Through the simple act of listening attentively to another person talk about their concerns, it is possible to select a mix of helpful essences. However, for consistent results some points are worth remembering.
The Interview
Prior to the meeting, sit quietly, forget about personal commitments and ensure that you feel calm and centered. Consider doing a protection exercise and spraying some essences around the room.
Welcome the client with a drink and chat gently, to put them at their ease. If they do not know much about flower essence therapy, open the session with a simple explanation. Ask what it is they require help with and notice their tone of voice, as they speak. Match your personal body language to the client's in an unobtrusive way, and quietly follow them should they move. This technique, called mirroring, is designed to make the client feel more at ease. It is also an opportunity to experience how it feels to sit like them - are they tense, self-protective, aggressive or relaxed? Empathize with the client's story and imagine how they are feeling, allowing your intuition free rein. What is it communicating? Develop a caring understanding atmosphere and mention the strengthening, supportive characteristics of the essence at different times during the interview. Many clients may not be ready to change. Dr Bach said there must be a change in outlook for healing to happen, so be careful not to make unrealistic clams. Encourage them to seek out other help if necessary.
Essences are chosen for how people feel about their difficulties and no attention is paid to their physical complaints in this system of healing. The resultant uplifting of the client's mental state may indirectly improve health, but the client should be encouraged to seek further expert help if appropriate. Note the predominant state of mind. Listen for keywords and pay attention if the client refers to them more than once. It may be easy to pick them out, or more information may be required. If so, ask questions about how they react to their life experience in varying situations. “How are you when you are tired? In a crisis? At parties? At work? When you are ill? In new situations?” Ask about past traumatic event too.
Choosing the Essences
To clarify if a certain essence is correct ask further questions using its complete symptom picture as a guide. “You seem to be the type of person hat puts a brave face on things. Do you say you are fine when you are not? Are you the heart and soul of the party? Perhaps you enjoy a drink or two? Do you find it hard to talk about your feelings? Do you ever wake up in the night and feel restless?” These are the kinds of questions you might ask if you sensed you were talking to an Agrimony type.
During the interview explore what kind of personality the client has, hopefully picking out their type essence. This will serve to support their individuality, which Dr Bach considered essential, and help them find greater overall strength and balance. It is not necessary for the client to present the full symptom picture in order for them to require an essence. Two or three strong indications are sufficient to suggest it as a possible choice.
Pick out the essences that would be helpful and share this with the client, checking whether they agree. Make the final choice together, this will help the client feel more responsible for, and involved in, their treatment. Throughout this process make sure that you focus on the positive aspects of the essence, if they appear too negative, the client may feel they are being judged. Encourage the client to use affirmations and stress the importance of developing a positive and forward-looking frame of mind, at all times. Label the bottle and give very detailed dosage instructions, not forgetting to remind the client that everything that has been said is confidential. Clients like to be reassured that they can phone if they have more questions. Consider giving them specific times to call as this will set essential boundaries.
