Why is the initial consultation so important?
What factors will an ethical therapist cover at this time?

There are a multitude of factors that a therapist must consider during the initial consultation. I will describe the procedures of the consultation, the ethical considerations facing the therapist and the particular challenges of the actual consultation itself.
As outlined in my previous essay, the initial consultation is perhaps the most important part of the hypnotherapy process. People are different in many ways. They have different likes and dislikes, cultural backgrounds and upbringings. These factors have provided us with different outlooks, values and perspectives. Therefore there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to hypnotherapy. Personality types, suggestibility and the reason the client has come to you all have an effect on the way they will respond to hypnotherapy, and this all must be taken into account when planning a session. Every person is different and will respond to very different styles of hypnotherapy. We all see the same things, but interpret it differently, and we respond to stimuli in a unique way. What works for one client may have no effect on another, therefore hypnotic inductions must be personalised to suit everyone's needs. It is during the consultation that the therapist gathers all the information needed to write a successful screed which is personalised to the client. At this time, the therapist will assess a client’s personality type, preferred modality and key information which will shape all future sessions.
Before even meeting the client, it is vitally important to consider the role of the environment in the therapeutic space. Consequently, there are a number of aspects of the room itself that need to be looked at. The layout of the room should be considered. The generally accepted approach is to have 2 upright