Expectations re: number of sessions?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on April 29, 2009 at 2:02pm

Andrea,

The number of sessions that you choose to take for an intervention is entirely up to you. Choose a format that works well for you and stick to it. One session, (which is all it ever took me) is not economically a good thing for your business.

The norm out there appears to be two or three sessions. Some even charge by the session and then let the client decide how many they need. Not a bad approach if it works for you.

I would personally recommend that you suggest at least two. You can use the first for fact finding and initial change, then a follow up to reinforce the change and tie up any lose ends (i.e. other contributing events). You can say that you believe in being thorough and that is how you ensure that you are.

In reality; Phobias and anxieties take only a few minutes. Habit changes such as smoking and weight loss a little longer to do it effectively.

I hope that helps
John

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor on April 29, 2009 at 3:56pm

Andrea,
I talk with the client and schedule at least three sessions. I practice Cal Banyan's 5 Path. To do this process effectivley you may need 3 sessions to help a person with many issues. Also some less and some more. It depends on many factors such as the clients ability to work within trance and how deeply rooted their issues are. Some sessions flow very quickly and some sessions require additional cleaning of the closet if you will. To sum it up in my opinion I think each and every client and client issues are very unique and you may see that something as a simple phobia client may take one session and the next might need two. I would talk with each client and take it case by case. Some hypnotists are very successful with only one session while others do two, three or more. Technique, client and issues all have to do with the amount of sessions. No cookie cutter template for each and every client.

All above is my opinion with the way I do my sessions with my clients. I would guess that if twenty people respond you are going to get twenty different opinions. You are going to have to find your own confort with your clients and sessions to develope your system. So after that lengthy response I would say as many as it takes. Our goal is to help the client be successful.

Wish you great success
Bruce Taylor

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on April 29, 2009 at 4:33pm

To answer a client, I say 3 to ten sessions, because you have no clue about how they respond until the first induction.

Sell 3 session blocks at a time.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on April 29, 2009 at 5:37pm

With weight loss I stay with them throughout the time it takes to get to goal weight - could be 3 months - could be 2 years.
smoking - 3 sessions
phobias & anxiety & anything else, at least 4 sessions

A lot depends on what the client wants. I have people that have come in once a month for a "tune up" for years - its like me getting a massage or going to my acupuncturist - I feel better when I do

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrea Bari on April 30, 2009 at 9:14am

Thanks so much all for your perspective! As always, I'm so pleased by how helpful folks are about the business and practice of hypnosis :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Bittner - Ocotillo Hypnosis on April 30, 2009 at 9:41am

weight loss - I recommend at least 3 and offer a discount to encourage that path.
smoking - I require at least 2
phobias - usually one is enough
anxiety - usually one is enough.

With the exception of smoking, I leave it up to the client to determine what they need (with some guidance, of course), explaining that it can take more than a single session to realize their goals, but regardless, they should notice some improvement after a second or third session.

Ideally, I'd like everyone to do at least two to provide the opportunity to do a follow-up and fine-tuning.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by the grumpy hypnotist on April 30, 2009 at 4:43pm

for smoking, two sessions (w/ free followup if needed -- almost never). all others expectation of 3-5 (5 is on high end, just to give wiggle room).

even though many people can resolve fears and stop habits even after the first one, I think there is always benefit to client to get them as close to 100% as possible by making sure any secondary aspects of the problem are addressed and also to do things like teaching them self-hypnosis --- it is not like you are needlessly extending the work as long as you are providing real value.

I think that clients care less about the # of sessions than sometimes hypnotists do. If they are pleased with the work and it helps solve a lifelong problem for them, they don't really care if its 1 or 3 sessions. In fact, looking back many less-than-satisfying results in past have been because I under-sold the number of sessions and did not push hard enough for client to continue the work.

if you sell a pre-paid package of sessions (highly recommended --- cash flow is good), and client gets done faster than expected, you will be surprised how many people are so pleased that they decide to keep the unused sessions "on reserve". that is like free money for you.

i think it is best to set expectation of more sessions, and get it done faster than expected, for higher client satisfaction (I think it increases their self-confidence to see that they are getting better faster than expected). You do not want to low-ball estimate of sessions, that's just poor business practice. People who are insistent about getting it done in "just one session" are lousy prospects for many reasons, and I try to shoo them away.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion