Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and therapy: Where are we now?

Abstract

Ericksonian approaches to psychotherapy and hypnosis have had a significant impact on many clinical practitioners over the last two decades. This article reviews the current empirical research with regard to the efficacy of these treatment approaches as well as for the key Ericksonian assumptions of: (a) belief in an altered state of consciousness and the existence of specific markers indicating an altered state; (b) the superiority of indirect suggestion over direct suggestion; and (c) client hypnotizability is a function of the hypnotist's skill. The current literature provides empirical support neither for efficacy nor for these key assumptions. The article concludes with a discussion of the need for empirically based research to test the efficacy of Ericksonian therapy and its core components, lest this approach become isolated from the scientific hypnosis and therapy communities.