ERICKSONIAN HYPNOSIS

With Dr. Richard Nongard, LMFT

www.SubliminalScience.com
(918) 236-6116
Ericksonian induction in pop–psychology is most often associated with:
1. The secret handshake induction
2. The hand levitation induction
Earnest Rossi writes, “No longer were rote formulas and verbal commands or incantations
needed: A casual conversational approach the evoked the subjects’ own natural areas of interest
was found to be more universally effective in facilitating the inner focus and comport so
characteristic of trance.” (p. 134 Nature of Hypnosis and Suggestion: Collected Works Vol. 1
Erickson & Rossi)
For all the hype sold online– Erickson's primary approach was rapport rather than trickery.
I am teaching you from the textbooks Erikson wrote—what you are learning is from Milton
Erickson, not from a hypnotist who learned how to do Ericksonian hypnosis by watching
YouTube videos or buying super-secret training programs

Erickson's description of Deep Hypnosis

A different experience for each participant
Easier to experience than to describe
Trance depth had no bearing on the manifestation of phenomena
Behavior patterns in deep trance operate form the unconscious (vs. subconscious)
Trance is something that is taught a skill that is developed
Stuporous trance (Esdaile state) - Erickson seems to reject the value of it in most situations
because of the depersonalization of the subject and the subjects own conscious mind rejecting the
idea and appears limited to a therapeutic application.
Three techniques offered by Milton Erickson:
1. The Confusions Technique
2. The Rehearsal Technique
3. Multiple-Dissociation Technique

Confusion Induction Script

by Dr. Richard Nongard
Cognitive
Sensory
Relational
Temporal
Role
Identity
Affective
Spatial
Behavioral
“I know you will do well today, because finding a way to access that part of the mind where deep
thought lies and learning takes place is easy for a person like you.”
You are not one of those people who is unable to think, but rather one who is interested in how
the mind works.
In fact, I bet you are able to be your own hypnotist, entering trance exactly the way that is best
for you, simply letting me relax and enjoy this time.
I am sure you feel a sense of satisfaction knowing you possess these skills, rather than sensing
dissatisfaction or ambivalence.
Now focus on your hands.
You may either focus on the left hand, that being the right choice, or on the right hand, leaving
only one left.
And notice how they feel.
As one enters trance they often feel various sensations of warmth or even a tingling sensation as
they relax; but it is not uncommon to notice no change, and just have the ability to focus
attention on the hands.
As you relax, notice how you feel perfectly still.
You can focus on those hands, either the right or the left, or even on your feet.
Perhaps noticing the weight of your shoes on your feet. A sensation I wonder if you have paid
attention to before?
Your feet are raised by the footrest in that reclineopr, but yet are grounded by the footrest, and
many people notice that this affects the feeling of the weight of their shoes, even creating a sense
of weightlessness in them.
As you enter trance you may or may not notice a number of varied sensations, or perhaps you
will only experience this process.
Anything is ok, this is your time, you are the operator - I am merely following your lead as you
go deeper and deeper into a state of hypnosis…”

The Rehearsal Technique:

A client tests a reaction, essentially practices moving into trance mentally, before actually doing
so.
A great technique with a resistant client, or someone who has previously worked with another
hypnotist but did not experience success.
As a therapeutic script, it can be used to move through a perceived set of behaviors that result a
resolution to a problem.
Ideally, by practicing each stage of the process, wondering “what if” a client enters deep trance
without a conscious block to the process.
It can be used to induce phenomena—such as amnesia
Is often based on repetition– committing to the subconscious the process for success

Script as induction:
Imagine what it might be like to go into trance. Everyone experiences trance every day, often
when relaxing between tasks, or when driving on a familiar. road where you no longer look out
the winders but allow yourself t spend time with your thoughts.
Now you don’t need to go into trance quickly here, in fact, you do not even need to go into
trance. But imagine as you sit in this chair, what it would be like if you were to enter a deep
trance. A relaxing, very comfortable trance. You might find the eyes are more comfortable
closed as you imagine this and take just a moment to imagine what it might feel like. How would
your body feel? Would your muscles relax? That’s right, they would, wouldn't they?
Now open your eyes (a little fractionation here). Even if you are not hypnotized its easy to
imagine being in that state of trance isn’t it (client gives affirmation)
I notice you are breathing a little slower and seem more relaxed. I wonder if you close your eyes
down now, if you can imagine what it might be like to go into an even deeper trance. Of course,
you don't; have to stop paying attention to my voice, you can continue to remain alert, just
imagine being in deep trance and what it might be like…..

