Founding Leader, Essay Example

His approach to therapy is so dramatic and powerful it seems wizardry. Milton Erickson’s approach to therapy involves what are surely some of the most sophisticated and profound uses of hypnosis documented; more broadly, Erickson’s approach borrows from and builds upon hypnotic technique (Haley, 1993, pp. 18-19; Kottler & Montgomery, 2011, p. 254). Erickson’s approach is pragmatic and decidedly anti-theoretical: he is focused on what works. Rather than delving into detailed personal histories and exploring clients’ feelings at length, Erickson focuses on the now, on helping his clients to overcome the presenting symptoms. Toward this end, he helps his clients to explore the contours of their problems thoroughly, covering all aspects of them, and helping clients to identify any situations in which their problems do not occur. He often uses hypnosis to bypass client resistance; even when he does not, he uses a framework of relating to his clients that is substantially based on hypnotherapy, in that he is carefully observant of his clients and highly capable of motivating them to carry out directives (Haley, 1993, pp. 18-19; Kottler & Montgomery, 2011, p. 254).

Erickson will also seek to confuse and even trick his clients, sometimes giving them paradoxical directives that he wants them to disobey (Kottler & Montgomery, 2011, pp. 254-255). All of this is part of Erickson’s strengths-based approach: he seeks to help his clients find ways to take control of their lives and overcome their problems. Following his approach, if a client is having trouble with their spouse and believes their spouse is the problem, the focus should be on helping the client to find ways to become more effective at getting her/his needs met. In a radical case, Erickson brought a catatonic schizophrenic back to consciousness after many years, simply by matching the rhythm of the patient’s breath and then leading him (pp. 254-259). Thus, for Erickson, change occurs by helping the client to achieve mastery over their problems and surmount them (pp. 254-256).

References

Haley, J. (1993). Uncommon therapy: The psychiatric techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Kottler, J. A., & Montgomery, M. J. (2011). Theories of counseling and therapy: An experiential approach (2^nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.