Ericksonian Inductions

Milton Erickson used a variety of approaches in inductions. He could be direct and authoritarian or indirect and permissive. He was famous though, for his permissive, indirect approach that involved permissive language.

Permissive Words

Here’s a short list to get you started…

Can

Might

Maybe

Perhaps

Possible

Allow

So, instead of “Relax deeply,” you might say “Perhaps you can relax deeply.”

Presuppositions

An Ericksonian approach often uses presuppositions that clients will both enter trance and get the changes they want. “Would you prefer to go into trance in the black chair or the red one?” “Don’t enter trance too quickly.” Those statements both presuppose the client is going to go into trance.

Evoking Trance

Rather than commanding people to enter trance (some strange, mystical state) an Ericksonian approach might suggest a client remember a time when they were experiencing something natural that might be interpreted as hypnotic. “You can remember the feeling of feeling like you were almost going to sleep, can you not?” It’s an approach that evokes or “draws out” past trance or trance-like experiences.

Utilization

Erickson often used whatever the client and environment offered rather than to try to force an induction along predetermined lines. “As you sit with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor you may be aware of the sounds of the cars outside.” In short, use whatever happens. If there’s a loud noise during an induction, rather than trying to pretend it didn’t happen, include it. Maybe even use it for deepening.

Contextual Cues

When inducing hypnosis, it can be a good idea to give the client cues that something different is happening. When they move to the “trance chair,” and the lights go down, they know its time. Here are some ideas…

Change the environment (lighting/seating)

Change your voice tone (switch to your “hypnotic voice)

Match the timing of your words to the client’s exhale (try it–it’s cool)

More Ericksonian induction tips…

Keith