To begin with I would have an initial consultation with Miss E. This initial consultation would be free of charge as it is an opportunity to assess whether I can treat Miss E ethically, for example being within my competency limits as a therapist, as well as identifying the personality type of the client in order to write a screed personalised towards them and their preferred modality. During this initial consultation I would establish what the client's goals are, and in this case, Miss E wishes to lose 2 ½ stone and hopes to have lost this in three months time before she goes on holiday. At this stage the therapist would need to identify as to whether the time-frame desired by the client is actually realistic. For a sensible weight loss plan, the ideal aim is to lose weight at about 1 to 2 lbs per week. In terms of Miss E’s goal weight loss, this would mean a time frame of just over four months rather than the three that she was hoping for. This would have to be explained to Miss E to eliminate any false hope and expectations that she may hold towards the effects of hypnotherapy, so as to avoid potential feelings of disappointment or failure when the weight loss is not achieved in the desired time-frame. The next step would
References: Allen, R.P. (1997). Scripts and Strategies in Hypnotherapy, The complete works. Wales: Crown House Publishing. Chrysalis. Course documents, Module Six. Hadley, J. & Staudacher, C. (1996). Hypnosis for Change, 3rd Edition. USA: New Harbinger Publications. Sanders, P. (2002). First Steps in Counselling: A Students’ Companion for Basic Introductory Courses (3rd Ed). Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books.