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Why Is the Initial Consultation so Important? What Factors Will an Ethical Therapist Cover at This Time?

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Chrysalis Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Year One – Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills Module Three Due date: 1st June 2013 Word count (excluding headings): 1,938 words. Assignment: Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist cover at this time? 1.0 Introduction In many areas, the first meeting, or consultation, is extremely important, whether this be in a business, social, or medical environment. This is when we form our first impressions of people (and they of us), and when we are naturally most highly attuned to the information – verbal, physical, visual or otherwise – that we’re presented with. In the therapeutic environment, this is certainly the case, as there are …show more content…

He cites Rosen (1960) who states that “severe depressive states sometimes present in the disguise of somatic pain”. Further to this overall point the initial consultation, though distinct from the ‘main sessions’ of therapy in the mind of the client, is actually the beginning of the therapy process. Aside from the obvious opportunity to build rapport, the initial consultation is a great chance for the therapist to get the therapy under way. Many therapists will offer the chance to run a brief PMR which not only helps the inexperienced client understand the hypnotic process, but can also show how susceptible the client is. The therapist can also offer an initial interpretation or explanation of the client’s presenting issues, and this alone can be integral to the healing process as the client can begin to comprehend and be able to explain their situation. 3.3 Calming the Client We’ve seen above that it is essential that the client is engaged in the process and not being coerced. Further to this, the most effective inductions are when the client is able to relax. The ‘first impression’ initial consultation is the time when trust of the therapist is born for the client, and so this is an incredibly important session. Trust can be gained or lost on a number of criteria including dress, authority, body language,

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