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<\/p>\nWhen someone has a question, or wants to learn to do something, or wants to buy something, where\u2019s the first place they will usually go? Online, that\u2019s right. You can look stuff up, learn stuff, buy almost anything you want, all without even leaving your home, or even the comfort of your bed! But it\u2019s not just information and products that you can get online, you can also engage in therapy and hypnotherapy online too. With all that\u2019s going on right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the majority of people stuck at home in self-isolation, many therapists who\u2019ve never done any online therapy are now finding their only option is to take their practice online, or otherwise, to simply stop seeing clients and to close the doors of their businesses. So, taking your hypnotherapy practice online is probably the better option.<\/p>\n
Online hypnotherapy isn\u2019t anything new. In fact, hypnotherapists have been seeing clients online for years and years, and before the internet was so widely used, hypnotherapists would work remotely with clients by recording sessions on CDs and even cassette tapes. So, just because you can\u2019t meet a client face-to-face, doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t help them. In fact, with the help of the internet it can be easier to work with clients than ever before, without even leaving the comfort of your own home! Sure, it may take a little getting used to, but just like you got used to delivering face-to-face hypnotherapy sessions, so you will find that you can get used to delivering your hypnotherapy sessions online. After all, the best hypnotherapists are very adaptable!<\/p>\n
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This is a common question, both from clients, and surprisingly, from hypnotherapists too! The way a hypnotherapy session works to help people, is that the hypnotherapist gives a client suggestions (by talking), and the client engages with those suggestions (by listening). So long as you, the hypnotherapist, can talk and your client can hear you, does it matter whether you\u2019re in the same room or not? Not really.<\/p>\n
Fundamentally, an effective hypnotherapy session relies on communication and engagement, whether online or otherwise. If your client is engaged then they will likely benefit from the session. If they are not paying attention, or not following your instructions, then they will benefit less. Just as you might have regular (offline) clients that become distracted, and who disengage by \u2018going off in their imaginations\u2019, similarly you might have an online hypnotherapy client become distracted in a similar way, or potentially by something distracting happening in their home.<\/p>\n
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As a hypnotherapist, and as with any<\/em> session, before your online hypnotherapy session begins, you will set up to ensure that your client is able to engage as much as possible, setting up to minimise distractions and to maximise focus and engagement (more on that in a bit).<\/p>\n So, an online session is actually<\/em> very similar to a face-to-face session. There is one key difference though, which is that you\u2019re not physically there with the client. So, it goes without saying that you might be limited in some of the approaches that you take. As the online hypnotherapy client is not there in the room with you, you will be unable to touch them, so you might not use rapid shock inductions that rely on physically engaging with the client (such as pulling an arm), or therapy approaches such as anchoring, where you\u2019d create an anchored response by touching a client (such as pressing on a shoulder). However, you can adapt your approaches to work remotely, or use similar approaches that are entirely verbal and instructional in nature. You may use a rapid \u2018eye fixation\u2019 induction, instead of a physical rapid induction. You might have the client install their own anchor by touching their own shoulder. There are many different workarounds that will help you achieve the same (or similar) results, without needing to physically be in the room with a client.<\/p>\n As already mentioned, hypnotherapy sessions can be pre-recorded and delivered in many different formats (nowadays it’s most commonly MP3s, and to a lesser extent CDs), whereby a hypnotherapist creates a recording on a given topic, such as weight loss. The hypnotherapist isn\u2019t physically present when the client listens to the MP3, yet they still work and millions are listened to every year. This means that online therapy can work<\/em> even more effectively<\/em>, because with online hypnotherapy, though you\u2019re not there in person with the client, you are<\/em> able to see and hear them, and they<\/em> can see and hear you. This means you can monitor their responses, and tailor your therapy session and suggestions to the client in that very moment, in real time.<\/p>\n So, to answer the question \u2018can online hypnotherapy really work?\u2019 \u2013 yes, it sure can! In fact, it can be much more effective than hypnotherapy MP3s alone, and just as effective<\/em> as a live, face-to-face hypnotherapy session!