CONTENTS

Introduction P. 2

Erickson’s Legacy P. 4

Definitions P. 5

Pre-suppositions of Ericksonian Work P. 5

Methodology P. 6

The Role of the Clinician P. 8

Clinician’s Skills P. 9

Techniques P. 10

Meeting Resistance P. 19

Criticism P. 23

The Four Pillars of Hypnosis P. 23

Bringing it all together P. 24

Appendices

Tips for the Practitioner P. 25

The NLP Milton Model P. 26

Scripts: Summoning the Healer Within P. 32

Two Ericksonian Inductions (Tad James) P. 33

A General Theory of Utilisation (Stephen Gilligan) P. 36

Two Structured Ericksonian Sessions (Stephen P. 38Gilligan)

Bibliography and References P. 41

1

The Legacy of Dr. Milton H.Erickson

Introduction

Dr. Milton Erickson was a psychiatrist.He was the founding president of American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, a Fellow of American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association and American Psychopathological Association

He grew up on a farm in Lowell, Wisconsin7 sisters, 1 brotherDyslexic, colour-blind, and tone-deafPolio aged 17. Paralysed and mute for 2 years. Only eyes and ears working.Studied his family: recognized significance of non-verbal communication: body-language, tone of voice. Often a different message to the words used.Used body-memories: learned to talk and use arms1000 mile canoe trip: (therapeutic ordeal, metaphor). Subsequently able to walk with cane.Too weak to farm so took medicine with a view to psychiatry.Trained at the University of Wisconsin and was awarded his medical degree and simultaneous Masters in Psychology at Colorado General Hospital in the late 1920s. Worked in Massachusetts and Michigan before moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1948, where he remained, working right up to his death in 1980.

His hypnotic technique was largely self-taught. Rather than the traditional model of the hypnotist issuing instructions to a passive patient, Ericksonian hypnosis emphasizes the importance of the interactive therapeutic relationship and the purposeful engagement of the inner resources and experiential life of the patient. Erickson revolutionised the practice of hypnosis by introducing numerous original concepts and patterns of communication into the field.

In his fifties he developed a post-polio syndrome. This caused great pain and muscle weakness. He recovered some strength but was largely confined to a wheelchair there-after. He used self- hypnosis for pain. He did much of his consulting and teaching in his home there-after.

Erickson was a friend of Gregory Bateson: an English anthropologist whose interest was communication. Bateson was married to Margaret Mead. Together they consulted Erickson in 1930s when studying Balinese trance states. Bateson introduced him to Jay Haley, (Uncommon Therapy 1973), Richard Bandler and John Grinder (NLP). Contemporary of Virginia Satir (Family Therapy)

Erickson married twice. Firstly to Helen then subsequently to Elizabeth (Betty) Erickson, with whom he had four sons and four daughters.

Erickson’s personality: three important characteristicsTendernessFiercenessPlayfulness

Ericksonian function (Stephen Gilligan) Creative curiosityArtful vagueness

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Erickson’s general demeanor was one of optimism. He took the view that the passing of time would bring growth. “Where there is a future there is hope”.

He had a very keen sense of humour. He was a great practical joker. His view was that people should ideally enjoy life and enjoy it thoroughly. He felt the more humour you can put into life, the better off you are. He felt the best antidote to depression and obsessive thinking is a positive attitude to the future. Anticipation of amusement at the culmination of a practical joke places everyones’ attention in the future.

He was essentially a benevolent man, of great integrity. He was happy to wield power. He was paternalistic and consistently helpful.

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Erickson’s Legacy

He exerted a fundamental shift in modern psychotherapy. Many elements of his methods which were considered extreme at the time he was in practice are now incorporated in the mainstream of contemporary practice with individuals, couples and families. His influence extends beyond hypnosis into the fields of psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, communication studies and teaching.Brief therapy, strategic therapy, family therapy, family systems therapy, solution focused brief therapy, neuro-linguistic programming are all influenced by his ideas.

Although he is famous as a practitioner of hypnosis, he used formal hypnosis in only approximately 1/5 of his cases.

1. He reclaimed hypnosis as a reputable form of therapy

2. He pioneered the indirect method of hypnosis (self-taught: unique to him):

Conversational Hypnosis: the subtle and artful use of language for a change. A conversation with a purpose

3. Elicitation and Utilization: the cornerstone of his work: use what arises

4. Attitude : Creative Curiosity.Hypnotist’s trance: heightened awareness of subject’s unconscious signals. Observe. Observe. Observe. Detail vital,

5. Outcome-Focus

6. Erickson’s Daily mantra

What am I going to learn today, and how am I going to enjoy doing it.?

Erickson brought together very effectively some ancient medical traditions:

Indirect methodInformation communicated indirectly is far more effective than information communicated directly. Heraclitus (535-475 BC)Outcome-focusThe secret of change is to focus all our energy not on the old but on building the new. Socrates (469-399 BC)UtilisationIt is natural forces within us that are the true healers of disease. Hippocrates (460-370 BC)Summoning the healer within : the basis of Shamanism.

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Erickson’s Definitions

Trance:

A naturalistic state.

The absence of a multiplicity of foci of attention, ideal for learning.

A state of special awareness and characterized by a receptiveness to ideas and increased creativity.

A state of heightened awareness with increased suggestibility.

An altered state allowing communication with the unconscious. Heightened awareness is the key. It allows the subject to focus most effectively on self and goal.

Hypnosis:

The evocation and utilization of unconscious learnings, thus giving greater freedom and access to innate creativity.

A process of communication of ideas and installation of useful values and beliefs.

Pre-suppositions of Ericksonian Work

There is such a thing as the unconsciousThere is the possibility of a positive outcomeThe patient has resourcesThere is only nowThere is only neurology to work with

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Methodology

Principles:

Each person is a unique individual, so therapeutic approach must be tailored to that individual. The technique fits the person, not vice versa.

“Patients are patients because they are out of rapport with their own unconscious.”“Patients are people who have had too much programming-so much outside programming that they have lost touch with their inner selves”.

(Milton Erickson 1976)

In Ericksonian work intervention is outcome-focused.Outcome is framed at the level of identity: how the person relates to other people and the world. Healthy adjustment.Patient enabled to live and participate in regular life, interact with other humans and contribute to society in a fulfilling way.

Erickson’s approach was strategic: the clinician initiates and designs a particular approach to a problem, and controls the process. The patient’s unconscious supplies the content. “It is the patient who does the therapy. The therapist only furnishes the climate, the weather. That is all. The patient has to do all the work”

In Karen Horney’s words: “Patients enter therapy not to cure their neuroses, but to perfect them.” If the patient is left to control the session they will unconsciously do whatever is necessary to prevent real therapeutic change. It is the clinician’s role to negotiate congruent goals and mobilize the patient’s resources to deliver them. “Don't give what is asked for, give what is called for, and at the appropriate time.”

