THE MILTON H. ERICKSON FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER€¦ · · 2014-10-07The books are: Experiencing...

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T H E M I LTO N H . E R I C K S O N F O U N DAT I O N

NEWSLETTERSM

Vol. 32, No. 3 WINTER 2012

I n s i d e T h i s I s s u e

See INTERVIEW on page 22

Non-Profit org.U.S.Postage PaidKansas City, MOPermit No. 1932

INTERVIEWHarriet Lerner 1

IN THE SPIRIT OF THERAPYInterview with Michele Weiner-Davis, M.S.W. 4

THE POWER OF TWOEllyn Bader, Ph.D. & Peter Pearson, Ph.D. 6

CASE REPORTWhat If We Stopped Fighting Nicotine Addiction? 8

REMEMBERING ERICKSONUp the Mountain 9

CONTRIBUTOR OF NOTEAlexander Vesely 10

IN MEMORIAMThomas Szasz 11

See COUPLES on page 8

The 2013 Couples Conference is Around the Corner

The Foundation plans months even years ahead for conferences and the Cou-ples Conference 2013 is no exception. Held April 18-21, 2013 in Manhattan Beach,California, the Couples Conference will most likely be another sold-out event.

Every year, we hear from therapists worldwide about how the Couples Con-ference has impacted their lives and made them better marriage and family thera-pists. As Ellyn Bader says eloquently, “Every couples therapist faces challengeswhen individual personality issues collide with the couples systemic and devel-opmental patterns. The 2013 conference is designed to address working with issuessuch as addiction, infidelity, narcissism, and deception in the couples context.”

The Couples Conference 2013 stellar faculty includes: Ellyn Bader, Ph.D.,Lonnie Barback Ph.D., Stephanie Brown, Ph.D., Paul Ekman Ph.D., Marty Klein,Ph.D., Harriet Lerner, Ph.D. Bill O’Hanlon, MS, Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., TerryReal, Janis Abrahms Spring, Ph.D. and Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW.

Paul Ekman, who was the feature interview in the last edition of the Newslet-ter, is known for developing the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), which iden-

Harriet LernerInterviewed by Ellyn Bader

Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., is one of ournation’s most respected voices on thepsychology of women and the processof change in marriage and families.For more than three decades she was astaff psychologist at The MenningerClinic in Topeka, Kansas and a facultymember and supervisor at the KarlMenninger School of Psychiatry. Cur-rently in private practice in Lawrence,Kansas, Lerner is the author of numer-ous scholarly articles and 11 books, in-cluding The New York Times bestseller,The Dance of Anger, and, most re-cently, Marriage Rules: A Manual forthe Married and The Coupled Up. Sheis also, with her sister, an award-win-ning children’s book author, and shehosts a blog for Psychology Today andThe Huffington Post. Through the clar-ity of her writing, clinical work, andengaging public appearances, Lernerhelps people worldwide to navigate theswamps and quicksand of their most

difficult relationships.Ellyn Bader: Why don’t we start

with your personal history so ourreaders can get to know you a bit. Harriet Lerner:Well, I was born

and raised in Brooklyn, the younger oftwo daughters. My grandparents onboth sides were Russian Jewish immi-

grants. My parents didn’t have the op-portunity to go to college, so “achieve-ment was next to Godliness,” as far asmy big sister Susan and I were con-cerned. I knew we’d get Ph.Ds. theway other kids knew they’d go to ele-mentary school. My father talked about“my daughters the doctors” while wewere still in our strollers. EB: Was that a lot of pressure for

you?HL: Back then, boys were sup-

posed to “be someone” and girls weresupposed to “find someone,” so I thinkit was good that our parents pushedagainst the cultural tide. And althoughwe were very poor, we had great thingsto do. Susan and I were raised in theBrooklyn Public Library, the BrooklynMuseum, and the Brooklyn BotanicalGardens. These places were free andjust a subway token away. EB: How did you decide to be-

come a psychologist?HL: I know this sounds bizarre, but

I decided to become a clinical psy-chologist before I entered kindergarten,and I never veered from this goal.Maybe it had something to do with the

I N T E R V I E W

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter2 VOL. 32, NO. 3

Executive Editor: Richard Landis, Ph.D.

Review Editors: C. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D., Annellen Simpkins, Ph.D.

Institutes: Marilia Baker, M.S.W., Cecilia Fabre, M.A.

Guest Editors: Betty Alice Erickson, M.S., LPC, LMFTEric Greenleaf, Ph.D. (Case Reviews)

Power of Two: Roxanna Erickson Klein, R.N., Ph.D.

In the Spirit of Therapy Editor: John Lentz, D.Min.

Guest Reviewers: Steve Andreas, M.A.; Michael Hoyt, Ph.D.; Roxanna Erickson Klein, RN, LCDC, Ph.D.;

Maria Escalante de Smith, M.A.; John D. Lentz, D.Min.

Contributing Editor/Writer: Marnie McGann

Production Manager: Karen Haviley

–Board of Directors–Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D.

Roxanna Erickson Klein, R.N., Ph.D.J. Charles Theisen, M.A., M.B.A., J.D.

Camillo Loriedo, M.D.Bernhard Trenkle, Dipl.Psych.

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.2632 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 200,

Phoenix, AZ 85016U.S.A.

Telephone: (602) 956-6196FAX: (602) 956-0519

T h e M i l t o n H . E r i c k s o n F o u nda t i o n

NEWSLETTER

EDITOR’S COMMENTSI especially enjoy the Winter/

Spring edition of the Newsletter sinceit overlaps two of my favorite confer-ences: the Brief Therapy and Couplesconferences. Over the years, in re-viewing the presentations of both con-ferences, it occurred to me that theircommon theme was how to make con-nections: within one’s self, between in-dividuals, with the community at large.There is a natural desire to connectwith something greater than the self.Therefore, this issue’s articles and re-views weave back and forth, overlap-ping the themes of both brief andcouples therapy.

In our last issue, we featured PaulEkman as our representative of bothconferences. This issue, Ellyn Baderinterviews Harriet Lerner as our am-bassador since Bader and Lerner willalso be presenting at both conferences.Bader and Lerner, as well as MicheleWeiner-Davis, interviewed in JohnLentz’s In the Spirit of Therapy col-umn, act as our connection betweenthese two great conferences.

The theme of connection at multi-ple levels is elegantly presented inMarilia Baker’s The Power of Two col-umn where she interviews Ellyn Baderand Peter Pearson. Teresa Garcia-Sanchez demonstrates the use of theclassic Ericksonian approach by facil-itating a patient to connect with his in-ternal resources as she connects withhim in her brilliant Case Report, WhatIf We Stopped Fighting Nicotine Ad-diction?

Up the Mountain is Roxanna Er-ickson Klein’s modern odyssey in find-ing and connecting with her Ericksonroots. She continues this odyssey in herContributor of Note section with an in-terview with filmmaker AlexanderVesely, documentarian for “Wizard ofthe Desert,” a film about the life andwork of Dr. Erickson. John Lenz fur-ther carries this theme with his enthu-siastic review of John Gottman’s, TheScience of Trust: Emotional Attune-ment for Couples. These types of inter-personal connections are demonstratedin Gabor Filo’s Rapid Hypnotic Induc-tions: Demonstrations and Applica-tions, reviewed by Roxanna EricksonKlein.

Our prolific Review Editors,Alexander and Annellen Simpkins

offer us a handful of book reviewswhich include their own unique focuson the theme of connection. Their re-view of Alexander Vesely’s featurefilm, Viktor and I, about his grandfa-ther, Viktor Frankl, touches on thetheme of family connection. HarrietLerner’s Marriage Rules is a classicconnection manual for couples. Hillaryand Bradford Keeney’s book, CircularTherapeutics: Giving Therapy a Heal-ing Heart, moves beyond techniqueand presents a non-model approach totherapy where the therapist becomestherapy through connection. As a seguebetween inter- and inner-connection,the Simpkins review Mary Beth Wedeland Robert Wicks’ Primer on Post-traumatic Growth. As a capstone totheir reviews, the development ofinner-connections is presented in vol-ume two of Kathryn Rossi’s edition ofSelected Papers of Ernest LawrenceRossi: An Introduction and Guide andCreating Consciousness: How Thera-pists Can Facilitate Wonder, Wisdom,Truth and Beauty. This is a beautifulfusion of Rossi’s vision and genius.

We again welcome Steve Andreasto our review family with his book re-view of Daniel Kahneman’s ThinkingFast and Slow, which was mentionedin the last issue. This is an excellentbook about how we can connect withthe outside world. Michael Hoyt re-views Steve Andreas’ book, Trans-forming Negative Self-Talk: Practical,Effective Exercises, which focuses onhow we can connect more effectivelywith our internal world. Hoyt then re-views Solution Focused Brief Therapy:

100 Key Points and Techniques, byHarvey Ratner, Evan George, andChris Iveson. This puts a Europeanspin on Solution-focused Brief Ther-apy.

The theme of expanded intercon-nections is carried forth by John Lentzas he reviews Innovations in NLP ForChallenging Times Vol. 1, edited by L.Michael Hall and Shelle Rose Charvet.This book is far more than its title sug-gests. The theme of multilevel connec-tions is continued in Maria Escalantede Smith’s concise review of Adven-ture Therapy by Michael A. Gass, H.L. “Lee” Gilliss, and Keith C. Russell.

If you are reading this issue at theBrief Therapy Lasting Solutions Con-

ference, you will easily see why wechose “connections” as our theme. Thewonderful presentations and sharedwisdom at the conference offer con-nections that you may not have ex-pected. If you are not at theconference…(sigh)…you are missingan incredible experience. And, theCouple’s Conference, which is justaround the corner, is equally mar-velous.

We hope to connect with all of youthere.

Richard E. LandisOrange, California

Foundation Plans for Spanish Books on Dr. Erickson

In keeping with the times, the Foundation is working on offering Spanish Lan-guage Editions of three classics by Erickson/Rossi, which should be available sometime in 2013. The books were translated by Luis David Guzmán Moreno, M.D. andfeature original forewords by Ricardo Figueroa Quiroga, M. Sc.

The books are: Experiencing Hypnosis: Therapeutic Approaches to AlteredStates or EXPERIMENTANDO LA HIPNOSIS: Abordajes terapéuticos a los esta-dos alterados; also Hypnotic Realities or REALIDADES HIPNÓTICAS: La in-ducción de la Hipnosis Clíncia y formas de suggestión indirecta; andHypnotherapy: An Exploratory Casebook or HIPNOTERAPIA: Un libro de ex-ploración de casos.

For information, email [email protected].

Marnie McGann

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter VOL. 32, NO. 3 3

http://www.couplesconference.com


Interview withMichele Weiner-Davis, M.S.W.by John D. Lentz, D.Min.

Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW, is aninternationally-renowned relationshiptherapist, bestselling author, and pro-fessional speaker. Among the first inher field to courageously speak outabout the pitfalls of unnecessary di-vorce, Weiner-Davis has been active inspearheading the now popular move-ment urging couples to make their mar-riages work and keep their familiestogether. She is the author of sevenbooks, including her bestselling DI-VORCE BUSTING, and THE SEX-STARVED MARRIAGE.

She also is the recipient of severalprofessional awards for outstandingcontribution to the field of marriageand family therapy from the AmericanAssociation of Marital and FamilyTherapy, Smart Marriages, and Grin-nell College.

Weiner-Davis’ work has been fea-tured in major newspapers and maga-zines and she has made extensivemedia appearances on shows such asThe Oprah Winfrey Show, 48 Hours,20/20, The Today Show, and CBS ThisMorning.John D. Lentz: Michele, what do

you consider is the spiritual side ofworking with couples?Michele Weiner-Davis: Most of

the couples I work with consist of onespouse who desperately wants to savethe marriage and the other who just asdesperately wants out. People often askhow I can handle the stress of seeingpeople who have such intense andchronic relationship issues in theirlives. The truth is, little compares to thefeeling I get when I bring together twowarring and distant spouses and helpthem fall back in love again. I feelblessed to have the opportunity to trulymake a difference in people’s lives.

About eight years ago, we movedto Boulder, Colorado, which is idyllic.The people are extraordinarily friendly,socially conscious, and kind. Most ofthe people I meet engage in activitiesthat promote spiritual growth such asyoga and meditation. Plus, they regu-larly convene with nature through hik-

ing, biking, hang gliding…anythingwith an “ing.” These practices and hob-bies make Boulderites some of themost mentally, physically, and spiritu-ally sound beings in America, accord-ing to countless surveys on America’sMost Livable Cities. From the start, Iwas impressed with the obvious emo-tional centeredness of the community.

I also noticed there is a high inci-dence of divorce here. People seem tofollow their own hearts as the path toenlightenment, but it occurred to methat many miss out on another verypowerful path to spiritual growth --through relationships.

I have learned that relationships area remarkable arena in which to doinner work. I base this on nearly threedecades of work with couples and al-most 40 years with my own husband.It is through intimate relationships thatwe see mirrors of ourselves. Relation-ships provide opportunities to shareour journeys; to confront our emotionaldemons and our shortcomings; to learnhow to compromise; be altruistic; de-tach when necessary; and to forgive.Healthy relationships allow us to be-come our best selves, to increase innerawareness, and to share in life’s joysand sorrows. Ironically, rough patchesin relationships offer us unending op-portunities to learn about compassion,empathy, and acceptance.JL: Your books have made you a

household name and have given a lotof folks many more options thanthey had before reading your work.What spiritual strengths have youreceived by dealing with the recog-nition of so many appreciative peo-ple?MWD: To say that my work gives

my life meaning is an understatement.I consider it a never-ending gift toknow that my books, therapy, andclasses have helped countless couples.I get regular emails from folks thank-ing me for enabling them to make theirmarriages work and tuck their kids inat bedtime …together. I feel privilegedthat people trust me during criticaltimes in their lives. My Ericksonian,strength-based lens allows me to see aperson as resourceful and loving,which in turn provides a foundation forpositive therapeutic relationships. Thebest part is that I take my Ericksonian,strength-based perspective with me

when my day is over and see all peoplethrough this positive lens. I took a hikewith my 26-year-old and he said,“Mom, you really like people. You talkto everyone on the trail.” (I don’t thinkthat was a compliment.) He’s right. Ido love people.JL: Much of your recent work

has focused more on helping couplesreclaim and rekindle their sexual in-terest and enjoyment. Possibly be-cause of your gentle and powerfulway of communicating you havebeen extremely helpful to many peo-ple. What are your thoughts aboutthe deeply spiritual and positive waythat you have altered so many peo-ple’s lives?MWD: I want the people with

whom I work to feel understood, re-spected, and appreciated, regardless oftheir sexual values or expectations. Itis a direct result of my connection topeople that allows me to push them, todemand that they stretch outside theircomfort zone, both for their own goodand for the good of their relationship. Iget so immersed in sessions that timestands still. I am in the flow. Peoplefeel my connection to them and trustthat I will shepherd them to healthier,more loving places.JL: While you openly admit that

your early life experiences motivatedyou to discover ways to help others,

I N T H E S P I R I T O F T H E R A P Ywhat are some of the spiritual bless-ings that you have discovered as aresult of your journey?MWD: The early life experience to

which you refer was the fact that myparents divorced after 23 years of mar-riage. I didn’t see my parents’ divorcecoming because they never fought andour family life was a bit like the Wal-tons. I was about to leave home for col-lege and my warm family nest wasfalling apart. I was devastated. But thatdevastation fueled my passion to helpothers avoid divorce whenever possi-ble. And “others” includes my ownmarriage. Marriage is never easy. Mostpeople who have been in long-termmarriages will tell you that there havebeen periods in their lives when theywanted to throw in the towel. My mar-riage is no exception. But because ofmy past, my work, my love for myhusband and our family, I feel deter-mined to find a way, again and again,whenever necessary, to make thingswork, to have a healthy, loving mar-riage. (My husband often quips that wecould never get a divorce; it would bebad for book sales.)