Language Patterns in this Script:

Imagine what it might be like to go into trance. Everyone experiences trance every day, often
when relaxing between tasks, or when driving on a familiar. road where you no longer look out
the windows but allow yourself t spend time with your thoughts.
Now you don’t need to go into trance quickly here, in fact, you do not even need to go into
trance. But imagine as you sit in this chair, what it would be like if you were to enter a deep
trance. A relaxing, very comfortable trance. You might find the eyes are more comfortable
closed as you imagine this and take just a moment to imagine what it might feel like. How would
your body feel? Would your muscles relax? That’s right, they would, wouldn't they?
Now open your eyes (a little fractionation here). Even if you are not hypnotized its easy to
imagine being in that state of trance isn’t it ?(client gives affirmation)
I notice you are breathing a little slower and seem more relaxed. I wonder if you close your eyes
down now, if you can imagine what it might be like to go into an even deeper trance. Of
course, you don't have to stop paying attention to my voice, you can continue to remain alert,
just imagine being in deep trance and what it might be like…..

Rehearsal Script as an intervention strategy — Test Taking

Anxiety (future pacing):
The principle here is Emile Coue’, “What the mind can conceive the body can achieve”
I wonder what it will be like to leave the examination knowing you were able to easily recall all
that you have studied? Can you imagine that moment you put the pencil down and find
satisfaction in knowing your answers were correct? Imagine what it will feel like to know you
did your very best.
If feels like a relief doesn't it, to leave the exam room having done so well.
Now I know you haven't yet taken the test, but you also know now what it will feel like when
you are done.
And of course, by knowing how it will end, this feeling must give you a great deal of confidence
in your ability to succeed

Dissociation Technique:
Erickson used dissociation in many way, and we will cover more in later sessions. Erickson used
dissociation in a technique called “crystal gazing” as a way of combining dissociation with
hallucination to create experiential theatre.

A script for a person who claims,

“It is impossible for me to be happy”:
I know that right now you do not feel happy. This exercise is not about making you feel happy,
but rather to help you see times in life when you were happy. (This is actually fairly directive
and not typical of Erikson to create an association – but the approach I would take at the outset
of suggestion).
Over the next few moments, you will have an opportunity to explore a part of the mind that is
often hidden to us, but this creative part of the mind is really quite fascinating. I wonder if you
were to close your eyes and imagine being in deep trance if you would be able to also imagine
gazing at a crystal ball. I am sure you have seen a crystal ball, like one in a fairy tale or even as
a decoration in someone's office or home. Go ahead, close the eyes now.
Imagine gazing at that crystal ball and seeing inside of it a time from your memory when you
were younger. Maybe even go back to before you were a teenager and within the subconscious
mind, find a time when you were happy at this age an imagine being able to stare into the crystal
ball and observe you as being happy at this time.
It is pretty amazing isn’t it, how easy it is for the subconscious mind to help you create those
images inside of the crystal ball….
Now imagine another Crystal ball, right next to that one, but in this ball imagine seeing yourself
at age 21 in a situation or place in life where you experienced happiness. From your vantage
point, you can see both of these crystals next to each other.
Now last year was a different time than now, and even though it was not so far in the distance
that it would take effort to fix a situation where you were happy last year, you can imagine a
third crystal next to the other two where you can observe yourself in a situation or place last
year where you were happy.
It is amazing seeing each of these three crystals next to each other, isn’t it….
Do you notice how you feel watching these crystals?
Now imagine another you floating outside of yourself, floating above yourself right here, and
looking down at yourself watching these crystal holding images of when you were happy and tell
that other you what you need to know about the ability of you to experience just the feeling of
happiness.

The Milton Model:

