Why Is the Initial Consultation So Important

" A personalize induction will always be more effective" Discuss. Base your answer on theoretical concepts and techniques presented in class.

In my essay I will discuss the importance of a personalize induction in relaxation.

As we know, every one is different , this difference is not only outside but inside as well. We not only look different but we have different characters built on base of genes preferences, as well the influences of our parents and friends, schools, age and life experience. This is why it is so important when making the first contact with our clients.

We have to be able to gain their trust and get as much information about their history, their likes and dislikes, background, hobby's, fears, allergies, history of illness and if possible medication. Initial consultation is a time for acquiring information and finding out client's history in order to personalize an induction. A person's preferences and modalities are not always stable and can change in order to a situation. This is why the induction has to be flexible and by trying to get an idea of which modality our clients prefer, it will help them to feel more comfortable. We use all of our senses in different situations but all of us will have a favourite one of which we are more comfortable although it is beneficial to use all the senses when trying to build a safe and comfortable space for a client. A compounding combination of all modalities is far more effective to achieve a deep hypnotic state.

Our brain represents experiences received from all our senses and different parts of our brain have been designated to our senses so we have a visual cortex, an auditory cortex, an kinaesthetic cortex,an olfactory cortex, an gustatory cortex and auditory digital cortex. It was Bandler and Grinder who revolutionised psychology by suggesting the terms and definitions of modalities as the first "language of our minds".

In hypnosis we divide senses into three primary groups and three secondary groups.

The primary groups are:

Kinaesthetic- Our feeling system, both internal and external and emotional understanding. Those people are described as the touching- feeling type, the look doesn't matter as long as they feel good. They may have a soft lower or deeper tone to their voice and speak with pauses in their speech. They may have rounded shoulders and the LEM ( Lateral Eye Movements) will be usually down to the right. They may use phrases like "I know how you feel", "hold on a moment", "Put your finger on it".

Visual- Our sight. Those people have a tendency to daydream, fantasise and use the imagination. Very often interested in films, TV, design and art. They can be pedantic because they like things to look good. The LEM likely to be defocused or looking up to the left or right. They may use phrases like "I see what you mean", "The future looks bright", "Looks good to me".

Auditory- Our Hearing. Those people are great listeners, they love talk over the phone, and listening a music. They may be interested in languages, music and lecturing. They may have a melodious voice style and speak at a peace. They eyes will be around the horizontal mid line. The commonly used phrases are "Loud and clear", "That sounds good", "Listen to your body".

The secondary groups are:

Olfactory- our smell

Gustatory- our taste

Auditory Digital- internal dialogue

Modalities are very important on our induction however, we must also take other factors into consideration, such as, would the client respond well to permissive techniques or are they

more suited to the authoritarian techniques.

Hypnosis is divided into two main induction styles. Permissive and the authoritarian, they were both recognised and named as a Maternal and Paternal by Sandor Ferenczi in 1916, he summed up work by Freud, Charcot and Bernheim who came before him, they would try to understand what made hypnosis work and what influenced the degree of suggestibility in any given patient, they all misinterpreted that the controlling aspect, came from the therapist. Freud saw the concept of suggestibility as a symptom of neurosis, whilst Charcot advised it was perhaps due to "...psychopathology of hysteria" At least Bernheim opposed this philosophy stating, "...non-hysterics could be hypnotised effectively."

Ferenczi' discovery helped change hypnosis forever.

The indirect, permissive style can be described as "maternal" as the words used are caring and include the use of metaphors leaving the client with a choice, phrases like, "you might like to move around a little" or "you may like to close your eyes" This style gives clients a sense of safety by not bossing them or not making them feel trapped. This style is most suited to clients who are caring, imaginative, and eager to please.

The authoritarian style of induction is more direct, logical, and paternal, with no choice. The script will be to the point and does not include metaphors. Using this method the therapist shows control and knows exactly what they are doing. Some examples of phrases used in this induction would be, "I want you to imagine yourself" or "start by concentrating on your breathing". These screeds can contain imagery but the words are more directional, sometimes this style may appear a little severe but can be very effective especially when the aim of the hypnosis is habit changing e.g. stopping smoking.

Two others who have helped shape modern-day hypnosis are Dave Elman renowned for his authoritarian and direct approach and Milton Erickson famous for his permissive and indirect approach.

David Elman was born in 1900, his connection with hypnosis came early in life as his father had an interest in the subject. His father having obtained help from a friend used hypnosis to develop pain relief for himself while dying of cancer. Years after his father's death he had success himself with hypnosis which resulted in a group of doctors asking Elman to teach his skills to use in their practice and from then on Elman taught and practised hypnosis till his death in 1967.

Milton H Erickson

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