Why Is Initial Consultation so Important?

2324 Words10 Pages
Why is the initial consultation so important? What factors will an ethical therapist cover at this time? Introduction The initial consultation is probably the most crucial aspect of Hypnotherapy. Everything from the interpersonal dynamics to the eventual success of the intervention has a basis in the first meeting between client and therapist. The client’s decision to remain engaged with the therapeutic process will be determined by factors from this early stage. To understand why the initial consultation is so important we need to look back at how the conscious and subconscious minds work for us. When we are born our experiences are a blank page. We have genetic information from our biological parents and our functional instincts which are etched into our subconscious but we have not yet gathered any information for our ‘belief system’. In this assignment I will be looking at the importance of communication and understanding between client and practitioner and the collation of the information obtained. “The key purpose of the initial assessment is to identify the issue and decide if it is within the sphere of competence of the therapist. If the problem is of a medical or psychotic nature for example then unless the hypnotherapist is suitably qualified the correct action is to refer the client to a doctor or psychiatrist. This is often stated explicitly in the code of conduct or ethics of the hypnotherapist's governing body. Secondly, the therapist and client forge what is called the Therapeutic Alliance, an agreement on the desired outcome and how they will work in partnership to overcome it. Costs, expected number of sessions and likelihood of a positive outcome will often also be discussed.”(Code of Ethics) Why is the initial consultation so important? This first meeting between therapist and client is probably the most crucial meeting of the
Open Document