I consider this commitment to be ablessing in my life and in the lives ofour children.JL: Michele you are a blessing

and so is your husband and hishumor. Thank you.

Evolution of Psychotherapy – Conference of Conferences is UnderwayThe Foundation is already gearing up for the history-making conference of

conferences --the Evolution of Psychotherapy, which is held every four years. In2013, it will be in Anaheim, California, December 11-15. The Foundation hopesthat by the time you have this Newsletter, our Evolution website will be live andoffer Early Bird registration. Visit www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com.

First held in Phoenix in 1985, the Evolution conference was covered by Timemagazine, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. It sold out three monthsin advance and attracted 7,200 attendees. Registrants from more than 40 countrieshave attended Evolution Conferences, and 8,600 attended the 2005 Conferencemaking it the world’s largest psychotherapy gathering.

The primary faculty and state-of-the-art faculty at Evolution conferences haveconsistently been top professionals in the field. Keynote speakers and keynote ad-dresses are legendary. In 2013, the primary faculty includes Albert Badura, Ph.D.,David Barlow, Ph.D., John Gottman, Ph.D., Julie Gottman, Ph.D., Jean Houston,Ph.D., Otto Kernberg, MD, Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC,Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D., Salvador Minuchin, M.D., Erving Polster, Ph.D.,

See EVOLUTION on page 8


http://www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com


Ellyn Bader, Ph.D.& Peter Pearson,

Ph.D.By Marilia Baker

The greatest ordeal in life is mar-riage. It is the central focus for en-lightenment and the naturaltherapeutic process in the culture.

This exquisite, sophisticated, andknowledgeable definition of marriageby Carl Whitaker, M.D., pioneer fam-ily therapist and grand innovator in thefield fits well the philosophy, life work,and clinical practice of psychologistsEllyn Bader and Peter Pearson. Formore than a quarter of a century theyhave been the leaders of a new genera-tion of specialized practitioners, and“movers and shakers” -- daring inno-vators in the field of couples therapy.Their 1988 book, In Quest of the Myth-ical Mate -- A Developmental Ap-proach to Diagnosis and Treatment inCouples Therapy1, has been describedas “the most comprehensive and prac-tical approach to couples therapy of itstime.”2 It has been highly acclaimedand a suggested textbook for graduatetraining in couples therapy throughoutthe country. They were awarded theClark Vincent Award by the CaliforniaAssociation of Marriage and FamilyTherapy for their outstanding contri-bution to the field. Likewise, theirbook Tell Me No Lies, well-regardedby clinicians and committed couples,is a valuable complement to buildingan honest relationship throughout allstages of marriage or committed rela-tionships.3

There is much to mention about thebody of work and personal life of EllynBader and Peter Pearson, founders ofThe Couples Institute in Menlo Park,California (www.couplesinstitute.com).Their skillfully designed, all-encom-passing website is an eloquent, livingtestimonial of the myriad pathwaysthey have walked through – better said:navigated through -- in the past 30years as clinicians, business partners,and married couple. Their website,along with online training, blog, andnewsletter, is a treasure trove of usefulinformation for clinicians and for cou-ples seeking education and treatment.Having known them as authors and

having trained with them in several set-tings since 1991, the best way I canfind to properly convey their essenceand body of work and personhood isemploying the concepts: savoir faire,savoir être, and savoir devenir4. In thiscontext, the concepts have to do withexpanding dimensions of conscious ac-tions and evolving consciousness onthe part of individuals. These dimen-sions elegantly capture the couple’sprolific production as therapists andtheir role-modeling as work-in-progress married couple.

Savoir faire, or “know-how.” Inthis case: to know how to work effec-tivelywith a troubled couple in therapyto ultimately facilitate their healthyevolution as lovers and friends. I uti-lize the term savoir faire to better char-acterize Ellyn and Peter’ssophisticated, substantial, and innova-tive interventions when working withcouples – whether heterosexual orsame-sex – in all phases of the lifecycle. The challenges emerging at eachphase of the human life cycle areworked therapeutically through thelenses of positive, normalized devel-opmental stages or growth impasses,however painful or unhealthy at themoment. Their book, The Develop-mental Model of Couples Therapy, isthe core of their creation. In essence,Bader and Pearson’s model focusesaway from pathologies (even thoughthey do exist and are properly workedthrough therapeutically). The modelemphasizes the growth challenges cou-ples confront as “stepping stones todeep intimacy,” towards healthy inde-

pendence, as well as satisfying inter-dependence. I find this key develop-mental concept of “many marriageswithin the marriage” to be viscerallycritical in understanding couplehoodand its vicissitudes5.

Savoir être: to know how-to-be-in-the-world, or to have the personal qual-ities and self-capacities to make thingshappen. Having followed Ellyn andPete’s evolution as highly effectivetrainers, successful business builders,and business partners throughout twodecades, I also have been personallytouched by their humanness in expos-ing their own marital challenges at theappropriate “teaching moment.” Theirsolid differentiation stance is movingand impressive. An attentive, clinicaleye at what they named “A Journey inNegotiation,” the six-minute video ofschool building in Kenya (www.cou-plesinstitute.com/kenya), a project dearto Ellyn’s heart and soul, shows youhow aptly the couple presented theirwishes to each other, and negotiatedthroughout a few weeks of Initiator-In-quirer dialogue6. On the table wereeach one’s wishes, interests, values,self-definition, emotional self-regula-tion at the prospect of not getting whateach wanted, and the prospect of a longphysical separation. Eventually, asound, satisfactory resolution for bothemerged. Throughout the process theymaintained their individuality whilebeing actively curious about each other--all elements of a healthy, differenti-ated dyad. The last time the Kenyaproject was on the table they decidedto go together as a family with their

daughter Molly. This year, Ellyn trav-elled alone.

Savoir être also has to do with thecultivated abilities to effectively inter-act with individuals, groups, and com-munities, as well as the environment -physical or emotional. Again, an ob-serving look at their website offersmany examples of active engagementwith the professional community andrespectful care for the emotional well-being of couples in the larger commu-nity. Impressive are the manypracticing clinicians in several citiesthroughout California that Bader andPearson have incorporated into theirCouples Institute.

Bader and Pearson’s enduring com-mitment to educate and facilitategrowth and encourage emotionallysound relationships is expressed inEllyn’s statement: “I am passionateabout stopping unnecessary divorcesand helping couples grow into rich, re-warding partnerships.” To that end theyalso have been actively devoted to their“commitment to train a core of excep-tional couples therapists worldwide” toprevent unnecessary divorces and tofacilitate couples in blossoming intosatisfied-with-themselves Individualswho choose to grow with the Other infulfilling relationships.

Please click on www.couplesinsti-tutetraining.com/developmentalmodelto learn about their comprehensive andaccessible training program, whereveryou live in the world. As they mentionon their website, their training inte-grates attachment theory, differentia-tion theory, and neuroscience,compatible with professional audi-ences that they, individually or to-gether, have trained in the U.S.,Europe, Asia, Australia, and SouthAmerica. Ellyn reiterates: “This train-ing receives consistent, enthusiasticfeedback that enhances rather than col-lides with other therapeutic ap-proaches.”

To complete their passionate dedi-cation to community and change isEllyn’s enthusiastic involvement withdisplaced children of developing coun-tries, such as Kenya. She and her fam-ily have been actively offering severelyunderprivileged children, a hands-oneffort in equipment building and havefacilitated the children’s access to uni-

T H E P O W E R O F T W O

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http://www.couplesinstitute.com/kenya/

http://www.couplesinstitutetraining.com/developmentalmodel/


versal resources and education. This isan exceedingly worthy endeavor thathas worldwide reverberations. I wouldnot be at all surprised if future worldleaders sprout from this well-tendedsoil. Please make sure to revisitwww.couplesinstitute.com/kenya.

Savoir devenir: This leads me to afinal comment on the meaning of thisthird component – to be aware andconscious about the future -- whichtakes me back to Whitaker’s observa-tion that marriage is a natural thera-peutic process in cultures and a centralfocus of enlightenment. Savoir deveniressentially is to consciously becomeaware or knowledgeable about the fu-ture, integrating innate talents and cul-tivated qualities throughout one’slifetime. From the conversations I hadwith Ellyn and Peter in preparing forthis edition of The Power of Two, andfrom the lively narrative on their April2012 Newsletter online, I can easilysurmise their commitment to the fu-ture.

It all started nearly 30 years agowhen they decided to marry and towork together. As they indicate, theytruly did not yet know what their pas-sion was or what their mission wouldbe. They discussed several options, in-cluding opening a restaurant (!), im-porting houseboats from India (!!) and,building a therapy practice. Their mainconcern was to “support couples sothat they would not unravel under thestress of dual careers, parenting, orfrom managing their differences.”Thankfully for the rest of us, in 1984they decided to establish The CouplesInstitute “to help all types of couplescreate relationships full of energy andvitality!”

Bader and Pearson’s savoir faire,savoir être, and savoir devenir also isskillfully summarized and envelopedwithin “Ten Commandments for Gain-ing and Building Trust,” which they of-fered in the recent book TenCommandments for Couples, edited by Jeffrey Zeig and Tami Kulbatski. 7Ellyn and Peter gift the reader withprecise, concise, and to-the-pointpearls of insight and wisdom -- insightand wisdom that were acquiredthrough their chosen mission in life,their passion, hard work, and indefati-gable dedication to the perplexed in re-lationships. This dedication has been

gratefully enhanced by the couple’sown rich marital relationship journey.That they are willing to walk the extramile for couples, or fly the 20,000extra miles to make a difference in theworld makes this crystal clear: theyoffer the reader 12 commandments!

Thank you Ellyn Bader and PeterPearson for all that you are and do.

For comprehensive informationplease go to: www.couplesinstitute.com.

1Please consult: Bader, E. & Pearson,P. (1988) In Quest of the Mythi-cal Mate: A Developmental Ap-proach to Diagnosis andTreatment in Couples Therapy.Brunner/Mazel: New York.

2See: Ellyn Bader & Peter Pearson,The Couples Institute, news re-lease online. April 21, 2012,paragraph 1.

3See further: (2001) Tell Me No Lies –How to Face the Truth and Buildan Honest Marriage. Saint Mar-tin Press: New York.

4I am inspired here by the work ofChristiane Faure-Hubert andRobert Faure, Institut Devenir @www.institut-devenir.com.

5These developmental stages and theirmultiple combinations are strik-ingly parallel to the psychologi-cal evolution of the baby. Theywere adapted to the adult couplestages by Bader & Pearson from:(1975) The Psychological Birthof the Human Infant by MargaretMaher et al. Basic Books: NewYork.

6This is a dialogue process created byBader & Pearson, aptly named I-to-I: Initiator-to- Inquirer, TheDevelopment of Self: Crucial toGreater Intimacy and Satisfac-tion in Relationships. (I-to-I alsoimplying a play in words for “eyeto eye,” face-to-face with yourpartner.)

7Consult further: Jeffrey K. Zeig,Ph.D. & Tami Kulbatski, Psy.D.(eds.): (2012) Ten Command-ments for Couples – For EveryAspect of Your Relationship Jour-ney. Zeig, Tucker & TheisenPublishers: Phoenix, Arizona.

The Developmental Model of CouplesTherapy: Integrating Attachment, Differentiation, and Neuroscience

Online Web Course with Ellyn Bader2011

The Couples Institute

www.CouplesInstituteTraining.comReviewed by Annellen M. Simpkins, Ph.D. & C. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D.

San Diego, California

Couples present unique challenges because they often come into a therapist’soffice angry, distressed, and closed-minded. “The Developmental Model of Cou-ples Therapy: Integrating Attachment, Differentiation, and Neuroscience” is taughtby seasoned expert, Ellyn Bader, and will guide you toward mastery in your work.She has created a one-year web course that offers clinicians a map for their cou-ple-helping journey. For a monthly fee, clinicians from anywhere in the world canparticipate in this course and earn 36 CE credits.

The website is easy to navigate. The content is based in Bader and Pear-son’s developmental model. It offers a lesson every two weeks that reads like achapter of a book that you can download and save for later reference. Written in afriendly style, the 23 lessons gently guide you through learning the approach. Andeach lesson contains homework assignments to foster personal experiencing. Youdo not have to travel alone, because the course also includes a monthly conferencecall with Bader and other participants, along with blogging to discuss the ins andouts of putting the ideas into practice.

Often people believe that couples therapy is superficial or secondary toindividual work, but Bader explains how couples work can be the primary treat-ment. Her approach teaches ways to think developmentally, to look to the past todiscover the patterns that form reactions. Deep work is achieved as you learn howto make a diagnosis and set goals to help navigate clients’ seas of disturbance. Thecourse shows how to change negative and defensive cycles and resolve relevant in-trapsychic issues. And through the process, you can discover helpful ways to teachcouples new skills, and elicit satisfying ways of relating.

The method is based in attachment, differentiation, and neuroscience. Instruc-tion begins with key theories and assessment tools that help you make a diagnosisto inform your treatment. You will find there are classic constructs drawn fromfounders such as Margaret Mahler, Fred Pine, John Bowlby, and Mary Ainsworth.Differentiation, one of Mahler’s stages of development, is a cornerstone of Bader’sapproach. Differentiation is the ability of partners to know and share their personalfeelings and desires; to let each other know who they really are. Paradoxically,with differentiation, as couples come to accept each other as unique individuals,they become more intimate. The course clarifies the integration of attachment anddifferentiation and how to work with all aspects of partnership, to steer couples todeeper satisfaction and fulfillment. Also included are ways to utilize the new brainscience. Some lessons are devoted to methods for helping couples who are openlyhostile and those who avoid conflict. Specific exercises give you tools for pro-moting healthy interaction, fostering empathy, and soothing. You will also findlessons on different types of partner patterns, such as passive-aggressive and nar-cissistic, as well as strategies for dealing with infidelity. The case examples of cou-ples given are ones that you can relate to and use as a springboard for your ownunderstanding.

