During this seminar, Dr. Erickson describes essential skills for working with resistant patients, the use of permissive language, ordeal therapy, geometric progression, and therapeutic double binds. Erickson conducts a demonstration, answers questions from the audience, and elaborates on his thinking with case illustrations that include: sexual dysfunction, stuttering, bed wetting, childhood eating disorders, compulsive habits, phobias and self-defeating behavior.
In this set, Erickson communicates the timeless principles of hypnosis that he observed, discovered and utilized. He emphasizes the paramount importance of protecting the patient and establishing trust as the very foundation of the cooperative relationship characteristic of hypnosis. He stresses the importance of understanding the meaningful need of the patient and reviews, with many examples, the techniques of rehearsal, uncovering, dissociation, regression, time-distortion, revivification, visualization, orientation to the past and to the future, trusting the unconscious mind, and post-hypnotic suggestion.
Marsha Linehan (2009) provides dynamic, engaging demonstrations with two separate volunteers using nonjudgmental “chain analysis” to identify their problem behavior and look for controlling variables. Rather than using self-discipline, she suggests practical methods such as listing pros and cons and setting up consequences if the behavior continues. Both volunteers reported great satisfaction with the process.
Mary Goulding (1995) demonstrates with three volunteer clients. The first is disturbed because his mother did not spend much time with him during childhood. Next Dave is concerned about his distant relationship with his son. The third, Diane describes problems with her mother who is now a widow and overly critical. Goulding explains her work.