Erika Flint, BA, BCH, A+CPHI
Cal Banyan, MA, BCH, CI, DNGH, OB, MCPHI
It's common for clients to not fully understand what it is they want from hypnosis - they have little or no clarity on why they are in your office.
Often they only know what they don't want - as in "I don't want to smoke anymore", or they make vague statements like "I just want to sleep better".
It's important to clarify these statements with clients in order to get them the results they came to see you for. Without clarity, you can do great hypnosis work with your clients, but they will not recognize it as success - because success was not clearly defined.
This is such an important aspect of great change work that it is a regular part of my client pre-hypnosis interview - something I do with every single client on every single visit : review their stated goals in a process I call : Clarify and Verify.
Clarify Goals
In the clarify step you're ensuring that you are working toward the right goals with your client, that's what this article is all about.
Verify Regularly
With verify, you re-check the goals every session to ensure you're still working on the right goals with your clients.
Verify is important because it's common for clients to change their goals as they move through the process and have more clarity on what they actually want.
Watch the video below where Cal Banyan and I describe details on each of these techniques.
How to Get Clear on Client Goals
Start by reviewing each of your client's stated goals. Look for goals stated in the negative, and vague goals.
Restate Negative Goals in the Positive
If the goal is stated in the negative, for example - "I don't want to be so stressed", help them to restate it in the positive.
For example, ask "If you weren't so stressed, how would you feel?" You'll end up with a statement like "I want to feel more peaceful".
Clarify Vague Goals with Objective Results
Next if the goal is vague as in the above example, ask for clarification on how that goal can be objectively obtained.
Continuing with the example above, the question would be "How will you know when you're feeling more peaceful?"
This will lead to some interesting results for clients, and you will begin to realize why this line of questioning is so valuable for many of them - because many of them will not know how to tell when they're feeling better.
They will not know how to tell when they're feeling more peaceful. They haven't thought about it, or haven't felt it in so long.
This is the beginning of the shift that can take place in our clients, because for many they've been so focused on the negativity that they actually forgot what it feels like to fell well.
Imagine a Brighter Future
If a client struggles to find the positive solution or outcome, have them close their eyes right then and there.
I'll often demonstrate this for them, by closing my eyes and saying "I want you right now, just close your eyes like this, and imagine how you actually WANT TO FEEL".
Wait.
Keep waiting.
Even longer....
When you see a shift in their expression - a beginning of a smile on their face, that's when you know they've accessed that important state. Ask them to describe it to you.
Guess what - you just helped your client more in that moment than anything else they've likely tried in years.
You helped them to create a future that they actually want, and have started to imagine.
Take Notes
Rewrite your clients stated goals to the newly clarified ones, along with their dream for their future.
Use it in the hypnosis session as part of the direct suggestion portion of your session
From Marginal Results to Massive Success
Clarity of goals is an important aspect that takes clients from producing marginal results to achieving massive success.
When clients have clarity on what they want they are much more likely to achieve it, and you as the hypnotist are able to focus on the right things.
Clarity Brings Value to You and Your Clients
When you help to clarify your client's goals, they get what they actually want faster.
They're happier, and they'll refer their friends and family to you.
Great Hypnosis Work Makes a Difference
Keep up the great work helping clients with powerful advanced hypnosis!
I look forward to seeing you in our hypnosis certification training course and online.
Until then, I will continue to practice Hypnosis with Heart - from mine to yours we can make a difference with hypnosis with powerful, insight based hypnosis and advanced hypnosis techinques.
Erika