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before I talk about how to \u2018set up your client\u2019 for the online hypnotherapy process, first, a quick word about actually getting the clients signed up, as well as setting your own<\/em> beliefs<\/em> about the process and about what it is that you\u2019re selling. Though some<\/em> hypnotherapists have, in recent years, been reluctant to promote online therapy, that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t work! There are thousands of hypnotherapists out there who only<\/em> see clients online, and who\u2019ve shifted their thriving \u2018live\u2019 hypnotherapy practices to online only, because it does<\/em> work! So, because it can<\/em> work just as well as a live, face-to-face hypnotherapy session, you must ensure that you\u2019re not selling it as a lesser option.<\/p>\n If, for whatever reason, you have a belief that online sessions are inferior, and you tell a client<\/em> that online sessions aren\u2019t as good as in-person sessions, do you think they\u2019ll want to sign up? Probably not. They\u2019ll either wait until they are able to attend a live session, or more likely, go and find another hypnotherapist who is willing to \u2018sell\u2019 their online services better than you did.<\/p>\n Though it\u2019s not yet your \u2018normal\u2019 or \u2018default\u2019 format for running a hypnotherapy session, treat it as if it is (because let\u2019s face facts, it actually could be<\/em> for a few months)!<\/p>\n If you have a potential client who\u2019s on the fence about online vs live hypnotherapy, tell them that, \u201conline hypnotherapy is equally as effective as a face-to-face session, because all you really need to be able to do is listen to the suggestions that I give you. We don\u2019t need to be in the same room for that, so it\u2019s totally possible, and actually very easy, to hypnotise people online, and for me to help you reach your personal goals\u201d. You might even suggest that the client closes their eyes for a moment whilst you say this, then ask them if they would have responded differently to what you just said had you been there with them in person (the answer is no).<\/p>\n When promoting your online hypnotherapy services, as with any product, sell the benefits of what you\u2019re offering. Such as how it\u2019s flexible for the client\u2019s schedule, and that there\u2019s no waiting around in waiting rooms. You can let people know that there\u2019s added privacy, because by remaining in their own homes, they won\u2019t get seen going for therapy by people that they know. This privacy can help clients to be relaxed about the process. Online sessions also provide added comfort<\/em>, because during the online hypnotherapy session, the client is in a place where they\u2019re physically comfortable and in control. Not to mention saving the potential stress of finding and getting to your hypnotherapy office, dealing with traffic and parking, etc.<\/p>\n So, make sure to sell your online therapy sessions correctly, and you\u2019ll likely find that you will be able to convert just as many<\/em> enquiries into paying clients as you would if you were running sessions from your office.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just a quick note on this. Before you engage in any online therapy, please check with your insurance providers to ensure that you are covered for providing therapy online. Also, are you licensed to practice hypnotherapy in your client\u2019s country\/state, and do you need to be? It\u2019s definitely worth finding out where you stand before your set up your online hypnotherapy business.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though it might surprise you, the process of going from a client enquiry through to conducting the online hypnotherapy session itself is very similar to the process for a standard hypnotherapy session. You have a number of steps for the client to complete before they join you for the online hypnotherapy session.<\/p>\n Once the (prospective) client has found you, you can book them in for an initial chat or \u2018preliminary consultation\u2019 about what they are looking to work on and find out whether hypnotherapy is right for them (most therapists do this for free, but it\u2019s up to you). Rather than just randomly calling them as soon as the enquiry comes in, it\u2019s often better from a logistics perspective, to have them book a time slot for the chat (there are many tools you can use to do this online, which I\u2019ll cover in the next section). It\u2019s important to explain each stage of this pre-session process to the client, so they feel informed, and know what to expect. You might simply say, \u201cbook your timeslot, and once that\u2019s done, I will send you a confirmation email which will contain a link to our online meeting\u201d.<\/p>\n As well as sending an email confirming that preliminary consultation appointment, you might also schedule an email to go to the client on the day of the consultation itself (you can do email scheduling using most email providers, such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.), and again remind them of the time of the appointment, and provide them with the link to the your chosen video conferencing platform (again, more details below). Some therapists also choose to send this information by text (SMS) message, just in case the email accidentally goes to the junk\/spam folder.