Fascination with Hypnosis

Pathways to the Unconscious

Topics

Myths about Hypnosis – Show or Serious Method?
What Is Hypnosis?
Types of Hypnosis
Milton H. Erickson: From Paralyzed Patient to the Greatest Hypnotherapist of Our Time
Hypnosis According to Milton H. Erickson
The Power of Hypnotic Language Patterns

I’m glad you’ve downloaded this e-book and begun reading it. I want to show you what you can achieve with hypnosis and, of course, pique your curiosity about it.

Enjoy the read!

Myths About Hypnosis – Show or Serious Method?

A man in a pedestrian zone is addressing passersby. Many walk on, but some stop, intrigued. A handful of people are standing in peculiar postures, eyes closed. One sways lightly as if a tree in the wind, two others bite into a lemon without grimacing. A street hypnosis show, right in the middle of the walkway.

Such scenes captivate us—and they’re one reason why some view hypnosis with skepticism. Deeply entranced people appear as if they are puppets at the hypnotist’s command. Can that be legitimate?

On the other hand, more and more people report losing weight effortlessly or quitting smoking via hypnosis. Some patients even choose only dentists who practice hypnosis, so they can skip anesthetics.

The use of trance and hypnosis in coaching and therapy is well-established and provides an effective means of working with people. In this e-book, I’ll share some info on that as well as on a special form of hypnosis.

What Is Hypnosis?

“Trance” or “hypnosis” refers to an altered state of consciousness that grants especially easy access to our unconscious mind, inner imagery, and hidden resources. Often “trance” describes the state the client enters, while “hypnosis” is the technique used to induce and guide that state. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably.

Contrary to what some presume, a person in trance is not rendered helpless. Nor is that person in a deep sleep or unconscious. It’s rather a state of heightened alertness, in which our attention narrows on our inner experience or the hypnotist’s voice. Physically, our heart rate and muscle tension decrease. We become highly receptive to imagery, suggestions, and storytelling. Meanwhile, our critical mind no longer cares whether something is logical or not.

This trance state allows us to bypass our usual constraints and find new solutions—ones our conscious mind might reject. Therapy or coaching uses it to achieve the client’s goals (e.g., weight loss, quitting smoking, boosting self-confidence). Hypnosis may be an additional tool or the only method used.

By the way: In everyday life, we enter mild trance states, e.g., during long car rides where everything seems on autopilot, or performing household chores on “automatic.” It’s a natural condition that can be deliberately induced when needed.

Types of Hypnosis

The “Classical” Hypnosis:

Classical hypnosis is also referred to as “direct” or “directive-authoritative” hypnosis. The hypnotist issues clear instructions. The language style is therefore very authoritarian: “Place your feet side by side. Rest your hands on your thighs. Close your eyes now!”

The suggestions the client receives while in trance are likewise delivered as commands, prompting the unconscious to respond. For a long time, this was the dominant approach, and it’s what many still associate with hypnosis.

Ericksonian Hypnosis:

Also known as indirect or “indirect-permissive” hypnosis, this style induces trance more gently than directive hypnosis: “And maybe you’ll want to close your eyes now… or perhaps in a few moments…”

Its linguistic patterns allow more freedom for the client, offering open-ended phrases they can fill with their own interpretations and internal imagery. Suggestions function more like genuine “suggestions.” Milton Erickson was the founder and best-known practitioner of this approach. I’ll elaborate on him below.

Stage/Show Hypnosis:

The street or stage hypnosis mentioned earlier mainly entertains, whether in public squares or live theater. Hypnotists aim to demonstrate their capabilities. The subject is effectively a prop, with no therapeutic intention. This style is directive-authoritative.

Milton H. Erickson’s Biography – From Paralysis to Hypnotherapist

One of the greatest hypnotherapists in modern times was Milton H. Erickson, born in Nevada in 1901 as the second of nine children. At 17, he contracted polio, lay in a coma for three days, and was thought unlikely to survive. Upon awakening, he was fully paralyzed except for eye movement. He claimed that to rehabilitate, he used self-hypnosis to boost his healing: focusing on minimal muscle motions, repeatedly rehearsed mentally. Little by little, he rebuilt strength, eventually enough to walk on crutches and even cycle.

Confined for a year, he developed an uncanny ability to observe and read people—skills that served him immensely later as a therapist. Once mobile enough, he enrolled at a university to study psychology and medicine, discovering hypnosis in his second year. Driven by intense discipline, he practiced hypnosis on fellow students and pioneered various methods adaptable to each subject.

Later, he worked in several hospitals in various positions, specialized in psychiatry, became director of research and training, then served as a psychiatry professor at a Detroit university.

Health issues forced Erickson, at 47, to move to Phoenix, Arizona, where he opened a private practice and began traveling for lectures/workshops in the US and South America. He faced recurring ailments, including another bout of polio at 51—extremely unusual—that led to cycles of muscle atrophy and severe pain. By 68, he ended traveling but continued private practice for five more years. His teaching tales show how individually he worked with clients—even in old age—fully attuned to each.

In his final years, confined to a wheelchair and half his face paralyzed, he hosted his famous teaching seminars at his Phoenix home. He died in 1980 at age 78, practicing until just a week before his death.

Hypnosis According to Milton H. Erickson

Before Erickson’s time, hypnosis was mostly direct in style, with hypnotists issuing commands. Ericksonian hypnotherapy is indirect and tailored to the individual client.

Hence, Ericksonian hypnotherapists or coaches avoid rigid instructions (e.g., “Close your eyes now!”) and use specially formulated language patterns to gently lead someone into trance. This allows the client to progress at their own pace, discovering personal imagery and insights. Erickson believed the unconscious is where hidden resources lie, waiting to be utilized.

The indirect approach also averts potential resistance from clients who dislike being ordered around. Additionally, it focuses on using whatever the client brings—any movements, associations, etc.—instead of imposing external suggestions. If the therapist notices, for example, that the client seems to be shifting in their seat, the therapist might highlight it: “And if you like, you can shift a bit…” In this manner, every visible impulse is utilized, strengthening rapport (the supportive relationship) even more.

Another principle is “follow and lead” (pacing and leading): first observe the client’s behaviors (pacing)—“You’re leaning back in the chair, looking at me, waiting…”—then gradually shift to leading, offering suggestions. The therapist or coach maintains close focus on the client to ensure they still follow and the rapport remains stable. Often it feels like a trusted conversation guiding the client to trance.

Stories and metaphors are also used, each containing individually tailored messages and suggestions for the client. By sharing a story seemingly unrelated to the client’s issue, the conscious mind is kept busy while the unconscious mind interprets the story’s meaning and activates resources for a solution.

Because these metaphors have many possible interpretations, the client can adopt those most relevant to achieving their goals.

The Power of Hypnotic Language Patterns

Ericksonian hypnosis employs special language patterns enabling the client in trance to tap whichever resources prove most useful. One hallmark is that language is kept deliberately vague or unspecific.

For instance, in a guided fantasy, the client might be asked to imagine a “wonderful place.” Each client conjures whatever place that means to them—perhaps a seaside, mountain peaks, or a bustling café in a global city. Everyone is free to choose their personal imagery.

If someone imagines the beach, and the therapist suddenly instructs them to “glance over the valley,” that would clash with their inner vision. Some language patterns rely on omission (“I wonder if you’d like to go further…” or “And it’s now simpler… better…”). Notice it’s unspecified which part is “simpler” or “better.” This triggers an inner search process, letting the client find what’s relevant for them.

Of course, this is just a glimpse of the hypnotic language patterns and interventions available. Perhaps I’ve sparked your curiosity to learn more?