The essence of conversational or covert “hypnosis”
The Milton Model:
Use of language to facilitate a persons point of attention and to create an internal experience or
dialog with unconscious resources
It’s purpose is to invite a person to respond (either internally and experientially or verbally or
behaviorally)
It uses artfully vague language patterns to avoid conscious objection by the participant or the
imposition of therapist bias into the process
These are the core foundations of persuasion techniques, ranging form sales to seduction.
Therapy is a form of manipulation, as are most human interactions, and this is why therapist
ethics are important. They can be powerfully helpful or harmful, depending on the operator and
the ego-strength of the client.
A generalization about the Milton Model— In generally the idea is to avoid specificity,
because the more specific we are the more likely there is to be opposition rather than rapport.
Example- “As you close your eyes, imagine a heavenly flight of stairs…. The stars are tall and
narrow, majestic and covered with red carpet and a polished brass rail….”
Vs.
“As you descend into an even deep state of trance, imagine you on an elevator, an escalator or a
staircase. With each number let yourself drift even deeper as you descend in your mind on the
elevator, escalator or staircase….”
Another example:
I usually avoid the word hypnosis or trance. I usually call it a “resource state” I certainly do not
use the word “sleep” (although Milton Erickson did—but remember word definitions and usage
changes a lot in 60 years)
“as you go deeper into a trance state, achieving hypnosis easily”
Vs.
“As you set side the day, focusing on your experience here in my office, access that resource
state which is most helpful to you today…. “
Key Concepts:
Nominalization — “Any noun you can’t put into a wheelbarrow”
To make a noun out of something intangible.
“These learnings you have acquired, are useful in almost every situation in life.”
“The joys you can count are present in many ways.”
Why use nominalism? To make something concrete, obtainable or change the relationship with
something. For example, “owning joy”, is probably more powerful than “feeling joy.”
Our clients also will nominalize in unhealthy ways. Instead of “being depressed” they “have
depression”
We can UN-nominalize to take away ownership.
“You have my love” vs. “I am in love”
Unspecified Nouns and Verbs:
These force the listener to “fill in the blanks”. Because people are probably naturally self-
absorbed, they often fill in the blank with themselves! This is very powerful because if I say,
“People find it easy to go into deep trance” I have not specified which people, or how, or what
and so the subconscious mind says, “wow! I am a people! And if people find it (what?) easy to
go into deep trance, I must find it easy to go into deep trance!”
We take action on whatever we believe. For example you believed if you paid me for this course,
I would send you the access. So you paid me. If a client believes “People find it easy to go into
deep trance” and the subconscious mind believes they are a people, what will they do? They will
go into deep trance!
Unspecified Referential Indices:
Nouns that do not refer to anything with a capital letter, they refer to something non-specific
“This is so beneficial, isn’t it?” What is this? This is whatever the client attaches meaning to (the
session, the process, this time, these words, whatever) and coupled with the suggestion (that this
is beneficial) they come to agreement.
In my pretalk: This is one of the greatest things you have done!” (but what have they done? The
subconscious mind will find a meaning).
In deep trance: Everybody finds something of value in this experience. Who is everybody? What
is something? Which experience? These patterns engage the subconscious mind with, what
Erickson found were internal resources and dialogs.
Adjectives and adverbs that compliment:
This tends to gain agreement with the subconscious mind. They get “buy-in” and the acceptance
of our presuppositions.
Fore example:
“People are pleasantly surprised by the incredible capacity to change”
“You will find a pleasant surprise by your ability to easily recall all the information for the
exam…”
Comparison with ‘though “as”
“as” created connection and this reduces opposition. It is a way of structuring a direct suggestion
within an indirect suggestion.
“Just as you can relax here, you can access this state anywhere—at home, at work or even in
traffic in your car.”
“If anyone is as easily able to relax as you are, they will find it easy to experience deep trance at
just about anytime.”
“Just as you can create confidence here, you can create confidence anywhere, even in front of a
group where you are speaking”
Mind Reading:
“I know you are learning as you experience something new today….”
“You may wonder if it is ok to have thought while you practice hypnosis. It is of course normal
for the mind to wander, after all that is what minds do… But instead of following those thoughts,
just let them exist without judgment and without following them, returning your attention to the
breath.”
“You are curious to discover how relaxed you can become”
Linkages:
The presuppose a link between two things, even when that is an arbitrary relational frame.
Students of Steven Hays and contextual psychology will recognize relational frame theory and
this is the process for creating those frames. Although in Ericksonian hypnosis we are creating
these frames to facilitate suggestion– the therapist should also be aware of the linkages that
clients have created that may need to be “unhypnotized” from the subconscious mind.
1. Conjunctions: And, But,
“You are deeply relaxed AND that means you are able to easily set aside anything known or
unknown that has kept you from success. You can release thing things now AND move into this
new chapter of life “ (John Cerbone script)
2. Connections in time: As, When, During, While
“As you relax you can feel any stress melting from your muscles”
“When you breathe in, it is as if you are breathing in energy, confidence and power.”
“During this time, you will feel relaxed and know that your time has been well spent learning
something new that will serve you not just during this transition in life, but in every aspect of
life…”
3. Cause/Effect: makes, causes, forces, because and requires.
“Because you have come here today, and set aside time to learn something new, we know that
you will be successful at ____________.”
“You have lost ten pounds in the past four weeks, and this makes achieving your goal even
easier over the next few weeks.”
“You devotion to this requires you to be successful and this makes it even easier to stop
smoking without discomfort.”
Lost performatives
Important, essential, good, necessary, right, promise, etc. Words that indicate the performance of
something or an action
Lost refers to the ambiguity of who or what. The subconscious mind of course, tends to attach
the meaning internally.
“The great promise you will experience because you came here today….” (What promise? Plus
mind reading plus causality conjunction).
“It is important to learn language patterns…” (Why? It forces the subconscious mind to make a
connection)
“It is good that you came to my office and it’s benefit is multi-facetted”
Modal Operators
Direct the subjects experience in a certain direction
“It is great that you are able to learn so easily, applying what you have done here today, to new
experiences over the net day or two….”
“this foundation is one you can build from and quickly achieve your goals.”
Presupposition
Powerful tool in persuasion.
They gain agreement from the subject
Types of presuppositions:
Time: Before, after, during, continue, yet, already, begin, stop, start, still, while, since,
as, and when.
“You begin each session with increased ease at going into deep hypnosis”
“As you continue to breath, you will start to notice it is easy to experience only each
moment, measured as one breath.”
Ordinals: gives the appearance of choice, but really creates a faked alternative since the
outcome is presumed
“Do you want to give up smoking now or do you want to have a last cigarette before we
begin the session?
Or: Provides a choice (often faked) Would you prefer to be able to fly in hypnotic sleep
or simply without fear but still remain awake?
Awareness: Assumes a statement is true- “Are you aware that you have already become a
non-smoker, simply by coming here today?”

