ADVANCED: REFLECTIONS ON LEARNINGS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN EXAMPLE

REFLECTION ON COURSE LEARNING

Reflection on course learning - this section is specifically mapped onto learning outcome 6.2. It requires the student to document how they feel their learning has developed over the duration of the course and how else you can improve your practice.

Reflection 1: What did you learn from the activity/experience/discussion? Something about yourself or others and/or new knowledge or skills? These reflections may well feed into your thoughts and comments on progress in your PDP, and help you to identify new priorities or learning opportunities.

Reflection 2: How will you use this learning to develop your practice as a hypnotherapist or as a reflective practitioner?

Reflection 3: How did you use this learning and what difference has it made to: Your awareness? Your perspective? Your practice? Your clients?

Reflection 4: What further learning needs do you have, or what actions do you need to take to further develop?

Reflection 1	Reflection 2	Reflection 3	Reflection 4
What did you learn? Use this column for personal thoughts/ reminders	How will you use this learning?	How did you use this learning? What difference has it made?	What further learning
The power of metaphor	I will be more able to recognise times when metaphor may be useful	I used it with a client who wouldn’t admit to a particular difficulty, so rather than addressing it directly when she obviously wasn’t comfortable discussing it, I used metaphor instead.	I would like to do some further reading on the subject of metaphor in order to become more creative in my approach to its use.
Using techniques tactfully in order to influence the clients thinking.	I will be more confident in tackling situations where a client might feel under pressure if I were to directly approach something. By using methods such as creating a past imaginary client who was in a similar position to the client and did things in a different way, the client would not feel offended as It would seen that I was simply sharing an experience of another client, though the unconscious and maybe conscious thinking may be influenced positively through this.	Opening up clients thinking while ensuring their comfort.	I would like to use this more in practice in order to gain more experience in this area.
The safe use of hypnotherapy for clients with epilepsy. I have learned that in some cases hypnotherapy can be used safely and effectively for some types of non epileptic fits.	Before studying for the advanced diploma I was under the impression that in no circumstances was it safe to work with clients suffering from epilepsy or fits. However I have learned that not all fits are caused by true epilepsy and that hypnotherapy can actually be useful in treating these types of fit.	I now feel confident in working with clients presenting with these problems. Having experience of dealing with children suffering from fits in the past, I feel confident that I know how to safely handle a client experiencing a fit during a therapy session and having a refresher of this information during the course, i am now more open to working with clients experiencing these difficulties.	I would like to converse with my peers more on this subject, especially those with more knowledge and experience than myself in this area in order to help more people with these problems.
The meaning of the term ‘malingering’ and how to recognise and deal with this withing the therapeutic setting.	I had a basic knowledge of malingering but on the advanced course I gained a much deeper insight into its meaning and ways in which I can help the client to look at their condition differently in order to understand it and move forward.	I am now able to more effectively recognise and manage a situation where a client is malingering. I have learned how to be tactful as to maintain rapport whilst doing this as this can be a sensitive area in which the client can easily be offended and the therapeutic relationship may be detrimentally affected.	Further experience will give me an even deeper understanding in this area, as will discussion and support from peers.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)

Personal Development Plan (PDP) - this is where learning outcome 6.3 is realised. You are asked to create a plan of action for an area of practice that you wish to improve.

Your PDP represents your view of the key personal and professional priorities that you need to focus on, in order to develop as an effective Hypnotherapist.

Your PDP will be informed by your reflections in your Journal the outcomes of your time/discussions with your tutor, your own view of your skills and attributes and so on. It is likely that your PDP will be amended over the course of your learning journey.

Personal Development Plan

Objectives What do I want to be able to do or do better?	Success Criteria How will I recognise success? How will I review and measure my improvement?	Actions What methods will I use to achieve my learning objectives?	Implementation How will I practise and apply what I learn?
Use more efficient questioning techniques in order to reach the true cause of the problem.	The results of sessions would be a good indication, also the length of questioning time would tell me how concise the questioning was.	The knowledge I have gained from this course, further reading on the subject and through practical experience with clients.	During sessions, using questioning more effectively to pinpoint the cause of the issue.
Gain in confidence in promoting myself as a therapist.	By the number of clients that I am seeing gradually increasing over a period of time.	In gradually seeing more clients my confidence will grow as I become more experienced. Also by attending peer support groups, communicating with peers regularly, offering and asking for advice and support. Further reading and learning in the field of hypnotherapy.	I will build a successful hypnotherapy clinic, increasing in confidence as I do so.
Help clients who are experiencing difficulties with fertility.	Through client feedback.	I would like to widen my knowledge of fertility issues and take part in a course which is based upon the use of hypnotherapy for fertility issues. Also during peer support groups, learning from peers with more experience in this area.	I will see an increasing number of clients with these issues and be effective in helping them to conceive.
Effectively use hypnotherapy for children, including those with special needs.	Through feedback from both the clients and their parents/carers. Also from assessing the results gained, especially clients with special needs who have difficulty with expressive language who cannot verbalise how effective the therapy was.	I will gain experience from my using hypnotherapy with my own children, as well as friends children who have various difficulties. I will use my knowledge gained from working with children with special needs in order to devise effective and appropriate strategies to use. I can converse with previous colleagues whom I worked with in school settings. Also through wider reading on the subject of children and therapy, as well as further reading and research regarding various types of special needs.	I will use the therapy on my own children initially, before advertising that I work effectively with children. After carrying out the further learning stated regarding special needs, I will contact organizations such as special schools and support services to offer therapy to those clients with extra needs.

Thank you XXXXX, consider keeping your Journal and PDP going so that you consistently reflect on being the best you can be and what you next steps to achieving success in your terms are. Also, I value your recognition of staying in touch with your peers and on the Forum to continually engage with others who will inspire and support and who you can encourage and motivate too. See you on the Forum, great work all round XXXX, thank you again.