From an attendee's perspective...

• Evolution of Psychotherapy by BOL Editor, 8/20/97
  • More info needed by Sônia Nemi - Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, 7/5/98
    
    

I am a "student" of Ericksonian techniques. I first attended the 10th Anniversary Seminar in November 1989 as a student volunteer. That was my first contact (besides books) with the likes of Jeff Zeig, Bill O'Hanlon, Stephen Gilligan, Stephen Lankton, Joseph Barber etc. I've attended the Evolution of Psychotherapy in Las Vegas 1995, The Brief Therapy Conferences in San Francisco and New York. I also managed to attended several classes by Jeff Zeig through UC Santa Cruz Extension classes and managed to get Dr. Zeig to present at the Veteran's Affairs Palo Alto Health Care Division. (Wow - funny I don't feel that old or that experienced...)

Every training I've been to that has been sponsored by the Erickson Foundation has stood out in the organization, the quality of faculty and the availability of faculty to interact with attendees. For instance, at the Tenth Anniversary Seminar, I gathered up my assertiveness and approached Dr. Zeig after a presentation to several hundred attendees of the Intermediate Track and asked a question about the hand levitation induction he had presented. I didn't quite understand the concept of random finger movement and confustion technique. Dr. Zeig began explaining it in basic terms, taking my hand and looking me in the eye. Imagine my surprise (and delight) at the end of his 60 second clarification, as he looked "expectantly" at me and I realized my hand was "stuck" in the air.

I have attended other conferences by the NASW and other groups and have not found them to be as well organized or with the same level of learning opportunity.

I don't mean to gush about the Erickson Foundation conferences, but I would recommend that you find a way to attend one of their conferences. For the money, they are by far one of the best learning/training experiences available.

• Thanks, John by Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D., 9/6/98