Embedded suggestion:
As pointed out in lesson 2, this was a favorite technique of Milton Erickson.
“I don’t know if you will go into trance quickly today…”
“Well, now…. There will come a point when it is just more comfortable to close the eyes…”
Analog striking: A concept from NLP building on the idea of embedded suggestion I do not put
much stock in. Most likely not processed as the hypnotist fantasied, but a lot of fun to teach and
sell in a hypnotic seduction class.
Example: The rock band KISS owns a football team in LA. It makes me wonder if I should start
being a football fan now. (yes, I know this is an absurd example and that those claiming its
validity will make it sound reasonable, but there are probably more effective ways to get the task
accomplished.)
Negative Commands:
To NOT think of something require that you think of it in order to rule out thinking about it. For
example, “Do not think of a pink elephant” results in thinking about a pink elephant. This is
paradoxical therapy at its finest!
“You will not want to go into trance too quickly, enjoying the process of going deeper”
“it is important that you don’t buy that now, but rather, wait until you know that buying it is the
right choice for you.”
As you can see, these negative commands can include embedded suggestion.
Double Meaning Words
Words like your, you’re; too, two, to. Words like down, back, and other words can have double
meanings.
“it feels good as you’re going into trance doesn't it?” The subconscious suggestion is “your are
going into trance”
Tag Questions
According to Milton H. Erickson, "Tag Questions displace resistance to the end of a sentence,"
Examples:
“you will find it easy to increase your exercise and activity each day now, won’t you?”
“Going into trance is comfortable isn’t it?”
“People find it enjoyable to fly on a plane, don’t they?”
The More, The More….
As a tool for stacking suggestions and overcoming resistance
“The more you relax, the more you drift into trance…”
“The more you lose weight, the more easily you will find it to lose weight.”
“the more you practice these patterns, the more effective you will be as a hypnotist”
Oxymorons
Word combinations that cancel or contradict each other. The value is that they disarm the critical
factor and cause a “pattern interrupt”
Example:
“if you find yourself emerging from trance act naturally and continue to focus”
“You are almost ready to open the eyes”
“It is as if you are your own amateur expert, able to make a decision right here and right now
that you know will be correct.”
Somatic Language
Langue that references the body in a way that is a metaphor. Perhaps the most simple metaphor
to construct:
“Face the day with confidence”
“You have just scratched the surface of your ability…”
“You can rise up to face the challenges, with a new skill…”

