Milton Henry Erickson, MD (1901 - 1980) was a psychiatrist and psychologist regarded by many as the foremost practitioner of medical hypnosis in his time.
He wrote "Hypnotic Realities" and many other books dedicated to the "Art of Hypnosis" and which document the many things he learned while treating the many patients he encountered.
He was a scientist and deeply gifted hypnotist.
He was founding president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, as well as a fellow of several APAs: The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, and The American Psychopathological Association.
He was noted for his often unconventional approach to psychotherapy, such as described in the book “Uncommon Therapy” by Jay Haley; for his extensive use of therapeutic metaphor and story as well as hypnosis; and for coining the term Brief Therapy for his approach of addressing therapeutic changes in relatively few sessions, often only a single session.
Erickson’s work and techniques were 'modeled' by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, the co-founders of Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).
For a very in-depth look at Erickson, written by Jay Haley while Erickson was still alive, click here.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Be Like Mike... or Tiger... or whoever
Granted, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are gifted athletes. But there are many other athletes who have similar (even superior) physical abilities. So why have these two dominated their sports with such regularity? Aside from the amount of time they devoted to practicing, the answer is: they learned how to handle pressure.
Not coincidentally, these two remarkable athletes have some experience with hypnosis themselves. Since the age of 13, Tiger Woods has worked with his mental coach, Jay Brunza. Jordan and the Bulls practiced hypnosis daily with the help of head coach Phil Jackson.
Mentally, golf is perhaps the most demanding game around. It is well known among golfers that much of the score depends on how a golfer thinks. Jack Nicklaus has stated many times that he believes that golf is 90% mental preparation and only 10% skill.
He prepares by visualizing problem putts and mentally rehearsing how he will play each shot.
Almost sounds like what we do with hypnosis!
Hmm....
Not coincidentally, these two remarkable athletes have some experience with hypnosis themselves. Since the age of 13, Tiger Woods has worked with his mental coach, Jay Brunza. Jordan and the Bulls practiced hypnosis daily with the help of head coach Phil Jackson.
Mentally, golf is perhaps the most demanding game around. It is well known among golfers that much of the score depends on how a golfer thinks. Jack Nicklaus has stated many times that he believes that golf is 90% mental preparation and only 10% skill.
He prepares by visualizing problem putts and mentally rehearsing how he will play each shot.
Almost sounds like what we do with hypnosis!
Hmm....
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Garbage In, Garbage Out
Everyone has heard the phrase “You are what you eat.” Sometimes I think that phrase has lost its meaning, as even the people who say it will admit to eating junk food far too often. However, it’s the logic behind the statement that warrants another look.
If you truly are “what you eat,” then shouldn’t it come to follow that you are also “what you see” and “what you hear?” Many health-conscious people, who frequent farmer’s markets and health food stores, spend an awful lot of time watching mind-dumbing “reality” TV shows (a topic worthy of further discussion) and listening to shock-jock talk radio.
So the question is...
Shouldn’t you be just as cautious about what you watch on TV and what you listen to on the radio as you are about what food you put into your body?
Think about it. We can joke about watching “Big Brother” or “American Idol,” since we all know these shows are devoid of any true intellectual value, but at the end of the day, aren’t these shows, by virtue of failing to inspire creative thought or stoking the fires of the imagination, actually making us less intelligent?
“Use it or lose it” is another saying that comes to mind.
It makes me wonder: if you find yourself checking your brain at the door too often, will it still be there when you need it?
And if it’s gone... how will you ever find it?
If you truly are “what you eat,” then shouldn’t it come to follow that you are also “what you see” and “what you hear?” Many health-conscious people, who frequent farmer’s markets and health food stores, spend an awful lot of time watching mind-dumbing “reality” TV shows (a topic worthy of further discussion) and listening to shock-jock talk radio.
So the question is...
Shouldn’t you be just as cautious about what you watch on TV and what you listen to on the radio as you are about what food you put into your body?
Think about it. We can joke about watching “Big Brother” or “American Idol,” since we all know these shows are devoid of any true intellectual value, but at the end of the day, aren’t these shows, by virtue of failing to inspire creative thought or stoking the fires of the imagination, actually making us less intelligent?
“Use it or lose it” is another saying that comes to mind.
It makes me wonder: if you find yourself checking your brain at the door too often, will it still be there when you need it?
