There are several people who made a significant contribution to the subconscious mind and hypnosis field. Without a doubt, Milton Erickson is one of them.

Erickson was an extraordinary psychiatrist, hypnotist, and helping human who used hypnosis as a tool to reorganize the subconscious mind. His techniques and approaches are still used to this day to help others clinically as well as for self-improvement purposes.  

Eriksonian hypnosis can be slightly different than other hypnosis techniques. His approach is known to be emphasizing the positive while using the subject’s own subconscious patterns for internal changes. Often times his patients didn’t even have to go through hypnotic induction to receive the benefits.

If you’d prefer more natural and conversational hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis techniques can offer substantial benefits to you.

Who is Milton Erickson?

Erickson was a very special person because growing up he dealt with disabilities which eventually led him to a deeper understanding of human communications and behaviors. As a little boy, he had dyslexia, he was color blind and also tone deaf. Later at the age of 17, he also contracted polio which led to a different set of limitations in his life as well.

These disabilities directed Erickson to hypnosis more and more. Especially when he had polio, he used hypnosis to heal himself. Ultimately, from not being able to move at all, he was able to walk with a crane. Later as he went to school and focused on his psychiatric work, he developed his own style of hypnosis which he used in his private practice. 

Erickson’s way of hypnotizing was very different than others. His approach was very surprising and unexpected. He also delivered his suggestions in a very joking way. He believed that hypnosis doesn’t have to work only with hypnotic induction and positive suggestions. He believed in the power of the unconscious mind and its ability to solve problems and change.

What hypnosis techniques did Erickson use?

Erickson was known to use indirect suggestions and take advantage of language patterns in his practice. Most of the time people wouldn’t even “think” they were hypnotized whilst Erickson was directing them using their own patterns.  

He would prefer this approach because clients would be more open to receiving and changing in the end. Erickson Foundation summarizes this as “An experiential, phenomenologically based approach to problem-solving that utilizes existing client attributes while evoking natural processes of learning and adaptation.”

When we look at Erickson’s way of hypnotizing, we often see lots of storytelling, metaphors, confusion, and most importantly a natural procedure. All these different tools allowed him to tailor his technique to each client very carefully while preparing natural, indirect suggestions with embedded commands.

Today, we may know this as conversational or covert hypnosis. However, Erickson’s techniques were beyond the conversation. They included in depth understanding of the person’s unconscious tendencies and subtle hypnotic leading.

What kind of benefits can you expect from Ericksonian hypnosis?

Erickson’s indirect and confusion technique can work very well; especially for those who are very intellectual and question the process of hypnosis. Confusion allows the person to let go of their need for control, therefore making it possible to change and transform.

If you are someone who needs detailed information about every step of the process of hypnosis, if you need numbers and proof to be satisfied with your experiences, Ericksonian hypnosis can be a great fit for you.

Additionally, the Ericksonian approach can help with a ray of issues from weight loss to anxiety, and pain management to medical problems. Erickson was using hypnosis for mostly clinical issues. He would help patients who were dealing with depression, insomnia, anxiety, and so on.