NEW SECTION
Helpful Ideas in Hypnotic Communication (Trancework, by Michael Yapko)
• Keep your suggestions simple and easy to follow.
• Use the clients language as much as sensibly possible.
• Have the client define terms experientially.
• Use the present tense and a positive structure.
• Encourage and reinforce the client's positive responses.
• Determine ownership of the problem and the problem-solving resources.
• Use sensory modalities selectively.
• Keep your clients as informed as desired and as is necessary to succeed.
• Give your clients the time they need to respond.
• Only use touch selectively and always with the client's permission.
• Use anticipation signals to announce your intent.
• Use a voice and demeanor consistent with your intent.
• Chain suggestions structurally.
• Build response sets gradually.
• If desirable, substitute other terms for "hypnosis."
 SPECIALIZED SUGGESTIONS
(MICHAEL YAPKO)
Accessing Questions
Questions which encourage the client to respond at an experiential level, rather than only verbal
are known as "accessing questions".
Focus the client on particular aspects of the experience.
The question should suggest a response - Example: "Can you recall how very soothing and
relaxing it is to lie in the warm sun and feel it warming your skin?"
Note: Not to be used in forensic settings; appropriate in the clinical domain only to enhance
treatment responsiveness.

Ambiguous Suggestions
Use ambiguity in suggestion to encourage the client's projections.
Ambiguity may surround the desired action, or the meaning of the suggestion.
For example, the statement "One can be quite iron-willed and hardheaded in such matters" -
leaves open to interpretation whether the hypnotist is praising perseverance or criticizing
stubbornness.

Apposition of Opposites
Suggestions that create distinct polarities of experience.
For example, "As your left hand becomes pleasantly cold and numb, you'll notice your right hand
becomes comfortably warm and responsive."
Increased awareness of differences enhances belief and reinforces positive responsiveness.

Implied Directives
Implied directives encourage a response in an indirect way.
The first part of the suggestion structure is the indirect suggestion to do something, from which
the second half then directly suggests as response.
Example: "When you experience your hand lifting in just a moment (indirect), you will notice
that it feels very, very light" (direct suggestion).
 Covering All Possibilities
Enhance responsiveness by encouraging and any all possible responses in your suggestion.
Define any specific response as a useful, cooperative one.
Example: "You may find yourself recalling an important memory … perhaps one from quite
early in your life … perhaps a memory that is very recent … or perhaps one from somewhere in-
between a long time ago and very recent times …"
Any memory retrieved is thus in line with the suggestion, thus assuring a positive response.

Interspersal of Suggestions
Frequent repetition of key words or phrases within an ongoing flow of suggestions.
Used to deepen the hypnotic experience, facilitate the experience of specific hypnotic
phenomena, "seed" (implant) ideas for future reference, or to reiterate an important point.
Example: A deep thinker, that is, one who thinks deeply, can evolve a deeper understanding of
the complexities of suggestions, and perhaps even deeper understanding of him-or herself in
gaining depth of knowledge about suggestion" (deepening technique).

Paradoxical Suggestions
Contain what seem to be, at first glance, incompatible or even contradictory components
contained within the same overall suggestion.
Example: "You can take all the time in the world… in the next minute … to complete your inner
work of integrating your new understanding."
Example: “As you eat whatever you want to this week, you will choose portions that are smaller
than your previous choices and healthier than what you used to choose.”

Presuppositions
Assumes the suggested response will happen.
Not a question of whether the response will occur, but only when.
Example: "How pleasantly surprised will you be when you discover that you understand
presuppositions?"

Puns
Using humor to reframe is valuable in engaging the client while establishing a friendly and warm
emotional association to hypnosis.
Example: "Some people like to do hypnosis with a slow and rhythmic style of delivering
suggestions … even pacing suggestions to the rhythm of the clients breathing … but you know
and I know that the rhythm method is not very reliable… "

Truisms
A truism is a "common sense" observation that appears to be so obviously true and self-evident
that it is virtually undeniable.
Generally used to build an acceptance of the suggestion that follows it, as the person evolves an
agreeable mindset - establishing a "receptive set."
Example: "Every person is unique (truism), we all know that… which is why you can experience
deep hypnosis in your own unique way."

Bind of Comparable Alternatives

Comparable alternatives, a classic double-bind, creates a "forced choice" situation, where both
choices are favorable.
For example, "Would you enjoy a deep and satisfying hypnotic experience while you're sitting in
this chair, or that chair?"
“Would you rather fly this week or after the weekend to make your first flight to Texas”?
Only useful if the client accepts the bind and responds within the parameters of the suggestion.

