Advice Needed

[TimCastleman]

Hello Group –

I wanted to get some advice on an issue. I recently contacted my local semi-pro hockey team and offered my services … and they accepted. This is a double edged sword because while I am excited to help, I am also beyond nervous. I have had limited contact with clients and am really just starting out. The good news is that I have until September to enact a plan of action. Here are some questions and thoughts I’d like your feedback on:

My plan is to rent some office space and run a small ad in the paper offering my services to smokers or people who want to lose weight for free. By doing this I get plenty of volunteers and a chance to hone my skills. Then I have a friend who has offered to host a website for me which would be basic information but give me a stitch of credibility. In addition I would create a resume and business cards again to expand self-confidence. Finally, I plan on getting some insurance just to cover myself incase something happens.

I also hope to get some help from some members of the board who have dealt with sports players or teams before to see what I am in for - what types of things a coach may ask me to work with a player on and some common problems or solutions.

Maybe this is another question but I am thinking of telling the team I am a personal success coach or something similar, and not a hypnotist. The reason isn’t because I am ashamed of being a hypnotist but because I think there is a stigma attached to that name. For instance when I talked with the coach he asked if I could make one of his players quack like a duck because I told him I was a hypnotist.

Your thoughts or suggestions?!?

[arnk2u]

You ARE kidding, right ? :cool:
First of all your success rate with "free" clients will be very low. People who have nothing invested, have nothing to lose...charge a nominal fee, give handouts and homework. Make the client gain the self confidence they need to be a success in this endeavor and to take the responsibility for their own actions. Nothing worth having is free..................
Why are you so embarrassed to be a hypnotherapist, or did you even take any type of training ?
It would appear that you need to sit down and examine your own agenda here and what your responsibilties are to the public in your area. Are you even safe to be practicing at this point ? Obviously you admit that you need more training.
Spend the money. Get the training. For Heaven's Sake get insurance ! And above all remember..how can you help someone gain self confidence in themselves when you have none in yourself !

[TimCastleman]

I have the training - ABH and NGH certified. I do like your thoughts about charging a small fee. Maybe $10 a session, just to make it worth something.

[arnk2u]

Tim

Great idea. The nominal fee gives you more credence as a professional, which in this case is what you are looking for.
If you really are adverse to calling yourself a hypnotherapist, at least in some cases, you might try Life Coach. Sounds good, encompasses a lot and certainly has a sporty ring to it... Just an idea

[Annie]

Hi Tim,

Going on a *new adventure*, or 3 or a dozen is always exciting, isn't it ! :)

You said : " ... while I am excited to help, I am also beyond nervous. I have had limited contact with clients and am really just starting out. "

You didn't mention in this post what, if any, your work-experiences have been to date. For instance, have you ever been employed in any kind of "Health", "Teaching", "Counseling", "Human potential" or other such areas ?, and/or have you served in a Leadership capacity of a similar sort ? , and/or have you had significant experience Volunteering in any of 1000's of humanitarian causes ?

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not at all saying that unless you bring multiple decades of such experiences with you, especially in "one-on-one" scenarios like some of us on this Board, that you can not succeed in this kind of work, but every bit of the fore-going does help. You will be working with people, their fears, their wishes, wants and goals - and so, the more exposures, and honed experience you can gather prior to starting *your own Business* in this area, will all combined tremendously help you ...
(and
I am purposely not mentioning any "formal college educations", or even ABH and NGH certified either, because having a decorated wall full of such papers is still not assuring you of "confidence" like you are writing about here.
in my 30+ years of experience, I have worked side-by-side with every kind of MD-specialist, plus Ph.D's, etc. going, and
Believe you me, what matters, are not the papers on their walls but the kinds of *Happy results* they can help their clients win. Papers matter, and are impressive, as a belief only.
What matters, is your *People skills* and you don't get that from books.
You get that from *Life experience* such as the ones I mentioned above ...


