the milton h. erickson foundation newsletter · the milton h. erickson foundation newsletter...

TheMiltonH.EricksonFoundation,Inc.3606N.24thStreetPhoenix,Arizona85016U.S.A.RETURNSERVICEREQUESTED

T h e M i l t o n H . E r i c k s o n F o u n d a t i o n

NEWSLETTERSM

Vol. 28, No. 3 WINTER 2008

InsideThis Issue

See INTERVIEW on page 22

IN THE SPIRIT OF THERAPY:Interview with JoanBorysenko, Ph.D. 4

CASE REPORT:Playing With Fire: CrisisIntervention With A SuicidalAdolescent 6

FACETS & REFLECTIONS:A. Steven Frankel 8

INTRODUCING THE INSTITUTES:The Milton Hyland EricksonInstitute of Brasilia 10

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:The European Societyof Hypnosis Congress 11

CONTRIBUTOR OF NOTE:JEANNINE ELDER 12

See CONFERENCE on page 2

Visit Our Website:www.erickson-foundation.org

Non-Profitorg.U.S.PostagePaidKansasCity,MOPermitNo.1932

I N T E R V I E WA. Steven Frankel

By Jeff Zeig,Milton H. Erickson Foundation.

A. Steven Frankel is an ABPP cer-tified clinical and forensic psycholo-gist (PSY3354) and an attorney atlaw (SBN 192014). He received hisPh.D. in Clinical Psychology fromIndiana University and completed aninternship at Columbia University’sPsychiatric Institute. Dr. Frankel hasbeen on the faculty of the Universityof Southern California for over 35years and is currently a ClinicalProfessor of Psychology. He servedas an Adjunct Professor of Law atLoyola Law School (Los Angeles) andis now an Adjunct Professor atGolden Gate University School ofLaw. He has taught courses onhealthcare policy, regulation ofhealthcare practice and mental disor-der and the law. He has authoredover 50 articles and book chapters.He has won the USC Award forTeaching Excellence early in his aca-demic career and is nationally recog-nized for his expertise, sense of

humor and ability to bring his coursematerial to life.

Zeig: You are a clinical psychol-ogist who later entered into thelegal field. Tell us about that.

Frankel: I had been teaching full

time at USC in the PsychologyDepartment for 11+ years, I left to gointo clinical practice full time,because I needed to make a living. Ileft USC full time in 1979. I remainedan adjunct, and I'm still a clinical pro-fessor there. I practiced clinical psy-chology, and I practiced in ways thatvery much involved Ericksonian andhypnotic models and family-systemmodels. And I supervised students atUSC.

Then in 1990 or thereabouts,when my life changed, I shiftedaround in terms of things I wanted todo. I started law school in 1993. Iwent part time in the evenings forfour years at Loyola of Los Angeles,from '93 to '97. I practiced psycholo-gy by day and then went to law schoolat night. Now I'm almost 12 years inlaw practice.

Z: You still practice psy-chotherapy and hypnotherapy oneday a week, especially with trauma-tized patients.

F: Yes. My psychology prac-tice has become exclusively devotedto adults who claim child abuse histo-ries. I practice therapy on

The Couples Conference: Love & IntimacySan Diego — May 1-3, 2009www.CouplesConference.com

The Couples Conference will be held May 1-3, 2009, at the Town & CountryResort and Convention Center in San Diego, California. A special 6-hour Law &Ethics Pre-Conference Workshop with Steven Frankel, Ph.D., J.D., will be heldon Thursday, April 30, 2009. The Conference is sponsored by The Milton H.Erickson Foundation, Inc., with organizational assistance by The CouplesInstitute, Menlo Park, California.

The Couples Conferences are a vehicle for learning the latest research onfacilitating treatment with couples. Topics for this year’s meeting will include:Relational Life Therapy™, Attachment and Differentiation in Couples Therapy,Trauma and Reconnection, Gay Marriage, The Paradox of Sex and Intimacy,Rethinking Infidelity, How to Improve Relationships Without Talking, and muchmore.

The faculty include Ellyn Bader, Frank Dattilio, John Gottman, Pat Love,Cloe Madanes, Esther Perel, Terry Real, Marion Solomon, Janis Abrahms

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter2 VOL. 28, NO. 3

EDITOR’S COMMENTSCOUPLES continued from page 1

Executive Editor: Richard Landis, Ph.D.

Managing Editor: Sharon McLaughlin, M.A.

Review Editors: C. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D.,Annellen Simpkins, Ph.D.

Institutes: Marilia Baker, M.S.W., Cecelia Fabre, M.A.

Guest Editors: Betty Alice Erickson, M.S., LPC, LMFT

Production Editor: Karen Haviley

Contributor of Note: Roxanna Erickson Klein, R.N., Ph.D.

In the Spirit of Therapy Editor: John Lentz, D.Min.

Guest Reviewers: Deborah Beckman, M.S., LPC,Maria Escalante Cortina, Christine Guilloux, D.E.S.S.,

Will Handy, LMSW-ACP

–Board of Directors–Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D.

Roxanna Erickson Klein, R.N., Ph.D.J. Charles Theisen, M.A., M.B.A., J.D.

Camillo Loriedo, M.D.Bernhard Trenkle, Dipl.Psych.

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.3606 North 24th Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85016-6500U.S.A.

Telephone: (602) 956-6196FAX: (602) 956-0519

T h e M i l t o n H . E r i c k s o n Fo u n d a t i o n

NEWSLETTER

Spring, and Jeffrey Zeig. Keynote addresses will be given by Terry Real, JanisAbrahms Spring, Esther Perel, Cloe Madanes, Jeffrey Zeig, John Gottman, andPat Love.

A total of 20.0 CE hours are available for the Couples ConferenceConference with an additional 6.0 CE hours available for the complete Law &Ethics Pre-Conference Workshop, April 24, 2008.

Visit the Conference web site www.CouplesConference.com to view anddownload the complete brochure, review the faculty bios and handouts, registerOnline and reserve hotel accommodation. For more information or to receive abrochure by mail contact The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N. 24thStreet, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6500; Fax, 602-956-0519; Tel, 602-956-6196;Email, [email protected]

Register Early for the Lowest Rates – Special Offer! Newsletterreaders can use the registration form on page 3 to extend the December 15, 2008deadline to January 15, 2009!

The 7th Brief TherapyConference is upon us. Of all the cur-rent definitions of “brief” (as in ther-apy), I really like the JeffersonCounty, Colorado Mental Health’s(CMH) definition of brief as being“no more than necessary.” It likensthe therapist’s role to that of the fam-ily doctor where the client onlycomes in when he or she has a prob-lem. CMH follows the definition witha simple statement: “This is a style oftherapy that requires the counselor toaccurately assess what the individualclient is needing in order to reachhis/her goal.” Easy to say but notalways easy to do. There are manydifferent ways to define what theclient needs and what the goals arefrom both the client and therapist per-spectives. In this issue, we are goingto look at many of the different per-spectives that can contribute to theunderstandings of the needs and goalsin therapy. And, of course, with anEricksonian twist.

We start with a special FeaturedInterview by Jeff Zeig of StevenFrankel. Frankel is a favorite at theErickson conferences where he con-ducts the Law and Ethics Workshopswith humor and precision. In theinterview, he reminds us of theunique aspects we need to consider inconducting therapy from anEricksonian perspective. His messageis interesting: You can lighten up andstill protect yourself. Great interview.

Our other regular columnsenhance the basic elements of thebrief therapy perspective. In the Spiritof Therapy column, John Lentz inter-views Joan Borysenko, one of theconference’s keynote speakers.Borysenko helps us understand thecomplex nature of defining the“need” and “goal” parts of brief ther-apy. In the Case Reports column,John Dykman elegantly assesses theneeds, means and goals in his briefintervention with a suicidal adoles-cent. We again revisit Steve Frankelin our Facets and Reflections column.Here, Frankel describes what it waslike being on the receiving end of abrief intervention from Erickson. Lifealtering. We top off the focus on brieftherapy with our Introducing theInstitutes section. Marilia Baker pre-sents The Milton Hyland Erickson

Institute of Brasilia, which is knownfor its excellent training programs inEricksonian brief therapy.

In the spirit of brief therapy’seclectic nature, we have included apotpourri of new and classic sourcesin this issues resource reviews. Somethings can be best appreciated by see-ing them. We have some outstandingDVD reviews this issue. John Lentzpresents two excellent reviews:Negotiating Conflict: Leadership inTimes of Crisis with AnthonyRobbins & Cloe Madanes and ademonstration by Danie Beaulieuwith her Impact Therapy andEricksonian Hypnosis from lastyear’s The Tenth InternationalCongress on Hypnosis andPsychotherapy. Rubin Battinoreviews The Gift of Therapy: AConversation with Irvin Yalom, M.D.from the most recent Evolution ofPsychotherapy Conference and MariaEscalante de Smith presents TheJourney by Zerka Moreno from thevery first Evolution of PsychotherapyConference.

As an interface between our bookand DVD reviews, we have TheNeurobehavioral and Social-Emotional Development of Infantsand Children With DVD By EdTronick reviewed by Joanne Jao. Wefinish our book offerings with JohnLentz’s review of My Father BeforeMe: How Fathers and Sons InfluenceEach Other Throughout Their LivesBy Michael J. Diamond andAlexander Simpkins’ and AnnellenM. Simpkins’ fascinating reviews ofGenograms: Assessment andIntervention by Monica McGoldrick,

Randy Gerson, and Sueli Petry, andKundalini Yoga Meditation:Techniques Specific for PsychiatricDisorders, Couples Therapy andPersonal Growth by David S.Shannahoff-Khalsa.

I am always fascinated how theFoundation is able to run such com-plicated and multifaceted conferenceso smoothly. To get a peek at some ofthe behind the scenes, visit ourContributor of Note column in thisissue to meet Jeannine Elder, ourPrograms Manager, FacultyCoordinator and InstitutesCoordinator. She is truly an amazing

person. The problem I have foundwith the previous Brief TherapyConferences was that they werealways far too brief. While I often leftfeeling a bit dizzy from the deep con-centration of the content, new infor-mation and expanded perspectives, Iwanted it to have lasted longer. Therewas just so much there to learn. I donot expect the 7th Brief TherapyConference to be any different. Joinus in San Diego. It will be fun.

Rick LandisOrange, California


MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

Evolution of Psychotherapyis coming in 2009!

Due to popular demand, the sixth Evolutionof Psychotherapy Conference, originally slated

for 2010, has been scheduled for 2009!

