I’m regularly asked if I think a person should schedule an hour-long consultation or if thirty minutes will be sufficient. I can cover most issues in thirty minutes. This is particularly true if you don’t mind me cutting right to the crux of the matter, which is generally apparent.
I run with the 80/20 rule here. There’s generally a small percentage of a person’s chart, causing the majority of problems in a particular time frame. It could be you T-square dogging you, or it may be a transit or a combination of transits. If time or money is a factor, I can diagnose a problem and off solutions in thirty minutes; taping the conversation so if you missed something, you go back to it.
Consider, I consult daily and I’ve done so for decades. I know I am talking into a recorder. I know I need to convey everything pertinent so you can reference it after the fact. I see this option to be efficient and exact.
When someone schedules an hour, it’s much different feel on my end. I settle in and get comfortable. Thirty minutes is a sprint; sixty minutes is a run. It’s a deeper workout. I advise people to choose an hour if they do not like to be rushed or if you just know you need the time. It could be because you want to look at a lot of charts; a family situation? Or you may just have a lot to convey.
For the record, my longest consultation of all time lasted 6.5 hours. I have that kind of stamina. Occasionally, someone schedules two-hours, which is also fine. Generally, people who do this are looking to FINISH something in their life. They want to wrap it up. Now and then, people use a session like this as a 5th step.
On that note, I am not a 12-stepper but I did complete the first five steps in a PTSD group, in my 20’s. My fifth step took about ten hours. That poor gal who had to listen to me. I basically puked up, Texas, but I can’t tell you the good that did me.
That’s really interesting hearing your process.
Thanks! I think it’s interesting the idea of a shorter consultation came out of this. I’ve done no-wait short consults before, but it’s not uncommon I crack a person’s problem in five minutes. It just happens.
Usually, we just cover other things but often enough, people tell me to keep the money – they got what they wanted. This is typical for people who are really busy. Other people, I just invite them to save the time to used later. The idea is to help people and if I manage this, it’s a win.
Our culture freaks people out, all day, every day. Next thing you know, you’re a crippled dear in headlights. But a person can often be battling a hologram. The real problem is like a thorn in you foot. If someone can remove it – that’s it. You’re good to go. But it has to be real, of course. I think this is one of the skills I’ve really honed over the years.