Most famous Hypnosis techniques:
Milton H. Erickson’s most famous hypnosis techniques were very different from the old stage-style hypnosis — they were subtle, conversational, and often disguised inside everyday interactions.
Here are his hallmark methods:
1. Indirect Suggestions
Instead of commanding, Erickson made suggestions in a casual, permissive way.
- Example: Instead of saying “Close your eyes,” he might say, “You may notice that your eyes are getting heavier… and you might feel comfortable letting them close whenever you wish.”
- Why it works: It bypasses resistance because the client feels they have choice.
2. Embedded Commands
Placing a subtle directive inside a larger sentence or story.
- Example: While telling a story, he might say, “…and as you sit there, you might begin to feel more relaxed…”
- Why it works: The unconscious picks up on the command hidden inside natural speech.
3. Metaphors and Storytelling
Erickson told elaborate stories or anecdotes that paralleled the client’s problem and hinted at solutions.
- Example: To help someone gain confidence, he might tell a story about a stubborn plant that learned to grow toward the light despite obstacles.
- Why it works: Stories bypass conscious resistance and deliver change ideas indirectly.
4. Utilization
He used whatever the client brought to the session — their mood, environment, body language — as part of the trance process.
- Example: If a client was fidgeting, he might say, “You can let those little movements remind you that change is already happening inside…”
- Why it works: Instead of fighting distractions, he incorporated them, making every experience part of the hypnosis.
5. Confusion Technique
Using paradox, vague language, or unexpected shifts to overwhelm conscious thought, allowing the unconscious to take over.
- Example: “You can think about not thinking, and notice how that thought changes while you’re not thinking it…”
- Why it works: The conscious mind gets tied in knots, opening the door for suggestions.
6. Pacing and Leading
First match the client’s current experience (pacing), then gradually guide them to a new state (leading).
- Example: “You’re sitting here, hearing my voice, feeling the chair… and you might also begin to notice a sense of calm spreading…”
- Why it works: Builds rapport and creates a smooth bridge from the familiar to the desired change.
7. Double Binds
Offering two choices, both leading to the desired outcome.
- Example: “Would you prefer to go into trance with your eyes open for a moment, or closed right away?”
- Why it works: Gives the illusion of choice while moving toward the therapeutic goal.
Erickson often blended several of these techniques seamlessly — for example, telling a metaphorical story (metaphor) in a relaxed conversation (indirect suggestion), pacing the client’s mood, and embedding commands along the way.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 