The course lessons have a great deal to offer clinicians from many differenttherapeutic schools to help them become comfortable and effective in workingwith couples. The model is consistent and well thought out, and the techniques areclearly presented so that you can learn by doing. We highly recommend this course!

W E B S I T E R E V I E WPOWER OF TWO continued from page 6


tifies every human expression -- expressions that are not culturally determined butuniversal across cultures. He also has studied deception for more than 30 years, andthe television series “Lie to Me” was based on his real-life scientific discoveries.

Harriet Lerner, the featured interview for this Newsletter, is one of the nation’smost respected voices on the psychology of women and marriage and family re-lationships. Her “Dance” books, including the Dance of Anger, have been best-sellers, and her most recent book, Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married andCoupled Up is reviewed in this edition of Newsletter by the Simpkins.

Michele Weiner-Davis is an internationally-renowned relationship therapistand author. She is interviewed by John Lentz for this edition’s “In the Spirit ofTherapy.” Author of seven books, including DIVORCE BUSTING and THE SEX-STARVED MARRIAGE, Weiner-Davis is the recipient of the Award for Outstand-ing Contribution to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy from the AAMFT.

Subjects to be addressed in conference workshops include: difficult partners;love in the modern age; caring for aging parents; a deceptive partner; understand-ing the language of intimacy; couple and family addiction and recovery; pornog-raphy as an issue in relationships; why couples may not enjoy sex – and ways tohelp them; modeling successful relationships after the movies; spirituality in rela-tionships; men and depression; new rules of marriage; forgiveness after an affair;and couples therapy with only one spouse.

For more information on the Couples Conference please visit www.couplesconference.com.

Marnie McGann

COUPLES continued from page 1

Ernest Rossi, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Zeig, Ph.D.The state-of-the-art faculty includes Judith Beck, Ph.D., Claudia Black, Ph.D.,

David Burns, Ph.D., Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD, Nicholas Cummings, Ph.D., ScD,Stephen Gilligan, Ph.D., Steven Hayes, Ph.D., Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., Kay Red-field Jamison, Ph.D., Sue Johnson, EdD, Jack Kornfield, Ph.D., Harriet Lerner,Ph.D., Peter Levine, Ph.D., Scott Miller, Ph.D., William Miller, Ph.D., Bill O’Han-lon, MS, Violet Oaklander, Ph.D., Christine Padesky, Ph.D., Mary Pipher, Ph.D.,Daniel Siegel, M.D., Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., MicheleWeiner-David, MSW, LCSW and Michael Yapko, Ph.D.

Keynote speakers include Aaron Beck, M.D., Gerald Edelman, M.D., Ph.D.,Martin Seligman, Ph.D., Gloria Steinem and Irvin Yalom, M.D. Keynote addresseswill be from Diane Ackerman, Ph.D., Daniel Amen, M.D., Paul Ekman, Ph.D. andMichael Gazzaniga, Ph.D.

Marnie McGann

EVOLUTION continued from page 4

What If We StoppedFighting Nicotine

Addiction?I begin all my treatments with the

question: “What would you like tochange today -- and why?” The clientM.T. answered, “I want to quit smok-ing because it’s bad for me.” (I find thisis a staple answer for most people whoare asked the same question.) I nor-mally follow my question with a desta-bilization technique. This is intendedto simultaneously create an increase inmotivation to the point where theclients are almost demanding to betreated. It also brings about a state ofconfusion during which, taken abackmomentarily, clients will look for co-herence anywhere and therefore acceptany suggestions they can understand; alittle bit like clutching at a straw.

My response to M.T. was spokenquickly so he wouldn’t have a chanceto analyze my words. I said, “So what?We’re always doing things that are badfor us! We don’t exercise; we don’t eatenough fiber; we don’t drink enoughwater; we don’t get enough rest; we

load ourselves with stress; and we canchange all those things whenever wewant to.”

I delivered the positive suggestionat a time when M.T. was beginning towonder whether or not I was going toagree to treat him. (And it looked asthough I was not against tobacco). Thiswas a receptive moment; a moment ofrequest. My next step was to tell himthat it would be necessary to do afarewell exercise to say goodbye to“good old friend tobacco.” I usuallyaccomplish these farewell exerciseswith hand levitation where I suggestthat the client’s rising hand is tied likea puppet on a string to a balloon that isfilled with smoke. I then proceed to in-struct clients to cut the string andwatch the balloon go up, enjoying itsascent and feeling grateful for havingbeen liberated.

When I got to this point with M.T.,he frowned and a teardrop rolled downhis cheek. He said, “I’ve realized that ifI quit smoking, it will be like betrayingmy father and brother who both died oflung cancer.”

From that moment on, the treat-ment proceeded like traditional psy-

chotherapy, although with a very dif-ferent objective: the resolution of grief.Of course, quitting smoking consti-tuted a “minor result” of the treatment,yet this was for M.T. the confirmationthat he had overcome his most unset-tling emotions, some of which he prob-ably couldn’t have owned before theballoon farewell.

It is for this reason why we mustnot spurn any opportunity to allow theclient’s unconscious to express itself,even though he may appear to seektherapy for a problem as secondary asnicotine addiction.

After having demystified severalaspects of tobacco, including it tastesgood (Did my client remember thetaste of his first cigarette?), or that it’srelaxing (Did he know that one of theeffects of nicotine is to increase adren-aline levels?), I asked M.T. to follow,to a tee, a smoking methodology, and,above all, to not make any effort to notsmoke. I told M.T. to carry a pack ofcigarettes with him because quitting anaddiction means being able to remainindifferent when coming in contactwith the addictive substance. If hefeared a relapse it was probably be-cause his need for tobacco had notcompletely dissipated. I told M.T. tocarry a bottle of water and to drinkevery time he felt the need for a ciga-rette. After taking a few sips, he wouldbe able to decide whether or not hewanted to give up his “freedom not tosmoke’ or choose to light up a cigaretteand take a few drags.

With this method, anxiety is re-

C A S E R E P O R Tduced for three main reasons. First, be-cause there is neither a prohibition nora limitation; second, because it meansthere’s no chance to fail, which hasprobably been a fear factor present inprevious attempts; and third, becausethe quitting is gradual and this keepsthe withdrawal symptoms to a mini-mum—a similar effect to any aid ofnicotine replacement therapy.

My client, M.T., received a record-ing for self-hypnosis, reinforcing thesuggestions of well-being, of going forhis goal, and of feeling satisfied afterdrinking water and being able to exer-cise his freedom not to smoke. Heeventually began eliminating the ciga-rettes that he smoked automatically orout of compulsion.

M.T.’s ability to quit tobacco tookplace gradually, within about a week.Having attended hypnosis sessionsevery other day, there came a momentwhen he quit smoking completely,without struggling with the addiction.The goals of the second and third ses-sions were to consolidate all progressnoticed and to prevent any possible re-lapses, including using food as com-pensation for not smoking. M.T.overcame his addiction and any possi-ble relapes because the treatment givento him was rooted in managing anxi-ety, not generating it.

Teresa Garcia-SanchezInstituto Erickson Madrid Director [email protected]

Translator Claudio Vanini


Up the MountainBy Roxanna Erickson Klein

On December 5, 1901, Albert Er-ickson left his cabin in the mountainsof the Schell Creek Range and went tothe mine where he dug silver ore witha pickaxe and shovel. By the time hereturned for lunch, his wife, Clara, hadgiven birth to their second child, Mil-ton Hyland Erickson.

Albert and Clara Erickson, MiltonErickson’s parents, lived in the com-munity of Aurum, Nevada, nestledwithin Silver Canyon in White PineCounty. In 1900, Aurum was noted in ahistoric register to have a population of54, but the town was abandoned a fewyears later due to diminishing ore sup-ply and a catastrophic landslide. Thehigh cost of transporting ore was also amajor factor in the dwindling popula-tion of the community. Aurum still de-pended on wagons for transport whileother areas in the state were develop-ing railroads. Today, the area remainsisolated and sparsely populated, al-though the Pony Express Trail, whichruns through the county, is currentlybeing preserved.

In 1906, when Milton was 5 yearsold, the Ericksons left Nevada. Thefamily, which then included Miltonand his two sisters, began their journeyeast in a covered wagon, later catchinga train to Wisconsin. Albert’s partner inbusiness, Simon Davis, stayed behindto close the mine before he retired inHawaii. Albert had done well at themine, but he and Clara agreed the chil-dren needed “proper schooling,” Sell-ing their interest in the mine they putthe settlement of $400 towards the pur-chase of an 80-acre farm in BeaverDam. The farm is where Albert andClara raised their seven daughters andtwo sons. Milton lived and worked onthe farm until he left for the Universityof Wisconsin to embark on higher ed-ucation.

In September 2012, Milton Erick-son’s oldest son and my oldest brother,Albert II, and I went to Nevada to lookfor the Erickson homestead. Close tohis grandparents, Albert II had jour-neyed there in 1951 to take photo-graphs and gather memories to bringback to Albert and Clara. They oftenreminisced and described their moun-

tain as “the most beautiful place onearth.” Albert II traveled alone to theremote area in a ‘41 Ford that repeat-edly overheated. With the guidance ofa local historian, he was successful inlocating Aurum’s general store, thepost office, the cemetery, and the“everlasting spring” where water wasavailable year-round. He did not havedescriptions of our grandparent’shome; he could not differentiate it fromthe many others that were standing atthat time, but he took snapshots of allthe structures he found. When he re-turned, Albert and Clara studied thephotographs and initially had some dif-ficulty in recognizing the land that theyhad left a half a century earlier. How-ever, after pondering, they realized itwas only the man-made features thathad changed; the mountains remainedthe same. With that realization, theybegan to recognize the cabins of theirfriends and neighbors, but did not findtheir own home. In hope of Albert II’slater return to the area, they gave himcareful, more explicit descriptions ofwhere the cabin sat in relation to Sil-ver Canyon; it was at a distance fromthe community so they “would nothave rowdy neighbors,” and close tothe mine.

Years later, accompanied by one oftheir other children, Albert and Claradid have an opportunity to visit thecanyon and enjoy the beauty of thepeaceful location that had been so im-portant in their lives. It was not untilSeptember 2012 that Albert II returnedto Aurum. I joined him, his wife Lil-lian, and Alex Vesely, documentatianfor Wizard of the Desert, to see if wecould find the cabin. Starting with avisit to the local historical railroad, weverified geographical coordinates ofAurum, picked up a topographicalmap, and read some narratives aboutmining in White Pine County. Think-ing we were all set in a four-wheeldrive with a GPS, we gathered a fewthings including the old map that Al-bert had drawn and a photograph of theErickson family on their front porchtaken in the early 1900s.

While remote, it was relativelyeasy to locate the stone foundation thatremains of the post office and generalstore, and with some effort we foundthe spring and the cemetery. As wesearched for the cabin we came across

an ore transfer station where minersbrought their loads on mule back andprepared them for transport to thecrusher. Each of these sites has beenmarked by the local historical society.The cabin itself was more elusive andit took us two full days of scramblingup game trails and through overgrownvalleys to finally find it. .

In 1901 when Milton was born, thelog cabin was relatively large and com-fortable for the time and circum-stances. Dug into the side of themountain, the rocks provided moremoderate temperatures than felt in thestandard more exposed cabins. Thefloor was dirt, and we recalled ourGrandma Clara telling how every bit ofspare water was poured on the floor tokeep the dust down. The house wasbroad, with a room for Simon Davis,who was Albert’s partner in the miningventure, and a bachelor and long-timefriend. The cabin opened facing east-wards offering a view of the valleybelow where most of the miners set-tled.

While many of the logs of the cabinwere still intact, the sides had fallenover, and a four-wheeler path had cutthrough the center where some of thestructural parts must have been carriedaway. As such, it was not immediatelyrecognizable, and we took a long whilestudying the cabin, the horizon and thedescription. A 30-foot tall spruce grewinside the structure, which enabled Al-bert II to estimate that the roof col-lapsed between 1930 and 1940. Anexperienced woodsman, he factored inclimate and elevation along with DBH(Diameter at Breast Height) to estimatethe age of the tree as 70 years old. Al-bert II also calculated the approximatedate the spruce seedling first receivedsunlight to germinate and grow into itspresent 15-inch diameter as consistentwith the decay of the roof occurringapproximately 30 years after the de-parture of the cabin’s inhabitants.

While the structure fit what weknew, it was not until we studied thecontours of the land that it became ap-

parent what was missing from whatonce had been, and now was no more.Once the land spoke, the vision be-came clear: we imagined the whole ofthe cabin stretching across the pathwaybeyond the emptiness, looking out ontothe valley, just like the photograph. Westood there, and let Alex take our photowith the horizon matching the phototaken more than a century earlier.

Set high in altitude, over 8,000 feetamongst the spruce and ponderosapine, without running water or even anearby spring, the effort needed tomaintain a household and raise youngchildren in a cabin such as this is al-most unimaginable. The energy re-quired to bring necessities up themountain trail to the cabin and to sur-vive the harsh winters seems over-whelming. Throughout their lives,Albert and Clara, as well as Milton,talked about the need to utilize everyresource, but it was the beauty of lifethey talked about most often.Grandma’s favorite song, Home on theRange, was one way she reminded ourfamily of the unsurpassed grandeur ofthose years.

Being there, seeing, feeling the sur-rounding beauty, I became aware ofhow my brother Albert II is so like myDad. He was drawn by curiosity, inter-est, and a desire to discover thingsfirsthand. We spent two days climbingaround the rough terrain, Albert, nowin his 83rd year walking with a canefaster than I could go. All the while, asI scrambled breathlessly to catch up, Inoticed how his gait, leaning on thecane, and his profile are so much likeour Dad’s. As we discovered the cabin,I felt Albert’s undying determination,so much like Dad’s. The fulfillment oflocating the cabin brought another di-mension of pleasure to the moment,feeling the continuity of generationsover more than a century. I felt close tomy Dad, to my grandparents, and tomy siblings. The shared experience ofbeing together in that place, in bodyand spirit, brought kinship beyondtime.

R E M E M B E R I N G E R I C K S O NThe floor was dirt, and we recalled our Grandma

Clara telling how every bit of spare water was poured on the floor to keep the dust down.


ALEXANDERVESELY

A Filmmaker Documenting Psychotherapy

IntroductionThe Erickson Foundation is work-

ing with filmmaker and director,Alexander Vesely of Vienna, Austria toproduce a documentary about MiltonH. Erickson. “Wizard of the Desert”will offer a broad audience a look atthe personal and professional side ofDr. Erickson..