The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference will be held December 9-13,2009, in Anaheim, California, and is sponsored by The Milton H. EricksonFoundation, Inc.

Primary faculty include Albert Bandura, David Barlow, Eugene Gendlin,William Glasser, John & Julie Gottman, Mary Goulding, Otto Kernberg, JamesHillman, Jean Houston, Marsha Linehan, Cloé Madanes, James Masterson,Donald Meichenbaum, Salvador Minuchin, Ernest Rossi, Erving Polster, MartinSeligman, Francine Shapiro, Thomas Szasz, and Jeffrey Zeig.

Invited faculty will include Judith Beck, Claudia Black, David Burns,Nicholas & Janet Cummings, Robert Dilts, Steven Hayes, Harville Hendrix,Bessel van der Kolk, Harriet Lerner, Scott Miller, Christine Padesky, MaryPipher, Daniel Siegel, Derald Wing Sue.

Keynote speakers include Philip Zimbardo, Aaron Beck (tentative), and IrvinYalom. The Evolution Conference also is offering a featured presentation byAndrew Weil, and more faculty to be included!

Visit the Conference web site: www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com formore information in the coming weeks, and sign up for the Evolution E-Newsand be the first to receive Evolution Conference announcements. To add yourname to the list to receive the brochure by mail when it is available, contact TheMilton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6500; Tel, 602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519; Email, [email protected]

Register at the Lowest Rates Available – Special Offer forNewsletter Readers! Use the registration form on page 5 to register at the reducedrate by January 15, 2009. These are lowest rates that will be offered for this meet-ing so register today!

Interview with JoanBorysenko, Ph.D.

By John Lentz D. Min

Her website (www.joanborysenko.com) describes JoanBorysenko as a Harvard-trainedmedical scientist, licensed psycholo-gist, and spiritual educator. Best-sell-ing author of 13 books, numerousaudio programs and guided medita-tions, she is a pioneer in integrativemedicine, cofounder and director ofthe Claritas Institute’s SpiritualMentor Training Program, and hostof a weekly show on Hay Houseradio.

JL: Joan, you are very success-ful person, and a sought afterspeaker around the country andthe world. Your first book soldmore than 400,00 copies and is nowrevised and re-released. There arepeople who have been reading yourwork for more than 20 years. Howdo you keep all that success fromgoing to your head?

JB: I recognize that I am not “thedoer.” I’m more like the servant of agreater intelligence, so whatever maybe accomplished through me is prettyhumbling. What a privilege it hasbeen to train as a scientist and psy-chologist, as well as studying andpracticing the world’s great spiritualtraditions, and then to bring thesethree strands together in the service ofhealing.

JL: Your first book, Mindingthe Body: Mending the Mind, isfilled with practical tips, clinicalobservations, case histories, andpersonal anecdotes. It comes acrossas an emotional message with aspiritual result. Do you write hop-ing to convey a spiritual attitude?

JB: The hope is to get my smallself out of the way, so that somethinglarger can express itself through me.That means being authentically pre-sent to the subject matter intellectual-ly, emotionally, and from that rightbrain place beyond the duality of meand the material. When that happens,something fresh comes through…akind of spiritual connection.

JL: You have been working atintegrative medicine for more than30 years. What excites you about

the work so that you stay interestedin the spiritual aspects of integra-tive medicine today?

JB: Hospitals are progressivelymore interested in spirituality andhealing, due to a large database ofrecent studies. Those studies indicatethat compassion and faith can bothhelp in recovery from illness as wellas in maintaining wellness. My owninterest is less in religiosity, and morein the common spiritual experienceshared by all people regardless oftheir faith or lack thereof. I loveengaging in inquiry about spiritualityand healing with health-careproviders. Training spiritual mentorsthrough our Claritas Institute is also agreat delight. The name Claritas isLatin for Clarity and Illumination.The co-founders of the training pro-gram are Gordon Dveirin EdD, myhusband and co-author of Your Soul’sCompass: What is SpiritualGuidance? and Janet Quinn PhD,RN. Janet was one of the firstresearchers in Therapeutic Touch.Her contribution is the recognitionthat we, as health-care practitioners,are the medicine through the qualityof our presence and compassion.

JL: What do you teach at theClaritas Institute?

JB: We train people as spiritualmentors in an interspiritual format.Interspirituality is a term coined bythe late Catholic monk and Hindusannyasin, Brother Wayne Teasdale.It is the common ground where mys-tics of any tradition recognize thatthey share the same experience,beyond linguistic distinctions anddoctrine. Our students commit to adaily spiritual practice of their choice,study the common ground inherent inEastern and Western wisdom tradi-tions, and learn to listen to others in aspecial way. Beneath the surface sto-ries that we all tell, there is an innercurrent of presence, freedom, andlove that is continuously unfolding.Spiritual mentors hold the mirror upto that inner movement. This requiresthe discipline of not knowing. Thatmeans maintaining a mindful, curi-ous, open stance toward life. That’shard if we’re sold on the idea that wehave to know at all cost.Paradoxically, what we think weknow most often blocks the mysteryof life unfolding.

JL: A friend of mine says it isn’tfaith unless we are stepping into theunknown.

JB: Exactly. Faith is less aboutdoctrine and more about experiencingpresence and being open to guidancefrom a greater Source. Father ThomasKeating, one of the 27 Sages fromdifferent traditions that we inter-viewed for Your Soul’s Compass, dis-tinguishes the false or conditionedself from the true self, which in histheology is our inherent participationin the divine being. Spiritual mentor-ing involves helping the mentee to

I N T H E S P I R I T O F T H E R A P Yrecognize the difference betweenthese two selves. Are we caught inwhat Buddhists call the three poisonsof ignorance, anger, and desire or arewe freely and spontaneously kind,open, creative, and happy? TheCatholics talk about the same blocksto the true self as the seven deadlysins. Every religious system haswords for whether we are free orwhether we are bound. Judaismspeaks of the Yetzer Hara, the limit-ing urge, and the Yetzer Hatov, theurge for good, which is ultimately lib-erating.

See SPIRIT on page 6

The Sixth Evolution ofPsychotherapy Conference2010 2009!Due to popular demand the nextEvolution Conference has beenscheduled for 2009!

Primary FacultyAlbert BanduraDavid BarlowEugene GendlinWilliam GlasserJohn & Julie GottmanMary GouldingOtto KernbergJames HillmanJean HoustonMarsha Linehan

State of the Art FacultyJudith BeckClaudia BlackDavid BurnsNicholas &Janet CummingsRobert DiltsSteven HayesHarville Hendrix

Keynote SpeakersPhilip Zimbardo

Aaron Beck (tentative)Irvin Yalom

Featured PresentationAndrew Weil

and more to be included…

Cloe MadanesJames MastersonDonald MeichenbaumSalvador MinuchinErnest RossiErving PolsterMartin SeligmanFrancine ShapiroThomas SzaszJeffrey Zeig

Bessel van der KolkHarriet LernerScott MillerChristine PadeskyMary PipherDaniel SiegelDerald Wing Sue

evolutionofpsychotherapy.comStay tuned to our web sitefor conference updates.


Playing With Fire: Crisis InterventionWith A Suicidal Adolescent

By John M. Dyckman, Ph.D.

Perhaps the most useful of Erickson’s remarkable techniques is the conceptof utilization. Utilization harnesses the language and experience of the client. . Itallows clients to use their own knowledge, strengths and skills to explore usefulsolutions to their own problems. As such it is well suited to working with clientslike the adolescent described below, who may not be particularly interested in“therapy” or in “self-examination.”

“John” is a 17-year-old, male high school senior. He is on track to graduatein June and has enlisted in the service, promised that he will be trained as a dam-age control officer. He already has a year of experience as a volunteer fire fight-er.

His mother brings him to the clinic after they have spent an unpleasant nightin the emergency room having his stomach pumped after an impulsive suicideattempt. His girlfriend of about a year dumped him for one of his friends. Johngot furious, got drunk, and overdosed on pills. He is a handsome and athleticyoung man, but not particularly verbal or very happy to be in my office. He stillhad not ruled out suicide as a response to the rejection.

After eliciting his history, and a few false starts into being curious about hislife, we struck up a conversation about fire fighting. This is something that heknew and cared about, so we conducted the entire rest of the session discussingsome principles of Fire Science.”:

First I asked him what he knew about “accelerants.” He named a few of thecommon ones. I nodded and then offered, “How about alcohol?” He grinned,and we were off to the fire.

I acknowledged his expertise. Then I said that I had some friends who werefirefighters and they had shown me that explosions were just very fast fires; weremore damaging when they were contained in a small space,; and lost much oftheir power when they happened in a larger space. I told him that to qualify forthe California Department of Forestry’s fire-fighting program, one has to do 50sit-ups in 60 seconds while holding a 30 pound weight on the chest. I wonderedif doing sit-ups, or even taking a run, would be a good way to dissipate poten-tially explosive energies?

I also asked him to tell me something about the different types of fires he hadseen, and the different techniques used to fight them. What would happen if youmis-diagnosed and used water on an oil fire? What could he remember abouthow he felt at the moment he discovered his girlfriend’s cruel betrayal? Heremembered a flash of sadness before he became furious. I asked what was thebest way to extinguish sadness. I invited him to ask his mom how she dealt withsimilar situations. They had a nice conversation about expressing sadness in theform of tears, and the likelihood that the sadness once expressed would soon“burn out.”

I then asked him about “search and rescue.” We determined that when in aburning or damaged building, it was advisable to keep one hand on the wall, andone on the person ahead of or behind you. I said it sounded to me like his plansfor his future were a kind of solid “wall” that he could lean on, but that when“visibility is low” it was crucial for him to keep to his plan, to “keep a hand onthe wall.” I suggested he ask himself whether a particular action would help orhinder his plan.

His other hand needed to be on the person in front or behind him. I askedhim who would be his “buddy.” He chose his mother, a few named friends, andme. I agreed that it was important to have several different people to trust, sothat it was likely that someone would be available in time of need. His motherexpressed her relief and gratitude to her son, who received it with more gra-ciousness than I usually expect from 17-year-old males.

They left saying that they felt a lot better, and that they didn’t think that they

C A S E R E P O R T

needed to come back. I followed-up a week later by phone, and John was backat school and apparently back on course.