Confusional Suggestions
Suggestions deliberately constructed to disorient or confuse the client in effort to build
responsiveness, overload an overly intellectual demeanor, and facilitate dissociation.
These advanced suggestion structures are not linear and logical, they generate uncertainty and
even anxiety rather than comfort and clarity, and they require greater concentration on the part of
the clinician to keep track of where the process is going.
Valuable in interrupting ongoing client patterns of thought and perception, to pave the way for
new possibilities.
Example: You can think you consciously understand the point of such suggestions, but your
unconscious likes clarity, too, so if you consciously organize around conscious understandings
that you unconsciously believe will consciously work for you in unconsciously structuring the
conscious and unconscious patterns for knowing consciously at an unconscious level that you
can overload someone's ability to comprehend, then… you can just consider using confusional
suggestions when they seem sensible to do so.
Time distortion is the phenomena of losing track of our internal time keeper for a therapeutic
purpose. It is a prevalent phenomena in trance and something almost all of us is aware of
experiencing even in the normal tasks of life.
Time distortion in hypnosis is most often used:
 1. As a convincer post session of the hypnotic state
2. As a tool for shifting perceptions and priorities
3. As a mechanism for inducing confusion
4. As a way of altering automatic behaviors
5. For work in regression
6. For work in future pacing
I thought I would share three methods for time distortion. The first is something that I
frequently do as part of the induction, the hypnotic induction to free my client from a feeling or
association of specific time. Everyone that is participating in the webinar, close your eyes for a
minute. Take in a breath letting yourself relax.
With each breath, double the sensation of relaxation. With each breath notice your hear rate
becoming smooth and rhythmic and how easy it is to enter a state of deep relaxation. You can
even unclench the jaw and relax the shoulder. Allow the hands that are resting in your lap
become warm and heavy, very relaxed.
Think of a clock or think of your watch. Imagine the clock hands at 12 o’clock, both the small
hands and the big hands. Imagine seeing that clock and realizing that it is no longer important
what the numbers on the clock say. In fact, the hands could point to 6 o’clock, 3 o’clock, or 12
o’clock.
It wouldn’t make any difference to you. In fact, as you continue to relax, you can let go of the
meaning of time letting your clock move from 12 o’clock to 7 o’clock, from 7 o’clock to 1
o’clock, from 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock, from 5 o’clock to 9 o’clock.
Imagining that the hands of the clock not only go clockwise, but can even go counter clockwise,
no longer concerned about day or night or morning, a.m. or p.m, 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock. Simply
bring yourself to this place and this time, right here and right now.
Because this is only a demonstration, take in a deep breath, feel wonderful and bring yourself
back to the chair that you are sitting in, to my voice and to this learning session. During the
induction, I will sometimes use that process with clients.
The moving clock imagery to really confuse their time relationships.
Another direct suggestion we can use if we want to use time distortion is that an hour can seem
like a minute or an in-direct suggestion. We can say to a client during our session that keeping
time is so much effort. It is hard to know what time it is.
That of course tells a client who is experiencing pain that it is hard to know if it is hard to know
if it is time to experience the pain because paying attention to pain takes so much effort. By
simply taking a minute to enjoy the process of hypnosis, whether at home, work, in the car or at a
desk, they can forget about the hands on the clock, forget about keeping time and forget about
what time it is.
Also forgetting in the process to remember the pain the feel at certain times of the day.
That process is a process of using indirect suggestion to produce the phenomenon of time
distortion.
I am going to guide you through a short and brief process here of using hallucination and pain
control. Again, everyone close your eyes. With your eyes closed, bring yourself to that point of
learning to call hypnosis. Breathe in and breathe out. Each breath relaxing even more.
If you were my client and you were here for pain control, I would probably use some of these
suggestions to produce a hypnotic hallucination that could help you, improve your range of
experience, provide you with a future progression and become unstuck. Although now your pain
level may be high, and although now you may be constantly aware of your discomfort or how
un-smiley your face is.
In time, the treatment will come to an end. You will have that surgery, radiation or that
medication. In a few weeks, months or years after this you will feel better than ever. You will no
longer be in the midst of the trial you are currently in, but will have solved your health problems.
You will look back on this time as a difficulty that you passed.
Now imagine yourself a year from now, seeing yourself as you know you will be. No longer