It is always up to the patient to choose their own solutions. This helps them to respect their own values and learn self-discipline. The therapist must stand by and be available when called for. Help is only offered to the extent that the patient wants it, and the therapist does not interfere when the patient is doing good work.

Specific features of Erickson’s methods:

ElicitationUtilizationRapport/ Deep trance identificationConfusionIndirect communication: stories, metaphor, therapeutic tasksStrategic and outcome-focused approach

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Ask better questions, then question the answers.

The only reason for asking a question is to generate an unconscious response.

If you give people long enough they will tell you the problem. If you give them a bit longer and they will tell you the solution.

Miracle question: “How will you be when you no longer have the problem?”. What will be happening? What needs to happen to make that happen?

“What needs to happen?” “What specifically?”“What will happen if you don’t?”“What is stopping you?”

Identify intention

Identify patterns, strategies

Distract the conscious mind: break neuro-muscular lock

Once in, disrupt the old patterning and allow the new, improved and updated version to emerge: sponsorship, re-parenting

“I don’t know how you are going to get over this….”

Use archetypal energies: Tenderness, Fierceness, Humour, ….and Musicality.

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The Role of the Clinician

The weather. The hypnositist’s responsibility ids to create the environment which allows the subject to make the necessary changes.

Erickson saw the therapist’s role as reparenting . “My voice will go with you”.

Erickson’s approach aimed to replace previous "parental" injunctions with new ideas, installed/instilled by post-hypnotic suggestions. Therapeutic stories tell of how the child overcomes blockages to growth and freedom.

Traditional roles: (Jacqui Lee Schiff: see bibliography)Parent: guide, source of love, support, but also often irrational guidance, coercion, impatience, lack of acceptance. "Should", imposition of super-ego.

Child: inexperienced, eager to learn but not knowing how, spontaneously ignorant, limited repertoire of behaviours and responses. Erickson saw the challenge of childhood as the identification of a secure reality. The definition of boundaries and limitations are important considerations in the growth of understanding in childhood

The child is small, weak, intelligent creature in an undefined world of intellectual and emotional fluctuations. The child is constantly seeking to learn what is really strong, secure and safe.The child’s conscience (superego) develops as changes "have to" to "want to"

Erickson utilized the characteristic childish impulsiveness spontaneity, curiosity, impetuousness, explosiveness etc. and channeled them intelligently.

“Therapy is a motivation of the unconscious to make use of all its many and varied learnings.” Erickson employed the fundamental teaching principles of initiating motivation and connecting new learnings with older ones. Learning by experience is much more educational than learning consciously. “Give than an experience, not an explanation.” (Rossi)

Dreaming is one type of experience. In dreams you do not intellectualise, you experience. Hypnosis may not work but the therapy might: i.e. the answer comes in a dream.

Hypnotic subjects want to understand as they experience. It is important to keep the experience separate. Just let things happen.

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Clinician’s skills

State modulation Getting your own state right first and adjusting it

Calibration spotting trance: de-hypnotising

Active listening patience, control of process, Patient responsible for the contentWhat is being said?How is it being said?What is not being said?

Rapport building

Goal setting the ability to make choices, especially about state, is a sign of health

Flexibility Behavioural and Linguistic

Determination and tenacity

Freedom Break prohibitions The emphasis is on impulse and feeling (trust the unconscious: (but programme it well first)over intellect and concept

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Techniques

“My learning over the years was that I tried to direct the patient too much. It took me a long time to let things develop and make use of things as they happened”.(Milton Erickson 1976)

“The patient will tell you what is wrong and what is required to fix it if you give them time. Five minutes is usually plenty.”

“It is easier to redirect a stream than it is to dam it up”

Definition of utilization

The creative acceptance and use of any pattern- behavioural, cognitive or emotional as a primary basis for achieving a goal (e.g. a therapeutic outcome). The pattern may be positive or negative.

People have in their own natural history. This contains the resources, of which they are often not yet aware, to overcome their problem. The therapist helps the patient use what they already have to help them change: values and beliefs, favorite words, cultural background, personal history, neurotic habits, symptoms.

The problem contains the answer. Therapy involves the release of neuromuscular block which is manifest by the patient’s thinking. This is done by accessing the hidden, unconscious complementarity. A symptom/problem represents something trying to emerge from the unconscious and meeting a block. To resolve this requires that it is met with human presence. Meet whatever is emerging with creative curiosity. Accept everything which comes up. Explore the complementarity. Welcome it into the world. It is not fully formed until it is given human presence. The therapist is the midwife. What determines its meaning is how it is met with human presence, whether positive or negative. Experience has no intrinsic value. Our neurology gives it meaning. The cognitive mind typically gives one interpretation to experience and sets neuromuscular lock.

Welcoming a negative pattern typically calms it down, thereby allowing additional resources to be included and new meanings to be developed. Acknowledgement/ acceptance of ego-states, parts.The symptom/problem is a “part” of the patient trying to communicate something.

Hence the utilizing mantra: “That’s interesting.”“Something is trying to wake up (or heal).”“I’m sure that makes sense.”“Welcome”

Ask better questions, such as: "What is the positive intention?"“How do you do it?” not “Why do you do it?”

Amnesia is especially important in utilization:“There is something you know, that you don't know that you know, and when you know what it is that you don't know that you know, then you will .......

Erickson’s answer to most questions: “I don’t know. Let’s find out.”

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Rapport

You cannot not communicate.Rapport occurs when unconscious minds are most fully responsive to each other.  

Disease occurs when the conscious and unconscious are out of rapport. The relation between the conscious and the unconscious is compensatory. (Jung)

Milton Erickson was a highly empathic communicator. Much contemporary consultation-skills training focuses on the importance of establishing rapport, and achieving (and rationing) empathy. Empathic consulting creates better communication and responsiveness. One of the reasons Erickson excelled was because he accessed the patient’s experience and experienced their world. The ultimate rapport. He became them. (Deep Trance Identification).He took on the patient’s problem by modeling them. Once he was in the experience he was able to work out what he needed to do to resolve the issue for himself. He could then pass the solution back to the patient.

Rapport principle: Match. Pace. Lead.

Highlight similarities, distance the differences.Mirror neuronsMirroring physiologically leads to mirroring energetically.

Projection. We see ourselves mirrored in others. States are contagious. How people respond to you is you. Look around you. See yourself. Your complementarities are reflected.

When in rapport you put yourself in the desired outcome state and the patient will follow, as your unconscious is in communication with theirs.

People like people like them. Imitation is the most basic form of persuasion.

Erickson was able to communicate with people at a level they understood. Once he had thus matched and paced them, he could then lead them to resolution.As well as linguistically matching and pacing, he was expert at mirroring; the matching of body language, posture, breathing, gesture, tonality, etc. This has to be done very subtly: not mimicry. This requires precise calibration: the mother of all skill-sets.

