Customer Reviews

Hypnotherapy

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This particular book was originally published in 1964 and is one of the classics of modern hypnotherapy. The 50s and 60s saw a rush of interest in hypnotism the USA and Soviet Union. It was proven effective for anesthesia, sports performance and psychoanalysis. The military also experimented with hypnotism for "mind control" or "brainwashing." The mainstream press equally sang hypnosis' praises and vilified it. Hypnosis figures into a lot of movies of the era including The Manchurian Candidate with Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansbury from 1962.

Dave Elman was a writer, director and producer of network radio programs. At 49 years of age, he decided to change careers and return to hypnotism, something he had studied in his youth. He restricted the enrollment in his Course in Clinical Hypnosis to physicians and dentists, teaching them induction techniques and demonstrating, what he called, hypnoanalysis. I remember my mom using the inductions right out of this book on her friends when I was a little kid.

This book is full of anecdotes and case studies. He really shows what can be done with this remarkable tool. I was shocked by the doctors in the book cavalierly tossing out diagnostic labels such as psychosomatic, neurotic, frigid, etc. as if anything they couldn't prescribe a drug for is a neurosis. It helped me to realize how far modern physicians have come in the understanding of compassionate and holistic medicine since 1964. Dave Elman's approach with these same neurotic and frigid patients shows a much more "modern" understanding than their own doctors. He tells them all "everything that ever happened to you is stored in your unconscious mind and can be freed or at least understood through hypnosis." Then he goes on to hypnotize the patient and find perfectly logical causes for their "neurotic aberrations" thereby allowing them to reframe the precipitating event and release the problem. -- Inga Duncan Thornell >^..^<

In my popular hypnosis discussion forums Dave Elman is consistently voted as the second most influential figure in the history of modern hypnotism, next to Milton Erickson. This book is in some respects dated so not for the beginner but it contains extensive information from a genuine authority on hypnotism and master of his art. 90% of books on hypnosis are junk, written by bluffers -Dave Elman was not one of them! This is a rather dated approach to therapy. However, Elman's rapid induction technique and simple but clear and accurate perception of the basic principles of hypnosis revolutionised the practice of hypnotherapy. He writes with the voice of someone who genuinely understands his subject from his own experience.

Donald Robertson, author of,

The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy

The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid the Father of Hypnotherapy

The Practice of Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy

This book is a classic and the part of this book that has become the most popular in hypnosis circles so far is probably the famous Dave Elman Induction, which incorporates suggestibility tests to ratify the trance state and fractionation to help the individual enter into a state of deep trance very rapidly.

Some of the techniques taught are so simple and effective that there is even a charming example of a little girl who learned who to use a rapid method of inducing self-hypnosis to help herself deal successfully with an annoying itch.

The book also covers applications of hypnosis in different areas of interest to medical doctors and dentists because it was originally written for them.

Anyone who is into hypnotherapy should read this book. Three people suggested I read this book when they learnt I was studying Hypnotherapy. Dave Elman was certainly a head of his time and is still unfortunately under rated. Hypnosis is more than having someone close their eyes in a comfortable chair. Hypnosis occurs when suggestions are believed wholeheartedly 100%. Like the book suggests, it is a beautiful natural state that should be learned from the inside. Unfortunately there are too many people just learning about it from the outside and are afraid to use it.

Dave Elman's book is required reading! I recommend it to all of my hypnotherapy students at our school. His rapid induction techniques make hypnotherapy practical in the professional environment. All of our Hypnotherapists at our Center are also required to know the Elman induction techniques. I have read and re-read this book, and intend to read it again. Each time I learn something new.

I had study Psychology and have had my Private Practice for many years. Wanting to add a more efficient dimension to my practice, I investigated many different techniques. I did not find what I was looking for. In my search, I took a short course in Hypnotherapy, but the study book was Dave Elman's "Hypnotherapy". Once I read the book I recognized that I had found a real treatise on the subject. I read it from cover to cover and implemented into my practice all that I found in the book. To my amazement my clients began to progress in short order. To this day I keep my worn copy on my desk and review it often. I recommended it to any therapist searching for more efficiency in his practice.

