepare client for the induction through suggestibility exercises/assessments.

In addition to the above, there are also basic and demographic information required. You would also need to have administrative forms such as consent for treatment, client’s information (including presenting issue), as well as his/her history (in relation to the presenting issue etc.)


THREE GOALS OF THE INTERVIEW

1. What is the change your client wants to experience?
    - Presenting issue(s)
    - Goal of treatment

2. What is the reason for wanting that change?
    - Motivating factor(s)
    - Client's choice vs. doing it for others

3.  How does your client see him/herself when the goal is met?
    -  The End Result Imagery (ERI)

Goal #1

What is your client seeking to change? This refers to the purpose for the treatment. What help is the individual looking for? What are the difficulties faced by the client? Listen carefully to your client? Have him/her elaborate if necessary. It is not uncommon for many to make the assumption they know what the client means from just one word. For example, a client states he wants to be successful. Ask the what, where, when, how, etc. Be specific. What we consider successful may not be the same as what the client defines as successful.

Goal #2
What is the reason he/she wants to change? Is it something he wants? Or is it something someone wants him to do? A parent? A spouse? An employer? A friend?

While generally one should seek change/improvement for oneself, however, it is not necessary that an individual cannot be seeking a change for the benefit of another person. Take the example of a father choosing to stop smoking because he will soon be a dad, and he does not want to expose his child to second hand smoking.

Goal #3
Have the client describe to you what is the imagery he has when (and not IF) he achieves his goal. Imagery here does not refer just to images or pictures. It also includes his/her feelings, thoughts, and perceptions. How does he see himself when he has achieved his goal? What are her feelings when she succeeds? Have the client describe in his/her own words what his/her life would be like then? What does he/she see, feel, hear (others say).

According to Dr. A. M. Krasner (ABH method), minimally these are the three main questions that need to be answered during the Interview.

Points to remember:
- Listen very carefully to what your client says.
-  She will tell you what is important to her.
-  He will give you the words to use in his  therapy.
-  Write it down!
-  The more information, the better. You need not be overwhelmed.
-  Help them phrase statements of desire/intent in the positive.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Self-doubt – what causes it and what you can do about it

Image
From an epigenetic perspective, self-doubt often stems from deeply rooted, inherited or environmentally triggered patterns linked to early experiences and childhood conditioning. This model suggests that our environment—parental messages, cultural norms, and formative social interactions—can activate genes linked to anxiety or low self-esteem, thereby influencing our thoughts and behaviors. A psychologist or coach may observe that self-doubt in adulthood can be a residual effect of these early activated patterns, where certain "scripts" of inadequacy, rejection, or conditional love remain subconsciously reinforced. Inner child healing can be particularly effective, as it allows clients to revisit and compassionately reframe those formative experiences, offering the "inner child" an opportunity for understanding and emotional release. This can help clients neutralize limiting beliefs formed early on, effectively "rewriting" the origin of their self-doubt...
Read more

Is hypnosis mind-control?

Image
So you figured hypnosis is being asleep, being gullible, being weak-minded and/or being controlled by someone else? If that’s what you have been told or you have come to believe, allow me to invite you to reconsider. Many think that hypnosis is synonymous to being asleep. So if you thought that, you will not be alone.  In fact, because of that very misconception many would deny having experience hypnosis because they did not fall asleep. This was true for me as well. I recall the first time I experienced hypnosis (“formally” that is) was when I attended the training to become a hypnotherapist. Our instructor/trainer, Dr. Krasner, induced hypnosis and then brought us out of it. Following that he asked how many of us believed we had not been hypnotized and why.  There were quite a number of us who did not think we had been hypnotized and one of the common reason was because: “well, I was not asleep,” or “I distinctly heard what was being said or the sound around the room,” or ...
Read more

INTRODUCTION

Image
If you are reading this and have some how found yourself to this site/blog - allow me to first and foremost Welcome you to my blog: Clinically speaking ... Let me begin this new blog by explaining the intention - my intention. Incidentally, it is 4:50 am NOW where I am. I have to say, it's been a long time since I've done something like that - i.e., be "inspired" to get up and hit the track writing (running) doing what is on my mind. Anyway, back to the intention or purpose of this blogging. Different from my previous blogging, I envision this as the place to go with more "serious" stuff, if you will. All matters directly relevant to my work as a psychologist, a clinical hypnotherapist, a life coach, etc.  Hence, the blog title: Clinically Speaking. In case you, the reader, may not be familiar with me as of yet - let me give you a brief introduction. My name is Sylvester. My academic training has been psychology and counseling. With over 30 years of work exp...
Read more