How we bring the environment into therapy. Dr. Cohen will describe techniques that consciously and unconsciously motivate patients to be active in their treatment and to understand why he utilizes certain methods. Attendees will share their experiences that resonate with Erickson’s life.
Milton Erickson said, “Change first then insight.” Too often therapists try to produce change by giving clients insight into their problems expecting to produce results. This approach reduces effectiveness as it overestimates the power of the conscious mind while neglecting and underestimating the unconscious mind’s role in the healing process.
Therapists will learn Subliminal Therapy (ST), a psychodynamic technique used to accomplish consciously desired change. ST is a hypnotically medicated and utilizes the capabilities of a higher level of the patient’s intelligence that exists in the unconscious domain. ST empowers the patient by providing awareness of causal influences, thereby facilitating resolution by the patient. ST is described, its effectiveness is quantified and justified, and typical applications are detailed. Additionally, participants will witness a demonstration of the technique.
Fuzzy Focus is a method that therapists can use to bring about quick and effective results. Fuzzy Focus is a process whereby unconscious resources are accessed by disrupting existing mind-sets, which are keeping alternative frames of reference unavailable. To use Fuzzy Focus effectively, therapists must be grounded with a coherent understanding of human nature and human consciousness. This workshop teaches the participant Fuzzy Focus as well as the theoretical framework needed to use Fuzzy Focus.
Like all our experience, the self-concept has a specific structure that provides stability and structure, much like the keel of a ship. Participants will learn how to determine the structure that an individual client uses, and how to change that structure in order to make their self-concept more useful and effective.
Using a video of Kay Thompson's brilliant conversational induction with a young dentist, we will explore her masterful focus: 1) by studying her own outline of how she uses words and metaphors to lead (and follow) her subject's journey from conscious to unconscious; 2) by looking at the transcript - a map of where she is going; 3) then by watching, as she journeys with her subject through various states from nervousness and confusion to wonder and joy.
Usually, we are not aware of our breathing, yet we are always doing it. Moreover, breathing provides a way of consciously managing processes of an unconscious nature. During this course, a theoretical introduction will be made from breath work traditions such as Yoga, to our actual medical understanding of the breathing process. Practical and simple exercises will be done and clinical applications will be given, including the use of breath work in hypnosis.
The use of Conversational Unconscious Communication gives the therapist a greatly enhanced ability to influence the client to generate lasting positive change. This workshop will enable the participant to learn the structure and uses of therapeutic metaphor and the interspersal technique at both the conscious and unconscious levels of the mind.
Milton H. Erickson, MD understood that "the conscious (thinking) mind doesn't do much of anything of much significance . . . while the unconscious mind is an infinite storehouse of dreams, potentials and solutions . . ." This short course will teach a brief, solution-focused, strategic, hypnotic approach to anxiety related disorders. Participants will learn to employ Ericksonian interventions including solution-focused questions, strategic task assignments, and formal/conversational hypnosis via live demonstration, experiential exercise and case studies.