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Coronavirus and the need for telephone counselling (part two)



In a previous blog, I pointed out that, during the lockdown phase of the Coronavirus, many people will be in a desperate need to make contact. Some people will be able to cope by sending text messages, emails, or by corresponding with friends and family members using video conferencing programmes. Most people will be missing being able to have a normal conversation with somebody in person—particularly those living on their own—and this, although difficult, is a completely normal reaction. However, there will be a number of people who will require telephone counselling and this is certainly something that London Hypnotherapy UK can offer.

Many existing clients, but also some new ones, have asked about hypnosis, and whether this could be done on Skype or Zoom. As a member of the Ac and Ac Committee of BSCAH, I have thought very carefully about the implications of employing this technique by remote—on the phone, or on some form of video conferencing. After some deliberation, I’ve decided that, actually, it would not be ethical to do hypnosis by remote. The reasons for this are as follows. First, hypnosis is a dual procedure which really should be done in person: one of the most important aspects of hypnosis is the personal touch, and rapport is best established with a person, being present in the situation. Secondly, there is the problem of an abreaction. If someone gets upset, for instance, it might be difficult dealing with this by remote. 

However, I do have some solutions to this problem. One approach is to provide clients with an outline of how to do self hypnosis and to get them to practise it at home. Once they have learnt this approach, they can then act out the therapeutic technique—say, a metaphor of some kind—and work through some of the suggestions in a homework hypnosis task. Clients can then go away and practise the self hypnosis and provide the therapist with some feedback at the following consultation. Another technique is to act out hypnosis, in the consulting room, without any sort of induction: they can then practise this skill during the week. This is beneficial for clients because the therapist can provide feedback and give examples of helpful suggestions during the session.

If you’d like to book a telephone counselling or psychotherapy session with David Kraft please phone (0207) 467 8564 or email him at dmjkraftesq@yahoo.co.uk.

For an immediate appointment, please click HERE.

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