This interview between Vesely andRoxanna Erickson Klein takes place inOctober of this year. Both Klein andVesely would like to thank Mary Cim-iluca, CEO, at Noetic Films, Inc. forher ongoing support and business acu-men, which has helped bring this im-portant project to fruition. Roxanna Erickson Klein (REK):

Hi Alex. I would like to take this op-portunity to ask you to share with ourreaders your background in filmmak-ing. Alexander Vesely (AV): It’s a

pleasure to speak with you, and thankyou for giving me this opportunity totalk about my favorite subject -- film. REK: Let’s begin with our mutual

endeavor, the making of “Wizard of theDesert.” Can you tell us about thisproject and why you have taken an in-terest in it? AV: My passion has always been

filmmaking. I recognize the tremen-dous impact that a film can have on anindividual’s life. A long time ago, I re-ceived a note from the great StevenSpielberg who wrote: “Film is so pow-erful, use it wisely and enjoy it.” Thosewords have remained with me and stillguide me. Film can convey complexconcepts by translating them into ex-periences that guide us through differ-ent emotional states. It encourageslearning in a profound way.

I have formally studied psy-chotherapy. My interest in human mo-tivation and the way the mind works,together with my passion for filmmak-ing gave me direction; even my mas-ter’s degree thesis was on “cinematherapy.” As I learned about and com-

pared different schools of psychother-apy, the journey of exploration led meto an interest in the work of Milton Er-ickson. The Erickson Foundation hasbeen central in helping me and otherslearn about his remarkable therapeuticapproaches.

For approximately two years I havecollaborated with the Foundation on“Wizard of the Desert.” I have filmeddozens of interviews with profession-als from around the world; the storiesthey told will illustrate the profoundimpact Dr. Erickson’s work has had ontheir diverse professional practices. REK: It’s true that my father’s

words and messages have had a lastingimpact on so many lives. I’ve seen anumber of those interviews and I havealso been interviewed for this film. Youare quite skilled in drawing stories outof people. AV: Thank you. While I encourage

people to talk about their memoriesand the relationship they had with Dr.Erickson, I also want to illustrate itwithout changing or altering the emo-tional content that they bring to the in-terview. I seek to capture the impactthat Dr. Erickson had on the individualwho is telling his story. REK: It must be a delicate balance

-- encouraging people to tell their story,yet not leading them in one directionor another. You seem to have a specialtalent there too. Tell us how your train-ing in psychotherapy has fit with yourwork as a filmmaker. AV: In order to gain a deeper un-

derstanding and to improve my direct-ing skills, I formally studiedpsychotherapy at the University of Vi-

enna. I explored the connection amongfilm, narration, and therapy in my mas-ter’s degree thesis. I think my appreci-ation of psychotherapy has improvedmy work as a director, especially inworking with actors. I gained manyvaluable insights which have impactedand changed the way I approach film-making. Engaging emotions in a waythat can lead to insight is an importantelement of psychotherapy. It is similarto generating an atmosphere that cap-tures an audience.

Looking at different schools oftherapy and their parallels to the cine-matic experience, the work of MiltonErickson immediately stood out. Hisgroundbreaking ideas as well as hispersonal life’s story are so remarkablethat I wanted to see his story on screen.REK: How did you get started in

the art of directing films? AV: Enthusiasm for film and the vi-

sual arts has always been part of me. Ibegan to make films as a child. In fact,I got my first camera at age seven andI have directed, produced, and writtenmany short films, commercials, anddocumentaries. The opportunity justhappened by circumstance, but once Iembraced it, things began to fall intoplace in a way that helped me to rec-ognize my own talents.

My work has now begun to be rec-ognized in Hollywood and I have beenoffered several important film projects.I am beginning the process of applyingfor a U.S. work visa. In addition, oneof my short films, “Codigo Capital,”produced and directed in Argentina,was an official selection at the LatinoFilm Festival in Berlin. “Viktor & I, AnAlexander Vesely Film” won the Dia-mond Award from the California FilmAwards along with three other presti-gious recognitions. I was most hum-bled and honored by theserecognitions.

REK: I have seen “Viktor & I” andagree that the recognition is wellearned.

That film helped us see that youhave the ability to tell our story aboutDr. Erickson in an interesting, com-pelling, yet accurate way. AV: I went through a vast amount

of archival material for “Viktor & I,”as well as the footage I had shot my-self. A lot of it was great material andthe biggest challenge was to decide

which stories to set aside. Luckily, inthe process of putting all the materialtogether, the story began to tell itself,to find cohesion and meaning. It beganto show the humanity of this greatthinker. I am pleased with the outcome.Professionals worldwide had been ask-ing for a more cohesive understandingof the work of Dr. Viktor Frankl, whilean even broader group of people wereclamoring to know more about the per-son.REK: As I understand it, the ap-

proach to “Wizard of the Desert” willbe similar to the one used to show thework of Viktor Frankl. AV: It is difficult to capture the

essence of a man and his work by sim-ply looking at volumes of text. Film isthe medium of our time and an idealway to remind the world of great menand their work. While researching Dr.Erickson’s work, I came to think ofhim as a great American hero. Once Ibegan to work on this documentary, in-terviewing many former patients, stu-dents, colleagues, family, and friends, Ibecame even more intrigued by hischaracter. He was a gifted man whoovercame great physical challenges tobecome an enlightened healer. He hadthe ability to move patients towardwellness by utilizing their own wordsand simple, everyday activities. Histechniques have been studied by thou-sands, yet no one can fully explain howhe so powerfully did what he did. Thestories about him are vital to preserve.REK: Many of these stories were

at risk of being lost without the workyou have done. Overall, what do youthink is the most difficult aspect of thefilm?AV: This work is challenging in

that it had not begun until decades afterDr. Erickson’s death. This has offeredsome advantage, in that mature profes-sionals are able to look back and rec-ognize ways in which Dr. Ericksoninfluenced them. However, it also wasa serious disadvantage, in that some re-sources have gone to the four winds, soto speak. REK: In the event that other mate-

rial or opportunities become available,will you still work with us to add to thefilm? AV: I am always committed to as-

sure that the work is as complete as

C O N T R I B U T O R O F N O T E

Continued on next page


possible. If the opportunity arises forshooting additional material, I will behappy to work with the Foundation tointegrate it into the film so that it, too,will be preserved.

REK: I was hoping you would saythat. My own archival work tells methat you never know what resourcesmight be discovered, and so the workis never complete.

AV: You are so right. I once wrotethat producing a documentary is a bitlike a treasure hunt -- you find pearlsaround every corner. My tendency as adirector is to continue to add footage,but at some point, you must cut the re-search and finish the film.

REK: Well Alex, I want to let youknow that your contribution to theFoundation Archives is substantial. Ihave found working with you to be arare privilege.

AV: Thank you very much. It is apleasure working with you too.

Viktor and IAlexander Vesely, Filmmaker

Noetic Films2011

www.viktorandimovie.comISBN: 978-0-615-46806-5

$24.95

Reviewed by C. Alexander Simpkins,Ph.D. & Annellen M. Simpkins, Ph.D.

San Diego, California

Filmmaker Alexander Vesely hascreated Viktor and I, a feature filmabout his grandfather, Viktor Frankl,the founder of Logotherapy. The movieis an artistically presented collage ofinterviews, interspersed with Frankl’slectures, TV appearances, and intimatememoirs. Vivid visuals combined withmoving music convey a powerful ex-periential presence of this inspirationalman and his valuable work. The movie highlights Frankl’s

ideas, which are just as relevant todayas they were when he first had them asan inmate in a concentration camp dur-ing the Holocaust. He has taught ushow to rise above any unchangeablesituation, no matter how horrific, andemerge better human beings. We can’tpursue happiness, he maintained, wemust let it surface as a natural byprod-uct in the quest for meaning in life andlove. In fact, the most traumatic cir-cumstances have the highest potentialfor meaning in one’s life. Therefore,we have opportunity to transmutetragedy into triumph. Moviegoers are offered an almost

personal encounter with Franklthrough disclosures from those whoknew him intimately: his family,friends, colleagues, and religious lead-ers. These personal stories revealFrankl to be a deeply caring individual.His capacity for forgiveness is shownwhen he helps a former Nazi to findwork. And, many are probably notaware of Frankl’s sources for his loftyperspectives. Since his youth, he wasan avid mountain climber and utilizedmemories of his climbs to rise abovehis suffering at the camps. He alsotrained to get an American pilot’s li-cense in his 70s!

Viktor and I captures many ways inwhich Frankl helped others. Frankl’sson-in-law, Franz Vesely, a physicist,notes how Frankl did collective ther-apy--talking over the shoulder of inter-

viewers to give advice and encourage-ment to the larger audience. And wesee Frankl doing just that in a fascinat-ing collection of movie clips. Anotherinspiring story involves a paralyzedman, Jerry Long, who had been apromising athlete but suffered a debil-itating injury to his spine at age 18.Long read Frankl’s book and wrotehim a letter, explaining how it modi-fied his attitude. “I broke my neck, butit didn’t break me,” he wrote. That let-ter initiated a meaningful relationshipbetween the two men And, Long wenton to become a psychologist who hasused his experiences to transform hisclients. In the film, we also witness Frankl

and others explaining the famous par-adoxical intention technique. For ex-ample, if clients are anxious and afraidof fainting, the technique involves en-couraging them to wish to faint—andfaint many times! A client may laughat this idea, which is incompatible with

F I L M R E V I E W VESELYcontinued from page 10

everyone as sane and subject to thesame laws, tabbing the insanity de-fense a psychiatric swindle.The author of more than 30 books,

Szasz was born April 15,1920 in Budapest and movedto the U.S. with his family in1938. Szasz was a member ofthe faculty of SUNY UpstateMedical University in Syra-cuse, New York.Tom was a great friend of

the Erickson Foundation,serving on the faculty of allthe Evolution of Psychother-apy Conferences. Hekeynoted the 2010 BriefTherapy Conference wherethe Foundation presented himwith a specially bound copyof his 1961 book Myth ofMental Illness, celebratingthe 50th anniversary of itspublication.Thomas Szaz will be

greatly missed by family, friends, andcolleagues. His message will endure.Jeffrey K. Zeig

noses. Szasz pointed out the insidiousparadoxes created by third-party pay-ers, noting that such payment disem-powers the patient and poisons a

consensual relationship between pa-tient and clinician.Szasz noted that there was no valid

method to distinguish sane from in-sane, and advocated the treatment of

Thomas Szasz“In my view, the most important

human values are political liberty asfreedom from coercion andpersonal responsibility as re-specting promises and hold-ing others responsible fortheir actions.” So saidThomas Szasz in an interviewfor the Erickson FoundationNewsletter in 2010 when hewas 91. Dr. Szasz passedaway September 8, 2012, atthe age of 92.A man of abnormal in-

tegrity, he railed against coer-cive treatments. Piercing theveil of collective denial, headvocated individual libertyas a primary ethic. Szasz de-clared that the ways of psy-chiatry are not the ways ofmedicine He maintained thatthe true healer of the soul is a“doctor of persuasion,” notcoercion.Viewing psychotherapy as a moral,

rather than medical science, he arguedagainst the ways in which individualsare stigmatized by psychiatric diag-

I N M E M O R I A M

Caricature byAndreas Steiner

anxiety, leading to detachment andchange. The section about the Holocaust is

particularly moving, and includessome of Frankl’s fascinating insights.He believed that there are only tworaces in the world: decent people andindecent people. When the indecentpeople gain power, a Holocaust be-comes possible. The movie coversmany educational topics, including re-ligion, faith, relationships, and humor--all seen through the lens of a man wholived his beliefs.Moviegoers will have an experi-

ence and get to know a great man whenwatching Viktor and I. They will alsobe inspired to rise above their ownchallenges in life to find meaning,which can set them free. The movie ends with a panoramic

mountain view and Frankl’s last words,“The situation lacks tragedy.” We highly recommend this movie!

men Congress a very attractivepre-early bird price for the Parisevent and there were 250 regis-trations by the end of Congress.Newsletter readers can also getthis price of 340 euro if theyregister before Dec 31, 2012.

I would suggest that anyonewith a professional interest inhypnosis join the world audi-ence for the next Congresswhich will no doubt be a spec-tacular event.

Dan Short, Ph.D.www.iamdrshort.com


Foundation Offers FreebiesWe might as well admit it…we all love freebies. And why not?! Don’t we pay

enough for everything else? Now the Foundation offers free items to thank oursupporters and those who purchase products from the online store.

This year we’ve posted a free lecture by Jeff Zeig – “Exploring the Genius ofMilton Erickson -- delivered last March (to a Web and live audience) at the Cali-fornia Southern University School of Behavioral Science. Then, we gave away thenew eBook: Milton H. Erickson by Jeffrey Zeig and Michael Munion. Also, JeanHouston’s keynote address at Brief therapy ’08: “Inner Archetypes of Social Trans-formation” – a fascinating presentation on how to incorporate sensory, psycho-logical, mythic, spiritual and unitive states to bring personal potential to socialchange at a community, professional, and cultural level. And, in memory ofThomas Szasz, we placed on our homepage an access link to his entire keynote ad-dress from Brief Therapy 2010.

There may be no free lunch, but Foundation will let you know the next timethere’s a freebie. If you are not receiving our emails and would like to be on theemail list, please sign up at www.erickson-foundation.org.

Marnie McGann

International Society of Hypnosis

CongressThe XIX International Hypnosis

Congress in Bremen, Germany, was ahistorical event. Sponsored by The In-ternational Society of Hypnosis (ISH),organized by Bernhard Trenkle, an Er-ickson Foundation Board member andadministered by his son, Andy Trenkle,it was the world’s largest hypnosis con-ference to date. There were 1700 reg-istrants and 2300 in attendance, almost300 of which were faculty.

As one might imagine, the infor-mation offered was extraordinary. Un-fortunately, the list of fascinatinglectures and references to Ericksonianpractitioners is more than can be sum-marized in this brief article. See:www.hypnosis-congress.com for thecomplete program.

As a member of the teaching fac-ulty, I enjoyed the opportunity to sharemy experiences with an internationalaudience. However, even more excit-ing was my role as a student, attendinginspiring lectures by the world’s lead-ing experts. Topics ranged from thetreatment of clinical problems, such asbreast cancer or OCD, to unique appli-cations such as children with autism orthose living in extreme poverty. Therewere also unique perspectives on prob-lems such as the worship of cult figuresor other controlling individuals whomisuse hypnosis to exert undue influ-ence by brainwashing or cult indoctri-nation.

From the start of the Congress, Isaw evidence of Dr. Erickson’s contin-uing influence on the evolving hypno-sis community. In an illuminatingkeynote address, Jeff Zeig convinc-ingly illustrated the intricacy and in-creased depth that Dr. Erickson’sapproach offers when compared to tra-ditional hypnosis. During her keynoteaddress, Julie Linden, the incomingpresident of ISH, described ErnestRossi as a leading researcher who hashelped us to better understand the fu-ture of hypnosis and how it can con-tribute to the broader field of scienceand genetics. As a longtime admirer ofCamillo Loriedo’s work and his Erick-

sonian approach, I was gratifiedto learn that he was honored atCongress with the BenjaminFranklin Award, which is thehighest honor afforded by ISHHaving served as president forISH this past year, Camillo,also a Foundation Board mem-ber, demonstrated an im-promptu utilization of technicaldifficulties during his keynoteby discarding frozen Power-Point slides to advance his gen-eral point of being moreinterpersonally available whenconducting hypnotherapy.Bernhard Trenkle also was hon-ored as the recipient of PierreJanet Award for Clinical Excel-lence.