In therapy the aim is orientation to the patient and the primary problem as they experience it. The therapist experiences the problem in their language, their model. Do not translate it into your language. Speak the patient's language. Join the patient

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Confusion: overloading conscious attention

Having achieved rapport, Milton Erickson used confusion in almost all of his techniques to occupy his patient’s conscious attention and distract their conscious mind, thus giving himself access to their unconscious. He created confusion by the use of ambiguity, both linguistic and non-verbal, and artful vagueness; making the boundaries of meaning indistinct,.

Confusion produces a transderivational search: the process of putting words to experience: a self-induced trance-state. As it is a self-induced state the patient enters it without encountering resistance, as they draw on unconscious learnings to make sense of things.

Humans are meaning-making machines: the most basic human instinct is familiarity. (Victor Frankl)

In traditional James Braid style hypnotism focused attention is essential for creating hypnotic trance. This is often not possible in such contexts as pain, fear, suspicion, aggression and hostility. Something else is needed. Confusion can help in these situations.

Erickson used such devices as ambiguous words, complex rambling, endless sentences, opening several loops simultaneously, and pattern interruption. (Artful vagueness)

Pattern interruption offers an instant, brief opportunity to rapidly induce trance. It involves stopping a chunk of behavior that does not usually have a middle. This creates momentary confusion and suspension of normal processing in the observer e.g. hand-shake interrupt or suddenly tying shoelaces. Pattern interrupts permit very swift intervention:Fixed mental setConfuse with pattern interruptLead over obstacle so has experience of successThis gives belief in new mental setFor success eliminate imagination

Leon Festinger (1956) coined the phrase Cognitive Dissonance, which he defined as: “the feeling we get when our beliefs and behaviours do not match, or are contradictory. We do not tolerate it for long: either our belief changes to adapt to behaviour, or our behaviour adapts to our beliefs.” Pattern interrupts produce cognitive dissonance and thus facilitate rapid change.

It is useful to have a stock of irrelevant remarks handy.“I don't like eating liver either”“I know what you are thinking. I like trains too.” These can be used to get patients back on track. The aim is to bypass the strictures which the patient has set up to maintain their equilibrium and neurotic structures.As the therapist do not ever do what is expected. You know where you are heading, the patient does not. This keeps their focus in the future. The unorthodox commands attention.

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Indirect communication

The classical approach to hypnosis is authoritative and direct. As a result resistance is often encountered. Erickson’s unique contribution to the modern practice of hypnosis is the application of the indirect approach. This is permissive and accommodating. All information (verbal and non-verbal) is accepted and acknowledged. This is then used (utilized) as a source of resources to work towards desired outcomes. This approach has been termed covert, or conversational hypnosis. Good for getting round resistance.

e.g.

Direct: “You are going into a trance”.Indirect: “You can comfortably learn how to go into a trance.”

With the indirect approach the patient can accept the suggestions they are most comfortable with, at their own pace, with an awareness of the benefits. Thus they can take full ownership of the situation and participate in their transformation.

It is not possible to consciously instruct the unconscious mind. Authoritarian suggestions will be met with resistance.The unconscious mind responds to openings, opportunities, metaphors, symbols and contradictions. Effective hypnotic suggestion therefore has to be “artfully vague”,leaving the patient’s unconscious to fill in the gaps with their own unconscious understandings, even if they do not consciously understand what is happening. This is the ideal situation as there is then no conscious resistance. Any resistance which does occur comes from the unconscious. This can be acknowledged, explored and accommodated and the process towards resolution can continue. The therapist’s skill is in constructing gaps in meaning which are most likely to lead to the desired change.

e.g.

“You will stop smoking” vs “you can become a non-smoker”.Direct command which almost invites resistance vs the offering of an opening, an invitation, which can be taken or left without any coercion from the therapist.

Having gained access to the unconscious mind via ambiguity and artful vagueness , much of Erickson’s therapeutic work was done with indirect communication devices such as metaphor. This produces a transderivational search (the process of putting words to meaning: see above) of the reservoir of learning to try to make sense of what is being communicated. Story-telling and the use of metaphor are time-honoured and powerful learning devices, using indirect communication, and particularly effective when close attention is given to the language used and the delivery.

Accurate calibration is vital here. The therapist checks the patient’s response to indirect suggestion. When this is present this allows their unconscious to participate in the therapeutic process. Post-hypnotic suggestions delivered at this point have the greatest chance of success.In this way apparently normal conversation can induce trance and a therapeutic change in the patient, which can occur even without trance.

Erickson put himself into trance first with the intention of hearing better and seeing better, and so improve his ability to calibrate by increasing his sensitivity to the

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intonation and inflections of patient’s speech and their physiological (non-verbal) changes

Erickson’s style was assertive in an indirect way, but if a situation called for confrontation he could do it. He could be kind and sharp. He would deliberately set up situations to test that patients were accepting his indirect suggestions so he could then set up situations in which change could happen.

Trance

Milton Erickson regarded trance (“the absence of a multiplicity of foci of attention”) as an every-day occurrence, such as when immersed and absorbed in activity. Away with the fairies. Day-dreaming. On auto-pilot. This is usually not consciously recognized as hypnotic activity. It is the other state to general reality orientation.His view was that trance occurs naturally and frequently and hence can be used therapeutically. It is a naturalistic state, ideal for learning.

From an Ericksonian perspective wonderment, engrossment and confusion are all common trance states. Evangelists and salesmen use this.

Normal waking consciousness is a “consensus trance”. All other states are “altered states”. States last for approximately 90 seconds unless something happens to maintain them. Thus the aim in therapy is to attain the right state rather than a right state, and help patients to do the same.

NLP uses this idea. The ability to change states as appropriate is essential but not necessarily explicitly hypnotic in the NLP model.

Erickson was interested in depth of trance, and spent a lot of time deepening trance with some patients. What is relevant is that multiple trance states can exist in same patient: e.g. “talk, as if awake”. There is no clear line between the various hypnotic states and the “awake” state. The concepts of parts is important here. This resonates with Einstein’s view, that a problem cannot be resolved at the level of thinking which created it.

People are very polite in trance: no “yes-butting”.

Signs of trance:

Eyes defocused/closed, looking away from the active hemisphereImmobile (catalepsy)Reflexes suppressed: swallowing, breathingOblivious to surroundings

These are all signs of an inner search at an unconscious level for new ideas, responses, or frames of reference to re-stablise the general reality orientation.

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Hypnosis

Erickson had a rather broader view of the nature of hypnosis than the classical one. Trance is not essential. Erickson described hypnosis as the evocation and utilization of unconscious learnings, thus giving the patient greater freedom and accessing their innate creativity. He saw hypnosis as a process of communication of ideas. The unconscious is always listening. Communication is always taking place at multiple levels in a “normal conversation.”