Impulsive suicide is a real risk in adolescents. John had the advantage ofsome previous experience of the importance of calm but decisive action in theface of real danger, and so was able to mobilize resources that he had not real-ized he had. Most everyone has resources of which they are not aware. Our jobas therapists is to help them access and utilize these previously dormantresources in the most natural way possible.

JL: Your knowledge is impressive and comes through both in yourteachings and your writings.

JB: I hope to write and teach in a way that helps people to see themselvesmore clearly and lovingly, and to face their fears so that they can transcend themand taste the happiness, compassion and creativity that are their birthright ashuman beings. We’re at a crossroads in human history, and to bring a betterworld into being requires that each of us connect more deeply to the potentialgood that lies within us and within others. Most deeply, I hope to get my ownlimitations out of the way so that a real transmission can come from that higherSource.

JL: Just talking with you I can feel your kindness and genuineness. Youtruly are an impressive person.

SPIRIT continued from page 4

They had a nice conversation about expressingsadness in the form of tears, and the likelihood thatthe sadness once expressed would soon “burn out.”

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter VOL. 28, NO. 3 7


A. Steven FrankelInterviewed by Jeff Zeig

We have set aside a section fromthe Featured Interview with StevenFrankel to include in our Facets andReflections column. Jeff Zeig has justasked Frankel to describe his firstmeeting with Erickson. – Ed.

Frankel (F): Well, I visited himin the early-to-mid '70's-- around '73or thereabouts. I was the Director ofClinical Training in the PsychologyDepartment at USC. I won a teachingaward, and I was asked if I would bewilling to go out on a recruitment trip,and travel to places where USC hadalumni and relatives. They wanted tobring a faculty member to show off sothat they could attract students to theuniversity. They said they weregoing to Phoenix and asked if I wouldgo there, and I said, "Of course. Thereis somebody I really wanted to meetthere." And so I went.

I contacted Dr. Erickson and said,"I'm somebody who has read yourstuff and would be very interested inmeeting you." And he sent me back aletter saying, "I'd be happy to see youand this is how you find me. Andwhen might I expect you?" So I toldhim, and then I showed up.

Zeig (Z): When you showed up,was it just you and Dr Erickson orwere other students present?

F: No, his office was inside of hisguest house and it was populated withabout half-a-dozen students of onesort or another who were in varyingstages of trance of one sort of anoth-er. And he said, "Since I never knowwhether or not someone is comingwhen they say they're coming, I havea contingency plan. So would every-one else please leave and you canstay." And so I stayed. And that wasmy introduction.

He told me about why so much ofwhat he wore, and what the room hadin it was purple, which was because itwas a color he could see, and hemight as well enjoy it.

At the time there was an issue Iwas struggling with, and it becamethe first big lesson I learned from himon that visit. I was a relatively youngDirector of Clinical Training. I thinkI became Director of Training at the

age of 29. I didn't get that positiondue to merit; I'm sure I got it out ofpolitical machinations that wentthrough the universities at that time.At USC, there were several differentprograms that trained therapistsbesides the Clinical PsychologyProgram. I had become elitist andthought only the PsychologyDepartment was the real thing, andeverybody else was an amateur. Isaw all these people there thatErickson was teaching. I asked,"Does it ever occur to you that theremight be people here at your trainingwho are not really going to be compe-tent therapists? On what basis do youdecide who to teach and who not toteach--who should learn from youand who should not? And withoutmissing a beat, he said softly, "I'm ateacher. I have something to teachand I'll teach any professional who isinterested in learning what I have toteach. It's not up to me to determinewhat they do with it. It's up to me toteach what I know."

I left a changed person. The elit-ism disappeared, and its absenceserved me well for the rest of my life.It was one of life's big lessons in

terms of not taking oneself too seri-ously.

Z: That was a reference experi-ence.

F: Absolutely.Z: Any other reflections or rec-

ollections?F: Oh, yes. I can tell you one

other thing. I was there with my thenwife. I was sitting next to her at thetime that he led her into trance, such

F A C E T S & R E F L E C T I O N S that her body bent over slightly, andat one point he turned to me and hesaid, "Can you look at yourself andhow you're sitting"? It turned out thatI was absolutely imitating the posi-tion that she was in. And I said,"Wow. I wonder how that hap-pened." He said, "Well, I can see thatyou care about her and you re invest-ed in her, and so you accompaniedher on this journey." I said, "Wow."

Z: That's a reference experienceabout mirror neurons.

F: Absolutely

PAID ADVERTISEMENT


The Milton HylandErickson Instituteof Brasilia

Interviewed by Marilia Baker, MSW

www.mericksonbsb.com.br

Email: [email protected]

The Milton Hyland EricksonInstitute of Brasilia was established in2005 by Mauricio Neubern, Ph.D.,Lilian Borges Zeig, MA, and EduardoReis Penido, Lic. Psyc., Board ofDirectors. To attain their cherisheddream of creating an EricksonInstitute in the heartland capital ofBrazil, its founders counted on thesupport, collaboration, appliedknowledge, and approaches of like-minded colleagues, among themAngela Cota (MHEI Belo Horizonte);Joao Fachinnetti (MHEI Maceio’);Teresa Robles (Centro Ericksonianode Mexico), and most particularlythat of Jeffrey Zeig (MHEFoundation). The Institute alsoacknowledges the inspiration andprofessional friendship of psycholo-gists, Valeria Brito’ Andre’Monteiro’ Isabel Dalla Barba, andAndre’ Braga. Director-president,Neubern, emphasizes, in addition,Cuban-born Professor, FernandoGonzalez Rey, Centro Universitariode Brasilia (UniCeub), who has beenespecially helpful through his pro-found knowledge of complexity inclinical psychology, epistemology,and the concept of systemic complex-ity. These discussions eventually ledNeubern to the thought and therapeu-tic practice of Milton HylandErickson, notably a most distin-guished authority on complexity con-cepts in clinical psychology in the20th Century and beyond.

The establishment of an EricksonInstitute in the political, social, andeconomically vital Midwesternregion of Brazil opened up innovativetherapeutic ways and means to pro-vide important clinical services to theregion-- services that are therapeuti-cally effective, efficient, and humanethat profoundly respect the individu-ality and uniqueness of the humanbeing just as Milton Erickson desired,according to Neubern. Since October2005, the Institute has developed andimplemented several programs and

I NTRODUCING THE INST ITUTES

services: 1) Training, consisting of220 hours in five semesters. There arefive modules: basic, intermediate,advanced, and two separate modulesin supervision for psychologists wish-ing to attain highest clinical skills inhypnosis and Ericksonian psy-chotherapy; 2) Optional, open coursesfor health professionals wishing toattain general knowledge ofEricksonian approaches; 3) Clinicalservices focusing on: individual, cou-ple and family therapy, and 4)Research and publishing, with focuson two basic areas ofinquiry: a) hypnosis – itshistory and epistemology;and b) pain managementand control. Research andarticles have been publishedin scientific journals both inBrazil and Europe (seeInstitute’s website).Neubern also establishedclose connection with acad-emia to disseminateEricksonian approaches,eliciting interest of graduatestudents to research thoseareas. Part of the researchsupervision is under the ori-entation of two Institutealumni, psychologists, Olavo Rignonand Denise Vilella Ribeiro.

Founding Director, Lilian BorgesZeig, MA, Lic. Psych., was originallytrained as a hypnotherapist by theMHE Institute of Belo Horizonte andby international faculty associatedwith the Erickson Foundation. She isHypnosis and Brief TherapyInstructor at the Foundation’sIntensive Training in Phoenix, andInvited Faculty of its Internationalmeetings. She represents the BrasiliaInstitute abroad, as director ofInternational Training and serves asliaison with the Erickson Foundation.

She conducts workshops and semi-nars in many countries, among themthe U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Spain,Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia,Taiwan and Canada.

Mauricio Neubern, Professor atCentro Universitario de Brasilia(UniCeub), earned his doctorate inPsychology from the University ofBrasilia (UnB). In Brasilia his fieldwork/practicum was under the super-vision of Drs. Fatima Sudbrack andLiana Costa working mostly with thechronically mentally ill, drug addicts,

families, and victims of domestic vio-lence. He completed his doctoralstudies at Universite’ Paris VII wherehe is Associate Researcher of theLaboratoire de Changement Social.Under the orientation of Dr. Vincentde Gaulejac he delved into deeperlayers of his interests in complexityand clinical psychology, which hadbeen initiated with his earlier workwith Prof. Gonzalez Rey, who at thetime was teaching at PUC - CatholicUniversity of Campinas, Brazil.These studies led Neubern to theWeltanschaaung, or, the worldviewand perspectives of French philoso-

pher, Edgar Morin, whose work andtransdisciplinary studies, reflectionsand publications on epistemology andcomplexity (drawing from cybernet-ics, information theory, systems theo-ry, psychology, and other disciplines)highly intrigued Neubern, who ulti-mately led him to the highly intercon-nected and complex worldview andthe therapeutic practice of MiltonHyland Erickson, as stated above.

During his studies in France,Neubern underwent training at theMHE Institute of Paris under Dr.Hubert D’Assignies. He also wastrained and influenced by ChristianeKreitlow of the Paris Institute.Neubern concludes our interview bysaying that France and its thinkers,including Edgar Morin and IsabelleStengers, were quite influential in theshaping of his professional identity.He also credits some of its distin-guished clinicians as T. Melchior andF. Roustang. Last, but not least,Mauricio Neubern is to be creditedwith a considerable body of work,with numerous published articles inscientific journals and the book:(2004) Complexidade e PsicologiaClinica (Complexity and ClinicalPsychology). Plano Editora: Brasilia.He has been hard at work on anotherbook, on hypnosis and subjectivity,Hipnose e Subjetividade:Magnetizadores, Hipnotistas eTerapeutas, Diamante Editorial: BeloHorizonte. He has been researching athird area of his interest,Psychotherapy and Religion, drawingfrom the pioneer work of MiltonErickson’s distinguished students,Drs. David Akstein and MadeleineRicheport-Haley.

This Institute appears to be theonly one among the current 135institutes in the world to have includ-ed Erickson’s full middle name:Hyland. According to Neubern theinclusion of Dr. Erickson’s middlename was not intentional, butserendipitous. The cultural norm inBrazil is for individuals – men andwomen – to enumerate their fullnames and surnames. Thus, uponlearning from colleague CristinaCota, co-director of the MHEI BeloHorizonte of how much Dr. Ericksonprized his middle name, most espe-cially because of its ancestral mean-ings on his mother’s side, Neubernwas exceedingly pleased with hischoice! For further information,please see the Institute’s website:www.mericksonbsb.com.br

Graduates of the first training program. Fromleft to right (Standing): M. Ester Campos, SilviaAraujo, Denise Vilella Ribeiro, Mauricio

Neubern,M. Lucia, M. Rosaria Canto, VeronicaCaixeta. (Sitting): Olavo Rigo, Marcia Nelia,

and Atevaldo Junior.

