Dealing with client's doubts before first appointment (and during therapy!)

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on March 22, 2010 at 4:58am

Hi,

There are a couple of things to think about, I think, but I would suspect that the most important is that he wasn't ready: either to work on his issues or to use hypnosis to do it.

If I read your post correctly, you met this person at a networking event rather than having him be a person who sought you out specifically for his problem. It's hard enough to get the average person to see how hypnosis works and that it is safe and natural and that it DOES work, even when they seek you out for your services.

In general, though, I get email addresses as often as I can and permission to contact. Then I stay in general contact with them, either by blog/newsletter, or quick, hand-written event, without trying to persuade him or continue to "sell" him. I think probably a message from you that is more like: "let me know when you're more ready but here's are a few things that might interest you..."

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like to feel pushed. When I feel "pushed" I dig in my heels.

Were I took pick one thing, I would say that you sounded too pushy or too desperate to have a client. Just a thought. Good luck.

Susan.

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Permalink Reply by James Malone on March 22, 2010 at 7:56am

I don't think I would have handled this via email. Its not that there aren't some potentially valid points you brought up, however indirectly you are telling this person that the reason he provided for being a "no-show" is basically untruthful and that you are analyzing him.

Since rapport building is so vital to the hypnotic process, remember you have to always leave people an "out" so that if they do comply with a request (like showing up for an appointment) they don't feel like they are "giving in" to you.

If you had called him and gotten a dialogue going you would have developed a stronger bond or connection. Its been said more than once that in counseling/coaching/therapy/etc. its the relationship that heals. Good luck to you! Jim

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Permalink Reply by Skeitel on March 28, 2010 at 7:49am

Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I know what you guys mean. I am trying to find the right balance between being commercially pro-active and therapeutically non-pushy. It is quite tricky
Anyone else has something to say?

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on March 28, 2010 at 6:10pm

I personally would of graciously accept the change and set a new time and confirmed it. What I would of done differently I wouldn't of discussed anything else in the email but instead maybe something came up and he needed to attend to it; You can not make him take a session but you can hope he will and then you cwn have your so call talk about sabatoging methods.
Just a thought that might help...

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