This year’s Congress was full ofentertainment, not only in the eveningsbut also during some lectures. Therewas wall-shaking laughter in someworkshops, and a Turkish doctorbrought a whirling dervish and musi-cians to perform as he compared Su-fism with auto hypnosis.

I eagerly look forward to the nextISH conference, which will be held inParis, August 26-29, 2015. Paris waswhere the first international hypnosiscongress was held in 1889. For moreinformation on the XX ISH Congress,visit www.cfhtb.org. The French col-leagues offered attendees of the Bre-

Jeffrey Zeig with Camillo Loriedo. Camillo received the Benjamin Franklin Award,

the highest honor afforded by ISH.

Camillo Loriedo turns over ISH presidency to Julie Linden.

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An Evening of Celebration: Erickson Foundation opens new officesOn Thursday, October 11, the Foundation’s doors were propped opened to wel-

come more than 50 guests. The air was scented with flowers and candles, and fes-tive paper lanterns glowed above. Many guests took tours of the building with JeffZeig or staff, viewed artwork and photographs, browsed the library and archives,sipped wine or sparkling drinks, enjoyed food, and visited with friends and col-leagues.

The “Dance of Life,” sculpture, created and donated to the Foundation by Eli-jah David Herschler, mesmerized guests as it gently twirled and reflected the sun-set light. Large-scale photos of Monument Valley and paintings donated by IrwinPasternak of Pasternak & Associates (responsible for the interior design of the new

NEWS & NOTESUncommon Therapy has

Universal AppealUncommon Therapy : The Psychiatric Tech-

niques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D., by JayHaley is now available in Modern Chinese atwww.psygarden.com.tw.

Jay Haley’s book, written in 1973, is a classic in the field of psychotherapy and hasworldwide appeal. The book provides a com-prehensive look at Dr. Erickson's theories inpractice through a series of case studies cover-ing the kinds of problems that are likely to occurat various stages of the human life cycle.

Confluence now available in GermanConfluence: The Selected Paper of Jeffrey K. Zeig is now available in German.

Please visit: http://www.literatur-vsm.at/CONF/index.htm.

Marnie McGann

building) decorated the walls, as well as signed posters from Evolution Confer-ences, faculty photos, and caricature drawings by Andreas Steiner.

The grand opening celebration was held to honor Dr. Erickson and thank themany donors and supporters who have helped the Foundation begin this new chap-ter. Our building at 2632 E. Thomas Rd. Ste. 200, allows for the expansion of ourprecious archives; provides more room for staff to conduct day-to-day operations;and serves as home to the Foundation Press. It also is a global destination for Er-icksonian practitioners.

To view photos of the grand opening reception, please visit our homepage atwww.erickson-foundation.org and click on the link for pictures.

Marnie McGann

The Newsletter is Online!

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Now that we’re ensconced in ournew building, we appreciate even moreall those who have made our effortspossible. Many have donated since lastspring’s issue of the Newsletter -- forour build-out to be completed, the ele-vator, the shaping of the Haywardhouse museum, our archives, Wizardof the Desert, documentary, and for ourgeneral fund. All these donations havehelped us to further our mission and weare extremely appreciative of each one,large or small.

We also are especially thankful toFounding Member Marilia Baker whois a longtime contributor to the Foun-dation, Contributing Editor for theNewsletter, and invited faculty for In-ternational Congress.

We wish to thank the followingFounding Members for their signifi-cant donations of $500 or more:

Marilia Baker (MHE Building Fund)

John Frykman (MHE Building Fund/Archives) Kristina Erickson (Museum Fund)Robert B. Erickson (Museum Fund)Roxanna Erickson Klein and AlanKlein (Museum Fund)Dennis Mattson (Museum Fund)Dan Short (MHE Building Fund)Marjorie Soroka (MHE Building Fund)Barbara and Joseph Straining (MHE Building Fund)Tracey and Stan Tatkin (Museum Fund)Diane and Michael Yapko (MHE Building Fund/Archives)We also wish to thank those who

have donated $100 or more, including:Johann Anton EgliStella Greenhalgh Oren Ilana

John LentzColleen and Wally MullerDr. Joan NeehallWilfrid NkodiaCarme Timoneda-GallartSheean TrevorKaren WallAnd last, but definitely not least be-

cause all donations are appreciated,thank you to: Rosa Carusa, Jose Cava,Dean Couris, Kathleen Donaghy,Kevin Drab, Debbie Joffe, HalimFaisal, Sharon Furlong, David Gillies,Hitoshi Kasai, Maureen Janeski, Lau-ren Jones, Arleen Leis, David Lippitt,Phyllis Linhart, Paula Llobet, DavidLondon, Avrohom Kass, David Milner,Luis Guzman Moreno, Joyce Mills,Rodrigo Murrer, Rebecca Peck andJames Warnke.

Marnie McGann

CONFERENCE NOTESThe American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) will hold the 55th Annual Scientific Meetings and Workshop, The Triple Crown: Integrating the Mind, Body

and Spirit, March 15-19, 2013 at the Marriott Louisville Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky. For information contact the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, 140 N.Bloomingdale Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108; Tel, 630-980-4740;

Fax, 630-351-8490; Email, [email protected] ; Web, www.ASCH.net

Psychotherapy Networker is sponsoring the 2013 Networker Symposium, The Therapist’s Craft: Healing Connection in a Digital World, March 21-24, 2013 at theOmni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. For information contact: Psychotherapy Networker, 5135 MacArthur Boulevard N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016; Tel, 202-537-8950; Fax, 202-537-6869; Email, [email protected] ; Web, www.PsychotherapyNetworker.org

The Couples Conference will be held April 18-21, 2013 at the Manhattan Beach Marriott in Manhattan Beach, California. The Conference is sponsored by The Mil-ton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. with organizational assistance provided by The Couples Institute, Menlo Park. Faculty will include Lonnie Barbach, Stephanie Brown,Paul Ekman, Marty Klein, Bill O’Hanlon, Esther Perel, Stephen Porges, Terry Real, Janis Abrahms Spring, Michele Weiner-Davis, and Jeffrey Zeig. Preliminary infor-mation will be available in October on the Conference Web site: www.CouplesConference.com

The American Psychological Association (APA) will hold the 121st APA Annual Convention July 31-August 4, 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information con-tact the APA, 750 First Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002-4242; Tel, 800-374-2721; 202-336-5500. TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123; Web, www.apa.org

The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference sponsored by The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., will be held December 11-15, 2013 in Anaheim, California. Moreinformation will be available in the coming weeks. Visit the Conference web site: www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com or contact the Erickson Foundation, 2632 E.Thomas Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85016; Tel, 602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519; Email, [email protected]

The European Society of Hypnosis (ESH) in collaboration with the Italian Society of Hypnosis (SII) will hold the 13th International Congress entitled, Hypnosis andReslience: From Trauma and Stress to Resources and Healing, October 22-25, 2014 in Sorrento, Italy (Amalfi Coast). For more information contact Societa Italianà diIpnosi, Viale Regina Margherita, 296, 00198 Rome, Italy; Tel and Fax: (039) 06 8548205; Email: [email protected]; Web, www.societaipnosi.it

Donations Further Foundation’s Mission


UPCOMING TRAININGDATE TITLE / LOCATION / LEADER CONTACTS

12/19-23 Hypnotic Patterns / Beijing, China / Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D. 1.

2013

1/10-13 Ericksonian Coaching / Sao Paulo, Brazil / Zeig 2.

1/24-27 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian Clinical Hypnotherapy - Master Class / New York City, NY / Zeig 3.

1/25-27 ASCH Approved Basic Hypnosis Training / (20 CEUs) / Los Angeles, Calif. / Norma Barretta, Ph.D., Philip Barretta, MA, MFT, David Gordon, Ph.D., Dyan Haspel-Johnson, Ph.D., Eleanor Haspel-Portner, Ph.D., Cye Hoffman, Ph.D., Ben Pomerantz, Ph.D. 4.

1/28-2/1 StoryPlay® Foundations: A New Ericksonian Indirective Model of Play Therapy / Marriott Suites Old Town, Scottsdale, Ariz. / Joyce C. Mills, Ph.D. 5.

2/7-10 Ericksonian Methods Demystified / Potsdam, Germany / Zeig 6.

2/18-22 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief Hypnotic Psychotherapy - Fundamental / Phoenix, Ariz. / Brent Geary, Ph.D., Zeig and Invited Presenters 7.

2/25-3/1 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief Hypnotic Psychotherapy - Intermediate / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, Zeig, and Invited Presenters 7.

3/2-5 Brief Psychotherapy Master Class / Phoenix, Ariz. / Lilian Borges Zeig, LPC; Jeffrey Zeig, Ph.D. 7.

3/7-10 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian Clinical Hypnotherapy - Master Class / New York City, NY / Zeig 3.

4/12-14 ASCH Approved Intermediate Hypnosis Training / (20 CEUs) / Los Angeles, Calif. / Barbara Freedman, Psy.D., MFT, Gordon, Haspel-Johnson, Haspel-Portner, Karin Meiselman, Ph.D., Pomerantz, Peter Stone, D.D.S. 4.

4/19-21 Couples Conference / Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Invited Presenters 8.

5/5 ASCH Approved Advanced Training “How Classical Mindfulness Can Facilitate Hypnosis in the Treatment of PTSD” / (4 CEUs) / Los Angeles, Calif. / Lobsang Rapgay, Ph.D. 4.

5/18-19 The Erickson Way: Telling Stories Where They Belong / SF Theological Seminary / San Anselmo {Marin County}, Calif. / Betty Alice Erickson, Ph.D., LPC, MFT, Eric Greenleaf, Ph.D., John Dyckman, Ph.D. 9.

5/1-12 Brief Ericksonian Hypnotherapy / Russia / Zeig 10.

5/24-17 Ericksonian Hypnosis & Psychotherapy / Guadalajara, Mexico / Zeig 11.

6/1-5 Hypnotic Patterns / Guangzhou, China / Zeig 12.

6/8-12 Hypnotic Patterns / Beijing, China / Zeig 1.

6/14-15 Hypnotic Patterns / Hong Kong, China / Zeig 13.

7/15-19 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief Hypnotic Psychotherapy - Fundamental / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, L. Zeig, J. Zeig and Invited Presenters 7.

7/22-26 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief Hypnotic Psychotherapy - Intermediate / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, L. Zeig, J. Zeig, and Invited Presenters 7.

7/29-8/2 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief Hypnotic Psychotherapy - Advanced / Phoenix, Ariz. / Zeig 7.

Contact Information:1. Email, [email protected]

2. Web, www.elsever.org

3. Stacey Moore; E-mail, [email protected]

4. Southern California Society for Clinical Hypnosis (SCSCH): Web,www.scsch.camp7.org ; Email, [email protected] ; Tel, 1-888-32SCSCH/(888) 327-2724

5. Email, [email protected]; Web, www.storyplayglobal.com

6. Web, http://metaforum-deutschland.de ; Email, [email protected] [email protected]

7. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation – Intensive Training Program and Mas-ter Class: Web, www.erickson-foundation.org/training/intensives/; MasterClass: www.erickson-foundation.org/training/master-class/ ; Tel, 602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519; Email, [email protected]

8. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ85016 6500; Tel, 602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519; Email, [email protected] ; Web, www.erickson-foundation.org; Couples Confer-ence, www.CouplesConference.com ; Evolution Conference:www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com

9. Eric Greenleaf: Email, [email protected]; Web, www.miltonherickson.com

10. Email, [email protected]




To submit a listing for Upcoming Trainings, please send dates, title of work-shop, venue (city/state/country), list of presenters, and complete contact informa-tion ONLY. Information must be sent in the format above. A $25 fee per listing isrequired. Deadline for the 2013 Spring Issue (mailed April) is February 1, 2013.All workshop submissions are subject to approval by the Erickson Foundation.For more information, please contact Karen [email protected] or [email protected]

Insertion form including rates and ad specifications is available online:http://erickson-foundation.org/newsletter/advertise/

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Rapid Hypnotic Inductions:

Demonstrations and Applications

By Gabor Filo

Crownhouse Publishing Crownhousepublishing.com

United Kingdom 60 minutes

2012

Reviewed by Roxanna Erickson KleinRN, Ph.D., Dallas, Texas

Gabor Filo has considerable expe-rience and success in integrating ther-apeutic hypnosis with his dentalpractice. This DVD demonstrates a se-ries of inductions and includes bothverbal and non-verbal approaches. It isaccompanied by a 16-page pamphlet inwhich the techniques are describedmore in depth.

The DVD opens with three minutesof succinct, introductory remarks spo-ken while the viewer sees a watchswinging. The comments are excellent

D V D R E V I E Wand prepare the viewer for appreciat-ing that induction techniques are bothvaried and individual, and that profes-sionals must find a style that suits boththeir personality and practice needs.Filo points out that each of the tech-niques demonstrated contains the ba-sics of clinical hypnotherapy: Rapport.Focusing, Deepening, Re-alerting andDe-briefing.

The variety of techniques can beused in a counseling office as well asin the dental chair. While the hands-onrapid style may not be the first choiceof induction for the average counselor,it is still interesting to see that effectivetrance can be reached so swiftly. It alsois reassuring to discover that effectivestates of relaxation can be reached insettings such as dental offices wherespeed is imperative. The variety ofstyles shown opens possibilities for ex-pansion and variation of one’s ownpersonal style. This DVD fills an edu-cational need in making this informa-tion readily available.

However, I noted two minor flawsin this DVD. First, prior to using some

of these techniques, a longer introduc-tory segment would have been appre-ciated in that it would have betterdelineated the target audience andstressed the important foundation ofclinical experience. Second, there werea few non-standard U.S. formatting is-sues. Several computers I tried wouldnot play the DVD, but after consultinga technician, it played perfectly on afreestanding DVD player.

Filmed in his dental office, Dr. Filoengages one subject first, then anothertwo subjects to demonstrate a series ofbrief inductions and re-arousal tech-niques. The three subjects were wellchosen for their obvious rapport withthe dentist, their abilities to enter trancerapidly, and their ability to expresstheir experiences clearly.

The induction procedures Filo usesinclude physical contact, hand move-ments, eye fixation, fractionation, andsurprise, in addition to words, tone, ex-pectation, and pressure points. Oncetrance is induced, Filo used a variety ofdeepening techniques, analogies ofsafety, and post-hypnotic suggestionsof comfort to expand the trance work.

