Tech-Savvy Therapy: How Therapists are Embracing Digital Tools

Like it or love it, tech seems to be here to stay. And in a world where tech is everywhere, therapists are finding creative ways to use it in their practices. We chatted with a few pros to see how they're making the most of tech - from virtual sessions to handy apps - and how it's changing the game for both them and their clients.

 

The Interviewees 

Ashley Campo of  ashleycampo.com Mexico, Colorado, Utah,	Steve Lovatt of  Your Time Wellness, Bedale, UK	Larisa Lipianu of   larisalipianu.com   worldwide online

[HT&P Mag] What digital tools, platforms or technologies have you integrated into your hypnotherapy practice and what do they do?

[Ashley] I have recently incorporated Virtual Reality into my hypnosis practice. I have partnered with a mindfulness app, FLOAT VR, and use their app as a way to have clients see a hypnotic image as they listen to my voice guiding them through hypnosis.

[Steve] I use Mailchimp for mailings, JotForm for client intake forms and also for client appointment records, Zapier for automation of tasks from the website and inbound enquires, Diib for Search engine optimisation, Vimeo for hosting client recordings, both audio and video, SoundCloud for audio-only recordings and Turboscribe to transcribe audio recording of client meetings etc.

[Larisa] I have integrated a calendar scheduling tool Calendly and Cal.com to book my calls and appointments with clients. It allows clients to book a session directly and see my availability. Cal.com also has a video conference option which is free - so it saves me paying for Zoom when I do online sessions.
I use Mailerlite to send automated emails to clients when I want to promote a course.
I use Wise Multicurrency account to receive payments internationally and work with multiple countries. It’s been easy to use and integrate into my systems.
I also use Google Drive regularly to upload my clients' recordings and email them to them.
I also use social media to attend networking groups and collaborate with other industry experts. It has helped me to find new clients.
I use AI tools such as ChatGPT to help me generate ideas for blog posts, and write an outline. Other AI tools have been great, I used them to generate images or backgrounds for my photos when my originals were too dark.

 

[HT&P Mag] Which has made the biggest impact on your work and how?

[Ashley] Incorporating Virtual Reality has had a huge impact on my work - first, it has opened me up to a whole new world of potential customers which has been wonderful. It has also created something new and interesting for me to be navigating, which keeps me interested and engaged and it also creates something new and interesting for my clients which also keeps them interested and engaged. And we know that that novelty creates dopamine for both of us which helps lock in the change clients are coming to me for which is really great.

[Steve] The biggest impact has been JotForm. the ability to have online forms via a simple link in an email has reduced the physical paperwork immensely. In addition, I have just started using JotForm to capture client notes during appointments, so I have a master client form, which is effectively the intake and health form, a record of their intake interview and separate forms for each client appointment.
Via the integration of Zapier, I will have the ability to send reminder texts, although this has not been implemented yet.
Integration with the Apple calendar is the next task, although I am not yet sure what tool I will use for this. I find the contextual/dynamic aspect of the forms where the question choices change based on client input, particularly useful and can reduce the length of the form improving client acceptance as they are not being asked to complete irrelevant questions of very long forms.

[Larisa] I think Zoom makes the biggest impact for me as I can have video calls with clients from all over the world. It gives me variety and flexibility and my income is not dependent on one location. The calendar scheduling system is also great because I work internationally and it saves me the hassle of calculating the time zones. I integrated it with my website and my clients can easily book a session without having to message me.

 

 [HT&P Mag] What is your best and worst experience with technology?

[Ashley] Overall, I’ve had great experiences integrating Virtual Reality into my practice. At times, of course, there are technical difficulties but, in those moments, I just revert to my training and go with the flow. I guide my client to just close their eyes, and we finish the session “the old-fashioned way”. Those moments are few and far between, whereas those moments where clients can really access their unconscious mind on deep levels, quickly, easily and comfortably are much more common. I love to hear back from clients a few days later on how our sessions have had such lasting effects for them and how they are incorporating my Virtual Reality “homework” into their daily lives to continue this work on their own.

[Steve] The best experience is when it all works and integrates seamlessly. This can be quite a struggle and involves a considerable amount of my time. When this happens large elements of the administrative overhead of my practice become automatic and occur in the background. The worst experience is the fact that there is not one single solution that fills all the requirements and getting them to all work together can be extremely arduous. Plenty of time needs to be left for testing and numerous interactions with the relevant technical support teams may be needed. I found the user forums very helpful, although you need to be able to communicate the technical aspects of what you are trying to achieve quite fluently, which can be difficult if you are not familiar with the terms used or technology in general.