Ericksonian work uses communication at all levels and in all modalities to change state. This goes far beyond purely verbal exchanges. The affect of hypnosis is the installation of useful values and beliefs. Formal induction is not necessarily required to achieve hypnotic effects. If an individual has accepted a value or belief, the effect on responses is as permanent as if it had been hypnotized into acceptance.

Hypnosis achieves this by accessing "right brain" function. This model has the “right brain” as the parts which deal primarily with primary processes, archaic language (pre-verbal)), emotions, space and form (i.e. images), as contrasting with the logical, linguistic and linear “left-brain.The “responder” and the “organizer”.

The role and function of the unconscious mind.

Erickson’s concept of the unconscious mind was different to Freud’s. Erickson regarded the unconscious mind as creative and solution-focused and generative. It has its own awareness, interests, responses and learnings, as compared with the conscious mind, and is usually positive.

In Erickson’s model the unconscious mind is always listening. Suggestions can exert hypnotic influence whether or not patient is in trance, as long as they resonate at some level in the unconscious. Patient may or may not be aware of this.

Jung: unconscious compensates for the biases of the conscious mind. The result is homeostasis, balance.

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Outcome-focus: Strategic Therapy

“Where there is a future, there is hope.”“Always have a goal. It pulls you along.”

Set congruent goals. Start with the end in mind (7 Habits: Stephen Covey)Erickson’s aim where possible was to deal with problems, and effect therapeutic change, in relatively few sessions. The fore-runner of what is now known as Brief Therapy. Self-exploration was avoided. Erickson was not interested in exploring or analyzing a patient’s early psychological development. In Ericksonian therapy the patient’s background is only useful to the extent that it provides resources available in the present. This allows brief therapy. The approach is not analytical, but solution focused. The focus is in the future.

Divergent vs convergent thinkingDivergent thinking is like the branches of a treeConvergent thinking restricts behaviour. This is the characteristic adult pattern, especially when in difficulty.

The therapist aims to establish a mental set broader and less limited than the preceding one, then approach the task in hand without focusing on the limits, just focusing on the task itself.

Erickson set his patients small, achievable goals in the near future. His own daily mantra was: “What am I going to learn today, and how am I going to enjoy doing it?”

Erickson described therapy as like starting to roll a snowball down a mountain. As it moves along it gathers momentum and takes the shape of the mountain. The therapist does not direct it or help it. The therapist supervises the process.

Each problem carries a past and a future. Erickson's approach is to eliminate the past and change the future.  Thus 2/3 of problem dealt with. Erickson encouraged amnesia. The best thing about the past is that it is over.Round of golf. Play each hole as if it is the first. Focus on every shot. The issue of limits does not arise. Thinking of each hole as the first eliminates memory and emotion from the past. Past anxieties are left behind. Once the past is eliminated you can change the future, because the future can only be one of positive expectancy.(4 minute mile. 240 seconds. Can you tell difference between 240 and 239 and 5/10)Chunk down.Focus on the task in handEating an elephant, eating a plane.Issues of control become issues of choiceThe ability to make choices is a sign of health

Patients are limited in their patterns of understanding and action by instruction from the past. They can devise new patterns to replace the old ones and trust their unconscious to devise novel ways of overcoming habitual limitations. Erickson encouraged his patients to explore their dreams.In therapy he encouraged them to experiment, to break prohibitions: to put themselves in new situations. The emphasis was on impulse and feeling over intellect and concept. His approach was inspirational and the antidote to self-pity. His approach was to build expectations: and make the patient wait for answers. This encourages an inner search for required resources. The patient is left begging for more and is ready to receive.

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“Tomorrow is another day.”“The sun will rise again tomorrow.”“No matter what happens it is not the end of the world.”“No matter how flattened out you feel there is always the basis for some new growth and fresh beginnings.”

Metaphor

Story telling has been and is the basis of teaching across virtually all races and cultures since time immemorial. Sufi teaching tradition. Zen koans. Christian parables

Every story has a purpose:Share experience. Make a point. Create states in others. Constructing self.

Structure:Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell The Power of MythHero is ok.Monster comes along. Hero fights and loses.Hero meets guide, who teaches him how to overcome monsterHero faces monster again, and defeats it with the advice from the guideHero lives happily ever after

Milton Erickson was sometimes directive in approach, but most of the time he told his patients stories. These were very carefully crafted to utilize aspects of the problem to generate solutions. “It is easier to redirect a stream than it is to dam it up”.

Metaphor is the natural language of the unconscious mind (Jung). When used effectively it speaks to the deepest part of the person in a way that bypasses the conscious mind and thus makes it more difficult for the message to be resisted or sabotaged. Do not attempt to explain your metaphors. Deliver them and let the patient’s unconscious process them in the ways which is right for them.

People often use metaphor when talking about their experience. Listening for peoples’ metaphors is often a good way to find where to start to pace their experience and lead on.

“I feel out of my depth.” “Is there a way we could pull the plug out?”“Overloaded with work” “How can we lighten the burden?”

If a metaphor is not spontaneously presented, it can be very helpful to encourage someone to come up with one. It may require some perseverance, but will reveal how they are framing their experience, and give you something to work with.

Isomorphic metaphor is usually a story or anecdote prepared in advance when you have sufficient knowledge of the person and their issue. This is a customized story specific to them containing a connecting strategy which takes them from problem state to desired state. Erickson was brilliant at this.

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AnecdoteJeffrey Zeig, in “A teaching seminar with Milton H Erickson” describes anecdotes as non-threatening, engaging, and fostering of independence. The patient has to make sense of the message and come up with self-initiated conclusion/action. Anecdotes bypass natural resistance to change, control the relationship, model flexibility, create confusion and hence promote hypnotic responsiveness . They tag the memory, and thus make it more memorable.

When using stories and practical jokes, Erickson always had the end in mind. The patient did not know where things were leading. Erickson did. His aim was to change the patient's responses from "sick" or self-destructive to " healthy" or constructive. He manipulated what he was presented with to actualize a goal. His techniques were designed to build up and maintain the patient's interest and motivation. He used challenges, stimulation of curiosity, diversionary tactics and humour. His practical jokes were based on surprise, not hostility

“My friend John….”“I had a patient once….”

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Meeting Resistance

Erickson’s approach was to give the patient every opportunity to resist. If resistance occurs, accept and utilize it. It has a purpose. Find a suggestion they will accept. Resistance to trance resembles resistance to change.

Match, pace, lead: if meet resistance, e.g. anger, go to the same state, meet them there, pace and lead on.