Women's group training at the Brazil Institute


The European Societyof Hypnosis Congress

By Wilma Trasarti Sponti, Societa’ Italiana Milton Erickson (SIME)

The 11th Congress of the European Society of Hypnosis in Psychotherapyand Psychosomatic Medicine (ESH) was held in Vienna, Austria, September 17– 21, 2008 at the Medical University of Vienna. An EMDR pre-congress washeld on Sept. 16. The Congress, under the auspices of ESH’s 36 ConstituentSocieties from 17 European countries, had the patronage of the Lord Mayor ofthe City of Vienna; the Town Councillor of Health and Social Affairs; the Rectorand Vice-Rector of the Vienna Medical University; the Director of the ViennaUniversity Hospital (AKH); and the Vice-President of the Vienna Chamber ofPhysicians.

The support and interest of these many distinguished institutions, the profi-cient planning by ESH and its President, Mhairi McKenna, as well as the skill-ful professional organization by Drs. Henriette Walter and Marianne Martin ofthe Vienna committee, all of whom had been hard at work since the last ESHCongress in Gozo, Malta (2003, ensured its success. The excellent outcome ofthe meeting both from a scientific and social networking point of view, withexquisite Vienna culture and charm, was their reward.

Vienna represented a renewed occasion, which started in Malmo, Sweden in1978, for a friendly exchange of knowledge, practice and science from Europeas well as from Israel, Turkey, USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan thus showing theincreased interest of the international scientific and professional communitytowards hypnosis and its current evolutionary stage.

There were 200 presentations including Keynote, Invited Lectures, andSymposia. The themes of keynote presentations defined the main flow of theCongress. They ranged from “Demonstration Keynote” by Jeffrey Zeig empha-sizing utilization of expressive arts, poetry, drama in hypnotherapy; to “Plasticitychanges in the brain in hypnosis and meditation” by Ulrike Halsband; from”Resolving a family feud: The classical-modern controversy of hypnosis revisit-ed” by Walter Bongartz to “Is it useful to induce a trance state? A hypnothera-pist‘s view on recent neuroimaging data” by Burkhard Peter. There were 140workshops ranging from two to eight hours in length, thus confirming the ideathat knowledge and practice are synergistic, and that nothing that is worthwhileto learn can be taught, it must be experienced.

The flow of Congress and the shared feeling among the professionals attend-ing was that Neurosciences, the utilization of brain imaging, such as PET, andthe clinical applications of new mind-body paradigms reinforce consideration ofhypnosis within the scientific world. It brings into evidence how hypnosis mightbe well utilized in the neurological medical field both in curative medicine andin wellness medicine. Also discussed were the applications of hypnosis in thefields of teaching, learning and communication. New initiatives and research inthese fields might be the new frontier for hypnosis. The fact that the subject ofthe forthcoming ISH Congress in September 2009 in Rome, Italy will be devot-ed to Neurosciences and Hypnosis confirms the importance of this trend. (See:www.hypnosis.it).

A second theme emerging was that of connections between the quantum par-adigm, hypnosis, and spiritual intelligence, which allow individuals to go on anew understanding of their world, a search so important in this period of uncer-tainty and new frontiers of the mind. The metaphor of the “unconscious” utilizedin hypnosis within a systemic thinking transformed the dyad into a triad: the sub-ject, the hypnotist and the “unconscious.” The great importance of the uncon-scious metaphor is now being increased by neuroscientists’ research on MirrorNeurons connecting hypnotic rapport and empathy. It is fascinating how futurestudies might enlarge knowledge of classic hypnotic phenomena and enable usto have lucid dreams! A third flow of the Congress was the revisited debatebetween classical and new hypnosis, which together with main flow of experi-ential hypnosis, allowed Faculty members and participants to take advantage of

the many clinical developments.

Topics at the conference included: Ericksonian hypnotherapy in depression;conversion disorders; eating disorders; pain control; alcohol addiction; smokinghabits; research on interactional attunement of subject and hypnotherapist;issues in teaching hypnosis; training in sports with hypnotherapy; dental hypno-sis; medical utilization of hypnosis for psychosomatic disorders; the birthprocess and hypnosis; women’s empowerment and hypnotherapy; trauma andhypnosis conjoint with EMDR; hypnotherapy in ADHD for children and adults;and Ego State Therapy, biofeedback. The overall sentiment of the Congressthemes was that of great excitement and innovation in our field.

World renowned, distinguished hypnotherapist, Peter Bloom, MD was hon-oured by Mhairi McKenna with membership in ESH, and closing remarks wereby Matthias Mende, new President of ESH on “Hypnosis: State-of-the-Art andPerspectives for the 21st Century.”

The next ESH Congress will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2011. For fur-ther information: www.esh-hypnosis.eu

I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y

I N M E M O R I A MOn September 17, 2008, with the

passing of James Bugental, the fieldof psychotherapy lost the presence ofa stellar contributor. A leader of theHumanistic-Existential approach, hechampioned the “I-Thou” relation-ship as a central context of change.

Dr. Bugental was co-faculty for aclinical presentation with Rollo Mayat the 1985 Evolution ofPsychotherapy Conference, andserved on the Evolution Conferenceprimary faculty in 1990, 1995 and2000. He was a great friend of theErickson Foundation.

It was my privilege to publishJim’s last book, Psychotherapy Isn’tWhat You Think, www.zeigtucker.com.It is about engagement—how toattend to the living moment thatmakes psychotherapy meaningfullycome alive.

Jim was an inviting, amiable per-son; his demeanor was inspiring andhealing. Visiting with him in any con-text, you knew that the porch lightwas on, and someone was home. Few

people could be as present as JimBugental

Born December 25, 1915, Jim issurvived by his loving wife,Elizabeth. Our deepest condolencesto Elizabeth and members of theBugental family

Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D.DirectorThe Milton Erickson Foundation

The flow of Congress and the shared feeling amongthe professionals attending was that Neurosciences,the utilization of brain imaging, such as PET,and the clinical applications of new mind-body

paradigms reinforce consideration ofhypnosis within the scientific world.

Elizabeth and James Bugental

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter

C O N T R I B U T O R O F N O T E

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newsletter 11-08:newsletter vol27-2 11/24/08 5:03 PM

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T H E O R E T I C A L F R A M E W O R K SBACK TO THEFUTURE

Milton Erickson, MD started arevolution early in his career, empha-sizing the strength of the uncon-scious, and potentiating each patient’sown innate ability to overcome whatmay have seemed like insurmount-able obstacles. His wisdom set thepace for what we now appreciate asintegrative medicine. His insight pre-ceded the development and use ofCT, MRI, PET scans. Recent scientif-ic studies have validated whatErickson knew intuitively, that withthe added benefit of unconsciousprocess through hypnosis and thera-py, the body and mind have greatcapacity to heal when balanced andstrengthened in the context of a heal-ing relationship with others.Ericksonian therapy may very well besynonymous with integrative medi-cine.

It is important to safeguard oursociety and profession against thedrift away from the fundamentalpremise that the body, mind and spir-it are primary forces in healing andrecovery. In this day of increasedstress and toxic exposure, there maybe a tendency to rely on medicationfor symptoms relief, taking us furtheraway from natural healing to solvethe root cause of our problems.Integrative medicine focuses onrestoring the balance of the mind,body and spirit naturally (though notexclusively) by determining whatmay be lacking for the person. Thisincludes increasing hope and trust aswell as essential molecular elementssuch as nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxi-dants and hormones. Integrative med-icine is not just about restoration; it isalso about elimination of those ele-ments that may be toxic to our bodyand soul. These elements can rangefrom internal and environmental fac-tors such as dysfunctional cognitionsand relationships as well as molecularfactor such as heavy metals includingmercury, lead, cadmium, and alu-minum, all of which can have harmfuland detrimental effects on our vascu-lar and neurological systems.

We have learned a great dealabout neurotransmitters and the bio-logical role the endocrine system

plays in brain. What we are learningnow is a little like “Back to theFuture.” In short, we’ve come tounderstand that the development ofneurotransmitters is a biologicalprocess driven by a gut-brain path-way; that essential nutrients helpform an optimal balance of neuro-transmitters; and that overproductionof one or more neurotransmitterscauses an inhibitory effects on ourendocrine system. We also are learn-ing that the application of basic bio-logical principles of fundamental carecan restore health, vitality, and quali-ty of life. When psychotherapy andmedicine focus on basic principlessuch as improving cognitive function,nurturing relationships, developing ofour spiritual life, and judicious use ofnutrients, we can balance our neuro-transmitters organically.

Doctors who practice integrativemedicine are pioneers, in the samemanner Erickson did when he beganto develop what we now appreciate asEricksonian psychotherapy and hyp-nosis. His foresight and dedication tothe belief of the inherent potentialpower that lies within each individualis a driving force in Ericksonian inte-grative medicine. Integrative medi-

cine straddles the fence between tra-ditional and natural approaches tohealing, using medication when nec-essary, while remaining sensitive tothe organic potency of the individual.

Gary Ruelas, D.O., Ph.D.Medical DirectorEricksonian Integrative MedicalInstitute of Orange Countywww.integrativemedicalinstitute.com

It is important to safeguard our society andprofession against the drift away from the

fundamental premise that the body, mind and spiritare primary forces in healing and recovery.

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The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter VOL. 28, NO. 3 15UPCOMING TRAININGDATE TITLE / LOCATION / LEADER CONTACTS

2008

12/11-14 The Brief Therapy Conference: Lasting Solutions / San Diego,Calif. / Invited Faculty (Pre-Conference 12/10 andPost-Conference 12/15) 1.

2009

1/15-18 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian ClinicalHypnotherapy - Master Class / New York City, NY / JeffreyK. Zeig, Ph.D. 2.

1/28-29 International NLP Congress – Communication Methods forCoaches / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Zeig, Invited Faculty 3.

2/16-20 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief HypnoticPsychotherapy - Fundamental / Phoenix, Ariz. / Brent B. Geary,Ph.D., Stephen Lankton, MSW, DAHB, Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D.,and Invited Presenters 1.