[Larisa] I work online and the worst experiences are when the internet isn’t working, and I lose a call with a client in the middle of the conversation or during a hypnosis session. I had to reschedule the session if the internet was terrible, and I do think it ruined the flow of the session. I also experienced glitches when the clients aren’t used to joining Zoom, and it can be a delay at the start.

 

[HT&P Mag] How have clients responded to your use of tech? Have you had to make any allowances for clients who dislike, mistrust or have trouble with it?

[Ashley] I only use Virtual Reality with clients who request it. If a client is not interested in it, then we have our session without it. It is very important to me that the client always feels comfortable and in control. VR is a great tool but not necessary to have great success with hypnosis.

[Steve] Generally, the response has been very positive, although for clients who may be technically challenged I find I still need to have conventional alternatives. This is particularly the case with my older clients.

[Larisa] Usually, the clients I have worked with have been very open-minded and used to technology. Ever since the pandemic, most clients have become used to online sessions. I did have clients who preferred meeting face-to-face, but this happened rarely.

 

[HT&P Mag] Virtual sessions have become a lot more popular in recent years. Do you conduct hypnotherapy sessions online? If so, what has been the biggest benefit and the biggest difficulty it has caused?

[Ashley] My practice is 100% virtual and that has been wonderful for my clients and for myself! It allows my clients to have their session in an environment that they are comfortable in and, this way, they can relax and spend some time integrating our session prior to getting on with their day. I encourage my clients to take some time after our work to journal, drink some water or tea, and sort of slowly “reintegrate” into their day-to-day lives. That is soooo much better for them than having to immediately jump back into things by hopping in their car to drive away. It’s a much more gentle integration. There are, occasional times when internet connection can be a problem, or technical difficulties get in the way but that’s really few and far between. Because of that unpredictability, I try to be fairly reasonable and flexible when someone needs to reschedule, and my clients really appreciate that.

[Steve] Yes, I do conduct virtual sessions using a combination of either Zoom or doxy.me. I find Zoom to be the higher quality solution, although I think a second solution is important as I have experienced times when Zoom seems unreliable. The biggest benefit is the geographic spread of clients. I now have clients as far away as Australia and the US. The biggest challenge is the variability of the client's internet connection.

[Larisa] Yes, the biggest benefit is that it saves time for the client and me. Clients who work from home can join the session straight after work and they look forward to the hypnosis session to wind down and destress. Another benefit is that they are at home in the comfort of their bed so they can be dressed casually in clothes that make them comfortable.  Clients feel more relaxed and safe to talk to me when they are in a familiar place that they’ve known. The difficulty has been that sessions require a reliable internet connection and for the clients to be in a place where they won’t be disturbed. I’ve had sessions when the clients went in the car to join the call because a family member decided to visit, and I had experiences where people entered the bedroom and disturbed the session. This has been difficult as it interrupted the flow.

[HT&P Mag] Have you explored the use of virtual reality (VR) in your hypnotherapy practice? If so, how do you use it, and how well has that worked? If not, is it something you’d consider in the future and why/why not?

[Ashley] Why yes, I have! 😊  I have been using it during my one-on-one sessions with clients and I have also begun offering them “homework” within VR so that they can continue this work even when I’m not there with them. So far the response has been really wonderful and I’m excited to continue incorporating Virtual Reality into my practice.

[Steve] I have considered VR, as I think it may well be one of the developments that clients expect to evolve. The main issue that most people think makes this less attractive is the price of the hardware. After some investigation, I found that although high, the hardware cost is unlikely to be a limiting factor. The cost of producing the content is likely to be the factor which makes this technology prohibitive for most hypnotherapists. Production costs of VR content range from a minimum of £1000 to tens of thousands or even more, even for a short 3–4-minute segment. When it is considered that much of our work is customised or individual, I think this will limit the growth of VR. More generic content such as walks, beach scenes etc may also be unsuitable as they impose a particular experience on the user, which may not meet their preferences/modalities. Many companies can be found on the internet promoting VR-based hypnotic solutions, but isn’t this really diluting the ability of the individual to imagine, with the power of their mind, rather than an imposed “Disney-like” experience? I am sure this may be a controversial standpoint, but feel it is now open for debate.

[Larisa] I have not explored that, and I don’t see the benefits of it yet. I think the clients who struggle to imagine may benefit from VR, but I am not familiar with it yet or how to set it up.

 

 [HT&P Mag] Technology and automation can be seen as impersonal. How do you balance this with the need to maintain a human connection with your clients?