Signaling, scaling, and post-hypnoticconversations were used to review theclient’s experiences. Within the series,the viewer can note demonstrations ofdissociation, ideo-motor signaling, andglove anesthesia. The length of tranceinductions ranged from extremely briefto a ten-minute demonstration ofElman’s classic technique.

The DVD culminated with a 15-minute film of actual dental work donewith a patient in 2005. The patient de-scribed a prior dental phobia. Per-formed without anesthesia, the patientgives a remarkable description of theprocedure from his perspective. Thedental procedure, as well as the pa-tient’s description of his own experi-ence, offers a rare opportunity towitness effective work.

Overall, I very much appreciatedthis DVD, and would highly recom-mend it for both individuals who seekto expand their repertoire, and espe-cially for professional groups whostudy hypnotic procedures andprocesses.

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Circular Therapeutics: Giving Therapy a Healing Heart

Hillary Keeney

Bradford Keeney

Zeig, Tucker and Theisen, Inc.Phoenix, Arizona

2012243 pages

ISBN: 978-1-934442-43-2

Reviewed by Annellen Simpkins, Ph.D.and C. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D.

San Diego, CA

Circular Therapeutics is not just abook; it is meant to give the reader atransformative experience. TheKeeneys draw from their own back-ground and from great thinkers includ-ing Gregory Bateson with hiscybernetic theory and Von Foerster,who combined physics and philosophy.They also touch upon the healing tra-

ditions of the Kalahari Bushmen. But,the Keeneys also believe the readershould ultimately be freed from allmodels and methods to evolve bymeans of circular therapeutic improvi-sation. Background is only what camebefore; it is not the ground the thera-pist must walk to heal the client. TheKeeneys maintain that psychotherapyis an interactive improvisational per-formance art with spiritual depth, andthat other models miss the point.

To the Keeneys, psychotherapy ismisunderstood when considered interms of any outer form. Psychother-apy is better cast within an inner, cir-cular, Zen-like, formless form.Therapy proceeds from the heart, theKeeneys remind us, technique is sec-ondary; it must be woven with andwithin the wisdom of healing, an an-cient tradition whose origins are lost inthe mists of time. Transformationalmetaphor should be created moment-to-moment in psychotherapy with theclient during cybernetic interactivity.Use intuition without plans or models.

B O O K R E V I E W

Shift levels of dialogue in recursivecircularity. Co-create performanceswith the client that are healingmetaphors. These metaphors emergefrom the wellspring of the heart. Sym-bolic images, role-playing, stories, andpoems help evoke healing.

The book has 14 interrelated chap-ters. A short section called “Interlude”follows each chapter. Each interludecomments on what the chapter ex-pressed, often with a metaphoricalshort story. The book begins with theargument for letting go of modelingand theory as a guide, then of theoriz-ing itself. Early chapters describe andjustify the approach, and also criticizeand deconstruct the narrative approachto family therapy. Instead, the authorsextend an invitation to improvisationalcircular therapy. Entering interactivityreframes therapy as an inescapable en-tanglement between subject and object.The escape route is interactivity itself,avoiding either objectification as athing or interpretation as a label orname. Other chapters give tips on howto offer a context for metaphors thatlead the client away from theory, inter-pretation, or labels.

The Keeneys explain the generalbasics of cybernetics from the perspec-

tive of Bateson and Foerster, usingthese fundamentals as a conceptualspringboard into circularity theory.This leads the reader beyond, intotransformative circular openness, in-spired by Bateson’s metalogues andone of the two classics of Zen koancollections, The Gateless Gate. TheKalahari Bushmen and other healingtraditions help to generate metaphorsfor this process, as well as numerousrecounted therapeutic dialogues withclients. These therapeutic dialogues il-lustrate the points the Keeneys wantthe reader to embrace.

The last chapter is an invitation toapply these teachings, epitomized inthree steps: hush little puppy, movearound, and celebrate the change be-fore it has arrived. These deceptivelysimple steps hold the key to this subtleand evocative way of working. TheKeeneys teach this approach to psy-chotherapists to enhance their ability toheal. Circular therapeutics utilizes thepresenting problem to inspire a poetic,freeing performance that evokes trans-formational healing. This book offersa refreshing, creative, and spontaneousapproach to psychotherapy. We highlyrecommend it.

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Transforming Negative Self-Talk:Practical, Effective

ExercisesSteve Andreas

New York: W. W. Norton2012

ISBN 9780393707892 (paperback)118 pages,US$17.50

Reviewed by Michael F. Hoyt, Ph.D. Mill Valley, California, USA

If you have been fortunate enoughto attend one of Steve Andreas’ work-shops and/or have read any of his pre-vious books (e.g., Heart of the Mind;Transforming Your Self, Six Blind Ele-phants) and/or seen some of his videos(samples at RealPeoplePress.com),you probably have a pretty good ideaof what’s in store with this latest ex-cellent volume. Andreas’ newest bookis a precise, articulate, systematic ap-plication of change principles to a par-ticular problem—in this case, negativeself-talk. If this is your introduction,this book is also a good place to start.

Andreas begins the book, appropri-ately enough, with an epigraph fromMilton Erickson: “Your task is that ofaltering, not abolishing.” Erickson andVirginia Satir were the two therapy“gurus” that Richard Bandler and JohnGrinder studied when they created theapproach called Neurolinguistic Pro-gramming (NLP); and Andreas studiedwith Bandler and Grinder. As Andreasexplains (p. 1): “Nearly everyone hasinternal negative self-talk at times;some of us have this internal chattergoing on almost all the time. An inter-nal voice may remind us of past fail-ures, sorrows, or disappointments,torture us with criticism or verbalabuse, describe frightening or unpleas-ant futures, or disturb us in otherways.” Andreas shows how our innervoices can be transformed, and how

that can make a positive impact inmany areas of life. Instead of offeringstrategies to silence or argue with thesevoices, this book takes a different ap-proach: It guides us to make smallchanges in how we listen to and re-spond to these troublesome voices.

The book contains 11 chapters, thetitles of which nicely suggest the ter-rain: Changing Location; ChangingTempo and Tonality; Adding Music ora Song; Talking to Yourself Positively;Adding a Voice; Auditory Perspective;Starting Your Day; Generalizations,Evaluations, Presuppositions, & Dele-tions; Negative Messages & PositiveOutcomes; Asking Questions; andTransforming a Message. Helpful hintsand many clinical examples from An-dreas and other practitioners walkreaders through the exercises step-by-step. The book, which has an attractive6x9 shape and an interesting hand-to-ear cover illustration, is written as aself-help guide, with numerous pausesfor readers to try the exercises. Clini-cians easily can select particularly per-tinent exercises and guide clientsthrough them. I have used some ofthese exercises both on myself andwith clients and they worked well andquickly. Negative self-talk triggers avast array of problems, so this bookhas wide appeal.

Helping clients alter the processesof how they create and hold their expe-rience (imagery, feeling, meaning) ad-dresses how the mind builds its senseof reality, and this is key to changingit. When I consider the merits of a(brief) therapy approach, I look at threethings: (1) Effectiveness: Does it work,or more nuanced, with whom is itlikely to work? (2) Ethics: Does it re-spect and enhance the client’s sense ofself-autonomy? (3) Aesthetics: Is it in-teresting and attractive, does it capturethe listener’s ear? On all three counts,Transforming Negative Self-Talk:Practical, Effective Exercises is a win-ner. I strongly recommend it!

B O O K R E V I E W

Creating Consciousness: How Therapists Can Facilitate Wonder,

Wisdom, Truth and Beauty Selected Papers of Ernest Lawrence Rossi, Volume 2, 2006-2012

Edited by Kathryn Lane Rossi

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation PressPhoenix, Arizona

2012437 pages

ISBN: 978-1-932248-58-6

Reviewed by C. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D. & Annellen M. Simpkins, Ph.D.San Diego, California

Creating Consciousness, a groundbreaking springboard for progress, bringstogether Ernest Rossi’s most recent articles on hypnosis, psychotherapy, neuro-science, research, art, humanities, and philosophy. Rossi is a brilliant innovatorwho finds interrelationships that are crucial for psychotherapy. Drawn from hispeer-reviewed journal articles, this collection is more than a scientific contribu-tion; it is also a personal odyssey. As Rossi explains, “Each chapter began as agrowing edge of my own consciousness” (p. xiv).

Every chapter expresses a sweeping panoramic view in fine-grain detail forboth a macrocosm and microcosm of Rossi’s master theory. At the core, is the ideathat we create our consciousness. Each chapter provides a piece in the master puz-zle of how we do so, not just in a metaphorical or psychological sense, but as real,neurobiological change ongoing through the dialogue with our genes. We learnwhat kinds of experiences activate this dialogue to create a consciousness that fa-cilitates a healthy mind and spirit.

Rossi nicely bridges the gap between neuroscience and psychotherapy. Manyof the articles correlate novelty, enrichment, and exercise--qualities that stimulateneuroplasticity and neurogenesis, with key components of hypnosis, meditation,and psychotherapy. Rossi also parallels the ancient enlightenment traditions ofBuddhism and Yoga as well as the artistic creative process. These novel experi-ences act in cyclical feedback/feed-forward patterns to change the nervous systemat the level of our genes, and alter how we think and feel. Dr. Erickson was stim-ulating these same processes with his innovative techniques.

The book is divided into three parts with 13 chapters. Part One: “How We Lightand Brighten the Lamps of Human Consciousness,” begins with an interesting“culturonomic” analysis, using computer search engines to reveal the new trend ofsupplementing hypnosis by neuroscience, genetics, and bioinformatics. A pilotstudy provides evidence that gene expression is stimulated following hypnother-apy. Part Two: “An Evolutionary View of Therapeutic Hypnosis and Psychother-apy,” includes a hypnotherapeutic future-oriented approach to constructivememory by reprocessing the past in the present through novelty to stimulate re-hearsal for a more adaptive future. Rossi proposes a comprehensive research proj-ect to explore the clinical foundations of hypnosis and psychotherapy at every levelfrom genes to psycho-social-cultural and spiritual interactions. Part Three: “Howthe Mind and Brain Co-Create Each Other Daily and Hourly,” covers mirror neu-rons and the emerging field of bioinformatics of art, beauty truth, creativity, andpsychotherapy. He re-examines therapeutic suggestions through the lens of neu-roscience so that they become “implicit processing heuristics” and demonstrateshow to use them to facilitate mind-body healing.

After reading this book, one will be more familiar with Rossi’s most currentwork. And, in addition, readers will gain a deeper awareness of the nature of theirown consciousness. Rossi offers hope that we can facilitate natural evolutionaryprocesses at any moment through novel experiences from psychotherapy, art, andenlightenment. We walk with Rossi in writing this poem to inspire your creatingconsciousness:

We weave the cloth of our every day By what we do and give. The fabric of our every way

Is made by how we live. (Simpkins & Simpkins, 2009)

We highly recommend Rossi’s exceptional collection for anyone who wantsto gain insight and useful tools for creating a consciousness that will facilitate neu-rogenesis in mind, brain, and spirit.

Simpkins, C. A. & Simpkins, A. M. (2009). Meditation for Therapists and TheirClients. N. Y.: W. W. Norton.

B O O K R E V I E W


Innovations in NLPfor ChallengingTimes Vol. 1

Edited by L. Michael Hall and ShelleRose Charvet

Published by Crown House PublishingUK and USA

Banycyfelin, Carmarthen, Wales2011

371 pages ISBN 978-184590734-1

Reviewed by John D. Lentz D.Min.Shepherdsville, KY

Innovations in NLP grabbed mefrom the start and it was impressive tothe finish. Actually, this book could be-come a volume to stimulate creativity.

Imagine a dream team of individu-als and master NLP practitioners, eachwriting one of the very readable 23chapters in this book. Then imaginethose folks have a depth of under-standing they want to share with you.Now you have an idea of what thisbook offers. It also is a handy referencethat may guide the reader to becomemore resourceful. The authors of Inno-vations in NLP explain their innovativevision and provide rigorous criteria fordetermining what is new in NLP. Eachchapter is self-contained and is read-able cafeteria-style for particular prob-lems and applications.

Included in the book are new ap-proaches and ideas to stimulate think-ing. The four parts of the book coverinnovations in 1) Models, 2) Applica-tions, 3) Tools, and 4) Communities.Each subsection, presented in practicaland useful ways, discusses ideas thatwill help therapists in their practice.

The early chapters explain the con-cepts so thoroughly that even thosewith no background with NLP will un-derstand the techniques. The laterchapters assume a level of knowledgebased on the earlier ones.

Some of the models in the sectionon Innovative Models were so stimu-lating that I often stopped to writedown concepts I wanted to teach stu-dents or use with clients. An NLPModel with a capital “M” has a hy-pothesis that can be tested, which is,based in theory and can lead to distinctapplications. This book offers much

more than techniques. It was a won-derful surprise to discover how the in-novative models lend themselves tofurther innovations and precipitatedfresh, creative thinking. The models in-clude Meta-States for self-reflexiveconsciousness, LAB Profile to decodecommunications, Social Panoramasthat change unconscious landscapes forbetter relationships, Symbolic Model-ing for change through metaphor andlanguage, and RESOLVE Model forgenerative change.

Applications covered coaching andentrepreneurial leadership, understand-ing stock market wizards, wealthbuilding, overcoming addiction, stut-tering, and medical problems. Somenew tools also emerge from the Mod-els. The Identity Compass tool is usedfor coaching and recruiting. MPAMindSonar, an Xray machine for themind is applied to coaching, teambuilding, personnel management, andmarketing. The jobEQ is employed in abusiness context. I was also pleasantlysurprised at the applicability of theconcepts, both at the clinical level andat the wider Community level wherelike-minded individuals come together.Covered are the Clean Community, theLAB Profile Community, and theNeuro-Semantic Community. The finalchapters cover NLP research projects.

Innovations in NLP for Challeng-ing Times has something for everyoneand actually delivers more than is ex-pected and perhaps more than can beabsorbed in just one reading. Afterreading this book I immediately ap-plied some concepts with clients andthey worked even better than I hadhoped. This book is a wonderful re-source and stimulating toolbox.

B O O K R E V I E WADVENTURETHERAPY

Theory, Research,and Practice

Michael A. Gass, H. L. “Lee” Gilliss,Keith C. Russell

Routledge Taylor & Francis GroupFirst Edition

2012ISBN: 978-0-415-89289-6 (Paperback)

399 pages.

Maria Escalante de Smith, MACedar Rapids, IA

Adventure Therapy: Theory, Re-search, and Practice invites readers tolearn about an interesting approach thatuses adventure experiences providedby mental health professionals. It is ex-citing to discover that one of the an-tecedents of this approach is theemergence of Outward Bound in the1960s.

