Do You Even Accept Single Session Only Clients?

When I was first doing hypnosis where I am, I would probably just about have accepted any client (yes within certain limits, of course). However, between the pre-talk time of the phone with them and then all the support I give them before a session with workbooks as well as after and between sessions, I am loathe to accept a client for pretty much anything less than a 4 session package.

There really are a number of reasons for this. Certainly, there is all that I am giving them (it's not just 1 hour or 90 mins of hypnosis). There is also the whole energy and expectation of how they approach things, it is so much more cooperative and together and for their lasting success when they commit to a package. I also know if any difficult or challenge surfaces, they will show for their next appointment and we will address it then. They have the best success rates plus of course then correspondingly become my greater adoring evangelists with W.O.M (Word Of Mouth) referrals for other clients.

Certain Hypnosis topics, the success rate is <30% have lasting success with a single session, but it's like they are hyped up caught up in that. I don't always catch this well when I am intaking multiple family members in the same week or so each with their own phone calls. The success rates and long term success rates are fantastic and massive with the package of multiple sessions. And I KNOW they will be successful. And then when they say they really want something but then decide for only 1 session, I nearly want to shake them over the phone. "You say you WANT X, but you are DOING Y to support it." Which is slightly self-defeating or really self-testing themselves.

Every once in a while, I will accept a 1 or 2 session client from a W.O.M. client b/c I know once they have a session with me, they will more likely extend it but they want a single session or two to have some in person one-on-one experiences of hypnosis first before committing to something longer.

Do you accept single-session-only clients? Why or Why Not?

I have my own thoughts on all of this and would enjoy hearing the communities thoughts habit and practices.

Happy Hypno Holidays,

April Braswell, MH

Orange County Hypnosis

Tags: Hipnosis, Hypnosis, Package, Session

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Beck on January 31, 2012 at 4:39pm

I LOVE that question!!! Will definitely have to use that one. :)
~Kathryn

Pierre Benoit, CHt, RCCH said:

Hi April,

When people call me I tell them that most problems can be dealt with between 4 to 6 sessions, some faster some take more sessions. It all depends on the individuals. When they ask about 1 or 2 sessions only, I ask them the following question: Do you truly believe that you can fix in 2 hours what you put so many years to build? This usually brings them back to reality. If they answer yes, then I will do my best with the time frame they give me but I always create a possibility for using more sessions.

This approach has been doing very well for me.

Hope this helps.

Pierre Benoit, CHt, RCCH

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Beck on January 31, 2012 at 4:40pm

Such great thoughts here! Glad I found this topic.

I've been doing this work for 6 years, and always learning and adapting. I've been mulling over the idea of offering packages rather than session by session. I always get the question of "how many sessions will I need" and I never know exactly what to say to that. I usually say something like "every person is different. One person can do well with a couple of sessions, and others require more. Lets start with the first session and go from there." But in thinking through this more, I really see the value of having someone commit to a program. I just wonder how well that would be received where I live. I'm in IN and hypnosis is not very known. Sometimes it's a struggle to get them to even want to see me for $80 a session. When I first went to a hypnotist, I committed myself to a 4 session program and it was costly...but changed my life. Ah, so much to think about here.

Those of you that offer packages, how do you decide how many sessions are needed to create a package? Or is it the same number for every issue, and if the person needs more, they buy an additional package?

Thanks,
Kathryn

Permalink Reply by Zoilita Grant on January 31, 2012 at 5:19pm

I offer 45 min intro session for $100. I do hypnosis in the first session as well as explain to clients fees, the process and how we can achieve their goals. After that it costs $115 for 45 mins or $150 for an hour. I offer 2 levels of pkgs. Pkg A four 45 min session $420 or four 1 hr sessions for $540. Pkg. B ten 45 min sessions for $920 or ten 1 hr sessions for $1200.Most people buy either four 1 hrs sessions or ten 45 min sessions. I take MC/Visa and paypal as well as checks and cash. business is good and getting better.