And if it’s gone... how will you ever find it?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Seeing is Believing
I didn’t really believe it until I saw it for myself.
I was halfway through a comprehensive training program to become a clinical hypnotherapist, and although I was learning amazing techniques and had benefited personally from hypnotherapy in the past, I was naturally curious as to whether it would work for me.
One day as we were having lunch, a classmate mentioned to me that she had a paralyzing phobia of cats that she had been suffering from for thirty-two years.
I mentioned that I had been learning some techniques outside of class, and that I may be able to help her.
Naturally, she was skeptical. After all, I had no previous experience curing anyone of anything, and she had been suffering from this intense phobia since she was nineteen years old.
After some prodding, she eventually agreed to come to my house and do a session. In my own estimation, this was done out of courtesy on her part, and not out of faith in my abilities.
Now, the interesting part about this story is that I happen to live with two cats. So before she would agree to come over, my friend insisted that my cats be isolated in another room, and placed in their cages.
When she arrived at my home, she had a wide-eyed glare that was similar to what you see in horror movies when the babysitter goes outside to investigate a strange noise. I assured her that the cats were locked safely away, she came inside and we got to work.
After two hours, I calmly asked her if she would like to meet my cats. She thought it over a moment, nodded and said “okay.” We walked into the adjoining room, let the cats out of their cages. She held them in her arms and started to cry... tears of joy.
In that moment, I knew that seeing was believing... but I discovered something even more significant: that you don’t always have to see before you believe.
Here’s the testimonial from my classmate and friend, in her own words:
“Hi Sean,
I finally got to show my family that I could be in the room with a cat and when they saw me holding one they just could not believe it... my husband and children were absolutely in shock! They could not believe it, and after only one session. Wow !! I made believers out of them!!
Thank you so much!"
-Ja Spruill
Atlanta, GA
I was halfway through a comprehensive training program to become a clinical hypnotherapist, and although I was learning amazing techniques and had benefited personally from hypnotherapy in the past, I was naturally curious as to whether it would work for me.
One day as we were having lunch, a classmate mentioned to me that she had a paralyzing phobia of cats that she had been suffering from for thirty-two years.
I mentioned that I had been learning some techniques outside of class, and that I may be able to help her.
Naturally, she was skeptical. After all, I had no previous experience curing anyone of anything, and she had been suffering from this intense phobia since she was nineteen years old.
After some prodding, she eventually agreed to come to my house and do a session. In my own estimation, this was done out of courtesy on her part, and not out of faith in my abilities.
Now, the interesting part about this story is that I happen to live with two cats. So before she would agree to come over, my friend insisted that my cats be isolated in another room, and placed in their cages.
When she arrived at my home, she had a wide-eyed glare that was similar to what you see in horror movies when the babysitter goes outside to investigate a strange noise. I assured her that the cats were locked safely away, she came inside and we got to work.
After two hours, I calmly asked her if she would like to meet my cats. She thought it over a moment, nodded and said “okay.” We walked into the adjoining room, let the cats out of their cages. She held them in her arms and started to cry... tears of joy.
In that moment, I knew that seeing was believing... but I discovered something even more significant: that you don’t always have to see before you believe.
Here’s the testimonial from my classmate and friend, in her own words:
“Hi Sean,
I finally got to show my family that I could be in the room with a cat and when they saw me holding one they just could not believe it... my husband and children were absolutely in shock! They could not believe it, and after only one session. Wow !! I made believers out of them!!
Thank you so much!"
-Ja Spruill
Atlanta, GA
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Quote of the Day
"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."
-Dale Carnegie
Friday, June 8, 2007
Quote of the Day
"There is only one thing that can kill the Movies, and that is education."
-Will Rogers, US humorist & showman (1879 - 1935)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Hypnophobia? Thank Hollywood
Hypnotherapy is a proven method that's been used to eliminate fears and phobias for decades. While no method will ever be 100% effective, it's really quite amazing just how quickly a little hypnosis and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) can do the trick.
That said, there's one little problem... what if you're afraid of hypnosis?
What a terrible position in which to find one's self. You have this fear of flying, or driving, or heights, or even mascots (yes, click the link), and you've heard hypnosis can help... but darn it, you're afraid of being hypnotized, too!
