Become the most effective therapist (subtle in-session prompts)

by Nehha Bhatnagar (some learnings from my studies- especially useful for interoception by client/patient)

Quick Practitioner Cues (use these in-session)

To become the most effective therapist, reflect on these. Remember, we want them to get well, be well but most importantly STAY WELL. This is where working with holistic tools is the most helpful thing you can do. Here are some ways to help clients be more interoceptive, and aware of their breath and vitality in general.

• Notice the felt-shift: Ask, “What did you feel right after that practice?” — anchor the sensation.

  
  

• Ask belief questions: “Do you see yourself recovering? Do you believe this can help you?”

  
  

• Use sensation to build belief: If cognitive belief is weak, point to felt evidence: “You felt calmer — that’s proof.”

  
  

• Check self-efficacy: “On a scale of 0–10, how much do you believe you can do this?” Use setbacks as data, not failure.

  
  

• Invoke the memory: Prompt them to re-create the positive sensation: “Recall how your breath settled — hold that for 20 seconds.”

  
  

• Set realistic timelines: “Some patterns take 12–24 months to shift. We’ll plan small, measurable milestones.”

  
  

• Create a yes/no roadmap: Agree on what they will say yes to (supports healing) and what they will say no to (derails progress).

  
  

• Be their pulse point: Model yogic clarity — your steadiness helps them practice self-advocacy.

  
  

• Close with impact: “Every choice moves your energy. Small choices add up to big change.”

You can be a candle and light their life and also a mirror to reflect the light

Opening & Anchoring -“Notice how that felt. Do you believe this could work for you? If your answer is ‘maybe’—that’s okay. "Observation is the first step: when a client experiences a felt-shift in your presence, they gain their own data. Invite them to compare: ‘How do you feel now versus before?’ That comparison builds conviction.

From Sensation to Belief- Often cognitive belief lags behind bodily experience. When someone says ‘I can’t,’ a direct route back to possibility is through sensation. Ask them to re-create that calming breath or the warmth in the chest. A remembered feeling can turn ‘maybe’ into ‘I can.’

Check Self-Efficacy & Reframe Setbacks- “For every condition, test self-efficacy: ‘Do you see your recovery as possible? How much do you believe it, 0–10?’ Use setbacks as pivot points — not proof of failure but a place to reassess and re-engage. Say: ‘Setbacks tell us where the plan needs tuning.’”

Design the Recovery Pathway -“Recovery is measurable and slow-changing. Some deep patterns or samskaras(subliminal impressions in our citta that give birth to karmas or actions), require 18–24 months to transform. So we design outcomes, small steps, and checkpoints. We agree on concrete ‘yeses’ that move them forward and ‘nos’ that protect their energy.”

Practice, Presence & Role Modeling -Yoga and inner practice cultivate the calmness needed to make wise choices. As a practitioner, you become a pulse point — a living mirror of steady practice. Your clarity helps clients identify what matters and advocate for their own healing.

Closing Invitation- “Remind them: every choice alters their energy field and health. Support that choice-building with tangible tools: breath practices, short rituals, micro-actions. The work is both ambitious and simple — small, aligned choices repeated over time create real, sustained recovery.”

If these tools help- visit us at www.theholisticshala.com/webinar and join a like-hearted community of professionals!