Milton H Erickson

Presents over one hundred "teaching tales" of the hypnotherapist Milton Erickson, which he uses to influence his patients on conscious and unconscious levels, and discusses his approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy.

Milton H Erickson is one of the most studied people in the field of hypnosis and psychotherapy. Hundreds of thousands of words have been written analyzing his therapeutic methods and words with miles and miles of film, audio and videotapes. In Milton H Erickson MD: An American Healer read about the man Milton H Erickson, rather than his psychotherapeutic techniques. Told from the perspective of three of his children, this book uniquely explores the personal side of this world-famous psychiatrist. It is a remarkable spiritual journey. As a part of his life-long struggle to overcome the physical effects of polio, Erickson acquired prodigious observational and interactional skills, as well as a powerfully calm healing presence. With photographs, stories and a DVD of one of his clinical sessions, this book brings to light the quiet spirituality of an extraordinary healer.

Milton H. Erickson, M.D. is generally acknowledged to have been the world's leading practitioner of medical hypnosis. His "strategic therapy," using hypnotic techniques with or without actually inducing trance, allows him to get directly to the core of a problem and prescribe a course of action that can lead to rapid recovery. This book provides a comprehensive look at Dr. Erickson's theories in practice, through a series of case studies covering the kinds of problems that are likely to occur at various stages of the human life cycle. The results Dr. Erickson achieves sometimes seem to border on the miraculous, but they are brought about by a finely honed technique used by a wise, intuitive, highly trained psychiatrist-hypnotist whose work is recognized as a major contribution to the field.

"...Provides students and professionals with clear examples of the evolution of clinical hypnotic phenomena. Two major innovations in this volume are the utilization theory of hypnosis and indirect forms of suggestion...Each chapter includes an essay by Ernest Rossi which clarifies and elaborates on the relevant issues of Dr. Erickson's work just illustrated. In these essays Dr. Rossi analyzes Dr. Erickson's approach in order to uncover some of the basic variables that can be isolated and tested by future experimental work...A number of graduated exercises are offered as a guide to aid hypnotherapists to develop their own skills in the clinical arts of observation, hypnotic induction, and the formulation of indirect suggestion..."--inside flap.

A transcript of the DVD produced by Jane-Parsons-Fein which includes 12 videotaped hours of a training session with Dr. Milton Erickson in Phoenix Arizona in October, 1979.

`Zeig and Munion have provided us with a lucid insight into the life and work of a 20th century giant, and it is a book full of human warmth and humour. I congratulate you who still have the adventure of exploring Milton H Erickson′s story ahead of you′ - Hypnos `This offering on Erickson does not set out to uncover new ground, but more to introduce one to Erickson (and the cases are so extraoridinary they are worth repeating anyway). It does this in a number of easy to read sections′ - New Therapist `This book is an easily accessible primer for those who are new to studying Ericksonian methods.... its depth provides the reader with the experience of learning about the man, as well as the method′ - Milton H Erickson Foundation Newsletter Milton H Erickson provides a unique insight into the life and experiences of this influential figure, and a clear account of his specific contributions to psychotherapy, both theoretical and practical. Erickson was the dominant force in legitimizing the use of clinical hypnosis. Through his research and practice, he developed a scientific understanding of hypnotic phenomena and devised many novel clinical applications. He took the view that psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of an individual′s strengths and needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit a particular theoretical approach. His directive and strategic interventions contributed substantially to the development of brief therapy approaches such as strategic therapy, solution-focused therapy, and the interactional approach.