The Meta model is a way of retrieving specific information. In a therapeutic intervention, it helps to refocus an individual into a state, where they can move forward and achieve a desired outcome.
People tend to do three things:
Deletion: Leave out relevant information. (Forgetting the good and only focusing on the bad)
Generalisation: Make broad claims.(Everybody says I’m fat)
Distortion: Misrepresentation of the facts.(No phone call. “I knew he hated me”)
Questions to ask:
What do you want? What will that do for you? How will you know when you have it? Who with, when and where? What effect will it have on you? What’s stopping you? What resources do you have to get it? What resource do you need? How are you going to achieve this?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello,
I recently had a client who was totally resistant to meta-model questioning. It was our first session and he was kind of on the back foot from the beginning with suppressed depression, insomnia and massive negative internal chatter being the main presenting symptoms. So I thought that I would try and loosen up his model of the world with some meta-model questions, but it didn’t work. Now maybe I just didn’t do it right, or say it right, and to be honest I haven’t really used this approach much. However his responses totally threw me as they were utterly ridiculous.
For example he would say that “everyone is out to get him”. So naturally I would respond with “really, everyone?”, “are you sure it’s everyone?” To which he would reply “yes!”. Hmmm… really? I don’t think so. This poor guy was so stuck in negativity that even when I asked if I was ‘out to get him’ he couldn’t respond as I’m sure he didn’t want to offend me.
So I’m wondering if for some people who are so incredibly stuck in negative thinking and have been doing it for what seems like their entire lives (the usual story of poor parenting scarring the child) that there’s no way to reach them with logic straight up and that a different approach must be employed. In the end I ran through a relaxation hypnosis to help his mind slow down so he could sleep better at night. Not sure of the outcome yet.
It’s really sad seeing someone who is obviously depressed claim that they are not depressed because being emotionless and devoid of joy is totally normal for them. It’s like they have never really been happy and can’t remember what it was like, maybe it was never there? I could sense that he had built a wall 10 feet thick and a mile high all around him and was so cut off from his emotions that he really just didn’t feel anything. So sad. Thank goodness for hypnosis as bypassing his critical mind was the only way to reach him, so far.
Any suggestions?
Hi Peter
Meta questions such as saying “who specifically” would have nailed down the generality even more.
I tend to use a lot of symbolism and Nlp combined to change beliefs both in and out of deep trance.
In hypnosis Intent and rapport is very important, as is knowing your framework and desired outcome for your client. However having said that I’m a believer of being fluid and going with what is presented to you, but have that back up if you need it. If something works for you then don’t break it.
If you don’t know what you are doing then positive suggestion to relax should do no harm. I don’t even do hypnosis without a thorough assessment. Having said that their conscious take on their issue is rarely the case. Believe in what you do from a personal and professional level. Its about your clients needs first and foremost. Never give them cause to doubt you. If unsure politely refer them.
Dealing with complex issues without the required training is not a good idea as I’m sure you realise. Sadly being a Dr is no prerequisite to a safe and effective hypnotic technique either. Hypnosis is safe. It’s how it is used that tends to cause problems.
Being an Omni graduate I was taught to regress to the ISE and then reframe through the time line with various techniques. I tend to leave this approach for the stubborn cases.
I personally access where they are at at the start of the session on a scale of one to ten and test each technique that i use at different intervals to see if their issue is reducing. This helps me to monitor my progress instead of guessing or using other cues. Seeing the score going down also reinforces the client belief in change rapidly.
In closing always be positive and make your client feel good at the conclusion of each session.
I recently posted a few comments on your site and they were removed. What’s up with that my friend? If you don’t want people to post then why have the feature there at all? Just a thought. Have a great day.
Sorry Peter
I had hundreds of spam posts and accidentally deleted it I guess.