This article examines certain central assumptions inherent in the work of Milton Erickson, including his emphasis on the individual's uniqueness, his rejection of theory, and his belief that the clinician must accept and join the client's reality in order to utilize that reality to bring about change. The implications of Erickson's views for transactional analysis are also examined with an emphasis on the relativity of any theory as a representation of “reality.”
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BandlerR.GrinderJ. (1975a). The structure of magic (Vol. I). Palo Alto: Science and Behavior Books.
2.
BandlerR.GrinderJ. (1975b). Patterns of the hypnotic techniques of Milton H. Erickson (Vol. I). Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications.
3.
BandlerR.GrinderJ. (1976). The structure of magic (Vol. II). Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books.
4.
BeahrsJ.O. (1971). The hypnotic psychotherapy of Milton H. Erickson. The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 14, 73–90.
5.
BeahrsJ.O. (1977). Integrating Erickson's approach. The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 20, 55–68.
6.
BeahrsJ.O. (1982). Understanding Erickson's approach. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and pyschotherapy (pp. 58–84). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
7.
BerneE. (1961). Transactional analysis in psychotherapy.New York: Grove Press.
8.
BerneE. (1971). Away from a theory of the impact of interpersonal interaction on non-verbal participation. Transactional Analysis Journal, 1(1), 6–13.
9.
BerneE. (1972). What do you do after you say hello?New York: Grove Press.
10.
BlackM. (1962). Models and metaphors.Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
11.
CameronD.C. (1976). Paving the road to redecision. Transactional Analysis Journal, 6, 49–51.
12.
CarterP. (1982). Rapport and integrity for Ericksonian practitioners. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 48–57). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
GilliganS.G. (1982). Ericksonian approaches to clinical hypnosis. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 87–103). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
26.
GilliganS.G. (1984). Generative autonomy: Principles for an Ericksonian hypnotherapy. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 196–231). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
27.
GindhartL.R. (1984). Hypnotic psychotherapy. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 100–133). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
28.
GordonD. (1984). The role of presuppositions in Ericksonian psychotherapy. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 62–76). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
29.
GordonD.Meyers-AndersonM. (1981). Phoenix: Therapeutic patterns of Milton H. Erickson.Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications.
GouldingM.M.GouldingR.L. (1979). Changing lives through redecision therapy.New York: Grove Press.
32.
GouldingR.L.GouldingM.M. (1978). The power is in the patient.San Francisco: TA Press.
33.
HaleyJ. (1967). The advanced techniques of hypnosis and therapy: Selected papers of Milton H. Erickson.New York: Grune & Stratton.
34.
HaleyJ. (1973). Uncommon therapy: The psychiatric techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.New York: Norton.
35.
HaleyJ. (1976). Problem solving therapy.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
36.
HaleyJ. (1982). The contribution to therapy of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 5–25). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
37.
HanleyF.W. (1982). Erickson's contribution to change in psychotherapy. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 29–36). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
38.
HavensR. (1984). Erickson vs. the establishment: Which won? In ZeigJ. (Ed.) Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I), (pp. 52–61). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
39.
JungC.G. (1939). The integration of personality.New York: Rinehart.
40.
JungC.G. (1958). Psychology and religion: West and east collected works (Vol. II). Bolligen Series 20. New York: Pantheon.
41.
KuhnT. (1962). The structure of scientific revolutions.Chicago: Chicago University Press.
42.
KupferD.HaimowitzM. (1971). Therapeutic intervention, Part I, “Rubberbands now.”Transactional Analysis Journal, 1(2), 10–16.
43.
LachmanR. (1960). The model in theory construction. Psychological Review, 67, 113–124.
44.
LanktonC. (1984). Generative change: Beyond symptom relief. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 171–195). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
45.
LanktonS.LanktonC. (1983). The answer within: A clinical framework of Ericksonian hypnotherapy.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
46.
MellorK. (1980). Reframing and the integrated use of redeciding and reparenting. Transactional Analysis Journal, 10, 204–212.
47.
MooreM. (1982). Principles of Ericksonian induction of hypnosis. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 104–109). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
48.
O'HanlonB. (1982). Strategic pattern intervention: An integration of individual and family systems therapies based on the work of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies, 1(4), 26–33.
49.
OmerH. (1982). The macrodynamics of Ericksonian therapy. The Journal of Strategic and Systemic therapies, 1(4), 34–44.
50.
PriceR. (1985). Paradoxical intervention in the context of transactional analytic therapy. Transactional Analysis Journal, 15, 269–274.
51.
PriceR. (1986). On mistaking windmills for giants: A reply to Massey. Transactional Analysis Journal, 16, 110–113.
52.
ReeseH.W.OvertonW.F. (1970). Models of development and theories of development. In GouletL.R.BaltesP.B. (Eds.), Life span developmental psychology: research and theory (pp. 115–145). New York: Academic Press.
53.
RogersC. (1961). On becoming a person.New York: Houghton Mifflin.
54.
RosenS. (1982). The values and philosophy of Milton H. Erickson. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy (pp. 462–476). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
55.
RossiE. (1984). Unity and diversity in Ericksonian approaches: Now and in the future. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 15–29). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
56.
SamkoM. (1983). Rigidity and pattern interruption: Central issues underlying Milton Erickson's approach to psychotherapy. Unpublished manuscript.
SternC.R. (1984). There's no theory like no theory: The Ericksonian approach in perspective. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian Psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 77–85). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
59.
ToulminS. (1962). The philosophy of science: An introduction.London: Hutchinson University Press.
60.
TurnerM. (1968). Philosophy and the philosophy of science.New York: Appleton.
61.
WatzlawickP. (1978). The language of change.New York: Basic Books.
62.
WatzlawickP. (1984). Hypnotherapy without trance. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian Psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 5–14). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
WiddifieldD. (1975). TA and hypnosis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 5, 131–32.
65.
WolpeJ. (1974). The practice of behavior therapy (2nd Ed.). New York: Pergamon.
66.
YapkoM. (1984). The Ericksonian book: Values in Ericksonian approaches. In ZeigJ. (Ed.), Ericksonian Psychotherapy (Vol. I) (pp. 266–281). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
67.
ZeigJ. (1980). Symptom prescription techniques: Clinical applications using elements of communication. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 23, 23–32.
68.
ZeigJ. (Ed.) (1982). Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
