As Time Line Practitioners we also have to do our research, have all the right props, lay the ground work and set our clients up for success. Just as a comedian sets up there audience to create their humor, or like the magician sets up the audience to create their wonder, the Time Line Therapy ® Practitioner must set up the structure for the client, at the conscious and unconscious levels, to give the client the space for transformation. There are two steps that are often not given the time, energy or value that they deserve, which literally, when given, can assist your clients to create the transformation desired.
The first Step which many people skimp on, rush through or sometimes don’t even fo at all, is an in-depth information gathering with the client. Asking many questions gives you a wealth of knowledge allowing you to genuinely know your client.
Because practitioners listen differently at the context, process and structural level we can utilize this to set up achievable outcomes with a client. Really thorough information gathering does several things for you, it gives you the time to create the rapport and trust needed for success and it gives you a chance to loosen up their model of the world. It also gives you the opportunity to get an understanding of the real issues and to know hot to structure your language to get the best results.
Throughout the information gathering process having a really thorough understanding of the hierarchy of ideas and chunking up to the higher presenting problem not only deals with the specific issue presented, but also makes pervasive positive change in the client’s life. Every presenting problem that the client has is an example og a higher logical level issue. For example a client came to me with the presenting problems he was having in the workplace of being to competitive aggressive, and possessing a need to always be right. In utilizing the hierarchy of ideas and through questioning, the higher logical level issue was discovered to be one of major insecurity. In healing the insecurity we not only cleared up the problems at the workplace, we transformed his relationships in every area of his life.
Utilizing both the Meta model challenges and the Milton model language patterns to loosen, reframe and set the stage for the clients transformation is also very important. Sequencing and stacking your presupposition language is critical to success. While you are stretching the clients model of the world by reframing, you could also be working with body language and setting up anchors that can be used later to support therapeutic process in getting the desired result.
Why do many people want or feel pressured to skip the vital information- gathering step? I believe that practitioners are allowing the clients concerns about cost and time to determine the timing of when to start the Time Line Therapy ® process. Another reason this sometimes happens is that because the Time Line Therapy process is promoted as a quick and effective way of making change, come clients interpret this as instantaneous magic. When practitioners try to accommodate these concerns by being pressured into leaving out or skimping on the ‘set up’, they unknowingly do so at the client’s expense.
I have found that in my fourteen years of counseling and extensive Time Line Therapy ®, that taking the time right at the start to do a very thorough information gathering with the client, not only gets me better results, it actually saves time and money for the client in the long run. I address the issue of clients believing this should be instantaneous magic by informing them that to get their outcomes they need to allow themselves the time and investment that will get them the best results. When I make sure my clients understand that this is a “do with” process, vs, a “do to” process it also allows the client to take responsibility for their part.
It is up to you, the practitioner to take charge, to be confident in the techniques, and be clear with the client that the therapeutic processes that you employ are set up for their benefit. They are coming to you for your expertise and its your duty to give it to them. When your clients are happy with their transformation and have met or exceeded the results they desired, then you get the referrals, which in turn grows your business. So taking charge right at the beginning of your relationship with your client and letting them know that thorough information gathering is a critical part of the process is a must! It actually assists you in helping them to get the results they desire in the most effective way.
The next step is to thoroughly explain all of the components of Time Line Therapy ®, the process, emotions, how negative emotions affect the physical body when they are suppressed or stored. The unconscious mind and how it functions, the prime directive of the unconscious mine and anything else that needs to be addressed. This will prepare your clients to create the success they desire. The explanation of all these components must be complete before any actual Time Line Therapy ® takes place. If you do this ‘set up’ well, all of your clients concerns, objections and fears will have been addressed as part of the ‘set up’ process, and they wont come up again. Some people try to rush the explanation, or skip it, and I cant emphasize enough how this is critical and crucial for success!
So if you want to increase success long term for both your client and your business, do these first two critical steps, the in depth information gathering and the “set up” of the Time Line Therapy ® process. When you do these with them and do them well you can watch your results skyrocket.
