the Free Hypnosis Social Network
Is it my responsibility or my client's?
I recently conducted a 5 session procedure for weight loss with a member of my networking group. She has informed me that she would not recommend me or the procedure to others because not only did the sessions not give her the results she expected, I did not ask about her progress.
I normally do not follow up with a client once our sessions conclude. I know I did my work well in session.
So tell me, do you follow up on your clients or is it their responsibility to tell you when they are not successful?
I normally do not follow up with a client once our sessions conclude. I know I did my work well in session.
So tell me, do you follow up on your clients or is it their responsibility to tell you when they are not successful?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on -
Hi Jackie,
I do follow up with my clients, usually with an email or phone call. I like to keep track of success stories, of course, but I also want to hear of non-successes! I like to let my clients know that I am thinking of them after they have shared personal issues with me and, more than once, a client has booked an additional session for a "tune-up or booster".
If a client is disappointed or displeased, this is a good opportunity to offer more help or, at least, do some damage control. While our services may not always be successful for everyone, I think it is important that a client feels that we do our best to help them...even if it is just to listen to them complain!
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Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on -
Jackie, I do my darndest to follow-up with all my clients. With weight loss I follow them until they reach their goal and periodically until the 2 year mark. After that I follow up with them every 4 to 5 years. (phone &/or email) Some fall through the cracks along the way - but most are grateful and may come back for other things and refer family & friends.
Roger
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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on -
Hi Jackie,
I’m going to veer off of the “follow up” topic and zoom in on what the client said about not being satisfied with the results.
Especially with eating and weight management or becoming slender, not only do you want to introduce post hypnotic suggestions that continue to work long past the sessions, but you want to include the language in the pre-talk or somewhere, and also many times along the way, that the unconscious mind can have it’s own time frame, it can be today, right now, over night or by taking small steps along the way, or a combination of some or all, and one day you will know or you will suspect that it is happening and that awareness will start to speed up the process and you'll be able to see it getting easier and easier.
Now how you get that message across comes from your talents and abilities and, (and here it is in action now), and the more you include suggestions to work into the future, the better you will get at it and you will have clients calling you back and telling you about your successful suggestions and that it happened just the way you said it would, (even though you may have been very vague about it, they will fill in the missing pieces like you called it right on the money).
One of the best examples of this sort of trickery that I remember, and that’s one of the keys, to have them remember, was from a seminar about becoming a non smoker. Something silly like each and every time you come to a traffic light and it turns red, that will remind you that you are now a non smoker, in fact, anytime you see any red light, the brake lights on a car, or even just the color red etc…….
I don’t smoke, but if I did and I wanted to stop, that reminder will be there long after the sessions and when I stopped I might attribute that to that small reminder, which in fact is more than a small reminder, it is a reminder of all the suggestions I would have accepted in my session.
So if following up is not your thing, and who says it has to be that way, maybe getting them to follow up with you may be your new thing, and trust me, it is so good when someone calls you with great news out of the blue, and that gets referrals too.
I’m reminded about an Erickson story where his clients would make major changes long after his sessions were over, sometimes they put two and two together and would come back years later and tell him the story about how they made those changes and how they attributed them to him, the suggestions never left their minds, and sometimes people think they did it all by themselves, oh well.
One of my first clients in my early beginning wanted help with her tennis game, she couldn’t have anyone watch her playing, it made her nervous and she wanted more confidence.
To this day, she plays without the thought that anyone can watch her play now and Condalisa Rice was here roll model for confidence, she got both the ability to play without being nervous and the confidence she was wanting, and she never attributed it to the hypnotherapy, but from my stand point, I never hear her complaining about people watching and her confidence is at an all time high. We stay in contact because we are friend but I never ask her about her successes, I just hear about them and know what I great job we did together, I asked her the right questions, she gave me her solutions, I fed them back to her, and her problems went so far away, that she even forgot she had the problems in the first place. Why bring them up?
The first story I heard like that was about a smoking client and a therapist where the client said he wasn’t going to pay for the sessions and he wanted his money back and the therapist asked if he had not stopped smoking, and the client responded with, well I did quit smoking, but not because of him, the client said he did it on his own.
Sometimes they don’t realize at the conscious level how helpful we are, but we are.
My instincts tell me you are always doing a great job.
If calling back is not your thing, I’m sure there are many great things in it’s place that you do and some that you haven’t even realized yet.
Trust your authentic self and it will keep giving you better and better feedback.
Steve
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Permalink Reply by Antoine Pruyssers on -
It seems to me, that you should also change your pre-talk, because many expectations are set there, and can be dismissed there. Furthermore the follow-up in my view is a "Must" with a capital M.
Next to these points, make sure they will visit you again, if the sessions didn't work and work on it some more.
Eating-issues are for a big part part of a bigger control-issue, so work on resistance during the whole process and keep throwing in convincers!
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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on -
Thank you so much everybody who has answered so far.