There are many good reasons people are hesitant to try hypnosis, and a lot of it has to do with Hollywood. You see, the idea of hypnosis, combined with a complete lack of understanding as to how it is produced and how it actually works... well, mix those ingredients together with a clever script, and you've got yourself a highly-entertaining movie!
One of the first things I do with nearly every client I meet is to debunk all the misinformation about hypnosis that has permeated our society thanks to some creative, yet naive writers in Hollywood. Now, I must confess that I love movies... even a few that portray hypnosis inaccurately. So here I'll discuss a few of the more recent and/or well-known movies that have used hypnosis, let you know where they went wrong, and whether they're worth seeing as well.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) (photo above)
While the 2004 remake with Denzel Washington attempted to update the story, the original was far more controversial. In fact, after the assassination of JFK, the film was withdrawn from movie theaters throughout the United States. It was banned in Eastern bloc countries until the fall of communism in 1993.
The plot involves a military officer who is captured by communists and brainwashed through the use of hypnosis. Once he is released, the officer responds obediently to every post-hypnotic command he is given by his captors, usually over the phone. They tell him to play a game of solitaire, and when he views a particular card, he becomes a mindless pawn who blindly follows their every command, including cold-blooded murder.
This is a very entertaining and creepy movie that I would strongly recommend. However, as a hypnotherapist, I must point out that hypnosis is a voluntary process that requires the cooperation of the subject. No one can be forced to do something against their will, either during or following a trance.
In this film, the hypnotist is all-powerful and the subject is completely powerless. Bottom line: you always have a choice of whether to respond or not, and will never do anything against your morals or values.
Office Space (1999)
This is one of my all-time favorite comedies. Anyone who has ever worked in an office environment will appreciate the humor here. The main character, Peter Gibbons, is so frustrated and unhappy with his job as a drone worker at a software company that he seeks the help of a hypnotherapist.
A few moments after the hypnotherapist begins the hypnotic induction, Peter is relaxing comfortably in a trance, "without a care in the world." Just then, the hypnotherapist keels over and dies on the spot. Since Peter is never officially "roused" from the trance, the plot dictates that he continues to feel wonderful for days and days... skipping out on work, asking Jennifer Aniston's character out on a date, eventually getting a promotion because he's so smooth and comfortable during an interview with some annoying consultants.
It's a great concept, and many hypnotherapists probably wish they were so powerful. I am thrilled to have this movie in my library, since what follows is hilarious stuff. However, if a hypnotherapist was unfortunate enough to pass away in the middle of a client's trance, the suggestions given wouldn't be any stronger than if the session were completed as normal.
Somehow, I take comfort knowing that I'm more powerful alive than dead!!
Stir of Echoes (1998)
Not a bad thriller. This one features Kevin Bacon as a blue-collar guy who doesn't believe in hypnosis, but allows his sister-in-law to hypnotize him at a party. He goes into a deep trance, and the next thing he knows he's awake and sweating profusely, with no memory of what has happened. Everyone is laughing and telling him what he said and did, but he looks and feels stressed out and afraid.
Later that night, he begins to see horrifying images of violence and of a dead woman or ghost. Basically, hypnosis is used as a gateway to supernatural mental abilities (a common use of hypnosis in movies, including "Donnie Darko" and "Close Your Eyes"). This is a handy tool for a Hollywood screenwriter, but there isn’t any fact behind this fiction.
Amnesia is possible following hypnosis, but it is very rare for anyone to have absolutely no memory of what happened. I have also never seen or heard of anyone drenched in sweat and panicked upon awakening. Hypnosis is a very relaxing and comfortable experience. If at any point a person imagines or experiences something frightening or traumatic, they can easily open their eyes and return to a state of normal conscious awareness.
And no, hypnosis is not, nor has it ever been, a gateway to supernatural or psychic abilities.
Bummer, huh?
Other Movies Featuring Hypnosis
•Svengali (1931); starring John Barrymore
•Spellbound (1945); directed by Alfred Hitchcock - highly recommended
•Dead Again (1991); Kenneth Branagh
•Shallow Hal (2001); Jack Black, Cameron Diaz
•Oldboy (2003); similar to Manchurian Candidate - recommended
•The Butterfly Effect (2004); Ashton Kutcher
That said, there's one little problem... what if you're afraid of hypnosis?
What a terrible position in which to find one's self. You have this fear of flying, or driving, or heights, or even mascots (yes, click the link), and you've heard hypnosis can help... but darn it, you're afraid of being hypnotized, too!
