Erickson in Trance

• Erickson Anxiety by dave pakenham(dodge county,WI), 8/22/97
  
  

The case you are referring to can be found in Experiencing Erickson: An Introduction to the Man and His Work by Jeffrey K. Zeig, Brunner/Mazel, 1985. (pp. 146). It can also be found in My Voice Goes With You by Sidney Rosen, Norton, 1982, (pp.66), and in Erickson & Rossi (1977). The autohypnotic experiences of Milton H Erickson. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 20, 36-54. (See pp.43.)

Erickson knew that, although the man was arrogant and smarter then he was, Erickson was better educated and better read. Erickson also knew that his own unconscious mind was much smarter than either he or the patient. Erickson discovered that he went into a trance during the session. He respected his unconscious for accessing trace and continued to do the therapy in trance. At the 14th session, the man confronted Erickson about being in trance. Because the South American psychiatrist did not take it well, Erickson completed the therapy in the waking state

Erickson used this dramatic example in his discussion with me (reported in Experiencing Erickson) to encourage me to trust my unconscious mind.

Anyone have examples of trusting your unconscious in therapy? Please post them.

• Why? by dave pakenham, 9/17/97
  • Absence of Fear by Jeffrey Zeig, 9/17/97
• Example of trusting my unconscious by Diane Kistner, 5/23/98