More like business bad for therapy?

Did only one client say they didn't think it was worth the money, or is this a frequent event?

Erickson emphasized the importance of keeping the therapeutic goal primary. I don't mean to suggest you do not do this. However, if an unspoken agenda of yours is to get a referral from a client, the message may still be received by the client consciously or unconsciously. They may resent this, and in order to regain control, say things like "It was a waste of money" in order to satisfy their own ego.

I can think of at least three ways to deal with this issue, and you can find more ways that suit you best:

1. During your initial interview, ask your client if they found out about you through advertising or from a referral. This may seed the idea they too can refer people, and if they choose to follow up on it, that's their choice. Then drop the subject.
7. During the sessions, check in with your client in some way to discover how things are going. Like asking "How are things going?"
4. During your final session, ask for a referral.
3. Find alternate methods of getting business than referrals. You're using one now.
2. Charge by the outcome rather than by the hour / session.
5. Let clients know they can come back at a later date for other things as well.
6. Assuming the worst, and that you really aren't worth the money, increase the value for your fees.

I can think of very few trance scripts of Erickson's where at some point he doesn't have the client ratify the trancework done, and when appropriate, have the change in the thinking or behavior consciously recognized by the client. Was this included in your work? This could be a point at which you discuss with the client how the work is going, and give him the chance to voice objections, etc., so that he completes the therapy on a good note. People naturally talk about good things and bad things.

There are a number of books you may find useful reading in developing answers to your own question:
Hypnotic and Strategic Interventions by Michael Yapko - provides among other things, a handy matrix analysis for practical applied diagnostic evaluations.
Therapeutic Trances by Stephen Gilligan - for reason above, and others
Brief Therapy - Myths, Methods and Metaphors - edited by Jeffrey Zeig and Stephen Gilligan - deals with issues, including financial/logistic, of brief therapy.

As uncomfortable as it is, I often learn more from my clients who have hated what I've done. I learn where I'm lacking in communication, what else I could have provided, what my client was looking for and was I honest in what I could offer? Often it is a painful wake-up call, and other times a chance for me to look back and realize that I really did the best I could and move forward. I think this is a great opportunity for you, and hopefully, if the people this client is talking to see the results in him, they will remember THAT and decide for themselves if it is worth the money for them.

Good luck,

Joe

Replies:

The mystery is a bit more complex, by Stephen Lankton, 03/03/00 Re: The mystery is a bit more complex, by Joe Wehry, 3/4/00 Re: More like business bad for therapy?, by Paul, 3/3/00

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