There are many good reasons people are hesitant to try hypnosis, and a lot of it has to do with Hollywood. You see, the idea of hypnosis, combined with a complete lack of understanding as to how it is produced and how it actually works... well, mix those ingredients together with a clever script, and you've got yourself a highly-entertaining movie!
One of the first things I do with nearly every client I meet is to debunk all the misinformation about hypnosis that has permeated our society thanks to some creative, yet naive writers in Hollywood. Now, I must confess that I love movies... even a few that portray hypnosis inaccurately. So here I'll discuss a few of the more recent and/or well-known movies that have used hypnosis, let you know where they went wrong, and whether they're worth seeing as well.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) (photo above)
While the 2004 remake with Denzel Washington attempted to update the story, the original was far more controversial. In fact, after the assassination of JFK, the film was withdrawn from movie theaters throughout the United States. It was banned in Eastern bloc countries until the fall of communism in 1993.
The plot involves a military officer who is captured by communists and brainwashed through the use of hypnosis. Once he is released, the officer responds obediently to every post-hypnotic command he is given by his captors, usually over the phone. They tell him to play a game of solitaire, and when he views a particular card, he becomes a mindless pawn who blindly follows their every command, including cold-blooded murder.
This is a very entertaining and creepy movie that I would strongly recommend. However, as a hypnotherapist, I must point out that hypnosis is a voluntary process that requires the cooperation of the subject. No one can be forced to do something against their will, either during or following a trance.
In this film, the hypnotist is all-powerful and the subject is completely powerless. Bottom line: you always have a choice of whether to respond or not, and will never do anything against your morals or values.
Office Space (1999)
This is one of my all-time favorite comedies. Anyone who has ever worked in an office environment will appreciate the humor here. The main character, Peter Gibbons, is so frustrated and unhappy with his job as a drone worker at a software company that he seeks the help of a hypnotherapist.
A few moments after the hypnotherapist begins the hypnotic induction, Peter is relaxing comfortably in a trance, "without a care in the world." Just then, the hypnotherapist keels over and dies on the spot. Since Peter is never officially "roused" from the trance, the plot dictates that he continues to feel wonderful for days and days... skipping out on work, asking Jennifer Aniston's character out on a date, eventually getting a promotion because he's so smooth and comfortable during an interview with some annoying consultants.
It's a great concept, and many hypnotherapists probably wish they were so powerful. I am thrilled to have this movie in my library, since what follows is hilarious stuff. However, if a hypnotherapist was unfortunate enough to pass away in the middle of a client's trance, the suggestions given wouldn't be any stronger than if the session were completed as normal.
Somehow, I take comfort knowing that I'm more powerful alive than dead!!
Stir of Echoes (1998)
Not a bad thriller. This one features Kevin Bacon as a blue-collar guy who doesn't believe in hypnosis, but allows his sister-in-law to hypnotize him at a party. He goes into a deep trance, and the next thing he knows he's awake and sweating profusely, with no memory of what has happened. Everyone is laughing and telling him what he said and did, but he looks and feels stressed out and afraid.
Later that night, he begins to see horrifying images of violence and of a dead woman or ghost. Basically, hypnosis is used as a gateway to supernatural mental abilities (a common use of hypnosis in movies, including "Donnie Darko" and "Close Your Eyes"). This is a handy tool for a Hollywood screenwriter, but there isn’t any fact behind this fiction.
Amnesia is possible following hypnosis, but it is very rare for anyone to have absolutely no memory of what happened. I have also never seen or heard of anyone drenched in sweat and panicked upon awakening. Hypnosis is a very relaxing and comfortable experience. If at any point a person imagines or experiences something frightening or traumatic, they can easily open their eyes and return to a state of normal conscious awareness.
And no, hypnosis is not, nor has it ever been, a gateway to supernatural or psychic abilities.
Bummer, huh?
Other Movies Featuring Hypnosis
•Svengali (1931); starring John Barrymore
•Spellbound (1945); directed by Alfred Hitchcock - highly recommended
•Dead Again (1991); Kenneth Branagh
•Shallow Hal (2001); Jack Black, Cameron Diaz
•Oldboy (2003); similar to Manchurian Candidate - recommended
•The Butterfly Effect (2004); Ashton Kutcher
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