Chapter 1 introduces AdventureTherapy (AT) and includes the positiveinfluence of nature in the therapeutichealing process; the use of eustress(positive stress); and “the involvementof adventure experiences, meaningfulfor the particular client, particularly interms of natural consequences” (p.3).Chapter 2, on history, deals with AT’soriginating concepts. “At its core, thehistory of AT is about organizationsand leaders who often began their prac-tices outside the behavioral healthmainstream” (p. 19), such as the BoyScouts of America. Chapter 3, on thepsychotherapeutic foundation, beginsby narrating the adventures of Dorothyin The Wizard of Oz. This story is sym-bolic of AT where a small group ofdoubting individuals unable to achievetheir goals alone, grow as they achievethem together.

AT processes typically fall into oneof two categories of interventions: pre-ventive or treatment (Chapter 4).Walsh and Golins (1976) present amodel called “The Outward BoundProcess” where problem-solving tasksare set in a prescribed physical and so-cial environment, which “impel theparticipant to mastery of these tasks”(p. 71) and help people to reorganizethe meaning and direction of their lifeexperience. Nature plays a primary

B O O K R E V I E Wrole in AT (Chapter 5). In fact, manyresearchers found that nature is actu-ally the main therapeutic power andleaders simply supplement its power.

Chapter 6 provides examples ofcurrent and past adventure therapy pro-grams such as prevention (e. g. adoles-cent substance abuse). A good exampleis the Adventures in a Caring Commu-nity where didactic programs promotereflection and encourage becomingaware of external and internal assets.

Assessment (Chapter 7) shows howgroup experiences take place, begin-ning with gathering information aboutthe client group. A hypothesis isformed that will ultimately lead to theaction. The practice of AT (Chapter 8)stresses the importance of metaphor.This is a good reminder of how thera-pists need to co-create metaphors withtheir clients. Topics covered duringtherapy are context, hypothesis, novelaction, generating, and evaluation.Chapter 9 addresses both physical andemotional risks and provides ways theadventure therapist should deal withthem. Competencies for therapists(Chapter 10) include bricks of hardskills, such as technical capabilities,and bricks of soft skills, including ef-fective listening, integration strategies,and solution-oriented processing.

Supervision (Chapter 11) is per-formed in an active manner that willhelp the therapist to improve throughinsight and the use of several pathwaystoward a more successful therapeuticrelationship. Chapter 12 begins with apowerful quote on ethics: “Above else,do no harm” (Hippocrates, p. 255).This chapter is an excellent reminderfor all therapists to reflect on valuesand ethical standards. In Chapter 13,programs are evaluated to assess ifthey meet goals and objectives, andpromote changes. Finally, Chapter 14discusses several possibilities in the fu-ture of this approach, including the re-sults of a survey conducted betweenMarch 27 and April 7, 2011.

This book is excellent. All thera-pists should read it because they willsurely learn techniques to improvetheir skills in their professional prac-tice. I highly recommend it.

Some of the models in the section on Innovative

Models were so stimulating that I oftenstopped to write down concepts I wanted to teach students or use with clients.

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fact that my mother put my sister andme in therapy before the age of three.Unlike other mothers of the day whoconsidered therapy a last resort for thementally ill, my progressive Jewishmother thought it was a learning expe-rience. EB: Really! That’s very unusual.HL:Yes, I’m sure it had something

to do with my early career choice. Mymother had strong beliefs about how toraise her girls. Even during the mostdifficult economic times, she alwaysmade sure that we had four things thatshe considered necessary to our suc-cess: sturdy shoes—and I don’t meanstylish; a firm mattress; a top pediatri-cian who was none other than DoctorBenjamin Spock; and a therapist. Shehad a health insurance plan that let herhave these last two resources for onedollar per session. EB: Can you tell our readers a

bit about your education? HL: After graduating from Mid-

wood High School in Brooklyn, I wentto the University of Wisconsin inMadison where I majored in psychol-ogy and Indian studies. I spent my jun-ior year studying and doing research inDelhi, India. When I graduated, I wasturned down by all the clinical psy-chology programs for which I appliedbecause of my abysmal score on theMiller’s Analogy Test. I was totallybereft and incredulous after havingworked toward this goal since age fiveand because I had outstanding honorsand credentials. EB: They turned you down be-

cause of this one test?HL: Yes. I took the test again and

failed spectacularly the second time aswell. So I went and got a master’s in

educational psychology from TeachersCollege of Columbia University inNew York. Then I was accepted in thePh.D. program in clinical psychologyat the City University of New York be-cause they were one of the few pro-grams back then that didn’t ask for theMiller’s Analogy Test. That’s where Imet and married Steve. So in retro-spect, those devastating rejectionsturned out to be a good thing. As Stevesays, “Thank you, Dr. Miller.” EB: And then?HF: We moved from Manhattan to

Berkeley where we did a pre-doctoralinternship at Mount Zion Hospital inSan Francisco. Next, we moved toTopeka, Kansas to do a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the MenningerClinic. EB: Wow, Topeka must have

been a shock after New York andBerkeley.HL: It was culture shock for sure.

We were always planning to moveback to New York or Berkeley after thepost-doc, but, we subsequently joinedthe staff, and two years turned into twodecades and then some.

When the Menninger Foundationclosed up shop and moved to Houston10 years ago, we moved here toLawrence, Kansas, and set up a privatepractice. I’ve overcome my coastal ar-rogance and learned to love the bigopen skies of Kansas. I also appreciatethe simple life, meaning I’ve never hadto learn to parallel park. We raised ourtwo sons in Topeka. Matt now lives inSeattle, and Ben in Brooklyn.EB: When did you first start

writing?HL: When I was growing up in

INTERVIEW continued from page 1


Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married

and the Coupled UpBy Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.

Gotham Books2012

ISBN: 978010392040691-3271 pages


Harriet Lerner said that she read Food Rules, a book by Michael Pollan, and feltinspired to write a creative book of her own on marriage rules. Marriage Rules isnot a dry, structured manual for solving problems and improving relationships. In-stead, it is a carefully crafted work that is unique and instructive for marriage part-ners in many unexpected ways. Various strategies for behavior and communicationare given to reduce conflict and elicit cooperation. Lerner speaks directly to thereader in each chapter, guiding the journey of the couple through the problem area,and showing a feasible way out. Reassuring advice is included in each rule, as wellas Lerner’s professional wisdom.

Lerner’s advice and insights about an issue offer structure to couples to helpmoderate conflict during their voyage together through life. Some of the rules ad-dress common problems of wives, while others are for husbands. She reassuresreaders and offers hope that their relationship will improve. (A common concernis that there will be no improvement.) She also gives instructions for solving typ-ical disputes by advising what to say and what to do, and what not to say and do.Lerner identifies faulty attitudes that may cause friction, and gives suggestions formore constructive ones.

The 10 chapters with clever titles amuse as they enlighten. They are: “Warmthings up,” “Dial down the criticism,” “Overcome your listening deficit disorder,”“Call off the chase,” “Fight fair,” “Forget about normal sex,” “Kid shock,” “Knowyour bottom line,” “Help your marriage survive step-kids,” and “Your first family.”(This is followed by a short epilogue.)

Each chapter begins with a general overview of the theme of a group of rulesthat span an issue. The overview is coupled with reassurance and advice, and of-fers ways for couples to interact that are compassionate, positive, and warm. Forexample, in the chapter “Dial down the criticism,” Lerner deals with anger andcriticism in a constructive and forgiving way so that the humanity of the couple isappreciated and respected. Both persons’ needs are taken into account to promoteharmony, though at times one of the partners may need to counterbalance the otherto create a peaceful moment. Lerner gently advises couples with disarming humorand cautions that angry confrontation may not be the best way to discourage theannoying behavior of a partner, even though we all (including she) may indulge inthis at times. If criticism must be given, constructive criticism will more likely getbetter results than derogatory outbursts. Lerner has suggestions for how to offerconstruction criticism.

B O O K R E V I E W

Lerner gently advises couples with disarming humor and cautions that angry confrontation may not be the best way to discourage the annoying behavior of a partner, even though

we all (including she) may indulge in this at times.

Lerner describes typical ways in which couples may be odds with one another.One way is by engaging in attempts to resolve conflict that are not in synchrony.If one partner tends to choose distancing while the other chooses to pursue, neitherwill be comfortable. The opposing styles clash and so conflict remains, even if theactual source of conflict is a real-life matter that could be worked out. Lerner of-fers strategies for one of the partners to cope with the other when there is a dys-functional pattern.

We found this book to be useful and recommend it for couples to use for coun-sel and problem-solving. Lerner’s wisdom offers hope and reassurance.

Thinking Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D.

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux2011

978-0-374-27563-1418 pp. plus appendices

Reviewed by Steve Andreas, MABoulder, Colorado, USA

Daniel Kahneman is the winner ofthe Nobel Prize in economics and theonly psychologist to win such anhonor. His book, Thinking Fast andSlow, is divided into 38 exceptionallyclear and readable short chapters, eachof which takes up a specific experi-ment or topic in detail. Kahnemanpresents a variety of ingenious experi-ments that support his dual system the-ory of how we think, understand,evaluate, and decide--with particularattention to biases in judgment, riskevaluation, overconfidence, andchoice.

System 1 is fast, intuitive, auto-matic, emotional, subject to bias, andmostly unconscious and metaphoric.An example is one’s immediate re-sponse to someone who is angry. Sys-tem 2 is slow, rational, laborious,unemotional, less subject to error, andmostly conscious and logical. An ex-ample is the statistical calculation ofthe probability of a plane crash.

Since the dance between these twosystems play out in nearly all the prob-lems that clients present, the content ofthis book is directly relevant to ourtherapeutic interventions, which aremost often directed at changing System1-- unconscious responses.

A key principle is: “What you seeis all there is” (WYSIATI); we canonly construct meaning out of what wenotice, remember, or anticipate. Sim-ply expanding the scope and detail ofwhat we are aware of, in both spaceand time, is a powerful interventionthat can change our response to events,and this is particularly true of painfulmemories.

For example, in one experiment,participants experienced two condi-tions. One of their hands was im-mersed in frigid water for 60 seconds.Seven minutes later, the other handwas immersed in the same water for 60seconds, but then kept in the water foranother 30 seconds as the water was

warmed by one degree, making itslightly less painful. When participantswere asked which condition theywould prefer to repeat, 80% preferredto repeat the longer period of pain. Theprinciple is that people tend to recallthe pain at the ending of an unpleasantexperience, in contrast to its duration.

When people remember trauma,they typically experience the most in-tense moment of pain, or they have ashort “movie” that ends with a high in-tensity of pain. A ridiculously simpleand effective intervention is to ask aclient to lengthen the scope of theirmovie of a traumatic memory so that itends at a time of less intense unpleas-antness, and thus is remembered as lessdisturbing. This experiment and themany others described in the book,present examples of what is called the“availability heuristic.” The experienceof the ending of pain is more availablethan its duration. By changing the end-ing point, what is available to memoryis changed. (WYSIATI)

Anything you can do to change theexperience someone thinks of in theproblem state will change what is im-mediately available to his or her aware-ness, and change the response. Aposthypnotic suggestion is one way.Dr. Erickson’s use of a startling inter-ruption of an existing problem re-sponse, and then redirecting attentionto something else is another. As heonce said, “Your task is that of altering,not abolishing.”

I seldom recommend books, be-cause most have little new to offer orare only useful for curing insomnia.However, this book is a remarkable ex-ception. Every therapist should read it,and put it into practice.

B O O K R E V I E W

When people remembertrauma, they typically experience the most

intense moment of pain, or they have a short

“movie” that ends with a high intensity of pain.

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Solution Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques

Harvey Ratner, Evan George, and Chris Iveson

London and New York: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group)2012

ISBN 9780415606134 (paperback)272 pages, $23.95

Reviewed by Michael F. Hoyt, Ph.D., Mill Valley, California, USA

The authors of this excellent book--Harvey Ratner, Evan George, and ChrisIveson--are the founders of BRIEF (formerly known as the Brief Therapy Practice)in London, the premier European, solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) trainingand service provision agency. Longtime students and colleagues of the originaldevelopers of SFBT, Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, Ratner et al. have givenus an easily accessible guidebook that only could be written by experienced mas-ters. The tone is assured, yet humble; the examples plentiful and good; and the un-derlying theory, refreshingly brief, clear, and not pedantic. The authors write (p. 3,italics in original): “[SFBT] is an approach enabling people to build change in theirlives in the shortest possible time. It believes that change comes from two princi-ple sources: from encouraging people to describe their preferred future--what theirlives will be like should the therapy be successful--and from detailing the skills andresources they have already demonstrated--those instances of success in the pres-ent and the past. From these descriptions, clients are able to make adjustments towhat they do in their lives.”

Solution Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques is dividedinto 16 parts: Background; Features of Solution Focused Interviewing; GettingStarted; Establishing a Contract; The Client’s Preferred Future; When Has It Al-ready Happened?; Instances of Success; Measuring Progress: Using Scale Ques-tions; Coping Questions: When Times Are Tough; Ending Sessions; ConductingFollow-up Sessions; Ending the Work; Assessment and Safeguarding; Children,Families, Schools, and Group Work; Work with Adults; Supervision, Coaching,and Organization Applications; and Frequently Asked Questions.

The authors concisely acknowledge the origins of their SFBT approach, in-cluding Milton Erickson’s ideas about utilization, MRI’s emphasis on brevity andmodifying problem-forming patterns, and de Shazer’s First Session Formula Taskand Miracle Question. The heart of the book then provides extensive guidance forstarting and conducting interviews focused on resources and solutions. The au-thors discuss how to close sessions and promote continued progress. In addition,they address applications of SFBT to various challenging situations, including do-mestic violence, couples and family work, Alzheimer’s, trauma and abuse, andsubstance misuse.

“Do what works” is a basic SFBT rule. Were Steve and Insoo still with us, I amsure they would be very happy to see what their “students” have produced. Solu-tion Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques is a clear expositionthat embraces and builds on the original SFBT model. It also honors teachers, bothde Shazer and Berg, and ultimately their clients, by applying de Shazer’s well-known Ockham ’s razor to explore and describe what is really essential for changeto occur. To illustrate the principle: When someone once wrote the words “simplify,simplify, simplify” to describe SFBT’s minimalistic approach, de Shazer famouslyscratched out two of the words! Along with de Shazer’s 1985 Keys and 1988 Cluesand Berg’s 1994 Family-Based Services, this book ranks at the top. As a place tostart or as an elegant refresher, I enthusiastically recommend it!

B O O K R E V I E W Primer on Posttraumatic Growth: An Introduction and Guide

By Mary Beth Wedel & Robert J. Wicks

John Wiley & SonsHoboken, New Jersey

2012232 pages

ISBN: 978-1-118-10678-5


We are all familiar with the theory and research about Post Traumatic StressDisorder or PTSD, but there are always those people who come out of even themost traumatic situations, better than before. Now there is a growing body of sci-ence and theory to explain why, and education on how to elicit therapeutically an-other way to deal with trauma.

