Maximize Your Results!

By Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

Potential clients ask, “What is your success rate?” To me, knowing my success rate means tracking clients and maintaining statistics on them over time. In a solo practice, that is just not feasible, even though I do encourage client feedback when our sessions together have come to an end. I know that my programs for smoking cessation and weight control have high success rates, because the results are immediately available, and I see many clients in those two programs. In fact, a minimum weight reduction of 12 pounds is built right into the structure of the Motivational Strategies weight reduction program!

Usually, when new clients ask about my success rate, they are usually asking about my success rate for their particular problem. I see such a wide variety of people in my practice that trying to keep statistics for every type of problem would be a momentous task indeed, and would not yield data that could be considered “scientifically significant.”

It makes more sense to me to spend my time seeing clients, marketing my services, and improving my skills, than keeping statistics. I can tell you that most of my clients report good results, refer their friends and family to me, return for additional services, and send me letters and cards year after year thanking me for my help.

Over several years of practice, I’ve noticed that certain clients do amazingly well with hypnotherapy and NLP, in coaching and in counseling. I’ve noticed that these clients employ strategies that increase the probabilities of success. In observing these clients, I’ve narrowed those strategies down into three categories. I want to share these success strategies with you, so that you too, can get the most from your sessions at Motivational Strategies, Incorporated and maximize your success! Here’s what my most successful clients do:

1. They acquire “sophistication” about hypnotherapy and NLP. They read books or visit web sites on these topics. They talk to friends who have experienced hypnotherapy or NLP. The information they find makes them “informed consumers ” of my services, so that they have positive expectations about the process. They come to their first session with relevant questions. It’s easier for me to guide them right into the change process, because they already know what to expect.

2. They are not passive participants. They understand that while hypnotherapy and NLP can put them into a highly motivated, positive state, they still have to TAKE ACTION to make a difference in their lives. Taking action means taking the “next step.” It might mean enrolling in a class, sending out that resume, developing that business plan, making the phone call, joining a fitness center, or having a heart-to-heart conversation with a loved one. What happens in my office is important, but what you do out there in the “real world” really counts!

3. They take the business of personal change seriously; they are not just “window shopping.” They know that change often takes place over several sessions and are willing to attend multiple sessions. They keep their appointments, pay their bills, and call me promptly if they need to reschedule. These small courtesies allow us to deal directly with the personal change process, rather than having to work through missed appointments, late payments, and administrative details that get in the way of a good working relationship.

That’s it. Follow these three strategies, and you too, will get maximum results with Motivational Strategies, Inc.

Dr. Judith E. Pearson, owner of Motivational Strategies, Inc., is a licensed psychotherapist, counselor and coach practicing in Springfield, Virginia. She specializes in Solution-Oriented Counseling, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Hypnotherapy. She is also a freelance writer and speaker. Learn more about her services at www.engagethepower.com.