healing, but fully recovered. Imagine that, create that image in your mind, and see yourself as
you know you will be. Allow yourself right now to feel the feeling that you know you will feel in
a year, when the fusion has occurred, the radiation has helped you to succeed.
Imagine yourself doing next year what you can’t do right now. Bending the body, moving the
body, getting up out of bed and even running. See yourself doing that, that which right now
might seem impossible. Involve your senses in the experience.
Picture yourself up out of bed, outside running, smelling the scents of the day, feeling the
pavement below your feet, hearing the sounds of the neighborhood, and seeing the radiance of
the sun. Of course, we know that everything that is, was a thought first.
By creating this imagery, there is no question in my mind nor should there be in yours, that the
future possibilities are endless. What the mind can conceive today, we know the body can
achieve tomorrow. Re-orient to the room, pay attention to the chair below you, my voice, the air
in the room around you and allow yourself to return to this time and place but with hope.
STORYTELLING AND METAPHOR:
Story: An account of imaginary or real people and events (told for entertainment)
Protagonist—main character, hero with whom the audience identifies (usually)
Antagonist/Challenge/Conflict—three kinds
ResolutionChange: Every story is about change. If there is no change is a story, there really is no
story.
Theme/Moral: The message of the story (explicit or implicit)
Metaphor: A comparison or analogy stated as equivalence (i.e. Road Hog, Couch Potato, Rug
Rat)
Parable: A story or short narrative designed to reveal allegorically some religious principle,
moral lesson, psychological reality, or general truth
Trance: A state in which internal perception has become more important that external perception;
or in which a limited aspect of external perception has become so important as to preclude the
rest of external perception
Therapy: An activity or interaction intended to bring about rehabilitation or social adjustment
(Definitions by James Hazlerig from a workshop presented in Oklahoma City with Richard
Nongard. James is a master storyteller with many resources for clinical hypnotists. Find out more
about James Hazlerig at www.HypnosisAustin.com) I always recommend his resources and
classes to those looking to advance the skills and knowledge they have.)
WHY TELL STORIES/METAPHOR IN THERAPY:
• They shift filters of perception
• They have unconscious meaning
• They bypass conscious resistance
• Can conceal a confrontation
• Creates relational frames—and breaks relational frames
A METAPHOR IS LIKE A SEED:
It plants an idea in our unconscious mind, germinates in the subconscious mind and comes to
action in our conscious mind
Life is a journey, purposes are destinations, means are routes, difficulties are obstacles,
counselors are guides, achievements are landmarks, choices are crossroads…
A lifetime is a day, death is sleep; a lifetime is a year, death is winter…
Life is a struggle, dying is losing a contest against an adversary…
Life is a precious possession, death is a loss..
Time is a thief…
Seven Steps to Good Storytelling (Attributed to James Hazlerig www.AustinHypnosis.com)
Eye Contact
The Voice as an Instrument
• Rhythm
• Cadence
• Tonality
• Punctuation
• Silence
Enjoy and Collect Stories
Structure (Conflict/Resolution; Law of Threes)
Show; Don't Tell
Sensory Description
Assign Meaning
Implicit or Explicit
Adapt and Improvise: adapt according to your audience and purpose
So what is Covert Hypnosis?
Recognizing that we are always in trace
Knowing how to direct people in trance to:
 • Identify their deepest needs
• Develop strategy for attaining
• Taking action to reach goals
Knowing how to use language to produce response
Knowing how to create emotional responses congruent with desired outcomes
Knowing most
Knowing most effective ways to communicate with people
Helping people with calling hypnosis “hypnosis”
Examples of Covert Hypnosis or Persuasion
1. Car Sales - “Imagine driving this new Pinto to work in the morning!” “Don't you just
love that new car smell?”
2. Guy – Instead of using a “line,” he says, “You have a remarkable energy about you! Do
you practice yoga or some kind of spiritual discipline?”
3. Parent = “Would you like broccoli or carrots?”
4. Coach who says - “I'm going to teach you a strategy for increasing creativity. Close your
eyes and relax... You can listen to each word... or let your mind drift and only listen with
your subconscious mind...”
5. Person who seeks agreement to their ideas by saying - “Many people enjoy learning
about covert hypnosis...”
Methods of Covert Hypnosis
• Pattern Interrupt – followed by redirecting trance...
• Evoking emotional states and attachments
• Using language patterns
• Being an authority
• Using ambiguous language (promotes agreement)
• Social power (group)
• Being in rapport (negates feeling of isolation)
• Partnering with people (the most flexible has the most power)
• Recognizing internal strengths (flattery)
 KEY TECHNIQUES OF ERICKSON IN
UNCOMMON THERAPY
(JAY HALEY)
AMPLIFYING A DEVIATION
It is characteristic of Erickson's hypnotic work that he attempts to gain a small response and then
he builds upon it, amplifying that response until he has achieved the goal. He has often cautioned
hypnotists about trying to achieve too much too quickly, rather than accepting what is offered
and enlarging that.