[Ashley] I think that using technology and automation can be a wonderful tool to help you make a larger impact on the world. At the end of the day, I’m just one person running my small practice and so I try to use automation in places that doesn’t take away from that personal connection with clients while then doubling down on the personal connection when it matters most. Scheduling, appointment reminders, etc - I automate all of those to help take those little tasks off my plate so I’m better able to focus on my clients when I’m working with them, when I’m replying to their emails, when I’m preparing for their sessions, etc. And I think they can feel that human connection and realness in those moments to the small, automated things don’t matter.

[Steve] I think a personal service is extremely important and strive to provide this direct interaction with my clients. I dislike the automated approach, typical when you call a telephone helpline and have to select 1 for X and 2 for Y. Generally, the use of technology is transparent to my clients. I always ensure that more traditional forms and communication styles are available to all my clients. This can particularly be a requirement for my older clients.

[Larisa] I am very mindful when I send automated emails, and I am clear about the reason why I am sending them. When it comes to the session itself, I aim to be fully present with the client during the call and I believe that makes a difference. Technology has been useful for me to create personalised recordings for the client which they can use outside of the session.

 

[HT&P Mag] Have you encountered any ethical or privacy concerns related to technology in your practice? How do you address these to ensure client confidentiality and trust?

[Ashley] What a great question. It is true, as you incorporate more and more tech into your practice, you do have the potential to have privacy concerns come up. When I first began offering Visual Reality services, once the client granted me access to their device, there was no way to “disconnect” my control from their unit. As soon as we realized this (after my first VR session), I worked with the app maker to add controls so that the client had to approve my control of their device with each session, and we could also “disconnect” their device from my control panel. I think that being aware and cognizant of these types of things makes a huge difference. As we incorporate technology into our practice, things are going to be new, and the biggest thing is to stay aware of potential issues so that we can address them right away.

[Steve] Data storage and security are a key consideration for me when selecting solutions. I always ensure that solutions are at least GDPR compliant, as a bare minimum and that UK-based data centres are used wherever possible, to ensure compliance with present and future legal requirements. If this is not possible the minimum is European data centres. I always ensure all data is protected with strong passwords and change passwords every three months. With regards to the ethical elements, I continuously evaluate the solution I adopt against any changes to the ethical policies of the various professional bodies and as a sense check always ask the question of whether I would feel happy and safe if I were a client of mine.

[Larisa] I am very mindful of the software I use when we have client sessions, and I always check the security settings. If a client messages me on Facebook or WhatsApp, I always encourage them to discuss it directly in the call so that their information will not be shared inappropriately. Outside the session, I think it’s important to protect customer data and ensure that any clients' notes are stored offline or password-protected and coded, to minimise risk.

 

[HT&P Mag] Do you think that, overall, the impact of technology on hypnotherapy practice has been positive?

[Ashley] Absolutely. I think that the impact of technology on my hypnosis practice has been overwhelmingly positive. From being able to offer my services to clients all over the world via the magic of Zoom, to incorporating Virtual Reality, to my ability to take online training from the best teachers out there… I would 1,000% say that technology has been a positive thing in the world of hypnosis.

[Steve] Yes, although it needs to be adopted carefully and professionally.

[Larisa] I think technology has been very positive, it allows people to have more options in finding the right therapist and it gives accessibility to people who are struggling. I have worked with clients battling chronic pain, who were stuck in bed and would not have been able to see me if I couldn’t meet online.  It makes the process easier, and clients can see me without having to drive through the traffic hours, or rainy weather to wait outside my office. I can also support clients worldwide and clients contact me from Dubai, New York, and India to receive support. Technology made this possible.

 

[HT&P Mag] What role do you see technology playing in the future of hypnotherapy? Are there any emerging tools or trends that you're particularly excited about? Or anything you would like to see developed that’s not yet available?

[Ashley] I think we are just beginning to dip our toes into what we might be able to do with Virtual Reality and I’m incredibly excited to see what we’ll come up with in the future.

[Steve] I think the role of technology will be key to my future practice, it will allow me to further streamline the administrative elements of my business and enhance the client experience, leading to more positive outcomes.

[Larisa] I think it will allow more people to find support and it will spread awareness about the benefits of hypnotherapy and how it can help people.

So there you have it. Has this changed any of your ideas? Are you more likely to try integrating forms of tech into your practice? Or or there things you already use not mentioned here? 

Please let us know in the comments. 

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 Images: pixabay

Author: Debbie Waller is an experienced hypnotherapist and hypnotherapy trainer. She is the author of Anxiety to Calm: a Practical Guide to a Laid-Back Life, The Hypnotherapist's Companion, Their Worlds, Your Words, and The Metaphor Toolbox, all available from Amazon or direct from the author. Find out more about Debbie's services on
Yorkshire Hypnotherapy Training - multi-accredited hypnotherapy practitioner training, taster days and foundation levels.
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