2/23-27 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief HypnoticPsychotherapy - Intermediate / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, Lankton,Zeig, and Invited Presenters 1.

2/19-22 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian ClinicalHypnotherapy - Master Class / Minneapolis, MN / Zeig 4.

3/13-15 Supervision Training in Ericksonian Hypnosis / Guadalajara,Mexico / Zeig 5.

3/16 - 4/1 Trance Possession and Ritual / Bali, Indonesia / Betty AliceErickson, LPC, MFT, Eric Greenleaf, PhD 6.

4/8-15 Comprehensive Training in Ericksonian Clinical Hypnotherapy -Master Class / Singapore / Zeig 7.

4/17-20 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian ClinicalHypnotherapy - Master Class / Hong Kong, China / Zeig 8.

4/23-26 Fundamentals of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy – Level I / Dallas,Texas / Betty Alice Erickson, MS, LPC, LMFT, DeborahBeckman, MS, LPC, Will Handy, LCSW, and SpecialGuest Faculty 9.

5/1 – 5/3 Couples Conference: Love & Intimacy / San Diego, CA /Invited Presenters 1.

5/11-15 Ericksonian Therapy / Istanbul, Turkey / Zeig 10.

5/16-17 Experiential Methods for Ericksonian Therapy / Rome,Italy / Zeig 11.

5/23-24 Advanced Hypnotherapy / Madrid, Spain / Zeig 12.

6/12-14 Supervision Training in Ericksonian Hypnosis / Guadalajara,Mexico / Zeig 5.

7/30-8/3 Intensive Supervision Workshop in Ericksonian ClinicalHypnotherapy - Master Class / New York City, NY / Zeig 2.

7/13-17 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief HypnoticPsychotherapy - Fundamental / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, Lankton,Zeig, and Invited Presenters 1.

7/20-24 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief HypnoticPsychotherapy - Intermediate / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, Lankton,Zeig, and Invited Presenters 1.

7/27-31 Intensive Training in Ericksonian Approaches to Brief HypnoticPsychotherapy - Advanced / Phoenix, Ariz. / Geary, Lankton,Zeig, and Invited Presenters 1.

7/23-26 Intermediate Skills in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy – Level II /Dallas, Texas / Erickson, Beckman, Handy, and Special GuestFaculty 9.

10/22-25* Advanced Ericksonian Hypnotherapy – Level III / Dallas,Texas / Erickson, Beckman, Handy, and Special Guest Faculty 9.*Dates Subject to Change

12/9-13 The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference / Anaheim,Calif. / Invited Faculty 1.

Contact Information:1. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ85016 6500; Tel, 602/956-6196; Fax, 602/956-0519; E-mail,[email protected] ; Web, www.erickson-foundation.org

2. Helen Adrienne; E-mail, [email protected] ; Tel, 212/758-0125

3. Email, [email protected]


5. Juan Francisco Ramirez Martinez / Email, [email protected]

6. Milton H. Erickson Institute of the Bay Area / Email, [email protected] ; Web, www.miltonherickson.com

7. Lucy Heng / Email, [email protected]

8. George Zee / Email, [email protected]

9. Milton H. Erickson Institute of Dallas, 4144 N Central Suite 520, Dallas,TX 75204 [email protected] ; Tel, 214-824-2009


11. Camillo Loriedo, M.D. / Email, [email protected]

12. Teresa Garcia Sanchez / Email, [email protected]

To submit a listing for Upcoming Trainings, please send dates, title of workshop,venue, city/state/country, list of presenters, and complete contact information ONLY.Information must be sent in the format above. A $10 fee, per listing, is required. Deadlinefor the 2009 Spring Issue (mailed April) is February 1, 2009. All workshop submissionsare subject to approval by the Erickson Foundation. For more information, please con-tact the Erickson Foundation at 602/956-6196; [email protected]


CONFERENCE NOTESSpace is still available! The Brief Therapy Conference: Lasting Solutions, December 11-14, 2008, at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, San

Diego, California. The Conference is sponsored by The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., and Co-sponsored by University of San Diego, Counseling Program,School of Leadership and Education Sciences. The Conference offers a Pre-Conference Law and Ethics Workshop on Wednesday, December 10, and a Post-Conference Brief Therapy Master Class Training on Monday, December 15. The Conference consists of workshops, interactive events, short courses, FundamentalHypnosis Workshops, and keynote addresses.

Presenters at the 2008 meeting include: Andreas, Beck, Carlson, Dilts, Gilligan, Goulding, Hardy, Hayes, Karpman, Kaslow, Kottler, Lankton, Levine, Miller,Naranjo, Norcross, O’Hanlon, Padesky, Plster, Prochaska, Rossi, Selekman, Spring, Weiner-Davis, Wilson, Yapko, and Zeig. Keynotes will be given by Borysenko,Burns, Cummings, Houston, and Terr.

Visit the Conference web site to view the full program, list of presenters and presentations, download the complete brochure, make your hotel reservations, viewonsite registration procedures (time and location)! www.BriefTherapyConference.com

For further information contact The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6500; Tel, 602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519;Email, [email protected]

Satir’s Legacy: 20 Years Later and Beyond, a two-week intensive training sponsored by The Virginia Satir Global Network (formerly Avanta) and Science andBehavior Books, will be held February 6-20, 2009, at The Haven Institute on Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada. All proceeds to benefit The Virginia Satir Global Network,Inc. The training is offered by three internationally acclaimed trainers and authors who trained extensively with Virginia Satir: John Banmen, Maria Gomori, and JeanMcClendon. Space is limited to 90 participants. For complete information contact [email protected] or visit their Web Site:http://haven.ca/db/a.courseDetail/id.221 . Online registration also is available.

Psychotherapy Networker will hold the Symposium 2009, Seizing the Day: Therapy and the Art of Engagement, is being held March 26-29, 2009, at the OmniShoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Information is forthcoming. Contact information: Psychotherapy Networker, 5135 MacArthur Boulevard N.W., Washington,D.C. 20016 ; Tel, (202) 537-8950 ; Toll Free: (888) 408-2452 ; Fax, (202) 537-6869; Email, [email protected] ; Web, www.PsychotherapyNetworker.com

Love & Intimacy: The Couples Conference, sponsored by The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., with organizational assistance provided by The CouplesInstitute (Menlo Park, CA), will be held May 1-3, 2009, at the Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, California. A Law and Ethics Pre-Conference with Steven Frankel will be offered. Faculty include Bader, Dattilio, Gottman, Love, Madanes, Perel, Real, Solomon, Abrahms Spring, and Zeig.

The complete brochure, Online registration, continuing education information, faculty bios and hotel accommodation is available on the Conference web site:www.CouplesConference.com . To receive a brochure by mail contact The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., 3606 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6500; Tel,602-956-6196; Fax, 602-956-0519; Email, [email protected]

The International Society of Hypnosis (ISH) will hold the XVIII International Congress, Hypnosis and Neuroscience: Clinical implications of the new mind-bodyparadigms, September 22-27, 2009, in Rome, Italy. Pre-Congress workshops (September 22-23) includes practical work with the Congress faculty; the ScientificProgram (September 24-27) includes Keynotes, Invited Lectures-Addresses-Seminars, Symposia, Dialogues, Panels and Papers. The Congress is sponsored bySocieta’ Italiana di Ipnosi and Societa’ Italiana Milton Erickson. For complete information contact Società Italiana di Ipnosi

Via Tagliamento 25 - 00198 Roma, Italy; Tel and Fax, +39.06.8548205; E-Mail, [email protected] ; Web, www.hypnosis.it

Call for Papers: To present a Paper in the Scientific Program please submit a 20-lines abstract together with your completed Registration Form by December 15,2008.

The sixth Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference will be held December 9-13, 2009, in Anaheim, California. Due to popular demand the Evolution ofPsychotherapy Conference has been moved from 2010 to 2009! The Conference is sponsored by The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. Primary Faculty include:Albert Bandura, David Barlow, Eugene Gendlin, William Glasser, John & JulieGottman, Mary Goulding, Otto Kernberg, James Hillman, Jean Houston, MarshaLinehan, Cloé Madanes, James Masterson, Donald Meichenbaum, SalvadorMinuchin, Ernest Rossi, Erving Polster, Martin Seligman, Francine Shapiro,Thomas Szasz, and Jeffrey Zeig. Invited Faculty include: Judith Beck, ClaudiaBlack, David Burns, Nicholas & Janet Cummings, Robert Dilts, Steven Hayes,Harville Hendrix, Bessel van der Kolk, Harriet Lerner, Scott Miller, ChristinePadesky, Mary Pipher, Daniel Siegel, Derald Wing Sue.

Keynote Speakers will include: Philip Zimbardo, Aaron Beck (tentative), andIrvin Yalom. The Evolution Conference offers a Featured Presentation by AndrewWeil. More faculty to be included!

Visit the Conference web site: www.evolutionofpsychotherapy.com for moreinformation in the coming weeks. Special Offer for Newsletter Readers— regis-ter at the lowest rates that will be available for this meeting! Use the registrationform on page 5 to register at the reduced rate before January 15, 2009.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Kundalini Yoga Meditation: TechniquesSpecific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples

Therapy and Personal GrowthBy David S. Shannahoff-Khalsa

W. W. Norton & Company2006

369 pagesISBN 13: 978-00-303-70475-4

Kundalini Yoga Meditation presents an ancient meditational method andshows how to apply it to psychiatric problems and marriage therapy. The authorhas devoted many years to the scientific research of Kundalini Yoga as well asbeing a practitioner himself under his guru, Yogi Bhajan. Shannahoff-Khalsaoffers a yoga-based approach that uses the breathing methods from KundaliniYoga to alter the physiological correlates of mental illness.

This book has a twofold aim: to provide traditional methods that therapistscan use with patients while also showing the scientific basis for this ancientmethod. Part I describes the rationale and assumptions. Ancient yoga conceptsof nasal cycles that are due to states of activation of the ida and pingala channelsare correlated with physiological states. Nadis are astral tubes carrying energythrough the body, somewhat comparable to the qi meridians in Chinese healing.The ida and pingala are two of the most important yogic nadis. They activate ordeactivate certain physiological states by how the airflow goes through the nos-trils. As the yin-yang theory would predict, the nasal cycles are related to thebody in opposites. One example is how the nasal cycles correlate with the oppo-site hemisphere during waking and sleeping. In this way, control of energythrough breathing using these meditational methods can be directed to specificbody mechanisms for healing particular disorders.