AWAKENING AND DISENGAGEMENT

Erickson, like some other family therapists, focuses as much, if not more, upon the achievement
of autonomy of family members as he does upon bringing about togetherness

SEEDING IDEAS
In his hypnotic inductions, Erickson likes to "seed" or establish certain ideas and later build upon
them. He will emphasize certain ideas in the beginning of the interchange so that later, if he
wants to achieve a certain response, he has already laid the groundwork for that response. In this
way his hypnosis and his therapy have a continuity, in that something new is introduced but
always within a framework that connects it with what he has previously done.

EMPHASIZING THE POSITIVE

Erickson relabels what people do in a positive way, to encourage change. He does not minimize
difficulties, but he will find in the difficulties some aspect of them that can be used to improve
the functioning of a person or his family. Rather than assuming there is something hostile in the
unconscious that must be brought out, he assumes there are positive forces there that need to be
freed for the person's further development. When working with couples or families, he does not
focus upon their unfortunate ways of dealing with one another but finds an aspect of their
relationship that is worth while and that can he enlarged. This emphasis upon the positive
appears to come directly out of his experience with hypnosis.
 THE USE OF SPACE AND POSITION
Another aspect of hypnosis is a concern with spatial orientation. The ability of a subject to be
disoriented in relation to place and time teaches a hypnotist to appreciate that space and time are
subjective experiences. A subject can sit in one room and believe himself in another, he can sit in
one place and see himself there from across the room.

ENCOURAGING A RESPONSE BY FRUSTRATING IT

Another technique for dealing with resistance and encouraging someone to initiate a response
and so make a "spontaneous" contribution is typical of both Erickson's hypnosis and his family
work where hypnosis is supposedly not involved. With a hypnotic subject who responds only
partially, Erickson has recommended that the hypnotist should inhibit the response. That is, he
should direct the subject to behave in a certain way, and as the subject begins to do so, the
hypnotist should cut off the response and shift to another area. When he returns to that directive
again, the subject will be more responsive because he has developed a readiness to respond but
was then frustrated.

ENCOURAGING A RELAPSE
Erickson often deals with such a situation by using a challenge that is a directive rather than an
interpretation. If a patient is too cooperative and seems to be recovering too rapidly, he is likely
to relapse and express disappointment with the therapy. To avoid this, Erickson will accept the
improvement but direct the patient to have a relapse. The only way the patient can resist is by not
relapsing but continuing to improve. With this approach, Erickson uses different explanations to
make it reasonable to the patient. One of Ins more graceful procedures is to say to him, "I want
you to go back and feel as badly as you did when you first came in with the problem, because I
want you to see if there is anything from that time that you wish to recover and salvage." When
done effectively, the directive to relapse prevents a relapse, just as the challenge enforces a
hypnotic response.

CAUSING CHANGE BY COMMUNICATING IN

METAPHOR
When a subject resists directives, one way to deal with the problem is to communicate in terms
of an analogy, or metaphor. It the subject resists A, the
hypnotist can talk about B, and when A and B are metaphorically related, the subject will make
the connection "spontaneously" and respond appropriately. (Erickson’s foreplay script)

ENCOURAGING RESISTANCE
If a subject is asked to have his hand get lighter and says, "My hand is getting heavier," the
hypnotist does not say, "Now cut that out!" Instead, he accepts that response, and even
encourages it, , by saying, "That's fine, your hand can get heavier yet." This acceptance approach
is typical of hypnosis and is also Erickson's fundamental approach to human problems whether
or not he is using hypnosis.

PROVIDING A WORSE ALTERNATIVE

One procedure Erickson typically uses deals with this problem by directing the patient in one
direction in such a way that he is provoked to go in another. If Erickson wants a hypnotic subject
to respond in a certain way, he might ask for a response the subject does not care for, and the
subject will then choose an alternative in which he participates fully. As an example, if Erickson
wishes a subject to respond with amnesia, he may ask the subject to forget something he would
prefer to remember. As an alternative, the subject will forget another item more fully and
completely because he has chosen it.