Disclosure and Consent Form

'Using the case study provided at the end of the module identify and explain the client's issues and devise a course of treatment for him, taking into account any ethical issues'

In analysing Mr. X's case study there is an apparent lack of confidence in embracing new challenges and a desire to uphold others' perceptions of him and maintain the status quo. In approaching the concepts of confidence and self esteem it evident that they are commonly used interchangeably however, though related, they are two quite different human characteristics. These behaviours can run neatly alongside each other as in, for example, someone with high self esteem demonstrating high confidence. This however, is definitely not always the case. It is therefore paramount distinguish the likely cause behind Mr X's reluctance to apply for a managerial position, which he is evidently capable of confidently administering, as well as a discomfort of socialising with colleagues and an unwillingness to formalise his personal relationship in marriage.

"Self-esteem is one of the fundamental influences on nearly everything you do. When your self esteem is low, almost all areas in your life - working, socializing, loving - are made more difficult" (Hadley and Staudacher: 2001)

Self-esteem is a person's overall appraisal of his or her self-worth. It is considered a personality trait, which develops in childhood, and affects a person's behaviors, social interactions, and overall well-being. Persons with low self-esteem consequently lack confidence in their social relationships, often feeling like a failure. They may not assert themselves, and may exhibit dependent behaviors. They may also lose their temper easily, and blame others for their problems.

As such, I believe the foundations of Mr. X's therapeutic approach should be around the strengthening of his self esteem. In essence, self esteem is about how people rate, appraise and measure themselves in comparison to others (e.g. do they believe they are equally as successful, attractive, lovable, intelligent or worthy as the next person?) How people rate themselves, both consciously and subconsciously, can impact the way they feel about themselves and ultimately their confidence. Feelings of inferiority to others can compound feelings of inferiority to others which in turn can precipitate into, the presented, behaviours that include: an eagerness to please, subjugation to the demands of others, indecision, stasis and depression.

In exploring a client's social, emotional and medical history, completion of a 'Disclosure and Consent Form' provides the opportunity to ethically assess Mr. X suitability for treatment whilst preparing the ground for a personalised and tailored approach. At this point it is vital to also discover Mr. X's motivation for seeking help (is it his friends', girlfriend's, colleague's etc.) in order to confirm he is committed to the processes. I would conduct Mr. X's treatment across four therapeutic sessions using flexible, compounded hypnotic scripts that reflect his presented visual modality. The preliminary session is an information gathering exercise, followed by a gentle hypnotic induction and suggestions that promote calm, relaxation and confidence. Prior to the hypnotic induction in the three subsequent sessions, I would undertake a brief assessment of Mr. X's current state of mind and any problems that have arisen or resurged between sessions.

The therapy presented to Mr. X reflect his initial case study but would be created through interaction with the client and through information provided on his 'Disclosure and Consent Form'. Though initially we would begin with generic 'relaxation' scripts, we would progressively move to materials that reflect the client's modalities and the primary and secondary issues that are presented. The following list distils issues evident in Mr. X case study and provides a basis on which to construct therapeutic materials and positive suggestions.

1. Critical Parenting / Biological/Tribal Impulses

* Taking responsibility, addressing maturity and becoming aware of his strengths

* Fully accepting the value of his role as an individual in his work community

* Becoming fully conscious of his life path outside that of son / carer

* The necessity to evolve beyond his mother's needs: he cannot successful function through biological impulses/family ties

2. Fears of: Success / New Relationships / Failure

* The fear to move on

* The fear to look at difficulties as a means to develop and mature

* The fear to challenge the status quo and approach it as a learning experience

* To welcome new relationships/new job opportunities as self development

* To address the illusion that a change in his relationship with his mother and his girlfriend will be destructive

3. Low Self-Esteem

* In attempting to keep his life contained, linear and non-expansive Mr. X demonstrates a controlling nature

* There could be a secondary nature of resentment present: resentment of his mother and his work colleagues. He could feel this disempowerment is the fault of others

* Ego/Personality/How does Mr