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Bill O’Hanlon’s Background and Use of Stories
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Career includes 35 books, 3,500+ talks in 27 countries, and songwriting in Nashville.
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Uses storytelling in therapy, inspired by Milton Erickson and structured through NLP.
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Studied storytelling techniques extensively, including attending storytelling festivals.
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Demonstrates storytelling in therapy with a volunteer from the audience.
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Client Case: Annie’s Longing for a Daughter
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Annie has experienced seven miscarriages and extreme pregnancy-related illness.
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Her husband has chosen to prevent future pregnancies; she still longs for a daughter.
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Past trauma includes sexual abuse and bullying.
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Despite hardship, she has cultivated strength, resilience, and joy.
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Exploring Resilience and New Possibilities
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Annie’s strength comes from life experiences, including time in Nepal and commitment to justice.
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Emphasis placed on love, connection, and alternative paths to fulfillment.
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Discussion of “third options” when direct goals feel unreachable.
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Cloe Madanes’ Use of Stories and Metaphors
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Uses metaphor and storytelling to trigger emotional insights in therapy.
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Shares a story about Evita to illustrate personal transformation and leadership.
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Emphasizes stories as tools to help clients access deeper meaning and motivation.
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Therapeutic Value of Storytelling
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Stories should be mutual, relevant, and strategically used—not random or self-focused.
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Clients often relate more to shared or metaphorical stories than to therapist anecdotes.
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Stories are remembered more than lectures and can impact clients decades later.
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Even misremembered stories hold emotional weight and transformative potential.
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Personal Vulnerability and Story Use in Therapy
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Sharing personal challenges (e.g., loss, grief) can create connection and authenticity.
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In small communities, personal transparency is often unavoidable but valuable.
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Being human and open in therapy enhances the therapeutic bond.
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Humanistic and Relational Emphasis
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Storytelling is a humanizing tool that promotes emotional healing and relatability.
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Clients value therapists who are emotionally present and real.
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Attendees reflect on the impact of a storytelling approach in comparison to more clinical ones.
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Closing Reflections
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Cloe expresses appreciation for the therapeutic community and emphasizes connection.
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Storytelling is presented as a foundational human trait—therapists are encouraged to use it to build meaning, healing, and transformation.
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EP17 Clinical Demonstration with Discussant 01 - Using Stories to Create Change in Psychotherapy - Bill O'Hanlon, MS and Cloe Madanes, LIC, HDL
Credit Available - See Credits tab below.
Total Credits: 1.5 including 1.5 A.P.A.
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Topic Areas:
- Clinical Demonstrations with Discussant | Psychotherapy | Storytelling | Domestic Violence | Family Therapy | Strategic Therapy | Ericksonian Hypnosis and Therapy Techniques
- Bundle(s):
- Learning Track - EP17 Psychotherapy Download | EP17 Audio Streaming Build a Bundle
- Categories:
- Evolution of Psychotherapy | Evolution of Psychotherapy 2017 | Evolution of Psychotherapy Psychotherapy Learning Track | Online Continuing Education | Pioneers in Couples and Family Therapy
- Faculty:
- Bill O'Hanlon, MS | Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC
- Duration:
- 1:30:09
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- Dec 14, 2017
- License:
- Never Expires.
Description
Description:
Bill O'Hanlon will demonstrate the gentle power of using stories to create change in therapy through two clinical demonstrations. Come witness the fun and evocative way stories can invite people into change.
Educational Objectives:
- Describe a relevant story for the presenting issue.
- Utilize stories in changework.
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Outline:
Credits
1.5 credits available.
The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
THE MILTON H. ERICKSON FOUNDATION Policy on Disclosure
The Milton H. Erickson Foundation is proud of the conferences and other
educational opportunities it sponsors, taking care that the conduct of
these activities conforms to the standards and principles of behavioral
and medical sciences, thus ensuring balance, independence, objectivity
and scientific rigor in all individually sponsored or jointly sponsored educational
activities.
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review and therefore are in control of content, are requested to disclose
any relevant financial relationship prior to the CME activity, including but
not limited to specific commercial interests, financial remuneration received
by faculty member or spouse, and what role or activity was performed
for this remuneration. If a conflict of interest exists as a result of
a financial relationship it will be resolved prior to the activity. A faculty
member will not be allowed to present if the conflict is not or cannot be
resolved.
Faculty
Bill O'Hanlon, MS Related Seminars and Products
Bill O'Hanlon, MS, has written over 30 books, appeared on Oprah with his book Do One Thing Different, and has been a top-rated presenter at psychotherapy conferences all over the world. He was a student of the late Milton H. Erickson and created Solution-Oriented Therapy and Possibility Therapy.
Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC Related Seminars and Products
Cloé Madanes, HDL, LIC, is a world-renowned innovator and teacher of family and strategic therapy and one of the originators of the strategic approach to family therapy. She has authored seven books that are classics in the field: Strategic Family Therapy; Behind the One-Way Mirror; Sex, Love and Violence; The Violence of Men; The Secret Meaning of Money; The Therapist as Humanist, Social Activist and Systemic Thinker; and Relationship Breakthrough. She has presented her work at professional conferences all over the world and has given keynote addresses for The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy; the National Association of Social Workers, The Erickson Foundation, the California Psychological Association and many other national and international conferences. Madanes has won several awards for distinguished contribution to psychology and has counseled outstanding individuals from all walks of life.