I offer the same $100 intro session for my spiritually based business coaching for coaches, and hypnosis and spiritual practitioners. I do that in person, phone, and skype and then contract with people for six months or one year.

Please feel free to ask me business questions.

Zoilita Grant MS. MCHC. www.zoilitagrant.net

Permalink Reply by April Braswell on February 25, 2012 at 8:02am

Hi Zolita,

I realize we all use different terminology and thank goodness for individual variation.

Your 45 min. intro session for $100 SOUNDS a bit like what some of the rest of us do as our "Free" pre-accepting-them-as-a-client consultation. MOST of the time my doing that is with someone who hasn't met in anyway and is for me to screen them as well as build rapport as well as to see if this is for them. It's done over the phone.

However, I have started to offer when the door opens doing that session at my office. So far, that has taken much more time and it's because 2 family members show at the same time. For THAT I am starting to feel inclined to charge something.

Your 45 min $100 session, is that your pre-session consultation? Or are you doing a significant phone screen as well before you accept them as a client?

Oh! I have another question but I will start another thread for that over the weekend.

Thanks for joining the discussion.

To me people wanting 1 session is like wanting the Sun the Moon and the Stars for the experience of "A Quickie." It's almost like being groped. Or selling them Fast Food when want they need and what I offer is dinner at Tour D'Argent.

Cyber hugs

April Braswell

Huntington Beach Hypnotherapy

Zoilita Grant said:

I offer 45 min intro session for $100. I do hypnosis in the first session as well as explain to clients fees, the process and how we can achieve their goals. After that it costs $115 for 45 mins or $150 for an hour. I offer 2 levels of pkgs. Pkg A four 45 min session $420 or four 1 hr sessions for $540. Pkg. B ten 45 min sessions for $920 or ten 1 hr sessions for $1200.Most people buy either four 1 hrs sessions or ten 45 min sessions. I take MC/Visa and paypal as well as checks and cash. business is good and getting better.

I offer the same $100 intro session for my spiritually based business coaching for coaches, and hypnosis and spiritual practitioners. I do that in person, phone, and skype and then contract with people for six months or one year.

Please feel free to ask me business questions.

Zoilita Grant MS. MCHC. www.zoilitagrant.net

Permalink Reply by Tamara on March 12, 2012 at 12:07pm

I agree with April it does seem overly ambitious without having had some preliminary interview however, perhaps a demonstration of quick hypnosis is enough to hook them into the package programmes. Also, Zoilita's website sings 'I am good, you all know I am good, you need to pay for someone this good' therefore I can imagine she does get this clientale that would fall into the payment structure.

Meanwhile us mere mortal hypnotists will grit our teeth at the singular session. I concur with you April at the frustration of the intial free interview and am wholeheartedly in congruence with keeping that to a strictly time limited 20 minute interview. I broke my own rule this month for a non-native English speaking person and the free 20 min went to 45 minutes. To learn that they were interviewing 3 other people in this way. I think that it was about attention more than the issues. Keep to the programme.

Permalink Reply by Zoilita Grant on March 12, 2012 at 2:21pm

You could do phone interviews and say you always charge for office time. I have noticed that there are people who look for those free consultations. You could spend alot of time giving yourself away. Prosperity often begins inside of you. Blessings and Abundance!

Permalink Reply by Katherine Zimmerman on March 21, 2012 at 12:23pm

That's my approach. I'm happy to talk to them (free) for a 20 minute phone interview but charge if they want to meet in person. It has worked out very well. On the rare occasions when I met them in person for a free consult a large percentage of them never showed up.

Zoilita Grant said:

You could do phone interviews and say you always charge for office time. I have noticed that there are people who look for those free consultations. You could spend alot of time giving yourself away. Prosperity often begins inside of you. Blessings and Abundance!

Permalink Reply by Robert S on April 7, 2012 at 6:35pm

I offer single session rates as an option, and that rate is rather high comparatively, and so I offer discounts for packages that show substantial savings, as well as offer the fact that multiple sessions have shown to be more effective for lasting change.