Instead of “tell me all about it” use, “I know there are many things you do not want me to know about, so let us discuss the things that you are willing to talk about”. Let the conversation develop and all the information will emerge.Polarity response: “Why should I?” “You can’t make me”.The unconscious mind does process a negative.Erickson used this by playing on negation and tonally marking the important words: “ You don’t have to go into a trance, so you can easily wonder about what you notice no faster than you feel ready to become aware that your hand is slowly rising. (Embedded commands)

Chunking. Helpful for block, procrastination. Eating an elephant.

The following are some of the techniques Erickson used to meet resistance.

Encourage relapse

Overreach to teach lessons about failure: learn to live, think, behave differently. Accept failure as a normal part of life. Cast it in a positive therapeutic light.

Get the patient sick and tired of being sick and tired.Get them over the threshold . “Never again.”

Encourage response by frustrating it.

Paradoxical approach acts directly on patient’s resistance to change. e.g. order weight gain for an overweight patient. Ignore silence until patient becomes compelled to speak.

Utilize space and position

Use patient’s subjective experiencePhysical position, posture. e.g. swap chairs

Prescribing the symptom with an amplified deviation

I wonder what will happen?

Erickson would often encourage the patient to indulge in whatever it was that appeared to be the problem behaviour with a slight variation or some amplification. This slight alteration could then be used as a wedge to transform the whole behavior or situation.

Symptom prescription : Adler: therapy is like spitting in someone's soup. They can continue to drink it. But they cannot enjoy it. Make symptom obligatory and it looses its appeal.

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Use of time: seeding ideas

Presuppositions: “Have you ever been in a trance before?”An idea installed in a metaphor beyond conscious awareness can then later used therapeutically.

Motivation steps: hesitation, frustration, impatience, wanton desire, go for it.

Shocks and ordeals

Not all his interventions were indirect. A great practical joker. Often involved others in setting up therapeutic situations. Shock and surprise are useful in breaking up rigid mental sets. Pattern interrupts work in the same way.

Reversing patterns. Gain weight to loose weightPrescribe the symptom. Gorging

Reframing: finding and emphasizing the positive in every negative

Erickson claimed his sensory disabilities made him focus on aspects of behavior and communication that others overlooked.

He would compliment and encourage symptoms in very specific ways, and find a positive reframe. Every behaviour has a purpose at some level. Every symptom is the unconscious trying to communicate something.

Reframe. To change the conceptual and/or emotional setting or viewpoint in relation to which a situation is experienced and to place it in another frame which fits the "facts" of the same concrete situation equally well, or even better, and thereby changes its entire meaning.Watzlawick, Weakland and  Fisch "Change" 1974

Reframing content or context.Change relationships and subjective feelings and perceptions change

Epicetus: it is not the things themselves which trouble me, but the opinions I have about these things.

Virginia Satir: The problem is not the problem. The problem is how people are dealing with the problem.

Useful reframes that can be used as pattern interrupts:

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“Apart from that you are ok. Aren't you?”“You appear to have a high opinion of low opinion of yourself.”“You are a victim of your own bad taste.““You have made a poor choice of what to focus on and think about.”

Release of neuromuscular lock

Use whatever you have to:musicality, tenderness, fierceness, humour

Some further notes on Resistance

There is no such thing as a resistant patient. All behaviour is purposeful at some level. Resistance is a response to a post-hypnotic suggestion. De-hypnotiseUtilisation: welcome the dissenting part and involve it in the solution-generating process. (Parts reframing)The therapy takes as long as it takes.Fixing things quickly is not a quick fix.Story, metaphor and therapeutic task all bypass conscious resistance

Some conversational techniques for addressing resistance

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Linguistic agility:

Inflection

You do not have to go into a trance so you can easily wonder about what you notice no faster than you become ready to become aware that your hand is slowly rising

I understand that you have never been hypnotized…you are now…curious about hypnosis… aren’t you…now…close your eyes…

Chunk down: break into smaller bits

Threshold: Encourage Relapse: sick and tired of being sick and tired

Utilize polarity response: Paradoxical injunction (e.g. weight gain), Ignore silence until patient becomes compelled to speak

Utilise space and position: swap chairs

Prescribe symptom: with some modification: “I wonder what will happen if…and…” Disrupts pattern

Adler: Therapy is like spiting in someone’s soup. They can still drink it but not enjoy it. If you make the symptom obligatory it loses its appeal

Use of time: seeding ideas

Miracle question. Presupposes resolutionAn idea installed in a metaphor and hence beyond conscious awareness can then be used therapeutically

Shocks and ordeals: symptom prescription: e.g. gorging, weight gain

Reframes content. Context

Epicetus (AD 50-135)It is not the things themselves that trouble me, but the opinions I have about these things.

Virginia Satir (1916-1988)The problem is not the problem. The problem is how people are dealing with the problem.

Criticisms

Not scientific

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Anti-scientism.

If something cannot be measured it does not exist (The McNamara Fallacy)

Anti-labelling.

Labelling is the dead end of modern psychotherapy. Makes a process a thing: neuromuscular lock. Isolated from the creative unconscious. We are all incurable deviants. There is no "normal" in medicine. We all have our Greek mask we present to the world. Behind this is an infinite web of processing and experiencing, most of which we would not wish others to be aware of.

Einstein. A problem cannot be resolved at the level of thinking that created it.

Inappropriate behaviour.

Shock techniques.

Cruel crude jokes against psychiatric patients

Use of restraints for psychiatric patients

Authoritarian

4 Pillars of Hypnosis

Outcome-focus: set congruent goalsRapportCalibration: sensory acuityFlexibility: observe, reflect, adjust, including reframing (content,context), which alters meaningsAs change meanings, relationships, subjective feelings and perceptions change. People change how they feel by changing what they believe is going to happen in the future

The only useful function of the conscious mind is planning the futureStart this process by reflection.

Bringing it all together

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Strategic therapy. Clinician controls process. Patient supplies content. Each patient is unique. Not formulaic.

The problem is not the problem. The problem is how people are dealing with the problem.

Give the patient the space, direction and opportunity to do it and they will come up with the answer.

Utilisation. Easier to redirect a stream than to dam if up

The Unconscious:

-is benign, homeostatic (homeorrhesis: flow: better concept)

-responds to stories, symbols, imagery. -is not full of the dark, forbidding place Freud described ,full of repressed desires

The basis of the work is rapport and deep trance identification (get your state right).

