I thought I'd share a few thoughts on this question. Feel free to add your own, below.

What this essay is after - like all Chrysalis questions - is evidence that you have fully absorbed and understood the module content.

You need to show that you have a full awareness of modalities and the part they play in inductions. Also, you'll need to discuss how you decide whether to adopt a permissive or authoritarian approach and why it matters.

As for why *not* to use personalised inductions, some of the reasons that seem relevant to me are: i) they can't really be used for group sessions (e.g. smoking / weight-loss), ii) you can't record and/or distribute them for others and iii) they take so much more time.

One danger with focussing on personalised inductions, is that they could almost imply that one's preferences and modalities. are fixed. This is not the case. You might meet me for an initial consultation, presume I am primarilly visual and inclined to prefer an authoritarian approach. However, the following weeks events could mean that next time we meet - after you've prepared your personalised induction - it is not at all appropriate or effective.

On top of all this, it is important to mention the idea of 'compounding'. So, to avoid some of the scenario above, why stick to just visual, when you could add auditory and kinaesthetic on top? And if you're gonna do that, why not do it all of the time?

In one sense, we use personalised inductions because people are individuals and deserve the personal touch. However, it it precisely because we recognise that people are individuals and dynamically unique, that we recognise that an initial consultation can't tell you everything you ever need to know about someone. A personalised induction can presume too much, as if you've now got the person tagged and know all about their modalities, etc.

It is a matter of respect to treat our clients as people, not merely hypnotic subjects. That requires talking with them and – more importantly – listening to them. This then provides us with more doorways into their subconscious, as we pay attention to the things that relax them, the way they process experiences and the style of behaviour that they will likely best react to.

Personalising inductions also includes taking into account a client's likes and dislikes, their work, hobbies they have and so on. It includes being aware of topics that are going to repel them, as well as patterns of speech and behaviour that will relax them. 


At the very least, this will prevent us from making the mistake of one therapist who included the image of floating off on a cloud with a client who was scared of heights!

Given the therapists own preferences and the unique relationship and connection that they will have with each client, it seems to me that each induction is inevitably personalised. It’s simply a question of whether it’s personalised well or not.

Any thoughts, criticisms or questions?