<\/p>\n After the consultation, if you and the client agree to proceed with the hypnotherapy session, send the client a link to your booking page, where they can book and pay for the session. Once that\u2019s done, have them schedule in their session, selecting the day\/time that works best for them and confirm it by email (and again, schedule an email to go out on the morning of the session with the link for them to join).<\/p>\n Once all that\u2019s completed, have the client fill out your client intake form and any additional paperwork (such as therapy contracts) before the session. Then, all you need to do is turn up (online) to the session. At that point, you run your therapy session as you normally would in person.<\/p>\n By having a longer ‘intake’ process, you set the client up to respond to you, which also helps to check their engagement, and checks whether they\u2019ll follow your instructions. They will have already given you an indication of the nature of their issue, which allows you to plan ahead, and you will have been able to check that hypnotherapy is appropriate for them, saving disappointment and allowing you to us the most appropriate therapy approaches). By having that initial chat online, the client can also become familiar with your chosen online video conferencing platform, which takes the pressure off when it comes to the therapy session itself. As well as that, having such a solid \u2018intake process\u2019 will come across as very professional, and will help build the client\u2019s trust in you as a professional online hypnotherapist.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whilst reading the previous section about how the online hypnotherapy process works, you may have realised that you have a little work to do beforehand, in order to set up your website and processes to accommodate online hypnotherapy clients. This can be done relatively quickly, is pretty easy, and once it\u2019s done, you won\u2019t need to do it again!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your website<\/strong><\/p>\n Firstly, you might want to change your website (and any other online advertising platforms you use) to reflect that you are either offering both face-to-face and online sessions, or that at the current time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of your hypnotherapy sessions will be conducted online until further notice. You may include information about online hypnotherapy (and why people should sign up) to inspire prospective clients to take the next step and book a consultation, and perhaps even a video of yourself (so potential clients can see what a session with you will look like). Ensure that the information on your website is clear, easy to understand, and gets the point across.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Appointment scheduling<\/strong><\/p>\n In terms of booking consultations and sessions, rather than manually providing dates and times for clients, and back-and-forthing until you come to an agreement, it can be much easier to use an online appointment scheduling service. One of the easiest to use is Calendly<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s between $8-12 (USD) per month,which is a tiny investment and will totally revolutionise the way that you book your appointments. You plug in your available days\/times, and send a link to your clients so that they can choose a time slot from your pre-selected options. It also converts times based on where you are in the world and where your client is (if they’re in a different time-zone), so it is a truly international-friendly option, and syncs with all the main online calendars (meaning your appointments magically appear on your devices)!<\/p>\n There are other appointment scheduling options out there, such as AcuityScheduling.com<\/strong><\/a>, SimplyBook.me<\/strong><\/a> and many more, but having tested these, Calendly is the easiest to use and is very competitively priced. Remember, time is money, so by paying a tiny amount to automate your appointment scheduling, you\u2019re actually saving a bunch of money<\/em> by freeing up more \u2018work time\u2019!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Using online forms<\/strong><\/p>\n As well as automating your appointments, another way to make your online hypnotherapy process smoother is to have easy-to-use, easy-to-share forms for gathering client information. If you just want a quick way to get client information, you can\u2019t go wrong with Google Forms<\/strong><\/a>. Google Forms is free to use (with a Google\/Gmail account) and you can create forms of any length and complexity, as well as being able to style them how you like, and receive form submissions automatically into your inbox. Otherwise, have a nicely styled template email or word document that you can quickly send to your clients. If you want a little more flexibility, and you\u2019d like people to be able to fill and sign therapy contracts more easily etc., then you might instead go for something a little more robust, such as Adobe Sign<\/strong><\/a>, Docusign<\/strong><\/a>, Wufoo<\/strong><\/a>, or any number of online document services.