What is Hypnosis? by Eric Greenleaf, PhD

1. What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural human experience. It happens spontaneously at times of trauma, surprise, confusion, intense performance and meditation. Hypnotists “induce”  or invite hypnosis in a cooperative relationship, so that you meet your own goals in your own way.

2. Who was Milton Erickson?

Milton H. Erickson, MD invented modern hypnosis during 50 years of practice. His work has been “modeled” in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and evolved into modern, evidence based family therapy, brief psychotherapy, solution-oriented therapy, cognitive-behavioral, paradoxical therapy and many other methods of change.

Erickson’s hypnotic and therapeutic work can include some of the directive and forceful methods of classical hypnosis. Yet it always emphasizes individualized treatment and the utilization of the patient’s unconscious learning and understandings, rather than the imposition of suggestions on a passive subject.

3. How does Ericksonian Hypnosis help me?

Erickson’s cooperative and natural trances are pragmatic, interpersonal, and story filled; a focused and imaginative enterprise. The most natural way for people to learn is by listening to stories. We know the soothing, entrancing and creative effects of stories from the time we are children. When we are grown, we still know that our lives are ”like a book,” and we yearn to “turn a new page,” or, “start a new chapter” in our lives.

4. Does science support this kind of change?

Yes! There are special cells in the brain which map our experiences of bodily sensations, social emotions (like love), surprise, and problems. Hypnosis and its natural images and story lines reach these cells and allow unconscious change to begin. Since the unconscious is our most powerful organ for learning and organizing, we are most effective speaking with it in trance stories. The unconscious mind organizes our physical functions, interpersonal emotions and ways of learning and change.

5. How will I notice change?

Before a hypnosis session, set a general goal, like “more energy,” or “better sleep,” or, ”a way past roadblocks,” without knowing consciously how to reach that goal. Listen to the stories of the trance induction once or twice each day. See what sorts of change you notice in emotion, action, relationship, physical ease and comfort. Over time, the stories will accompany you as you approach your goals. With hypnosis, as a student once said,  it is possible to have even “a very difficult time in a very relaxed way,”