Posted by Cindy W on June 7, 2000, at 9:06:02
In reply to Re: Ericksonian Cindy W » Cindy W, posted by Blue Cheer on June 3, 2000, at 22:02:17
Blue Cheer, I started reading about Ericksonian therapy, and I have been really impressed by the subtlety of the techniques. Sounds like a wonderful experience to have had the therapy you had!--Cindy W
> > > What really impressed me though was Ericksonian psychotherapy, about which I knew nothing before the conference.--Cindy W
> > >
> > > Cindy,
> > > Can you describe it?
> > > Thanks.
> > > Allison
> >
> > Allison, Ericksonian psychotherapy emphasizes trance/hypnosis work, heavy emphasis on multiple of meaning within spoken language, and also emphasizes careful avoidance of conflict between therapist and client. Also, they pay attention to nonverbal cues, and offer "directives" (paradoxical instructions, metaphors, subliminal suggestions) and places relatively little value on insight (you don't have to try to change based on understanding how your problems now are related to your past). Finally, at times, it can work very rapidly (unlike some forms of psychotherapy such as analysis). Ericksonian psychotherapy is heavily based on a systems rather than individual focus (that is, the attention is on the systems within which the client is embedded (family, friends, relationships, coworkers, therapist-client), not intrapsychic (within the client) issues. (Explanation provided courtesy of my significant other, Scott, who is much more knowledgeable about Ericksonian methods and did his dissertation on this topic).--Cindy W
>
>
> Cindy,
> I saw a psychiatrist and gifted therapist intermittently from 1964 to 1990 -- as an adolescent, in pre-marital therapy, and later in family therapy. For a while, his social worker wife was co-therapist, and I noticed they both had diplomas from the Erikisonian School of something or other. I always knew there was something different and very special about the way he related to me, and it wasn't until a few years ago that I learned that he was using some of the Eriksonian techniques (metaphors, imagery, and paradoxical suggestions, etc.). When I read about Erikson, it was an awakening. Since this psychiatrist's retirement, I've seen several therapists, but it's not the same; I just don't get out of it what I did before, and I've seen a few of the best CT/CBT therapists in Phila. I can recall things he said over 30 years ago verbatim, as if it were last week. That's the kind of impact he had on me. I now believe in Martin Seligman's concept of therapy; that is, it doesn't matter what kind it is, but that the nature of the relationship is paramount.
>
> Blue Cheer ~~~
poster:Cindy W
thread:34802
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36412.html