Approaching Psychiatrists and Counselors in my Building

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Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on February 8, 2012 at 8:31am

This is awesome James! 

Thanks for sharing your update.

D.

James Hazlerig said:

UPDATE:

It was a lot of fun to meet folks who, like me, are in the business of helping others. 

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Conkle on February 8, 2012 at 10:48am

Kelley, I love the term, HypnoCave!

James, I've just moved back into my old office but some of the building occupants have changed so I will need to do the same thing. My idea is to pass out flyers with a coupon for one free hypnosis session to any professional that works in the building. That way, those who want to come, can meet you one-on-one and see what hypnosis is all about. Once they feel good from being helped by you, and understand what you do, I'm sure they will happily refer their clients. Give them a stack of business cards before you leave and ask them to bring a stack of theirs for you to pass out to your clients (they don't have to know that you don't have a big clientele yet.) Good luck!    

Kelley Woods said:

Hey James,

Part of the fun of being in new digs is checking out the territory. When I moved into my new hypnocave, I spent an afternoon exploring. I wanted to not only let my neighbors know who the new neighbor is, but I wanted to find out who and what else were influencing my space.

Besides letting them know about myself and what I do, I used the premise of needing to know about them in case anyone stumbled into my office looking for XYZ Company. It paid off: I am friends with a Home Health Care agency owner who has already referred a client, another tenant is attending for weight control sessions, I've referred a client to a mental health practitioner and I got put on the toilet paper restock role (I buy the nice kind)! I met the manager of the Papa Murphy's across the parking lot (funny how ALL of my clients know where that business is located) and the young guys there not only give me the hypno-googly eyes but turn down their car stereos when they park behind the building.

So, people are people, as you well know. When we take the time to talk and listen to their stories, they stop being strangers. Have fun! Kelley

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Permalink Reply by Katie Sandlin on February 8, 2012 at 11:33am

You are so welcome, James!  I am so happy it was helpful and that your interactions went well!

James Hazlerig said:

UPDATE:

So yesterday, I paid visits to two counseling centers, one in my office building and one up the road.

The first visit was scheduled--I'd been given the name of one of the directors from a friend who is a drug and alcohol counselor out in my neck of the woods. Two of the directors met with me, gave me a tour, and told me all about their outpatient drug rehab services, then asked in depth about my services, especially smoking cessation. They were wonderfully warm and welcoming, immediately setting me at ease. They even gave me some networking tips for Austin. The executive director (an Ericksonian hypnotist, among other things) has long hair and a beard, so I had a few rapport points to start off with! :-)

I went back to my office and ran into my massage therapist friend who has the office next door. When I told her about the meeting, she mentioned that she'd been wanting to talk to the counseling center folks in our building, so we decided to go together on the spur of the moment.

Once again, we got a warm welcome from the center's director, who answered our questions about their programs. She even mentioned that she wants to expand the holistic options and would like to learn more about what I and my friend can do for her clients. 

I have to say that in preparing mentally for these meetings, the Skype session I had with Katie Sandlin was a huge help. She did a beautiful job of preparing me. Thank you, Katie!

So--lesson learned. No one growled at me or called me a quack. It was a lot of fun to meet folks who, like me, are in the business of helping others. There are at least three more psychologists in my building, so I'm looking forward to meeting them!

James

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on February 8, 2012 at 12:05pm

Awesome, James! That's the spirit that makes a building and all who enter it feel great! Kudos to Katie Sandlin for being able to help you move into that space in such a positive way.

Thanks, Stephanie. I love my hypnocave...it's home away from home.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Tiers on February 8, 2012 at 2:12pm

Hi James,

Another idea would be to offer a "learn hypnosis for stress management" evening and invite the local therapists. This way they get an idea of what you offer and walk away with some great skills.

I train a lot of doctors and therapists and at this point, over 80 percent of my clients come through their referrals (or their fellow doctor's) so it's worth building good relationships.

Congrats on your new space :)

-Melissa 

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on February 8, 2012 at 7:20pm

Melissa, you just gave me a great idea . . . I've been thinking about doing a class in the conference room of our building and promoting it with Groupon--I think I'll do a De-Stress for Less class, offer it at a discount on Groupon, but invite folks in my building to attend for free . . . 

Thanks!

Melissa Tiers said:

Hi James,

Another idea would be to offer a "learn hypnosis for stress management" evening and invite the local therapists. This way they get an idea of what you offer and walk away with some great skills.

I train a lot of doctors and therapists and at this point, over 80 percent of my clients come through their referrals (or their fellow doctor's) so it's worth building good relationships.

Congrats on your new space :)

-Melissa 

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Permalink Reply by Amy Marsh on February 9, 2012 at 5:28am

This is a great thread. I learned a lot reading along. I've also been wondering how to let people in my new, very part-time building know about me (and how to find out about them!).

Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Susan Parry on February 9, 2012 at 7:07am

Offer to give the therapists a free taster of your work, and you then have the opportunity to get talking to them. Ask for their business cards and of course give them yours,when they are impressed with your wonderful stress reducing sessions or stopping smoking or weight loss etc.  then you will hopefully yield the results. I did some free work on a weight loss clinic at the hospital where I work - just to let my name get buzzed around by the staff. Put tasteful posters up and information in the waiting room of the building - good luck.

Just read all the other answers and think my info was already pretty much covered - I am a day late and a dollar short huh?

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Permalink Reply by Scott Cooper on February 10, 2012 at 3:41am

 

Some great posts here from all as usual,, I do like the ide of a Grand Opening, and Kathleen is so on target as usual. You may want to dust off your "Sunday go to meet'n clothing".

I get to go to doctor dinners with my wife and the are always in suit's, yet the younger one's are in nice suit's with out a tie, which allows me to breath just to write that.

How about putting together a few of your better case's as a hand out. Bill came for smoking cessation two year's ago and wrote, "Jame's has made positive change in me forever plus I gained in confidence, I highly recommend James" type of stuff that you can get in their hand without overwhelming them with words and pushing them away by sounding desperate.

 

And how about a paper that tell's Jame's story, and include buzz word's and have it written by one of your peer's. "James is a great listener, a healer, a man that want's to serve and help you with your goal's, examples are,, blah,,

and of course have your formal education for all of them..

 

Might want to just keep it simple and put a flyer under their door for smoking cessation, one time, without impeding their day.

 

Really hope you get some referral's,, might just be the Karma you deserve for having such a positive attitude.. James, there are three words that come to me as I watched the fires, sadly read as you lost your practice.. and those words are

Persist, Persist, Persist... 

 

You may even copy some of your great writing's off of hypnothoughts,, have a variety of things that you can hand out to doctor's ect.. That is if you have a Grand Opening,, and if you do,, make sure you plan ahead, contact the local paper,, contact the T.V. station's,,, offer a free "Stress and Anxiety removal" session in the paper, radio, to stuff your office..

 

All the best to you James,,  I read your post everytime I see your on HT.

 

Have a great Friday,, it's the only one you get! That is, today

 

Scott

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