You said : " The good news is that I have until September to enact a plan of action :
1. rent some office space and run a small ad in the paper offering my services to smokers or people who want to lose weight for free. By doing this I get plenty of volunteers and a chance to hone my skills. "

Well, I don't know about others here, but what if you were to read what you just wrote, from the perspective of a *new client* ? Do you think he/she really wants to volunteer being a "brand-new Guinea-pig" for you to "Hone your skills on" ? ... and on the subject of skills, what *specific* skills or Services are you feeling prepared to offer people ?
and
also, you must have other Income to pay for your " Business set-up" until it is fully Self-supporting, right ?


2. " Then I have a friend who has offered to host a website for me which would be basic information but give me a stitch of credibility. In addition I would create a resume and business cards again to expand self-confidence."

Yes, you have considered some excellent ideas :) May I ask : How long have you been working on this " Business plan " of yours ? (prolly I'm just too careful, but our school was my dream since I was but a small girl, and steadfastly I worked/prepared towards it for ... oh well, many many years, lol .)
How Wonderful if you can successfully pull all of this together in only 1 summer !

3. " Finally, I plan on getting some insurance just to cover myself incase something happens. "

Have you, thorroughly, familiarized yourself with the LAWS, rules and regulations, including all TAX-codes whereever it is you live ? - These are matters which you can not leave to chance.
And
do you know how to handle, successfully, any abreactions a person may experience while with you ?
and
besides just dialing 9-1-1, do you know the other exact steps to take in case a person experiences any kind of Medical-emergency while in your office, and safe-keeping ?

See, Tim : it really is exciting to be able to help other people. It has been for me *alot of FUN* :D ...

Yet, in *owning your own Business*, there is also oodles of other schtuff you need to concern yourself with, and I just want to enourage you to consider preparing in all your areas of responsibility, so you will be well-prepared, and ready to enjoy it all !

Have Fun, yourself ! :D


Annie

[Don]

Let's assume that you have someone coming to you to stop smoking. Let's also assume that in your pre-talk you make sure that the person really is ready to quit. Further, let's assume that your technique is spot-one for the client.

What, then, is the number one cause for failure in such situations?

Not charging enough.

[TimCastleman]

Well I am thinking about what to charge and I understand that if I just give it away there will be little reason for people to commit to the process but if I charge to much I won't attract clients. I have called around and sessions range from $45 to $75 so I figured if I charge $30 to help people stop smoking that would be cheaper than the others but not giving it away. Your thoughts?

[Don]

My thoughts?

Hmmm. Everyone else charges between $45-$75 and this person is only charging $30. I wonder what's wrong with him?

[Annie]

Hi Tim -

You asked : " I have called around and sessions range from $45 to $75 so I figured if I charge $30 to help people stop smoking that would be cheaper than the others but not giving it away. Your thoughts? "

Besides some more negative people possibly thinking " I wonder what's wrong with him, in charging so much less than others providing *Stop smoking* services ", let me ask you

this : Are you planning on limiting your clients via " Direct suggestion " as most other " Hypnotherapists " have been trained ?, or are you prepared to offer valuable additional Services ? ... just curious. In that case, your success-rate would exceed what most others are able to offer, and then - you could honestly charge more than them as well :) , and those 2 combined would help elevate the Hypnosis - community in the General public's eye !

just another *win-win-win* idea ! :D


Annie

[Merlin]

That guy charge $100.
He must be really good.
I've tried 6 times to quit.
Maybe this time I'll spend the $100 and succeed.

$100? That's only a couple weeks smokes for some.

[advantageanesthesia]

My fee for Smoking Cessation is $360.00 for 2-3 visits and 6 months of follow up care. Visits run 1-2 hours. This actuallly turn out to be "6 months of whatever you need" and I am more comfortable with this. When a client makes the commitment to Hypnotherapy as the modality, I make the commitment to the client to be there whenever needed. So far I have not had anyone abuse the priviledge.

Victoria