An atheoretical approach

• Erickson's Analysis? by Larry Meisel, 5/29/98
  • Wrong Erickson by Stephen Lankton, 5/31/98
    • Importance of theory? by Larry Meisel, 6/2/98
      
      

Larry:

When I started organizing the first Erickson Congress in 1978. (It was held in 1980.) I asked Erickson for a quote for the brochure that summarized an important aspect of his approach. He said, "Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual's needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior."

Ericksonian therapy can be conceived as the technology of injunctive communication--using multi-level communication to help patients achieve desired goals. All clincians can learn to communicate more effectively and surmount intrinsic resistances more quickly. Studying hypnosis and Ericksonian methods is a way to improve compliance, both within the self and in response to the therapist. The methods are applicable in all psychotherapy disciplines, and do not require a special explicit theory of human personality or change.

I hope you study Ericksonian practice. If you have not read Uncommon Therapy by Jay Haley, that is a good place to start. Also you can see the Erickson Foundation web site designed by Stephen Lankton at http://www.erickson-foundation.org

Thanks for your inquiry.

• Theoretical compatibility by Fredrik Haglund, 6/4/98