This book is worth reading to gain of sense of the historical development of hypnotherapy in the United States. It presents the "state of the art" of hypnotherapy circa 1964. Much of what Elman says is still valid, but some of it is antiquated. For example, he talks about curing the "illness" that is homosexuality. This concept was dropped from the medical diagnostic categories about a decade after the Elman text was written. Elman's book is fun reading, especially for those interested in the history of hypnosis in the United States. He makes some good clinical points and presents several interesting cases along the way. I wish he had been more specific about the "how-to" of his various techniques.

This book is very fast paced and enlightening. I have read many books that introduce Hypnosis and this book leaves them all trailing behind and is quite simply in a league of its own.

Its writen in a humourous and direct manner and sheds light on many areas concerning the 5 basic hypnotic states. Mr Elman has written this book primarily for Therapists and Drs and subsequently there is much to learn from this viewpoint.

I agree with the above reviewer that the case regarding the homosexual client was not ideal (the understanding of homosexuality was outdated, and I have to stress there was absolutely NO homophobia suggested in the text), Mr Elman treated this patient with utmost respect and helped him overcome his Depression.

Even now looking at the contents page of this book impresses me at how many topics are dealt with. And they are all covered with great devotion and attention to detail. There is absolutely no waffle in this book and I treat it as one of the best works ever!

A must resource for any Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist!

If I could own only one hypnotherapy book, it would be Dave Elman's "Hypnotherapy." First published in 1964, Elman's book continues to exert an influence, whether credited or not, on authors such as M. Gerald Edelstein, Roger P. Allen, and the late William W. Hewitt. The confidence and enthusiasm the author conveyed in these pages are utterly infectious. I can only imagine what it was like to attend one of his seminars. A former stage hypnotist (among several other careers), Elman developed a training course in hypnosis for doctors and dentists. This text derives from transcripts of those trainings.

The abundance of useful material in this book includes: Elman's rapid, easy, and highly effective induction method; methods for inducing and assesing the depth of the Esdaile state; and the application of hypnoanalysis to phobias and allergies. There is also a 39-page chapter entitled "Questions Doctors Ask." Elman's tone throughout is direct, practical, earthy, yet eminently informed and informative. He also had the good sense not to overstate his case: "I don't think hypnosis is the last word in medicine, but I do think it is an important tool" (p. 254).

Proponents of more indirect methods of hypnosis may be put off by Elman's directive style, but it works. It also provides an excellent foundation on which beginning practitioners can build their style.

In light of its enormous practical value and the sheer enjoyment of reading it, there is very little negative I could say about this book. The author's view of what purport to be memories of intrauterine and past-life experiences is rather limited. He viewed such experiences as nothing more than dreams unintentionally induced by the physician and having "no basis in fact" (p. 310). He did not seem to consider the possibility that even if such accounts are only dreams they may still resonate symbolically with patients' core conflicts, thus having enormous therapeutic value. But again, this is a minor, and even nitpicking criticism, given the embarrassment of riches to be found in the rest of the book.

Elman (5/6/1900-12/5/1967) was himself something of a renaissance man. He became interested in hypnosis as a child when he saw first hand the relief it afforded his father from otherwise intractable pain of terminal cancer. A talented musician by his teens, Elman went on to perform on the vaudeville circuit, and he co-composed several songs with "father of the Blues," W. C. Handy, one of which was "Atlanta Blues." Later he had a career in radio that included several years spent hosting a program called "Hobby Lobby." This lasted until 1948 when Elman began his new career as hypnosis educator to medical and dental professionals. This book is his lasting legacy.

This book was a delight to read. You get to see exactly
how Dave Elman does many different inductions, including
inducing somnambulism, the coma state and hypnosleep.
Thoroughly informative and fascinating.