APPENDICES

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Tips for the Practitioner

Get your state right first: CuriosityCompassionHumourDeterminationFlexibility

Have a clear idea of the state you want the patient to achieve by the end of the session. Go there yourself first.Agree congruent goals (s) for the session (5 words maximum each) Stated in positive, under patient’s control, sensory-evidence based. Secure the patient’s commitment.Creative curiosity. "I don't know. Let's find out". Places focus in future, on outcome. No paralysis by analysis. The best thing about the past is that it is over.Frame session: how will you know this has been useful?(5 words)

Calibrate patient’s state Match, pace, leadBuild rapportGet them laughing. Behind every smile (limbic resonance) is a solution.Build hopeBuild motivation: shift focus from past to future: get them heading in the right direction and over threshold. Purpose-led life. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.Use patient's creative unconscious (“right brain functions”: primary processes, archaic language (pre-verbal)), emotions, space and form (i.e. images) to generate solutions.Calibrate, monitor, adjust

Asking better questions:

What is the intention?How are they doing it?

Rather than “Why?” use “How?”Rather than “Is it true?” use “Is it useful?” How will you know when you know longer have the problem? (Future memory: reticular activating system) Virtual rehearsal in hypnosis. Sets blueprint. Easier to do something a second time. Presuppositions do this.What needs to happen for that to happen?What will you do? What will you do now?What if....?

Conversational hypnosisSentence structure. The devil is in the detail. Mirrors whole process. People remember beginning and end. Put important message at end, after universal destroyer: ‘but.” Pre-suppositions

Mark suggestions: pause, change in tonality (down at end for command), change in body position, use patient's name.

The NLP Milton Model

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Richard Bandler and John Grinder

Microanalysis

The map is not the territory (General Semantics: Korzybsky “Whatever you think it is, it is not”)

The Milton Model is aimed at helping the patient make changes at the unconscious level. The patient has to make corrections to their model of the world at the deepest levels of their mind.

Many of the Milton Model categories create confusion and a search for resolution rather than meaning.

Presuppositions

Elicit agreement indirectly. Taken for granted and not explicit. Not noticed by conscious mind. Have to be true for the sentence to make sense.

Temporal presuppositionsBefore, after, as, continue, during, when, since and while.

"You can deepen your understanding as you read this manual"

Ordinal presuppositions: presupposes a sequence:"We will come to the third example in a minute."

Juxtaposition of truism and presuppositionYou are 4 years older now. It will be alright if you take the gold medal.

Linguistic Ambiguity

Words or statements have more than one meaning and are open to interpretation.Recipient has to attempt to ascribe meaning to the words (transderivational search)Creates confusion. Ambiguity is trance-inducing by its nature. 4 types of linguistic ambiguity:

Phonological ambiguity

Homonyms. Words sound the same but spelled differently.“Right/write/rite/wright” “not/knot” “here/hear” “two/too” “there/their” “your/you’re” Synonyms. Words spelt the same but can mean different things. “Left” “Watch” “Like”

“And what is it thinking, your unconscious mind, right now?”

Syntactic ambiguity

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-ing

“The revolting peasants need their hair cutting badly.”“Running shoes”“Hypnotising hypnotists can be tricky”

Scope ambiguity (=semantic ambiguity)

Not clear how much of the sentence is qualified by a particular word or phrase.

“You are aware that you are sitting and starting to relax.”

Punctuation ambiguity

Leaving out punctuation makes sentences ungrammatical. This creates confusion in the conscious mind and the patient has to go into their experience to make sense of what has been said.

“That’s an attractive watch my hand closely.” “ Is there anything you can do something.”

Embedded commands

Indirect suggestions buried in a sentence.Analogue marking: lower tone of voice and raise volume for the relevant words.Downward inflection to voice at end of sentence makes the content a command.

“I wonder if you can learn about these things easily.”“You can say lots for things to help people feel better.”

Putting a name in after a modal operator (can, may, must) can aim the suggestion more specifically.

“Everyone must, Amanda, listen carefully.”

Embedded commands. Said with emphasis and followed by pause, then post-hypnotic suggestion : be curious about what is going to change

Embedded questions

“Wonder, curious, know, understand” Make question rhetorical and achieves indirect communication of message.

“ I am curious about why you feel that way.”“I am wondering if you can remember a time when you knew you could achieve anything”

Negative commands

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Good for mismatchersThe unconscious cannot directly process a negative. It has to create the concept then negate it. “Don’t think about pink elephants”

“Don”t pay close attention to this section.”“Don’t send me that cheque until you are ready.”

Conversational Postulate

A command posing as a question. Avoids provoking resistance that might meet a direct command.

“Can you close the door?”“Would you like to read the last sentence again?”

Tag Questions

“Adding a question at the end of a statement distracts the conscious mind and so reduces resistance, doesn’t it?”“It is easy to go into trance….isn’t it?”

Simple deletion

"This makes sense.""It is easy."

Comparative deletion

"They want more.""You can feel better."

Lack of referential index

"They all know the answers.""Someone is coming"

Unspecified verb

Experience, feel, understand, sense, learn.

"You can understand how you will feel better.""It is easy to remember the learning from this workshop"

Cause and effect

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People naturally think in causal terms; one thing follows as a consequence of another.If the first statement is verifiable in experience, the unconscious mind will often accept the linkage as true, even if there is no basis in fact.

"It does not have to be true, it just has to be plausible" (Tad James)

“Makes, causes”.

"The sound of my voice will make you feel comfortable""This manual has been carefully structured to make it easy for you to learn."

Complex equivalence

"That means…"

"You are learning hypnosis. That means you are interested in people""You are approaching 50. You are too old to start again."

Conjunction

And, but, for, yet, so."You can notice your breathing and begin to relax""You are smiling so you can be sure of success"

Implied causative

If, then, during, while, soon, as you/so you, the more/ the more

"If you consider these patterns you can learn them easily""While you weigh up these options you will be taking them in unconsciously."

Even more effective if use negative phrasing. Harder for listener to keep track.

" You won't be able to resist getting curious when you hear what is coming next.”

Lost Performative

Presenting a judgement or evaluation as fact, without stating who is making the judgement/evaluation.Good for bypassing resistance."It's"

"It's essential to practice language patterns at every opportunity.""It is useful to understand the way lost performatives work."

Mind-Reading

"I know you are curious about what is going to happen.""There are new things you are learning right now."

Nominalisations

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Abstract nouns created from process words."Happiness" from "being happy"."Curiosity" from "being curious""Relationship" from "relating"Very powerful as people attach their own meanings to them.

"You can take satisfaction in your knowledge.""Insights, understandings and discoveries await you."

Universal Quantifiers

All, every, always,everyone, never, no-one, people.

"People always learn more easily when they relax""Nobody wants to resist discovering new things"

Modal Operators

Necessity: "should/shouldn't", "must/mustn't", have to/don't have to". Limit choice."And you don't even have to try. It can happen all by itself".

Possibility: "can/can't", "will/won't", "able/unable".

"You are able to come up with many creative ideas"

Desire: “like

“You might like to become curious about how many different ways you can learn to go into trance”

Double bind

Presuppositions used to give an illusion of choice. Both options lead to the desired outcome.

"Shall we discuss this here or in your office""Will you tidy your bedroom before or after supper.”

