K-I-K-O, or Knowledge in - Knowledge out, explains the two focuses of hypnotherapy for those who underperform in test-taking. It is understandable why so many consider themselves poor test-takers. Testing by its very nature is pressure. It evaluates a person’s performance, rendering his or her efforts to a letter or a number. The fear of not measuring up and failing the evaluation overwhelms some who understand the short-term and long-term ramifications of the test, from advancement to the next grade, to admission into the “right” college, and ultimately toward future employment opportunities. Teachers evaluate. Parents set expectations and demands. Fellow students critique efforts. Although the simple K-I-K-O formula would seem to outline the path to success, Middle Mind emotions rise up to devastate many at exam time.
Knowledge In. If a student is not prepared and does not have the knowledge necessary to pass the exam, all the positive attitudes and confidence in the world cannot help. Having a good knowledge base, on the other hand, contributes greatly to a proper test-taking attitude. Hypnotherapy identifies problems with study habits that the client may have. Those problems will become the targets of behavioral change utilizing training, therapeutic counseling, and hypnosis. Not every client will have study problems, but for those who do, the hypnotherapy will need to address some or all of a number of issues. Many students put off studying until it is too late to prepare adequately. For those, a goal of hypnotherapy will be to stop procrastinating.
A student’s lack of focus both in the preparation or in the test-taking itself may be a concern. The therapist will help the client to explore the causes of such a lack of focus and then work with the client to establish a plan, often involving the use of hypnosis. In conjunction with the improvement of focus, the therapist may also guide the client toward eliminating distractions.
Students with comprehension issues benefit from hypnotherapy, as well. During sessions, the therapist and the client will explore the nature and causes of comprehension. Once they have determined the barriers to effective comprehension, they will develop a plan to boost reading results.
What good is comprehension without retention, though? To that end, the hypnotherapist will tailor sessions, as well as out-of-therapy practice, to improve memory.
Poor time management and less-than-efficient study habits typically create poor test results. Regardless of the type of education, studying correctly and studying enough are essential to success. Together with the client, the hypnotherapist will be able to evaluate these habits and determine a solid plan for improving both the client’s use of time and use of study techniques.
Knowledge Out. Now that the preparation work is done, let’s work to get the student into an optimal position to perform at test time. The ultimate goal is a relaxed, positive, and confident test-taker. If the full material is comprehended and retained, test taking should be the celebration of the effort that was put in during study time. For many, however, test time can produce the horrors of anxiety, creating disastrous results. To make sure that does not happen, a hypnotherapy plan will first make sure that the student-client knows how to take a test that he or she has the basic test-taking skills and approaches to succeed. It is difficult not to excel if the student enters a test period with a plan and an approach for success in place.
The hypnotherapy plan will also address behaviors to optimize recall at test time. Part of the way to improve recall is to deal with anxiety, the real bugaboo of test-taking problems. Hypnotherapy is a tried-and-true way to learn to relax, to develop confidence, and to know how to peacefully “turn it on” for test taking. The hypnotherapist’s goal is to ensure that the student has the tools necessary to get into a winning mental performance zone at test time.