Part II covers psychiatric disorders. Included are anxiety syndromes, unipo-lar and bipolar disorders, addictions and impulse control problems, sleep disor-ders, chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity and co-morbiddisorders, and abuse. Each chapter includes a discussion of the problem wherethe author gives a good overview of the components of each problem. Referencesto real cases help bring the descriptions to life. Next, the author presents anoverview of conventional therapies, mainly pharmacology and CBT. Throughoutthe book he argues cogently why he thinks traditional treatment methods oftenfall short and how his method can make a difference.

The treatment section of each chapter offers a systematic description of tech-niques. The author suggests that the detailed instructions should be taken as pre-scriptions to be followed exactly. The techniques are arranged in specificprotocols that should be presented to the patient in the order they are given. Thefinal sections offer numerous case histories that vividly portray the treatment inaction.

Part III guides in using these techniques with individuals, groups, and cou-ples. The suggestions for how to integrate the methods into practice are given asnumbered “rules of thumb.” For example, the author suggests that therapists per-form the protocols along with the patient. The appendices list the treatment pro-tocols, and present some further research.

Research has consistently shown that when the non-specific factors of faith,hope, and trust are combined with a specific therapeutic rationale, psychothera-py works better. The author clearly invokes these powerful forces. This bookoffers a well-described and carefully researched alternative technique for theopen-minded professional and client who have personal involvement in yoga.We recommend this book as a welcome addition to the literature.

Reviewed byC. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D. & Annellen M. Simpkins, Ph.D.San Diego, CA

B O O K R E V I E W


The Neurobehavioral andSocial-Emotional Developmentof Infants and Children

With DVD

By Ed Tronick, Ph.D.

Published by W.W. Norton & CompanyNew York and London

Copyright 2007ISBN: 13:978-0-393-70517-1

571 pages

The Neurobehavioral and Social-Emotional Development of Infants andChildren is written by Ed Tronick, a prominent leader in child development andinfant psychology. Tronick is a proponent of the idea that adults are self-regu-lating systems, and he extends the idea of self-regulation to infants. He presentshis theory of the Mutual Regulation Model (MRM) of infant-adult interaction inan attempt to understand the socio-emotional and regulatory processes that gen-erate relationships such as those between mothers and their infants, or therapistsand their patients. Specifically, this model holds that infants and their caregiversare a part of a dyadic communicative system in which both the infant and theadult mutually regulate each other as well as their environment by communicat-ing and responding to intentions. Tronick explains this theory using various con-texts and perspectives, and he discusses its influence on the developmentalprocess of infants into normal, social adults.

Thirty-six chapters are divided into five parts. Each part deals with an impor-tant aspect of infant and child development relating to the MRM. Part I,“Neurobehavior,” introduces basic infant neural development, micro-regulation,and homeostasis. Slight deviations from normal conditions can drastically affectinfant behavior and development. Part II, “Culture,” analyzes both social and

B O O K R E V I E Wnon-social cultures (e.g. Gusii, Efe, and Kung) and how their practices affectsocial interactions and communication. Part III, “Infant Social-EmotionalInteraction,” describes normal mother-infant emotional communicatory interac-tions and infant capacities for coping with stressful situations based on theMRM. It also addresses the mutual interactions between mothers and theirinfants as well as the relationship between infant expressions and interactions.Part IV, “Perturbation: Natural and Experimental,” discusses abnormal and prob-lematic interactions that are no longer mutually regulated. Such types of interac-tions can occur on either side of the relationship and can include depression, lackof maternal sensitivity, or mismatched communication. Ultimately, a failure tointeract normally leads to deficits in infant development and social behavior. PartV, “Dyadic Expansion of Consciousness and Meaning-Making,” explores themain idea behind Tronick’s model: each individual is a self-organizing system;when two individuals come together in an interaction, complex states of sharedmeanings and relationship qualities become co-created.

The accompanying DVD consists of two MPEG movie files: (1) “NeonatalAssessment of the Substance Exposed Infant” discusses the application of thebehavioral assessment scale; (2) “Tronick’s Still-face in Infants and Toddlers”presents his experiment in a laboratory setting. Like decorative flowers on acake, the DVD supplement is not essential, but is a nice addition.

Overall, this book and DVD set is a great collection of Tronick’s theoreticaland applied implementations of the MRM. As a student researcher working withinfant subjects in the Cognitive Development Laboratory at UCSD, this book isextremely insightful as to the inconspicuous complexities of infant behavior andneurobehavior as well as to the cultural, social, and emotional effects on infantsin their daily interactions and development. I found Part III to be particularlyinteresting due to its relevance to my current studies that involve observing nor-mal interactions between mothers and their infants. Tronick truly shows thatbabies are more complex than we think. Highly technical and well-organized,Tronick’s influential writings come together to form a coherent, illuminatingwhole. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in infant development.

Reviewed byR. Joanne Jao, Student/Researcher, UCSDSan Diego, CA

B O O K R E V I E WMy Father Before Me:

How Fathers and Sons Influence EachOther Throughout Their Lives

By Michael J. Diamond

Published by W.W. Norton and CompanyNew York and London

ISBN –13:978-0-393-06060-7Copyright 2007

My Father before Me is fresh and new, containing insights that go beyond theterritorial aspects of psychoanalytic theory. Michael Diamond, who is both apsychologist and psychoanalyst, writes so well that jargon doesn’t get in the wayof the wealth of insights he brings about how parents and children influence eachother throughout their lives. Focusing especially on fathers and sons, he makes acompelling argument for the reciprocity of this process. Diamond has a writingstyle that invites making connections and just feels right. He makes it easy foryou to identify with the stories he tells from his practice that are chosen to illus-trate human points of contact that show mutual interplay between fathers andsons during different times of life. The stories he tells about himself, his father,and his son are so self-revealing that you both like him and simultaneously real-ize you are learning from him.

Diamond’s self-revealing way of teaching is both engaging and confronting

in gentle ways that invite and encourage the reader to feel connected and realizetimeless truths. Especially endearing are the stories of how his son taught him tobe a parent. They allow the reader, to identify and yet not feel criticized for learn-ing through the trials and tribulations of life, whether as a child or parent. I foundthe stories so powerful and engaging that not only did I connect with the storiespersonally, but they also caused me to see similar ones happening when I leastexpected it. Driving along in my neighborhood, I noticed a young father and sonriding together on their bikes. The boy was on his tricycle, going up a small hill.The grade was a little too steep for the boy, and so he and the bike began a back-ward decent. His father anticipated the process. He stopped and quickly shot outa hand to grab the handlebars, helping his son up the grade. You could almostfeel the pride and sense of safety the young boy must have felt as he and hisfather continued on their journey. Both were learning in that moment. Diamond’sbook encouraged me to notice such things, and I am grateful.

Diamond shows the reader how emerging into fatherhood changes men. Themany life-stages of fatherhood can become either an adventure or a stumblingblock. Diamond displays these stages in the life of both father and son in engag-ing examples. He describes how a father is “born” when his first child is born,and then moves through various stages of childhood and young parenthood. Heshows how eventually father and son become man to man and then finally to areversing of roles later in life. The book is one I will recommend not just for theinsights but also for the engaging orientation to life.

Reviewed byJohn D. Lentz D. Min.Shepherdsville, KY


Subscribe to the Erickson Listserv:www.topica.com/lists/EricksonList

The Gift of TherapyA Conversation withIrvin Yalom, M.D.

DVD2006

60 minutes

www.Psychotherapy.net

This DVD is an interview by R.C.Wyatt, Ph.D., with Irvin Yalom,M.D., and centers on the book enti-tled The Gift of Therapy published in2003. It comes with an instructor’smanual that contains a transcript ofthe interview.

The interview is in eight seg-ments: Inspirations; Throw-ins; TheExistential and Interpersonal Focus;Fellow Travellers; The Here-And-Now; Therapist Self-Disclosure; TheMeaning of Life; and KeepingTherapy Alive. Early in the interviewit was suggested that Yalom would betalking about the various “throw-ins”that he has found are significant insessions. A “throw-in” is something

D V D R E V I E W

that the therapist says casually whichhas little significance to the therapist,but which the client carries away withhim/her as being of great significancein their life. (This is reminiscent offollow-up studies where what theclient and the therapist recall as beingsignificant in a session are complete-ly different! Does this mean youshould not be so careful about whatyou say?)

Yalom has a preference for aninterpersonal focus, and finds thatgroups are the perfect arena for thisfocus. He sees clients as fellow trav-ellers, letting the patient know theymatter, saying things like, “I wasthinking about you during the week.”He works in the here-and- now. Withrespect to interpersonal relations helikes the motto of “strike when theiron is cold” rather than when emo-tions are high.

Yalom characterizes three typesof self-disclosure: about the mecha-nisms of therapy; about the here-and-now and his experiences of it; and

about personal life. He does a greatdeal of self-disclosure in all three cat-egories.

Yalom believes that personal ther-apy is important because clinicianshave to keep learning about them-selves. He has avoided burnout by notseeing a great number of clients, andtaking time out between sessions. Interms of keeping therapy alive hesaid, “... It’s almost like there is somekind of systematic destruction of thefield of psychotherapy that, of course,is being driven by this economically

based machine of managed care. ...The biggest concern I have of all iswhere the next generation of thera-pists are going to be trained becausepsychiatric residency programs havejust about given up for the most partteaching psychotherapy.”

I enjoyed “meeting” Irvin Yalom,M.D., and you will, too.

Reviewed byRubin Battino, MSYellow Springs, OH

With respect to interpersonal relations he likesthe motto of “strike when the iron is cold”rather than when emotions are high.

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example, a mother who was angrywith her older brother for telling herwhat to do, accused her son of beingbossy with his sister, leading to accu-sations and problems that were actu-ally family-system projections.Genograms are read for patterns ofbalance and imbalance in familystructure, roles, functioning, andresources and can help therapist makeaccurate assessments and interpreta-tions of symptoms.

The chapter on clinical uses pre-sents many ways that genogramshave been incorporated into therapy,such as to engage the family in theprocess and to aid in reframing. Thechapter also offers advice on how todeal with resistance that sometimesarises when touching on some of thesensitive topics a genogram interviewmay elicit.

The family play genogram is aspecial exercise where family mem-bers use miniature people, animals,and objects to create new combinednarratives based on what they haveheard about each other. This exercisecan introduce metaphor, humor, andcreativity into the session.Genograms have recently been usedas a research tool, and the bookdescribes some work that has beendone and points to the research poten-tials for the future.