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Online video conferencing software<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to where you hold your online hypnotherapy sessions and consultations, there are a couple of main contenders (but one clear winner). You have Skype, Zoom and Facetime. However, based on personal testing, as well as extensive recommendations from many other hypnotherapists and ‘online service’ providers, Zoom is the way forward. Go with Zoom, it just works best.<\/p>\n Zoom has free and paid options. At the current time, you can probably get away with using the free version, unless you’re looking at holding online meetings with more than 2 people (e.g. yourself and a client), as meetings with 3+ attendees are capped at 40 minutes. However, on the free Zoom account, meetings with just 2 people can last for anywhere up to 24 hours! The pro version does give you a bit more functionality and control over how you set up your sessions and how you can interact with participants. Again, like with the appointment scheduler, if you need to spend a little<\/em> money to get the setup you need, then do it, because you can easily make that money back (and much more) with your online hypnotherapy sessions! Zoom pro is $15 per month, so if you decide to go for it, it\u2019s not going to break the bank.<\/p>\n When scheduling your Zoom meetings, it\u2019s relatively simple to do, and most of the options are self-explanatory. Firstly, select the date, time and duration of the session. Remember to allow a little more time than you would in a face-to-face session, in case the client is late, or just simply as a buffer. Just because you schedule in a 75-minute meeting, doesn\u2019t mean you have to do 75 minutes of therapy. You might have a 60-minute session with a 15-minute buffer (it\u2019s nice to have the time available in case)!<\/p>\n Next, don\u2019t bother setting a \u2018personal meeting ID\u2019, just allow Zoom to generate the meeting ID automatically. Though the ID then doesn\u2019t look \u2018customised\u2019, it\u2019s a lot safer and will prevent other people from joining your meeting. Also, on the topic of avoiding unwanted visitors, ensure that you add a meeting password, and provide it to your client when sending their confirmation emails.<\/p>\n After security\u2019s been dealt with, ensure both the host and participant videos are turned on. Tick the \u2018enable join before host\u2019 option, so that your client can sign in before you do (in case you\u2019re running late, or they\u2019re an early bird).<\/p>\n Finally, if you want to record the session, you have two options. You can record the entire session from start to finish by pre-selecting the \u2018record the meeting automatically\u2019 option, or you can simply start the recording manually during the session itself. If you\u2019re keeping the file for your own records, it makes sense to record the whole session. If you\u2019re planning on giving the client an audio recording of the session (more on that below) then it\u2019s probably better to manually record it, hitting the record button as you start the formal hypnotherapy process during the session (that way you don\u2019t have to edit it afterwards).<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve set all your meeting preferences and hit the \u2018save\u2019 button, your meeting will be scheduled. Then all you need to do is copy the \u2018Join URL\u2019 and share it with your client!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A couple of points about recording hypnotherapy sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n Firstly, make sure to familiarise yourself with the legalities and permissions required for recording, sharing and storing your hypnotherapy sessions, to ensure that you are GDPR compliant (or compliant with federal laws in your state\/area, as well as the client\u2019s area).<\/p>\n Secondly, unless your session is fairly generic and future\/success-focused, it\u2019s not a great idea to give a client a recording of their session. The reason being, if you\u2019re working on resolving problems and working through issues during a session, a client will have likely already started their change process, whether a little bit or a lot. By giving them a recording of a session that they have already completed, you\u2019re basically \u2018handing them back the problem\u2019 and assuming they haven\u2019t changed yet. You\u2019re re-setting them to 0. So, our advice is, if<\/em> you\u2019re going to give a client an MP3 or recording for them to listen to after the session, it\u2019s best if it\u2019s designed to reinforce and to promote future success. If you\u2019re working more to resolve problems and change negative habits, behaviours and thoughts, then you\u2019re best keeping that stuff in the session<\/em>, so they can engage with your suggestions, and begin to make their own changes as they move forwards.<\/p>\n Finally, if you do<\/em> choose to record your sessions, I would generally recommend recording direct to your computer, rather than to the cloud, as you then have immediate access to it, and also, if you\u2019re auto-uploading to the cloud, it can slow down your internet, which isn\u2019t helpful if you have another client scheduled in straight after. Once you have the recordings, you can edit them (if required), using a free programme like Audacity<\/strong><\/a>, then send them to the client manually using a file sharing service such as DropBox<\/strong><\/a> or Google Drive<\/strong><\/a> (both of which have free options).