Uncommon Therapy: The Psychiatric Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.

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Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to gain a basic understanding of how hypnosis works.

This is a great book for anyone who has been influenced unconsciously by this type of hypnosis. Particularly for those who have been involved with a cult leader or guru (Byron Katie, for example) who uses these methods to bypass their victims conscious mind and rational thought, in order to influence and control their behavior, thoughts, etc. This book is non-technical and non-specific enough to help victims of mind control identify methods used to persuade them, and to take control of their own lives again.

Very interesting and enlightening read.
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~ Written on 2008-05-01

"Extremely interesting portrait of Milton Erickson highlighted by many case studies that are fascinating. Very informative and enjoyable. For those of you who have an interest in psychology and are tired of reading variations of the same idea, give Dr. Erickson a shot. His methods at times are hilarious, yet effective. Entertaining, informative, enlightening. I hope he takes my insurance. "
~ Written on 2007-09-16

"Uncommon Therapy is a good survey of Dr. Milton Erickson's approach to therapy. The book consists of stories from Erickson's case files along with an explanation of the approach that Erickson took. This book is potentially useful for anyone who has problems and wishes to solve them as the techniques could be applied on a personal level. The people who should be interested in reading this book are the professionals who wish vary their and customize their approach to their patients.

My interest in the book was to find out more about Erickson and his therapeutic techniques that I could apply in my own life. It succeeded in satisfying both my aims. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
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~ Written on 2007-08-13

"Uncommon Therapy is an introduction to the therapy work of famed Medical Hypnotist Milton Erickson. It is more readable than many of Erickson's writings. Haley also adds some of his perspective to the art of therapy.
This book and others like it were written before Cognitive Behavioral Therapy became the dominant therapy in Psychology. They can still contribute insights to therapists seeking a broad background for practicing psychotherapy.
Graduate students and therapists in research settings should definitely read this book to help keep alive a more comprehensive approach to cognitive therapy than is promoted by formulaic cognitive and behavioral therapies that were largely forced on Clinicians by insurance companies pushing science-based, effective therapies; a good outcome for most consumers seeking psychotherapy in most settings.
Haley, using a family life cycle approach (e.g. courtship, weaning parents from children, the pain of old age) uses Erickson's case studies to illustrate Erickson's approach. Nowadays it comes across as proof by anecdote. Experienced therapist do however, have examples of cases that were resolved quickly when the client restructured his/her view,
Erickson's approach contibutes best by showing how a therapist can creatively propose an alternative constuction of a problem posed by the client and by inventing strategies for change. Erickson's own writings have many more detailed examples of cases.
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~ Written on 2007-06-20

"A great reference to techniques of Milton Erickson by someone who spent a great deal of time working with him over the years.
Jay Haley is successful in showing just how amazing this man truly was and the impact he has on modern hypnosis and psychiatric techniques."
~ Written on 2007-02-05