Milton H. Erickson – The Father Of Conversational Hypnosis

WHO WAS MILTON H. ERICKSON?

Milton H. Erickson (1901-1980) was an American psychiatrist and medical doctor best known for his ability to “cure” psychological and behavioral problems using unconventional psychotherapy techniques. It is the success of these unusual techniques that led to the term, “Ericksonian Hypnosis”, which is better known as “Covert Hypnosis” or “Conversational Hypnosis”.

COVERT HYPNOSIS VERSUS CONVERSATIONAL HYPNOSIS:

The reason Milton H. Erickson’s techniques were called “covert” and “conversational” is because he effectively creates a hypnotic induction (i.e., he puts the target in a mild trance) during normal conversation without the target knowing it has happened.

This is possible since people enter such trances naturally many times each day. When you daydream, get lost in a book or movie, forget where you have been in the last 10 minutes of driving, or phase out while someone is talking to you, you have entered an alpha-state hypnotic induction.

WHY CONVERSATIONAL HYPNOSIS WORKS:

The reason conversational hypnosis works so well is because in even a very light state of hypnosis, you are 200 times more open to suggestions than when you are in your normal fully-awake “beta” state of consciousness.

Milton H. Erickson was a key influence to the field of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) created by Richard Bandlerr and John Grinder who modeled Ericksonian Hypnosis. Erickson’s techniques were largely based on therapeutic metaphors and stories. Since he could invoke effective behavioral change in relatively few sessions, Erickson’s works were also referred to as “brief therapy” which is the heart of NLP.

IT IS ALWAYS LISTENING:

The basis of Milton H. Erickson’s techniques is the subconscious mind is always listening … especially when the conscious mind is confused or otherwise focused on something else. According to Ericksonian Hypnosis, the subconscious mind is most open to suggestions during openings, stories, metaphors, opportunities, symbols, and contradictions.

Thus, most, if not all, techniques or Ericksonian Hypnosis, or conversational hypnosis, are indirect, virtually undetectable, and unexpected.

AN EXAMPLE OF ERICKSONIAN HYPNOSIS:

For example, rather than inducing hypnosis and directly telling the subject to do or change something, the conversational hypnosis technique is to state or imply the subject could or might do or change. Rather than saying, “You will stop smoking”, you would say, “You can become a non-smoker”.

MILTON H. ERICKSON’S “HANDSHAKE” TECHNIQUE:

Another example for which Milton H. Erickson was well-known, is the “Handshake” hypnotic induction where Erickson would initiate a normal handshake and then create confusion by changing his handshake in the last instant. While the subject is confused, Milton H. Erickson would state a conversational hypnosis command which the subject would not even remember hearing … consciously.

The handshake hypnotic induction technique can be as simple as grasping the subject’s wrist instead of his hand … or not sinking your hand fully into the subject’s hand. Or it can be more involved as “the hypnotic touch”. The hypnotic touch begins as you are about to release the handshake. Rather than simply letting go, you linger by gently touching the hand with your thumb just firmly enough for the subject to notice … or dragging one of your fingers across the subject’s palm during the release … or dragging with one finger and switching to drag with another.

A REAL EXAMPLE OF MILTON H. ERICKSON IN ACTION:

One of the clerical assistant’s in Milton H. Erickson’s practice repeatedly complained of severe headaches that would recur frequently. So, Milton H. Erickson decided to conduct an experiment, and he asked the assistant to take dictation for him the next time she complained of a headache.

She was not happy about it … but she agreed. During his dictation, he used subtle embedded indirect commands, and by the time he finished the dictation, her headache was gone. She never complained about taking dictation for him again.

MORE CONVERSATIONAL HYPNOSIS TECHNIQUES BY MILTON H. ERICKSON:

Milton H. Erickson created many conversational hypnosis techniques including the following: The Double Bind, Encouraging Resistance, Communicating Through Metaphors, Relapse Encouragement, Frustration Response, Deviated Symptom Performance, Idea Seeding, Self Exploration Avoidance, and Psychological Shock.


If you would like to learn how to use conversational hypnosis yourself, there is an excellent course available here: http://www.Autopilot101.com/hypnosis/thepowerofconversationalhypnosis.htm
As a special free bonus gift, this outstanding audio course includes a complete audio course in “Ericksonian Hypnosis” as well.

Written by Dr. Bryan Stoker.