This tip comes from a common parental strategy that really works well: Give a child the illusion of choice when you want to produce a desirable behavior that the child often resists. “Would you rather take your bath before or after brushing your teeth?” Either way, you can appreciate that the child ends up bathing because the act of choosing presupposes commitment.
You might think that the same technique won’t work for adults, but it does when you are able to properly phrase it. The technique won’t work if the choice you offer seems unrealistic or unreasonable: “Would you rather quit smoking now or after you’re dead?” It will, however, work as well with adults as it does children when the options offered seem real and reasonable: “To help you be successful in becoming a former smoker, do you prefer to start with acupuncture or with hypnotherapy?” Whether the client chooses acupuncture or hypnotherapy, he or she has agreed to the main presupposition, to become a former smoker.
Clients or patients sometimes resist returning for a needed follow-up visit. Providing just one opportunity (Tuesday at 10 a.m.) encourages them to say “no.” Give the illusion of choice: “We want to make sure you are well on the road to recovery, so let’s get you back in here next week for a follow-up visit. Does Tuesday or Wednesday work better for you?”
As with the bathing and brushing example, it is easy to remember that sequence is a natural way to create illusion of choice. “Chelation and having those old fillings replaced will allow you to detoxify your body and get your health back. You can start with one or we can arrange to have them both scheduled right away.”
Notice what do your clients or patients resist doing and think about ways to encourage their cooperation by giving them the illusion of choice. You are the one with vital information, and you are able to empower your patients or clients using illusion of choice alone or along with other subtle communication skills.
Send your questions about how other-than-conscious communication skills can hurt or help your patients and clients to Joel P. Bowman (Joel@SCS-Matters.com) or Debra Basham (Debra@SCS-Matters.com), co-developers of Subtle Communication Systems. We will provide answers to those for you. For more information about Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, or about the Imagine Healing Process, visit:http://ImagineHealing.info or http://SurgicalSupport.info.
Healing with Language: Your Key to Effective Mind-Body Communication is available for a limited time for $10 plus $5 shipping within the U.S. For volume orders and overseas shipping, check with Debra. See the Table of Contents and List of Exercises in PDF format for more information about this comprehensive text and training manual.