Therapeutic Trances: The Co-Operation Principle In Ericksonian Hypnotherapy [Hardcover]

Stephen G. Gilligan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0876304420 | ISBN-13: 978-0876304426 | Edition: 1

This innovative volume describes the therapeutic use of trance state. It shows how therapists may cooperate with clients to translate problems into solutions. Chapters present a framework for understanding Ericksonian hypnotherapy; associational strategies; practical aspects of trance induction; and more.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 386 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876304420
• ISBN-13: 978-0876304426
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget "Deeper, deeper, deeper"; create a relationship., January 28, 1999

By 

Anthony Padgett (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Therapeutic Trances: The Co-Operation Principle In Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (Hardcover)

Forget the classic forms of hypnosis. Deeper, deeper, deeper will only work with about half of your clients. This book talks about the importance of creating a relationship and how the hypnotist should first hypnotize himself/herself before the client can go into trance. Excellent, excellent work. A leader in the field. I highly suggest The Courage to Love by the same author.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best of its kind, May 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Therapeutic Trances: The Co-Operation Principle In Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (Hardcover)

There is little to fault and much to recommend in this fantastic resource book on Ericksonian Hypnosis. Gilligan is an acknowledged master of the art, and his depth of knowledge about it is made abundantly available to the reader.

Far from being too technical, this is a very readable book, and the level and extent of detail given is highly rewarding to the student and professional interested in hypnosis. Giving this book a 10 is only fair if all you're looking for is a light read on hypnosis. If you want the best on hypnosis, the dirt, the real McCoy, then GET THIS BOOK. You'll be glad you did

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book Every Hypnotherapist Should Read, October 29, 2004

By 

Laura De Giorgio "hypnotherapist" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Therapeutic Trances: The Co-Operation Principle In Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (Hardcover)

The focus of this book is The Coopration Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy. Gilligan first points out the differences between authoritarian method of using hypnosis, which was common before Erickson entered the picture and the permissive method, indirect hypnosis used by Erickson. The focus of the book is on what distinguishes Ericksonian hypnosis from traditional hypnosis, namely UTILIZATION of whatever state the client is in to help to liberate the client from the limitation that is at the core of the problem.

Instead of forcing the client to fit the hypnotist's modus operandi, the therapist becomes flexible and shapes his approach according to the personality, background, understanding, preferences of the client - thus the therapist co-operates with the client, working together with the client toward facilitating the solution.

The main purpose of the hypnotherapist is to help the client to access his inner resources. Erickson had great faith into the resourcefulness of the client's unconscious mind, and rather than insisting on any particular method, used his skills to help the client draw the resources from within. This principle was later popularized through one of the NLP presuppositions which states that "everyone has all the resources he may need to reach the desired outcome". These resources may not be obvious to one's conscious mind, but they are there - within the individual's unconscious.

The reason that the traditional hypnosis sometimes worked and sometimes didn't is because hypnotists learned one method, one script and then used it indiscriminately on everyone. This unfortunately is still the case with the common hypnosis training which is based entirely upon the methods used in traditional hypnosis.

Traditional hypnotist may run into a lot of client resistance, because he is attempting to force one method upon everyone. Ericksonian hypnotist will utilize the resistance to guide the person into a trance - thus Ericksonian hypnotist cooperates with whatever the client presents and uses that very same thing to help the client.

Utilization also implies using the client's model of the world. If the client's model of the world is limited to the point that it is causing the client to experience the problem, the hypnotist will enter that model of the world and use it, to help the client out. In order for a hypnotist to be able to do this successfully, he may have to be very flexible and at least temporarily accept the client's model of the world, rather than forcing his own world-view upon the client. By meeting with the client in client's model of the world, the hypnotist establishes rapport with the client. Rapport is the most crucial aspect of hypnosis - without it hypnotist won't get anywhere.

Learning Ericksonian hypnosis will sky-rocket the success-rate of any hypnotist's practice.