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Devices<\/strong><\/p>\n With Zoom, you have more control when you\u2019re using a computer, rather than a tablet\/phone. It\u2019s possible to run your online hypnotherapy sessions using a smaller device, but generally you\u2019re better off with a proper computer\/laptop. If your laptop has a poor-quality microphone or camera, then it can be worth getting yourself a better one (as you want the client to be able to see and hear you clearly).<\/p>\n For cameras, there are loads on Amazon. Ideally you want a 1080p camera, but 720p will do if cost is a factor. As with most tech items, you\u2019re generally better off going with a brand name (such as Logitech, with their 1080p C920S HD Pro Webcam<\/strong><\/a>, or their slightly cheaper 720p C270 HD Webcam<\/strong><\/a>), but if in doubt, go via the reviews on Amazon! For audio, \u2018Blue Microphones\u2019 really are second-to-none in terms of price and ease of use. The Blue Snowball Microphone<\/strong><\/a> is their \u2018entry level mic\u2019 (and the one that I have personally used for years, and would highly recommend). If you\u2019re looking for a more serious bit of kit that gives a better sound, then the Blue Yeti Microphone<\/strong><\/a> is the way to go. It\u2019s double the price, but double the mic, and is a great investment if you\u2019re planning on recording any hypnotherapy MP3s or podcasts in the future! Both mics just plug into your USB port and are ready to go. Also, whichever microphone you get, it\u2019s worth getting yourself a \u2018pop filter\u2019<\/strong><\/a> to cut down on any unwanted \u2018plosive\u2019 sounds when talking into the mic!<\/p>\n In terms of the client, their choice of device doesn\u2019t matter so much, so long as they can see and hear your clearly (all the better if they can wear headphones). That said, if at all possible, you want to be able to see your client\u2019s upper body, from their head, down to where their hands are. That way, you\u2019re not going to miss out on important body language and gestures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There aren\u2019t many issues with online therapy that are different to those in a standard therapy session. If a client has an abreaction, you would treat it the same as if you were there in person. If a client comes out of hypnosis and opens their eyes, you would treat it the same. If there is a distraction, you would treat it the same. The only significantly different issue that you might face is internet connection problems.<\/p>\n If you get disconnected from your client during the hypnosis portion of your hypnotherapy session, it could potentially cause issues. That is why you will let them know what to do if they were to get disconnected, before you start the hypnosis process<\/em>. With this, it\u2019s best to keep it brief, simple, and easy to understand. Tell them, \u201cif at any point our connection is lost, and you become aware that I am no longer speaking with you, after a minute you will immediately open your eyes and re-establish the connection\u201d. Once they\u2019ve done that, you would re-induce hypnosis (“close your eyes and go back into hypnosis”) and start again from where you left off. It\u2019s as simple as that, and on the rare occasion that it happens, it works just fine.<\/p>\n Some online hypnotherapists put their phone number on the appointment confirmation, and let clients know that if they cannot reconnect to the video, that they should instead call (or contact via WhatsApp) to re-establish contact that way. However, don\u2019t worry too much about connection problems, because even if they do happen, assuming you have informed the client of how to respond beforehand, they will usually come back online relatively quickly, and you can resume your session where you left off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re a hypnotherapist and you\u2019ve been stranded at home by the COVID-19 situation, wondering when your next client will be, or if you\u2019re reading this after life has returned to normality (or as close to it as possible) wondering about whether you can take your hypnotherapy services online, then wonder no more!<\/p>\n You have the fantastic ability to help people with hypnotherapy, and now you have the knowledge to take your amazing hypnotherapy skills online. Sure, it might take a little trial and error for you to find your footing, just like it did when you were doing your first ever hypnotherapy sessions, but the sooner you get started, the quicker you\u2019ll get to where you want to be!<\/p>\n Keep focused and do all you can to make the best of this situation. Don\u2019t let it stop you from continuing to help people, because people that help others are just what the world needs right now! So, get set up, put yourself out there and keep making a difference. Your future online clients will be glad that you did!<\/p>\n <\/p>\nGetting online hypnotherapy clients<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nOnline hypnotherapy insurance and international licensing<\/h3>\n
The online hypnotherapy process<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nYour online hypnotherapy platform & supporting services<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nDealing with problems<\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n