Hope and Resiliency : Understanding the Psychotherapeutic Strategies of Milton H. Erickson, MD

Milton H. Erickson is recognized as one of the most innovative clinicians of our time. He is known as the father of modern hypnosis as well as the source for many modern forms of family therapy and brief therapy (including the increasingly popular solution-focused therapy) This seminal book examines the major core strategies that are woven throughout Milton H. Erickson's work. Each strategic principle is broken down into several techniques that share a common function. To help bring to life these clinical strategies and to provide the experience of witnessing masterful clinical work, this book contains numerous clinical examples from Erickson (many of these never before published) and others. To make clearer the core function of any given technique, the overarching concepts have been paired with simple analogies, folk wisdom, and illustrations from other schools of psychotherapy. It is not important to know which school of thought the book is describing but instead seek to recognize the timelessness and universal nature of these strategic principles. This scaffold framework not only helps the reader better understand the interventions and strategies employed by Erickson but more importantly points beyond the finite limits of Erickson's achievements to an ever expanding tradition of exploratory and innovative work by which he was characterized. Part I, Foundations of Healing and Health, presents the fundamental dynamics of healing and of the clinical relationship. Part II, Clinical Strategies, provides a description of each strategy. These are introduced in a broad and simplistic manner, followed by a more elaborate and complex examination of the clinical techniques derived from a givenstrategy. Milton H. Erickson will continue to be remembered for his determination, patient perseverance, humanity, and unending love of learning. From these he benefited personally while at the same time creating a broader spectrum for the field of psychotherapy and benefiting people around the world, decades after his death. This book will help others follow in his footsteps.

Dan Short, PhD is the former Associate Director and Chief Archivist for the Milton H. Erickson Foundation in the US. Betty Alice Erickson, MS is a licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist and an international teacher of Ericksonian psychotherapy and hypnosis, Roxanna Erickson Klein RN, PhD, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Milton H. Erickson Foundation.