In Primer on Posttraumatic GrowthWedel and Wicks present a clear and help-ful guide to fostering a positive outcome from trauma, known as posttraumaticgrowth. Not just a slanted reframe, posttraumatic growth is a sensitive, viable, androbust method to guide the most traumatized client toward deep and lasting trans-formation.

The term posttraumatic growth was coined in 1996 by Tedeschi and Calhoun,and has become a predominant theory for explaining the positive life changes peo-ple can make following trauma. The theory states that we all have certain taken-for-granted cognitive schemas, such as that we are safe in the world and people aretrustworthy. But a traumatic experience disturbs and upends such assumptions.Through a process of reexamining pre- and post-trauma schemas, new meaningsemerge.

The aim of the book is to work through the violation of pre-trauma schemas,through a deliberate process of ruminating and meaning-making, while sensitivelylowering distress levels. New interpretations and possibilities open a positive post-trauma adjustment. The nine chapters clarify what posttraumatic growth is about;the research that has been done; and how to guide clients toward it. Each chapteralso includes a robust conclusion section with a quote to remember, clinical cor-nerstones, and selected references.

Chapter 1 offers a history, with its roots in Victor Frankl, Carl Rogers, and pos-itive psychology, along with the key modern theories, definitions, and implica-tions. In discussing those who believe posttraumatic growth might be a myth,Chapter 2 distinguishes between denial and constructive self-transcending work.Meaning is key to the process. Chapter 3 builds on Frankl’s conceptions of mean-ing as life’s basic motivation in order to show ways to help people find meaningthat overcomes loss and trauma. Chapter 4 delves deeper into the cognitive processof rumination that occurs automatically from trauma. Therapy can lead clients to-ward deliberation for cognitive change. Positive emotions tend to open percep-tion, while negative ones narrow it. Chapter 5 offers ways to manage negativeaffect and encourage positive emotions using relaxation and meditation. Person-ality can play a role, and Chapter 6 instructs in how to work with personality toelicit more self-esteem and better coping tools. Sensitive issues of disclosure andsupport are discussed in Chapter 7 to assist clients in accepting the support theyneed. Chapter 8 provides the research, therapeutic interventions, and tips for help-ing traumatized clients open their hearts by creating a culture of forgiveness. Chap-ter 9 calls forth faith and religious ways of coping with suffering, so valuable forthose coming out of trauma. And the final epilogue on wisdom encourages thera-pists to develop their own capacities to find courage and mindful openness forthemselves as they also bring out these qualities in clients.

This book is filled with informative constructs, theories, and research that willgive readers a beneficial guide for promoting posttraumatic growth. In addition, theauthors write with warmth and compassion to deepen one’s own empathy fortrauma victims and inspire a healing spirit to instill in others. We highly recom-mend this well-done book!

B O O K R E V I E W


The Science ofTrust: EmotionalAttunement for

CouplesJohn M. Gottman, Ph.D.

W.W. Norton and CompanyNew York and London

2011 480 pages

ISBN: 978-0-393070595-9

Reviewed by John D. Lentz D. Min.Shepherdsville, KY

John Gottman has done it again. Hehas shown why he is a leader in thefield of couples therapy. Because of theresearch, facts, and useful clinical ap-plications that are offered, this bookwill become a standard textbook incouples counseling education world-wide. Gottman mentions and incorpo-rates ideas from top professionals inthe field and brings positive insight totheir work. The result is The Science ofTrust is an amazing accumulation of

facts, studies, and concepts that aretruly useful.

Gottman’s approach in workingwith couples is more than a tool of-fered in an interesting way; it is a wayof thinking. For example, he explainsgame theory as a part of trust by tellingthe story of two men with opposing po-sitions about the Cold War -- Von Neu-mann and Anatol Rapoport. (PeterSellers mad scientist character in thefilm Dr. Strangelove was modeled afterVon Neumann.) Detailing how theylived brought clarity to understandingtrust on the global level and on the in-timate level that facts alone would nothave been able to illustrate. Von Neu-mann’s fear made long-term relation-ships impossible, and he died young.By contrast, Rapoport’s belief in peo-ple helped him to live a long, comfort-able, and happy life with one wife. It isno shock when later in the bookGottman’s approach includes informa-tion on Rapoport’s way of living.

I found myself wanting to read thisbook with a pen and pad in hand just

B O O K R E V I E W

so I could take notes. The concepts arehelpful and they are made more pow-erful when Gottman introduces termsthat he and his team have coined.

This lengthy book of 480 pages of-fers chapters that deal with trust from ascientific perspective with relevantfindings for scientists. And yet, the in-formation also is offered from a wise,clinical mindset. There are chaptersthat deal with all aspects of trust, including the physiology of trust andbetrayal. The book includes straight-forward guidelines for how to workwith couples and even when to end arelationship. Noteworthy are the chap-ters on how to build trust as well as re-pair negativity and cope with betrayal.Illustrations of a trust game are pre-sented with Gottman’s characteristic

scientific mindset and dialogs that il-lustrate ways of using the researchfindings.

While reading this book I becameinfatuated with how Gottman’s mindworks. I love how he mixes sciencewith intuition, explained with the en-thusiasm of someone who is glad toshare the myriad of interesting bits ofinformation that he has collected overthe years. He presents these tidy bits ofinformation with a master therapist’stouch.

Not only do I recommend thisbook, I will certainly encourage mystudents to read it because in the futuremuch of this material will become ex-pected knowledge for marriage coun-seling.

Illustrations of a trust game are presented with Gottman’s characteristic scientific mindset

and dialogs that illustrate ways of using the research findings.

https://store.erickson-foundation.org

Brooklyn I always kept one of thoselock-and-key diaries. I wrote faithfully,every night, year after year. Thishelped me to see writing as an ordinarydaily activity, and to find writing com-forting. I still have those diaries and it’sfascinating to read them. EB: I imagine your diaries show

a great talent for writing. HL: Quite to the contrary. There’s

zero evidence of talent. This makes mydiaries valuable for teaching purposes.I bring a diary along whenever I’m in-vited to talk to students in the publicschools about writing and publishing.If they’re sixth graders, for example, Ibring my sixth-grade diary. I pass itaround and the students are inspired.They say to each other, “Wow, if shecan write a book, I can do it too!” Thisinsight is worth a lot. EB: What got you started writing

professionally?HL: When I came to the Men-

ninger Foundation in Topeka in theearly ‘70s feminism hadn’t yet arrived.I was confronted with theories andtherapy of women that needed revi-sion, but I couldn’t convince my col-leagues—big surprise. So I wrote. Myearly scholarly publications were fem-inist revisions of psychoanalytic theoryfollowed by my integration of familysystems theory into psychodynamicwork. EB: Did you get a lot of support

for your writing?HL: Here my debt to feminism is

incalculable. Women reached out to meover long distances, even oceans tosupport my work and to give me asense of intellectual community andcamaraderie. I should also add that theMenninger Clinic was an internationalcommunity that was large enough insize and spirit to encompass differ-ences. It was an incredibly excitingplace to work. I had excellent supervi-sors and teachers, even if many ofthem hoped that feminism was some-thing I’d outgrow. EB: I imagine you became a fem-

inist in New York and Berkeley.HL: In truth, I didn’t “get” femi-

nism when I lived on the coasts. I wasone of those obnoxious women whosaid things like, “I’ve never been dis-criminated against. If women don’t liketheir place in life they should get out ofthe kitchen.” I was asleep, or maybe in

a coma. But when I moved to Topeka,necessity became the mother of com-prehension. I got feminism. EB: How did you begin to write

popular books? HL: I had always seen myself as a

scholarly writer. By chance, I was in-vited to write a popular book aboutwomen’s anger, and I thought, “whynot?” especially as the invitation camewith an advance of $7,000, which washuge back then. But what followed wasfive years of misery because that pub-lisher fired me, later rehired me, andthen fired me again. Over the next five

years every publisher in the country re-jected the book. I could wallpaper thelargest room in my house with thoserejection slips. EB: Oh my gosh! HL: Any normal person would

have given up. It’s remarkable I keptgoing because I wrote and rewrote thatbook on a typewriter. The very thoughtof this makes me want to light a littlecandle for myself. When The Dance ofAnger was finally published I thoughtthat no one would read it except for mymother and my five best friends. EB: I guess the sales proved you

wrong.HL: So true. EB: And lucky for the world, be-

cause The Dance of Anger hit such anerve and you became a voice forwomen. What books followed next? HL: The Dance of Intimacy, The

Dance of Deception, Women in Ther-apy, Life Preservers, The MotherDance, The Dance of Fear, and twoaward-winning children’s books Iwrote with my sister Susan. Then Itook a 10-year break from book writ-ing because I thought I had said every-


thing I wanted to say.EB: Your most recent book,Mar-

riage Rules: A Manual for the Mar-ried and The Coupled Up, came outin January of this year. What in-spired you to write another book?HF: Michael Pollan’s gem of a

book, Food Rules. Pollan is a sophisti-cated food writer, but this little bookcontains 64 simple rules for healthfuleating; rules such as, “Don’t buy cerealthat changes the color of the milk.”While reading Food Rules I had a rushof inspiration. I thought, “I can do thisfor marriage and couples. I can distill

all the theory into 100 concise rulesthat will make marriage work, or atleast give it the best chance of suc-ceeding.”EB: So that’s how you came up

with the title Marriage Rules? HL: Exactly. Although admittedly,

coupling up is more complicated thaneating.EB: Any other reasons you chose

this format?HL: I wanted to write a book that

would be helpful to one person in acouple, because often only one personhas her motor running for change.While it takes two people to couple up,it takes only one to make the relation-ship a whole lot better. Also, MarriageRules is user-friendly and fun to read.And men, who don’t usually read rela-tionship books, love it. Couples oper-ate in a time famine, and when they’reunder stress they can’t plow through afat, theoretical book. They need a realgo-to guide. EB: Marriage Rules uses the

word “rules” and rules are some-thing that people tend to rebelagainst.

HL: I suppose “rules” can sound abit bossy, but why not? Writing can bethe tactic of a “secret bully,” as JoanDidion reminds us—“a way to say lis-ten to me, see it my way, change yourmind.” I suspect there’s a secret bullybehind my light and funny touch. EB: You definitely did pack a lot

into this book and you did a greatjob covering a lot of territory. I wasglad to see you addressed issuesabout in-laws; step-kids; and fami-lies of origin and how they impact acouple; and how either partner cando simple things that make a big dif-ference. What I really love is thatyou make such great use of humor.HL: Yes, as my cartoonist friend

Jennifer Berman says, “Withouthumor, nothing is funny.”EB: And you bring in your own

marriage as well. I know you’vebeen married to Steve for more than40 years. Do you follow the rules inyour book?HL: On my good days, but if you

were a fly on the wall during my BadMarriage Days you would never buymy books or show up in my consultingroom. EB: I think you did a great job

with Marriage Rules, but no matterhow brilliant a book it is, it has tomotivate someone to act. Can a bookchange lives the way marital coun-seling can?HL: Often more so. It’s amazing

what some people can accomplishwhen therapists get out of their way. Agood book can bypass resistance.Readers can run with what’s useful andignore the rest. What’s necessary is thegenuine wish for a better relationship,and a willingness to experiment withnew behaviors rather than waiting forone’s partner to change first. And, ofcourse, a good book is a great adjunctto a therapy process. EB: So how do you hope people

are going to use Marriage Rules? Doyou hope they’ll pick a chapter that’srelevant to them or read through itand be able to remember it whenthey’re in a tight spot? HL: Therapists tell me they assign

a particular rule to a particular client orto a couple. Readers have shared a va-riety of imaginative ways they useMarriage Rules. Some couples read it


I wanted to write a book that would be helpful to one person in a couple, because often

only one person has her motor running for change. While it takes two people to couple up, it takes only one to make the relationship

a whole lot better.


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These deluxe, limited edition volumes, feature— published and unpublished papers speeches, lectures & workshops case studies patient transcripts with commentary new introductory material

and updated chapters

Access the wealth of material Dr. Milton H. Erickson created over the course of nearly 60 years of clinical practice. $59.95 each (subscription discount available.)

For the complete story on this series, visit our website — www.ericksonwww.ericksonwww.erickson---foundation.org/collectedworksfoundation.org/collectedworksfoundation.org/collectedworks

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The Collected Works







The rules are not complicated. And sometimes a seemingly small change can make a

big difference. It’s the direction we move in over time that counts, not the speed of travel.

aloud to each other in bed. Other’sdog-ear one rule for their partner, eachpromising to follow the rule the otherhas chosen for them for 30 days. Or,like The Dance of Anger, one personcan read it and change their steps in thepatterns that bring them pain. It’s notuntil we move differently in a relation-ship that we can really see that rela-tionship more clearly.EB: Do you have favorite rules? HL: I love the rules in the chapter

“Forget about Normal Sex,” also, therules in the chapter “Overcome YourL.D.D. (Listening Deficit Disorder),”which is my new diagnostic categoryI’d like to see added to the DSM man-ual. Of course, the rules about fightingfair and clarifying your bottom line areessential. And, when kids and step-kids enter the picture, the rules forkeeping your bearings are sanity sav-ing. Hmmm…I guess I like all therules I tucked into 10 chapters, be-

cause, well, I put them there. EB: You say marriage is compli-

cated but your marriage rules arenot. Do you really believe this?HL: Absolutely. The rules are not

complicated. And sometimes a seem-ingly small change can make a big dif-ference. It’s the direction we move inover time that counts, not the speed oftravel. The hard part is actually doingsomething different, trying out a “newyou.” It can feel impossible to bringyour best self into your marriage whenyou’re angry and have a long list of le-gitimate grievances. Actually, it’s notimpossible. it’s just extremely difficult.EB: Marriage Rules is terrific.

Thank you for writing it.HL:You’re welcome.

Ellyn Bader, Ph.D., and her hus-band, Peter Pearson, Ph.D., arefounders and directors of The Couples

Institute and creators of The Develop-mental Model of Couples Therapy. Dr.Bader is widely recognized as an ex-pert in couples therapy training. Shehas trained therapists throughout theU.S. as well as in Europe, Russia, Asia,South America, and Australia. Her firstbook, In Quest of the Mythical Mate:A Developmental Approach to Diag-nosis and Treatment in Couples Ther-apy, was awarded the Clark VincentAward by the California Association ofMarriage & Family Therapists as anoutstanding contribution to the field ofmarital therapy.

Since 2006, Dr. Bader has led in-novative couples therapy training pro-grams online. Professionals fromaround the world connect with herthrough the internet (blog discussions,etc.) and conference calls to study “TheDevelopmental Model of CouplesTherapy: Integrating Attachment, Dif-ferentiation, and Neuroscience.”

For more information visitwww.couplesinstitutetraining.com/de-velopmentalmodel or www.couplesin-stitute.com.

http://www.couplesinstitutetraining.com/developmentalmodel/

http://www.couplesinstitute.com



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