Weaning patients off therapy

The therapy has a snowball effect.

It is often said that when patients enter treatment most of the therapeutic work is done between sessions. This is because of a snowball effect that occurs when a therapist is involved in the life of a patient. A Hypnotherapist will intervene in such a way as to cause a chain reaction. This chain reaction is therapeutic because it allows some cause-and-effect mechanisms occur in a person’s life between sessions of therapy and even after treatment has been completed.

The role of the therapist is not only as a problem solver, the therapist should look upon themselves, as well as a teacher. The patient must learn not only to solve their problems in the here and now, but how to avoid future problems. More importantly, the patient must learn to achieve long-term objectives. There comes a time in every patient’s experience when they have to give up treatment. This is not to suggest that therapy should be a long-term experience. A patient may only be in therapy for one, two, three or four sessions. Although treatment is usually short term a snowball effect remains even after he completed therapy.

It is not uncommon to find dramatic changes happening much later in the life of a patient following the intervention of the therapist during the phase of life problem. Sometimes these changes can be perceived as the result of a direct intervention of the therapist, at other times, there seems to be no direct cause and effect relationship, but in retrospect as the therapist or the patient looks back over the life of the patient can be seen when certain events or situations that may not have occurred had it not been for the intervention of the therapist.

Sometimes patients may need to be “weaned” off of therapy.
The last thing you want is for patients to become dependent on us. Ideally patients should feel responsible for their own edits, while acknowledging the participation of the therapist as part of the process, but no more. When the therapist believes that the treatment is almost over him should begin the process of weaning patients off therapy. This is usually done in two steps:

1. Re-framing relationship therapist/patient.
2. Clearly define long-term goals for the patient.

Phase 1. The patient/therapist relationship should be framed.

It is common for the patient to consider that the therapist is an at least partially responsible for therapeutic changes occurring in the patient. A friendship sort often develops for the duration of therapy and while this is useful for building rapport should not become so strong that the patient feels reluctant to finish the treatment. It would be wrong for a patient to stay in treatment simply because he or she is afraid of losing a friend. So the therapist has to re-frame special positions of the therapist and patient. Ideally the patient needs to feel confident that the therapist is still going to be available as support, even if the patient does not need therapy. The patient should feel responsible for their recovery, while acknowledging the help of therapist. Knowing that the therapist is available, the patient may feel more independent and able to leave the therapeutic relationship.

Phase 2. Patients should clearly define the long-term results.

As part of this process of weaning is important for the therapist to make sure the patient knows where it will go in the future. Clearly defined long-term results are very useful. They are important not only in order that the patient continuously move forward in a positive direction, but also for the patient to feel that having a “map of their future”. Having this map gives the patient the confidence to finish the treatment.

The decision about when to end therapy the therapist’s skills may be in knowing that the patient is independent enough to be able to move forward on their own. Usually this decision will be made after you have experienced significant changes in the patient’s life. These changes are sometimes directly related to the problem that was presented when the treatment started or related to subsequent changes that occurred as a result of therapeutic interaction.

The therapist should already identified the patient’s needs, beliefs, values and criteria and intertwined with the future long-term goals of the patient. Integrating the meeting these requirements with the therapeutic goals of therapy, the therapist will motivate the patient to feel more independent and positive