Excerpts from Special Techniques of Brief Hypnotherapy

Milton-H-Erickson

Abstract

The development of neurotic systems constitutes behavior of the defensive protective character. Because it is an unconscious process, and thus excluded from conscious under- standings, it is blind and groping in nature and does not serve personality purposes usefully. Rather it tends to be handicap- ping and disabling in its effects. Therapy of such distorted behavior ordinarily presupposes that there must be a correc- tion of the underlying causation. However, such correction in turn presupposes not only a fundamental willingness on the part of the patient for adequate therapy but also an actual opportunity and situation conducive to treatment. In the absence of one or both of these requisites, psychotherapeutic goals and methods must be reordered to meet as adequately as possible the total reality situation

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