Awareness (factive) predicates

“Know, realize, notice, aware.” Presupposes the truth of what is being said.

“Do you realize that there are many ways of becoming more knowledgeable?”

Adjectives and adverbs

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Amplify presuppositions.

“Deeply, surprisingly, happily, luckily, readily, easily”

“You are going deeply into trance.”

Commentary adjective and adverbs

At the beginning of the sentence reinforces the subsequent presupposition.

“Happily, fortunately, usefully, obviously.”

“Fortunately, this concept is easy to understand. Happily, you have grasped it easily already.”

Quotes

Conceal commands in a “story”.

“The doctor said to me, “You need to make that change now. “It is time to start to take better care of yourself.””

Selectional restriction violation

Attributing feelings to inanimate objects.People make sense of it by assuming it refers to them in some way.

“The chair will be pleased to have someone sit in it.”

Pacing current experience

Effective rapport can be quickly built by making statements which match and pace person’s current experience. This focuses them on what they are seeing, hearting and feeling and encourages them to become self-aware in the present.Incorporate kinaesthetic, auditory and visual truisms (pace) then add the presupposition which leads to the next objective.

“As you become aware of your breathing, hear the sounds in the room around you, and focus on the words on this page, so you can feel comfortable and relaxed.”

TTTP pattern (3 truisms then a presupposition)TTPP also works well.

Metaphor See P.16

Summoning the Healer Within

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"I want you to allow your unconscious to do everything that your unconscious knows it needs to do to enable you to change all you need to change right now."

Your unconscious knows right now, what to do to make all the changes needed to find the outcomes and results, your unconscious now knows what you truly need. So allow your unconscious now to make all the changes today, tomorrow and in the daze ahead, so you can achieve everything your unconscious knows you want to choose to achieve now. (John Grinder)

Two Ericksonian Inductions

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(Copyright 1987 1994-1998 Tad James and Advanced Neuro-Dynamics)

Induction 1

(Spoken on the patient’s out breath)

1. Have you ever been in a trance before…..right now?

(If the answer is “no”, ask: What is the relationship between the state you are in right now, and the state you were in just before you woke up this morning?)

2. Did you experience that state as being similar to the waking state, or different from the waking state?

3. Can you find a spot that you would like to look at comfortably? (Ideally slightly above eye level).

4. As you continue comfortably looking at that spot, you may notice that your eye-lids want to blink?

5. Will those lids begin to blink one at a time….twice or three times before they close altogether?

6. Rapidly or more slowly?

7. Will they close, now, or will they flutter all by themselves first?

8.Will the eyes close more and more as you become more and more relaxed?

9. That’s right. Can those eyes just stay closed as your comfort…able to go deeper, just like when you go to sleep?

10. Can your comfort go more and more deeply, inside, so that you’d rather not even try to open your eyes?

11. Or would you rather really try in vain and find you cannot?

12. And just when will you soon forget about them altogether because your unconscious….wants you to dream!

13. Therapeutic suggestions.

14. In a moment I am going to count from 1 to 10, and I want you to awaken 1/10th of the way with each number until you are fully awake. 1…2…3 etc.

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Induction 2

In this induction we add to the first 12 questions of Induction 1, now including arm levitation.The relaxation suggestions in Induction 1 are spoken on the patient’s outbreath. The arm levitation suggestions are spoken on the in breath.

1. Have you ever been in a trance before…..right now?

(If the answer is “no”, ask: What is the relationship between the state you are in right now, and the state you were in just before you woke up this morning?)

2. Did you experience that state as being similar to the waking state, or different from the waking state?

3. You can feel comfortable resting your hands lightly on your thighs, can you not? (Demonstrate). That’s right, don’t let them touch each other.

4. Can you let those hands rest sooo lightly that the tips just touch your thighs?

5. Make sure the hands and fingertips barely touch the thighs.

6. That’s right. As they rest there just so lightly, have you noticed yet how they tend to lift up a bit all by themselves (therapist takes a deep breath at this point) with each breath you take? Good. Now we will just wait and see.

7. Now, can you find a spot that you would like to look at comfortably? (Ideally slightly above eye level).

8. As you continue comfortably looking at that spot for a while, you may notice that your eye-lids want to blink?

9. Will those lids begin to blink one at a time….twice or three times before they close altogether?

10. Rapidly or more slowly?

11. Will they close, now, or will they flutter all by themselves first?

12.Will the eyes close more and more as you become more and more relaxed?

13. That’s right. Can those eyes just stay closed as your comfort…able to go deeper, just like when you go to sleep?

14. Can your comfort go more and more deeply, inside, so that you’d rather not even try to open your eyes?

15. Or would you rather really try in vain and find you cannot?

16. And just when will you soon forget about them altogether because your unconscious….wants you to dream!.... of lifting, lifting,lifting

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17. Have you noticed you hands lifting,lifting,lifting even more lightly, even more easily….and by themselves as the rest of your body relaxes more and more?

18. And as you do, does on of the hands or the other or maybe both continue lifting, lifting, lifting even more?

19. And does the hand stay up and continue lifting, lifting, lifting even higher and higher and higher, all by itself? Does the other hand want to catch up and go up too, or will the other hand just relax in your lap?

20. That’s right. And does the hand continue lifting, lifting, lifting as it is, or will the lifting get smoother or less smooth as the hand continues upward towards your face?

21.Now….does it slow down, or go faster and faster as it approaches your face, deepening your comfort? Will it….pause a bit before it touches your face so you will know you are really going into a trance? And it won’t touch until your Unconscious….is really, really ready to let you go deeper….will it?

22. And… will your body to automatically take a deeper breath when that hand just touches your face and you automatically relax and experience yourself going deeper and deeper?

23. That’s right. Perhaps you won’t even bother to notice your deepening the comfortable feeling as that hand slowly goes back to your lap all by itself? Perhaps your unconscious… will be in a dream by the time that had really comes to rest.

24. Therapeutic suggestions.

25. In a moment I am going to count from 1 to 10, and I want you to awaken 1/10th of the way with each number until you are fully awake. 1…2…3 etc.

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A General Theory of Utilization (Stephen Gilligan)

Definition of utilization

The creative acceptance and use of any pattern-behavioural, cognitive or emotional as a primary basis for achieving a goal (e.g. a therapeutic outcome). The pattern may be positive or negative.

Two minds can be distinguished:

i) The creative, unconscious mind. This is a quantum field of infinite possibilities: a super-positional field where-in which all possible versions of a pattern are simultaneously present.

ii) The conscious mind of everyday “reality”.

When a pattern moves from the virtual reality of the creative unconscious into the classical reality of the conscious mind, it must collapse from infinite possibilities to a specific actuality.

The specific actuality-its form, value, meanings and subsequent unfolding- is determined by the human presence(s) receiving it. A pattern has no innate or fixed form; it is created by human consciousness.