Genograms: Assessment andIntervention is a well-written andhelpful guide. An added bonus is thein-depth genograms of famous fami-lies including Clinton, Bush,Fonda/Turner, Gandhi, Einstein, andKennedy, along with families ofinterest to therapists such as Freud,Adler, and Bateson. These genogramsadd a revealing peak into innerdynamics at work. They also serve asa helpful how-to guide. We highlyrecommend this book for all whowould like to supplement their prac-tice with this valuable therapeutictool.

Reviewed byC. Alexander Simpkins, Ph.D. &Annellen M. Simpkins, Ph.D.San Diego, California

B O O K R E V I E W


Impact Therapyand EricksonianHypnosis

By Danie Beaulieu, Ph.D.

1C07-DVD5

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.

The Tenth International Congress onHypnosis and Psychotherapy

2007

Available from The Milton H.Erickson Foundation, Inc.

www.ericksonfoundationstore.com

Danie Beaulieu begins this DVDin her charming French Canadianaccent with a story about Ericksonthat illustrates a powerful point andshows him using experiences toevoke a trance-like response in hisclients. Throughout the DVDBeaulieu uses her charisma, personalstories, everyday objects, and herpowerful way of connecting withclients to demonstrate ImpactTherapy and its connections toEricksonian Hypnosis. She makes avery plausible argument and demon-strates how to use Impact Therapy tocreate experiences that have a trance-like quality.

Beaulieu states that using a devicelike an object to represent the prob-lem places the problem outside of theperson, allows for an awareness ofresources, and gives a personal expe-rience of control of the problem. Themessage is the experience. “ Wewant to talk to the experience,” shesays. She illustrates how any kind ofexperience, using any type of propscan be the ticket to the unconscious.She demonstrates how to talk to thebody.

Beaulieu points out three phases.The first is to introduce trance by uti-lizing some prop to symbolize theproblem. Second, is to seed the expe-rience and add some spice by imply-ing positive associations, whilenoticing strengths along the way.Third is about the closing, with post-hypnotic induction through associa-tion. The person will see the problemagain, and they will also see the com-mon prop again, which serves as aconscious and unconscious reminderof what has worked in this demon-stration.

D V D R E V I E W

The first demonstration of thistechnique uses a book as a prop. Thebook symbolizes the woman’s life.By asking the volunteer to open thebook to illustrate where she is cur-rently in her life, Beaulieu begins theprocess. She weaves thoughtful ques-tions, personal comments, and guidedsuggestions into the interchange.Getting to past problems and futuresuccesses simply by implication andreferences to the book, makes theprocess easy and powerful. Using thebook as a prop, Beaulieu expertlyhelps the volunteer to make a signifi-cant change that will be reinforced inthe future with books. Yet, all thewhile she never invoked so muchdetail that the volunteer was anythingbut comfortable and encouraged.There were so many hypnotic devicesused in this interchange thatit wouldbe fun to deconstruct them!

Beaulieu is so gifted that shemakes the process seem easy. Theimpact of Impact Therapy is a lastingone. More than years ago, I rememberBeaulieu demonstrating the effective-ness of this approach. I can still seeher using paper plates and styrofoamcups effectively and with lastingimpact. What I remember even morepowerfully is how enthusiastic otherswere who saw the demonstration. Notonly was it doable, it was somethingthat sparked creativity. The currentDVD does the same thing by showinghow ordinary objects can beemployed to engage the client’simagination and focus of attention.Clearly, Beaulieu has much expertisein hypnosis and uses it while shemakes simple-looking experiencescome alive with power to elicit last-ing change.

Reviewed byJohn D. Lentz D.MinShepherdsville, KY

Negotiating Conflict:Leadership in Times of Crisis

Anthony Robbins & Cloe Madanes

Robbins Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention

Lessons in MasteryInner Strength Series

Full color 113 min 2004

Available at www.tonyrobbins.com and www.amazon.com

Wow! Tony Robbins and Cloe Madanes created an excellent tool for teach-ing leadership skills, conflict resolution, and crisis management. This is a usefulDVD for all sorts of reasons. Just from watching Robbins in action, therapistscan learn from the techniques and the confidence he expresses so naturally.Supervisors will welcome how useful the teaching aspects are, while folks want-ing to make a personal change can appreciate how easily it invites personal deci-sions and inner change.

This seminar was originally scheduled to be a regular leadership masteryexperience with people from more than 39 countries who wanted to learn how tobe better leaders. It became something else when the twin towers in New Yorkwere attacked, September 11, 2001. Some of the participants had lost loved onesand had businesses destroyed by the terrorist attacks. Their emotions were high.Several participants were Muslim and from countries that were not sympatheticto the tragedy. Instead of canceling the conference, Robbins offered participantsa real way to deal with their conflicts. He guided folks who were there in deal-ing with the conflicts they felt: Both conflicts between them and conflicts with-in. In doing so, Robbins showed his mastery and willingness to be creative inthe moment.

Madanes offered just the right amount of explanation of Robbins’ choices.She anticipated the viewer’s questions and answered them so that you feel as ifshe really considered the viewer. What is even more amazing is that she did thisfor the wide variety of reasons that people would watch the DVD.

At first, some people might think, “Oh, yuck, another anything aboutSeptember 11.” Wonderfully, this DVD isn’t morbid at all. While the powerfulemotions of people who lost loved ones in the attack are memorable and instruc-tive, it isn’t the focus of the program. Robbins demonstrated how to be a leaderin times of crisis, as well as ways to manage and negotiate conflict for effectiveresolution. After initially getting everyone on the same page by learning abouttheir own responses, he eventually selected a New York Jew with ties to Israeland a Palestinian Muslim, to represent the conflict for everyone. Taking themthrough steps of indirect negotiating to a resolution, he masterfully demonstrat-ed how we can positively change by utilizing underused parts of ourselves anddealing with the internal conflicts that are already there.

Robbins believes that our response to conflict or crises is a customary one.Expanding how we view ourselves as well as the world can alter this responsesimply and easily. He demonstrated this in front of 2,000 participants, skillfullyworking with a young woman who lost her fiancée in the attack. Robbins com-passionately and strategically helped her, not only with the grief, but also withan issue she previously had. It was masterfully done, and is an emotional expe-rience for those watching.

Overall, the DVD is done well and was well received by my students whocommented that they were impressed with Robbins and Madanes. I can easilyrecommend this DVD for clinicians and all those interested in learning about theprocess of change. .

Reviewed byJohn D. Lentz, D. MinShepherdsville, KY

D V D R E V I E WGetting to past problemsand future successes

simply by implication andreferences to the book,makes the processeasy and powerful.

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter22 VOL. 28, NO.3

See INTERVIEW on next page

INTERVIEWcontinued from page 1

THE JOURNEYBy Zerka Moreno

Recorded at the 1985 Evolution ofPsychotherapy Conference

THE MILTON H. ERICKSONFOUNDATION

December 13, 1985

Available from The Milton H.Erickson Foundation, Inc.

www.ericksonfoundationstore.com

The Journeyby Zerka Moreno canhelp therapists learn and understandthe uses of psychodrama and theimportance of role reversal. AsMoreno states, in the past, counselorslet the person describe a problem,using their life perceptions. The pur-pose of using psychodrama is to altertypical roles by taking the essence ofthe problem and making a scene outof it.

Most of the teaching occursthrough demonstration with a volun-teer named Lori, a 25-year-oldwoman who lives with her husband,Barron, age 24. She is asked to createa family structure using membersfrom the audience.

Moreno begins by saying, “Weare relationship therapists,” andencourages Lori to act out the role ofher husband. This technique isreferred to as role reversal. The rever-sal of the self promotes distancingfrom the problem. Then the subjectcan represent the problem as well asexperience sensory memories of oth-ers. As Moreno says, “During child-hood, senses are very important; theytell you the story.” This reminded meof Erickson’s teaching about our firstlearning experiences.

People become stuck in theirproblem. Sometimes they need to stepoutside, and a good way to do this isby utilizing this technique of rolereversal, which is helpful for gettingdeeper information about the client.By saying, “we are more alike thandifferent,” the therapist also normal-

D V D R E V I E Wizes behaviors that could be consid-ered pathologic and emphasizes thatthings repeat themselves. We learnhow these techniques can help peoplework with things that may happen,have happened, or may never occur.“We mingle ‘as if’ with reality,”Moreno states. This juxtapositionmakes therapy possible.

Lori decides to work with herrelationship with her father. She isallowed to choose whether she wantsto work using an empty chair or amember of the audience. She choosesa member of the audience. Now thetherapy begins. Lori experiencescatharsis and tells her father, “I amangry with you for teaching me to besuch a good girl”. To my view, thisstatement summarizes the root of heremotional pain. Here, Moreno imme-diately gives confirmation to her bygetting closer to her and touching herhead.

One thing that I found interestingwas how Moreno invited other mem-bers of the audience to participate.For example, a woman helped toestablish a new identity for Lori as the“bad girl.”

This demonstration is full ofdrama and changes; for exampleMoreno asks Lori to modify her posi-tion several times. Once, the subjectsits next to her father (a volunteer).She is encouraged to talk about herneeds and comes to recognize howthe role of father can be complicated.At the end, Moreno gives Lori (andthe audience, I am sure) great advice,“Go home and do this.” Afterreviewing this DVD, I followedMoreno’s advice and found myselfimagining saying thank you toAlberto Escalante, my father for thethings he taught me, even though hepassed away in 1989.

This DVD is both delightful andillustrative. I really recommend it.

Reviewed byMaria Escalante de Smith, M.A.Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Wednesdays.

Z: We've relied on you heavily,and you've been a wonderful friendto the Erickson Foundation.You've been teaching the ethicscourses for us for quite some timenow – six or seven years. And Ihave attended those ethics coursesrepeatedly Every time I attend Ilearn more. Sometimes I have feel-ings of abject terror, but most ofthe time, fascination. What is theessential message that you're tryingto teach students about profession-al ethics?

F: Well, the first message isdirectly about something that you justsaid which is to try to lower their anx-iety level and lighten up, becausemental health professionals are actu-ally relatively blessed in the world ofbad things that happen to profession-als regarding misdeeds of one sort oranother. Relative to the number oftherapy professionals, the actual num-ber of us who run into board actionsand lawsuits is relatively low.