I have wanted to ask how her weight loss was going, but I didn't want to appear self-serving. I can see this was an error in judgement.
Kelley - I have thanked her, apologized and asked if she would accept further sessions to help her toward her goals. I hope she sees I meant no disrespect.
Roger - thank you for helping me see a long-term picture. I will add this to my system.
Steve - the time-frame concept is beautiful. I did ask her at the end of her last session to let me know how she's doing and if there was anything more I could do for her. I do see her in my networking group weekly and speak to her, but not about her weight. I was taught, as in your example with your tennis player friend, not to bring up the old behaviors. I suppose there are exceptions to every rule and weight loss is one of them. Thank you for your advice and encouragement.
Antoine - You are right. I will re-examine my pre-talk and resistance strategies. I hope she will give me the opportunity to make reparations. If she doesn't, I have still learned a valuable lesson. Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on
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Steve Andrade said:Hi Jackie,
So if following up is not your thing, and who says it has to be that way,
Steve
Hi Kelly,
I’m glad you see things more clearly now. I’m not sure if I was consciously aware of part of my last post to you, but I have this balance thing. When I sense an imbalance something kicks in.
I’m not sure so I won’t take credit for anything, but seeing how confident you are with what ever choice has come to you, I will say that sometimes when bombarded with the same response saying that someone is wrong, sometimes clouds the issue. I’m always reminded of great teachings that teach that offering resistance is not always the best answer and that everything we do is the best we can do or we would do better under the circumstances.
I hope by pointing out that there is another way was helpful in putting some balance in your perception for a better choice.
Sometimes our clients need to know that what they do is the best there is, (before we assist them in learning a better way), I don’t like telling anyone they are wrong, it has a really ugly effect on their lives and their choices and a real rapport block.
I like to notice some success and comment, especially person to person, how great it is to see new learning skills by sometimes reminding that they learn well. (it’s also a suggestion).
“Ah, I see improvement.” (vague, true, but a generalization and they know exactly what is meant even if I’m not sure and I’m not asking a question, but I will get a response as if I asked a question).
They respond, “Yes.” (there is rapport now, we are on the same page they feel good I feel good, and then I can re-enforce the suggestion of learning new better habits).
And I can say…
“You learn well.”
In fact that just happened recently, I commented on some behavior that was an improvement to my grown daughter.
I ended saying, “You learn well.”
And she replied, “You taught me well.” (re-enforcing that my teaching style is welcomed, keep up the good work).
And that’s how I will end this,
Keep up the good work, you learn well.
Steve
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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on
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You do learn well, Jackie! And even if Steve does confuse the two of us, I'm happy to be in the same thought as you, lol!
Actually, Steve reminded me that I often solicit a client's favorite color and then use that to frame suggestions similar to his traffic light trigger.
Best wishes on helping your client. Sometimes, the war is not always won with just one battle and since change is a process, it can take time...especially with weight loss. Let me know if there is any way I can help!
Love,
Kelley
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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on -
Consider this slogan: "We serve our clients with never-ending satisfaction!"
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on -
Valuable lesson Jackie -- I believe that whether we follow up or not, the best practice is to make it very clear that every one responds differently and your door is always open if some one needs more help and support in reaching their desired goal.
Warmest regards,
Michael E.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on
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Michael,
Nice touch.
Doc,
Nice touch also.
Jelly, I mean Jackie, no, Kelly, now I'm thinking peanut butter too.....
Kelly,
There are no mistakes, the power of your clarity must have swept over me as a reminder to myself, please tone down your genius a bit I'm getting confused, unless of course there is more for me to learn......thanks for the laugh.
Steve likes Jelly
Michael Ellner said:Valuable lesson Jackie -- I believe that whether we follow up or not, the best practice is to make it very clear that every one responds differently and your door is always open if some one needs more help and support in reaching their desired goal.
Warmest regards,
Michael E.
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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on
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I'm actually having peanut butter and jelly right now so there must be some serious vibes flowing here!
Thank you, Doc. You can always be counted on for simple, concise wisdom!
Michael, thanks for checking on me!
Kelley - being confused with you is a compliment, indeed ; )
Jackie likes Jelly too!
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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on
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Jackie,
I hereby give myself permission to enjoy the connection marked by the serious flow of vibes and remind myself how wonderful it feels to be in this moment and the moments are endlessly strung together for our joy. I will be thinking of yous again when I have my pb and jackie. Mine will be sugarfree jelly on gluten free bread. See my up coming post to the post, Diabetes and Hypnosis.
Thanks for a wonderful time.
Steve
Jackie Spencer said:I'm actually having peanut butter and jelly right now so there must be some serious vibes flowing here! Thank you, Doc. You can always be counted on for simple, concise wisdom!
Michael, thanks for checking on me!
Kelley - being confused with you is a compliment, indeed ; )
Jackie likes Jelly too!
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