Once a pattern moves into a specific form, it may become fixed via “neuro-muscular lock”, thereby ensuring its automatic re-enactment in that form. This is the basis of all conditioned responses, including the negative experience of psychological symptoms.

To unbind a fixed form and allow new and more satisfying versions to unfold, the pattern must be skillfully held (absorbed) with a human presence as deep as the original context. Connect with Neils Bohr’s quantum world of infinite possibilities. Access the deep truth. One statement and its converse both simultaneously true. This reflects Jung’s complimentarity.

To be effective, this new human context requires deep acceptance, kindness, skillful attunement and positive curiosity about new possibilities. This is the contextual basis for the utilization principle. It is not a manipulatory trick, but rather a relational “sponsorship bond” that allows the unbinding and reorganization of old patterns.

N.B. What is being accepted and utilized is the core archetypal pattern, not the specific way it is being expressed.

Hence the Utilizing Mantra:

“That’s interesting.”“Something is trying to wake up (or heal).”“I’m sure that makes sense.”“Welcome”

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Stephen Gilligan’s utilization approach

3 stages

1. Preparation:

Establish rapport while exploring the patient’s life experiences and establishing frames of reference permitting therapeutic change. Connect first, identify the somatic experience the “felt sense”: to cognitive mind problem or symptom. “Where in your body do you feel that?,Identify the goal of the intervention, the desired outcome, in a maximum of 5 words

2. Trance work

Activate and utilize the patient’s own mental skills and resources in trance.

i) Fixation of attention.

ii) Utilize patient’s beliefs and behaviour to focus on their inner “realities”. Break patient’s hold on their model of the world. Distraction, shock, surprise, doubt, confusion, pattern interrupt

iii) Unconscious search. Ambiguities, artful vagueness, puns, implications, questions, any other indirect suggestions

iv) Unconscious process:Activation of personal associations and mental mechanisms by all of the above.

v) Hypnotic response.Catalepsy, anaesthesia, amnesia, hallucination, age-regression, time-distortion

3. Evaluation of results

Recognize, evaluate and ratify the therapeutic change hich has occurred.

Possible structure for an Ericksonian-style hypnosis session

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(Stephen Gilligan)

1.Preparation

Identify outcomeObtain relevant historyIntroduce and explain concept of hypnosis, inoculate.“Don’t expect to feel hypnotized.”“Do expect to feel relaxed if you wish. Hypnosis is a natural state.” The optimum learning state is relaxed, curious alertness.”“You are in control at all times. You will only accept suggestions that are consistent with your own internal values and beliefs.”“Trance is about learning to go into trance”“The process we are about to learn is a learning process.”“There are several steps. The more steps you take, the deeper you can go into trance.”

2. Induction

Fixation of attention (eliminates critical factor)Induce trance“Perhaps you would like toSettle inSettle downClose your eyes when you are ready to start to relax”

Direct attention from external stimuli into breathingRise of tummy with in breathRelease stress, adrenaline with each out breath , and with each out breath allowing the relaxation to spread     

Deepening methods: suggestion, direct and indirect, fractionation (repeated induction and lightening, but not back to full awareness each time), embedded metaphors (diminishing returns beyond 12).

3.Utilisation

Use trance to mobilize the patient’s resources, including establishing a “special” safe place.

"I want you to allow your unconscious to do everything that your unconscious knows it needs to do to enable you to change all you need to change right now.Your unconscious knows right now, what to do to make all the changes needed to find the outcomes and results, your unconscious now knows what you truly need. So allow your unconscious now to make all the changes today, tomorrow and in the daze ahead, so you can achieve everything your unconscious knows you want to choose to achieve now.”

Utilize hypnotic phenomena.4. Change work

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Use ideo-motor response:

i) Does your Unconscious Mind know what to do?ii) Is it possible? (Limiting decision)iii) Is it ok? (“Secondary” gain)iv) Other problems?v) Obtain permission from Unconsciousvi) How quickly: Start? Finish?

If the answer to i) or ii) is “no” ask:“Can your Unconscious Mind get in touch with the blue-print of perfect health and healing which exists in the deepest part of the Unconscious Mind, the area that some people call the Higher Self, and transfer it to the blueprint that the Unconscious Mind uses to create the body?”

Change work involves replacing old values, beliefs and habitual ways of thinking, feeling and behaving with new, improved models.

5. Future rehearsal

6. Post-hypnotic suggestions

Lead into the suggestions: e.g.“As you sit here and listen to my voice…”Post-hypnotic suggestions are direct and succinct.The trigger is specific and identified.Patient is given clear instructions as to what to do, and when to do it, when the trigger occurs (immediately or after an interval)Require a level of trance deep enough so the patient is amnesic of the suggestions after the sessionLead out of the suggestions in reverse to the route in, as with embedded metaphors. “And as you listen to my voice and find yourself sitting here…”

7. Re-orientation

Remove any post-hypnotic suggestions not intended to persist beyond the session.

“As I count from 1 to 5 and you start to return to normal, waking consciousness, any and all suggestions relating to the session we have just completed are hereby removed….”

8.Reflection

What were we aiming to achieve?How well have we achieved it?What do we need to do next?

Shortened Structure of a session

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(Stephen Gilligan)

Perhaps you would like toSettle inSettle downSet intention (5 words)RapportAccess to resources

Close your eyes when you are ready to start to relax

Redirect focus from external awareness into breathingRise of tummy with in-breathRelease stress, adrenaline with each out-breath , and with each out breath allowing the relaxation to spread     

Elegant suggestions appropriate to intention

Future rehearsalPost-hypnotic suggestionsCalibration, reflection and adjustment.Reorientation

Bibliography and References

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Uncommon TherapyJay Haley 1983

Hypnotherapy: An Exploratory CasebookMilton H Erickson and Ernest L.Rossi 1979

My Voice Will Go With YouSidney Rosen 1982

The Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson M.D. (2 Volumes) Bandler and Grinder 1975

Jacqui Lee Schiff. 1979 Transactional Analysis: Treatment of Psychosis: reparenting

A teaching seminar with Milton H Erickson 1986Jeffrey Zeig

7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen Covey 1989

Steps to an Ecology of MindGregory Bateson 1972

Therapeutic Trances: The Cooperation Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy.Stephen Gilligan 1987

Innovative Hypnotherapy. The Collected Papers of Milton Erickson on Hypnosis Vol 4. (Ed.Ernest Rossi) 1980

Man’s Search for Meaning (1946) Victor Frankl

The Power of Myth 1989 Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers The Inner Consultation 2nd Edition 2005 Roger Neighbour

Watzlawick, Weakland and  Fisch "Change" 1974

M.E.W.C 25/3/2018mctraining.org.ukmewchambers@icloud.com08968 046315

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