Hypnosis Training Podcast by Cal Banyan #39: Why Every Hypnotist Should Learn About UltraDepth® and the Sichort State®: An Interview by Cal Banyan with James Ramey
I attempted to make an appointment at your offices.
What a strange experience. First the explanation of what a session was stated a price of $375 since the first session was 2 sessions. Ok, fair enough. Then when I asked to schedule a session, and spent 5 minutes identifying a date, suddenly it was $750 for the first appointment, but as an alternative I could see the other therapist who was only $165 per session, but his were an hour and a half for one session.
"OK," I agreed, "then lets schedule one, would he be available in the next two weeks instead of September like Cal Banyan?"
"Well we shouldn't sell just one, it is a process." This after 10 minutes on the phone attempting to schedule me for one session (or two the same day) sessions with Cal Banyan.
"Can't I just try one session and then decide," I stupidly asked.
"That is not what Hypnosis is," was the emboldened reply.
"OK, I guess I will find an alternative, thanks," and I hung up.
You have spent a lot of time developing a reputation and web presence. I just wanted to make an appointment. You were close, seemed to have credibility and expertise, and that seemed like a reasonable objective to me.
They answered the phone in an upbeat and positive manner, and I am sure they meant well. I would question the process or training that went into my "customer" experience.
I normally would not write, but I was really looking forward to learning more and becoming a client. I just retired from building a business and I know how difficult it is to understand what the perception of my business was as I was busy managing it on a day to day basis.
I wish you continued success and am sorry no relationship developed.
Thanks for your comment. That is a strange experience, must agree.
Hopefully I can give you some information that will help to clear things up. Amanda is relatively new working as a receptionist at our center so it is quite possible that she was not perfectly clear.
I’m sorry about the confusion you experience when you called our office. Because I am so busy I am only taking on clients who can see me for double sessions. My single session fee is $375, and a double session is $750. Generally, I see a client for about 5 to 6 sessions for most the issues that I work with, so typically those who see me book 3 double sessions. If all of those sessions are not needed then the client does not pay for it.
Yes, you pay less if you see one of the other hypnotherapists at our office.
When someone comes into our office, depending on the issue, he or she will watch one or two videos before his or her session with the hypnotherapist. That adds 30-60 minutes to the time of the first session, but does not take away any of the time that you are scheduled with whichever hypnotherapist you see.
A single session takes from 60 minutes to 75 minutes. So a double session can range from 120 minutes 150 minutes.
We have learned that it is best if we don’t schedule single sessions with clients “to see how it goes.†We have come to believe that when we do this clients are not as invested in the process and it does not work out as well for them, and it makes scheduling future session difficult because by the time he or she comes in for his or her fist session she may not be able to get in for another two to three weeks.
Remember that one does not need to pay for 6 sessions at once when scheduling appointments, only for the upcoming single or double session.
If that arrangement does not work for you, then we are comfortable with you scheduling with someone else. Of course we would like to have been able to serve you, and I want to personally tell you that I am sorry to hear that you experienced some confusion on the telephone.
Thanks for writing and letting me know how your customer experience was. Certainly, there is always room for improvement.
Frank says
I attempted to make an appointment at your offices.
What a strange experience. First the explanation of what a session was stated a price of $375 since the first session was 2 sessions. Ok, fair enough. Then when I asked to schedule a session, and spent 5 minutes identifying a date, suddenly it was $750 for the first appointment, but as an alternative I could see the other therapist who was only $165 per session, but his were an hour and a half for one session.
"OK," I agreed, "then lets schedule one, would he be available in the next two weeks instead of September like Cal Banyan?"
"Well we shouldn't sell just one, it is a process." This after 10 minutes on the phone attempting to schedule me for one session (or two the same day) sessions with Cal Banyan.
"Can't I just try one session and then decide," I stupidly asked.
"That is not what Hypnosis is," was the emboldened reply.
"OK, I guess I will find an alternative, thanks," and I hung up.
You have spent a lot of time developing a reputation and web presence. I just wanted to make an appointment. You were close, seemed to have credibility and expertise, and that seemed like a reasonable objective to me.
They answered the phone in an upbeat and positive manner, and I am sure they meant well. I would question the process or training that went into my "customer" experience.
I normally would not write, but I was really looking forward to learning more and becoming a client. I just retired from building a business and I know how difficult it is to understand what the perception of my business was as I was busy managing it on a day to day basis.
I wish you continued success and am sorry no relationship developed.
Cal Banyan, MA, BCH, CI, FNGH says
Hello Frank,
Thanks for your comment. That is a strange experience, must agree.
Hopefully I can give you some information that will help to clear things up. Amanda is relatively new working as a receptionist at our center so it is quite possible that she was not perfectly clear.
I’m sorry about the confusion you experience when you called our office. Because I am so busy I am only taking on clients who can see me for double sessions. My single session fee is $375, and a double session is $750. Generally, I see a client for about 5 to 6 sessions for most the issues that I work with, so typically those who see me book 3 double sessions. If all of those sessions are not needed then the client does not pay for it.
Yes, you pay less if you see one of the other hypnotherapists at our office.
When someone comes into our office, depending on the issue, he or she will watch one or two videos before his or her session with the hypnotherapist. That adds 30-60 minutes to the time of the first session, but does not take away any of the time that you are scheduled with whichever hypnotherapist you see.
A single session takes from 60 minutes to 75 minutes. So a double session can range from 120 minutes 150 minutes.
We have learned that it is best if we don’t schedule single sessions with clients “to see how it goes.†We have come to believe that when we do this clients are not as invested in the process and it does not work out as well for them, and it makes scheduling future session difficult because by the time he or she comes in for his or her fist session she may not be able to get in for another two to three weeks.
Remember that one does not need to pay for 6 sessions at once when scheduling appointments, only for the upcoming single or double session.
If that arrangement does not work for you, then we are comfortable with you scheduling with someone else. Of course we would like to have been able to serve you, and I want to personally tell you that I am sorry to hear that you experienced some confusion on the telephone.
Thanks for writing and letting me know how your customer experience was. Certainly, there is always room for improvement.
Cal Banyan