I can speak personally. I'll giveyou reference data. I carry as muchmalpractice as I can. As a psycholo-gist, I've never had an action broughtagainst me, thank the forces that be,and I pay about $1,200.00 a year formy malpractice insurance. I carry asmuch malpractice insurance as alawyer as I can. I've been practicingalmost 12 yrs and I've never had anaction against me, and I also pay$1,200.00, except it's $1,200.00 amonth.

Z: Wow!F: So, that tells you two things: It

tells you that lawyers get sued a lotmore than psychologists do. And italso tells you that the cost of damagesthat aggrieved clients receives in law-suits against lawyers are much higherthan against psychologists.

Z: So, you want to lessen anxi-ety, but you don't want people to belax.

F: Correct. It's trying to let peo-ple know where the dangers are,where the risks are, how easy it is tomanage risks. But the fact is thatrisks have to be managed.

Z: And the essential message formanaging risks?

F: Pay attention to boundaries, isthe first message. Therapistsabsolutely have to be aware of bound-aries, because the major complaintagainst therapists in general concern

boundary issues. It's important tokeep aware of boundaries, prettymuch all the time.

Z: Second to boundaries, what'smost important?

F: I think being too nice – beingoverly nice. We wind up promisingthings like, "I'll stay working withyou forever" and "Don’t worry, I'mnot going to abandon you," and "I'mnot going to dump you." We disclosethings that we shouldn't disclosebecause we're nice, and we want togive people a sense that we're human,too. But, we need a no-good-deed-goes-unpunished mantra to keep beat-ing in the background of our minds.

Z: So, stay clear about profes-sional boundaries, and know howthe boundaries are written into theethical codes for your specific pro-fession?

F: That's right.Z: Okay. Now, being practition-

ers of hypnosis--and many of thereaders of the newsletter are prac-titioners of hypnosis--what are thespecial ethical issues in regard tohypnosis, and also in regard toEricksonian strategic practice?

F: There are three sets of issuesthat impact Ericksonian-oriented clin-icians, a club of which I am proud tobe a member.

The first set has to do with thosewho treat families with kids in them.The legal and regulatory system hasgenerally moved in the direction oftightening regulation over the years toa point where we are safer if we referto the children in a family or a child ina family as "the patient" and make theparents “collaterals.” By doing that,parents can't sue us for themselves.We protect ourselves from what arecalled "third-party lawsuits."

Z: How does one do that? Isthere something in the records thathas to be indicated?

F: Yeah. There is. In fact, I cangive you a free public website whereyou can go, and your readers can go,and evaluate and download and printout an informed consent form for col-laterals in treatment. It'swww.apait.org. It's the AmericanPsychological Association InsuranceTrust. You don't have to be a psy-chologist to go there. You don't haveto be a member of APAIT to go there.It's free and public. Go to the websiteand click on "resources" and "down-loads." You'll see a bunch ofinformed consent forms in terms of

JOIN THE FOUNDATION E-MAIL MAILING LIST!Be the first to receive Conference announcements and registration specials;information on audiotape/videotape, and CD/DVD specials from the EricksonPress; automatically receive the Online version of the Erickson Newsletter andmore. Sign-up on the Foundation’s web site: www.erickson-foundation.org.The Erickson Foundation will not sell or rent your E-mail address to any personor organization.


treatment; informed consent for childtreatment; and to be a coach, amongothers. Among the downloadableconsents is the informed consent tocollaterals. It explains what collater-als are; what rights they have anddon't have; and what expectationsthey have for confidentially.

Z: That's very important for fami-ly therapists. What else? What arethe second and third issues in regardto Ericksonian and hypnotic practice?

F: The second issue is the waythat our informed consent documentslook and read. One of the problemsthat we have – you actually personal-ly know very well, because you wroteabout it in a thoughtful and elegantway (See the Zeig chapter oninformed consent in Confluence,www.zeigtucker.com) – is the wholeissue of informed consent. Informedconsent is supposed to have five ele-ments:

The first is to tell people what youthink is wrong--what's going on--what you perceive to be the problem.

The second is what you proposeto do about it and the nature and pur-pose of what you propose to do.

The third is what other viableoptions there are besides the one youproposed. Fourth, You are supposedto include the upsides and downsidesand the benefits and risks of what youpropose; what the other options exist;and fifth, what the likelihood is ofwhat would happen without any treat-ment at all.

Some of those things get in theway of working in the kind of indirectparadoxical ways that we work.We’ve been influenced by Dr.Erickson. Sometimes telling peoplewhat we're going to do and how we'regoing to do it may make it hard toactually accomplish those things.Any kind of indirect involvement, ormisdirection, can be difficult toexplain in an informed consent form.So I'll show you how I do it.

I will tell you what my informedconsent form includes. This actuallycame from my wife, who observedme struggling with this issue foryears. My wife is a child and adoles-cent psychiatrist and she very muchappreciates these dilemmas. Shesaid, "I know what you should do.You should put in your informed con-sent that there may be sometimes thatI'll trick you, or I will try to trick you,

into doing better." I put exactly thosewords in my informed consent form.My friend and colleague at USC,Jerry Davison, who is a wise andexperienced cognitive behavior thera-py type, actually graced me with theknowledge that there is research thatshows the paradoxical interventionsare effective and empirically support-ed. So I say in my informed consent,in addition to whatever else I'm goingto be doing, "There may be timeswhere I will try to trick you into doingbetter. These are called 'indirect orparadoxical interventions' and theyhave empirical support within thefield of mental health."

Z: Is that release available topeople?

F: I would be more than happy tozap a copy to you.

Z: You bet. We'll post it on theErickson Foundation site.

F: Okay.Z: The third thing?F: The third thing has to do with

hypnosis. As you know, probablybetter than I do, hypnosis has a check-ered career in the world of mentalhealth because it has been bandiedaround by people with different polit-ical aspirations and different world-views. There are complex issues thatarise with people who do hypnosis.One issue is to always make sure thatone gets an informed consent to hyp-nosis, if one is going to do formalhypnosis. If one is going to do anindirect talking-through kind ofEricksonian interventions, then thekind of informed consent I justdescribed would work just fine.

If I was going to do formal hyp-notic inductions, informed consent tohypnosis is really going to be impor-tant. A section of that has to includewhatever the relevant jurisdictionconcerns are about the implicationsfor hypnotically derived testimony.

Now, speaking as both a psychol-ogist and an attorney, in cases wherepeople are treated with hypnosis,some States will not allow testimonythat's emerged from hypnoticallyinduced circumstance as admissibletestimony in court. Some allow it andsome won't. The rule varies State byState by State.

So, practitioners who do hypnosisin a formal way, with an inductionand so on, need to not only have aninformed consent, but the informedconsent really has to have an admoni-tion about possible legal complica-tions if they get involved in any kind

of legal involvement. The fact thatthey've had hypnotic treatment isgoing to be a potential problem of onesort or another and patients need toknow that going on.

Clinicians who do the kind ofhypnosis that sometimes the policeforce uses to try and refresh memory--to try to access information--theyneed know that that will be dependenton the jurisdiction and it's potentiallyhighly problematic.

Z: And where is a release likethat available?

F: There are some available on-line. I think I have one or two or threeversions of releases like that in mycomputer, which I can send to you foryour review.

Z: That's great. Then we'll postthose.

F: So, those are the three areas:Making the child the patient eventhough one is doing family therapy asa way of protecting against third-party lawsuits; issues of indirect orparadoxical interventions andinformed consent; and the issue offormal hypnosis and its implicationsfor the legal arena.

Z: And if a patient came andwanted hypnosis to stop smokingand that would have no relevanceto any future testimony, you stillwould advise a signed release fordoing formal hypnosis?

F: Absolutely, because what getsus into trouble are things that we did-n't contemplate and could wind upcoming back to bite us. For example,if somebody does an hypnotic sessionwith somebody who wants to stopsmoking or wants to be a better tennisplayer or something like that, andsomething untoward happens in thatpatient's life in some way and theysay, "You know, it all started when Ihad this hypnotic session." The nextthing you know, you've got a legalproblem on your hands. It's always agood idea to get the informed consentsigned.

Z: Anything else about note tak-ing or record keeping that youwould recommend that would beespecially relevant to people prac-ticing hypnosis and strategic thera-py?

F: Well, I think you begin withthe fact that notes have to be taken.It's very rare anymore that you can bein a jurisdiction where no notes are

allowed. Some records have to bedone.

Both my psychological and legalmind say that notes need not be verydetailed. They need to be terse. Theyneed to be able to communicate whatyou did and why you did it. If you arethinking of new things, what kinds ofthings you think of.

But I think what we used to call"process notes" are legally risky.Those are the type of notes that areinformation about the dynamic forcesinvolved and this is how they playout. I'd rather be on a witness standand be accused of writing too littlethan writing too much, because attor-neys are well-trained “borderlines” tothe degree that if they don't bring thatproclivity to law school, then they'retrained to find some kernel of hideoustruth and blow it up until there's noother room for anything else. So, it isbest to write fewer words becauseeach word that one writes is an oppor-tunity for a borderline-trained attor-ney to do a twisting-and-turningnumber about it.

Z: Okay, now if we wantedmore information, more reading orto access your website, what wouldyou recommend for future homestudy?

F: Well, I have currently a six-hour law ethics course on my website.It's a video. It's not a downloadablepaper. It is video, so you can get iteither by streaming or you can get iton a CD or a DVD. I've just recordeda brand new one that includes some ofthe issues that we've just talked abouttoday, and some related issues aboutmaking physical contact withpatients. That will be up and postedby the end of October of 2008. So,there will be a full 12-hrs worth ofvideo training available, all approvedby the American PsychologicalAssociation and in the various Statesfor continuing education credits.

Z: Fantastic.I really appreciate what a great

friend you've been to the EricksonFoundation and we're looking for-ward to seeing you in December atthe Brief Therapy Conference. Welook forward to learning moreabout professional ethics from you.Thank you so much.

F: Thank you, Jeff.

INTERVIEWcontinued from page 22

Administrator

Underline


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Milton H. Erickson Archives godirectly to assisting with expenses forrestoring the audio and video record-ings from the late Milton H.Erickson, M.D., along with record-ings from past Milton H. EricksonFoundation Conferences from 1980through 2008. This extensiverestoration process will make theserecordings and other materials avail-able to mental health professionalsaround the world for training purpos-es.

If you would like to make a dona-tion to the Milton H. EricksonFoundation, Inc., please use theSubscription/Donation form below.We thank you for assisting theFoundation in continuing its effort inproviding the highest quality trainingand educational materials to mentalhealth professionals.

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