Not all hypnotherapists believe in direct suggestions. Ericksonian hypnotherapy uses what it is called indirect suggestions. Indirect suggestions are much harder to resist because they are often not even recognized as suggestions by the conscious mind, since they usually disguise themselves as stories or metaphors.

An example of a direct suggestion is, "Your eyes are getting very sleepy." An example of an indirect suggestion is "Perhaps your eyes will grow tired as you listen to this story and you will want to close them." This would all be said in such a way as to mark out key words and phrases by subtle shifts in the tone of voice. The person's unconscious awareness thus responds to embedded and even unspoken commands and suggestions. This is part of what sets Ericksonian Hypnotherapyapart from other, more traditional forms of hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Milton Erickson: The Father of Modern Hypnotherapy

Milton Erickson is considered the father of modern hypnotherapy. The therapy he engendered, Ericksonian hypnotherapy, is one of the most influential branches of hypnotherapy used by therapists today. His work inspired short term strategic therapy, the rebirth of guided imagery, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Erickson once said, "Everyone is as individual as their own thumb print." In his practice, he tailored every hypnotherapeutic induction to the client's individual needs and perceptual bias. He believed in the wisdom of the unconscious mind, and in the theory that people have all the resources necessary to make changes inside themselves. He believed that the job of the therapist is to help the client re-establish his/her connection with his/her inner resources and to develop a rapport between the conscious and the unconscious mind.

Erickson generally didn't use a formal trace induction. Instead he realyed stories that has a deeper meaning. Sometimes that meaning was clear, and other times it was not - at least not to the person's conscious mind. Erickson frequently drew upon his own experiences to provide examples of the power of the unconscious mind.

Erickson believed that the unconscious mind was always listening, and that, whether or not the patient was in trance, suggestions could be made which would have a hypnotic influence, as long as those suggestions found some resonance at the unconscious level. The patient can be aware of this, or can be completely oblivious that something is happening. Erickson would see if the patient would respond to one or another kind of indirect suggestion, and allow the unconscious mind to actively participate in the therapeutic process. In this way, what seemed like a normal conversation might induce a hypnotic trance, or a therapeutic change in the subject.

Erickson also believed that it was even appropriate for the therapist to go into trance. He said, "I go into trances so that I will be more sensitive to the intonations and inflections of my patients' speech. And to enable me to hear better, see better."

Erickson maintained that trance is a common, everyday occurrence. For example, when waiting for buses and trains, reading or listening, or even being involved in strenuous physical exercise, it's quite normal to become immersed in the activity and go into a trance state, removed from any other irrelevant stimuli. These states are so common and familiar that most people do not consciously recognize them as hypnotic phenomena.

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About the Author

Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and author specializing in the treatment of mental health using integrative medicine and natural therapies. She works with individuals, couples, and families at her office in San Jose, California. Dr. Fredricks' publications include the landmark book Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems. Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Dr. Randi Fredricks as articles often present the published results of the research of other professionals. Copyright © 2012.