Therapeutic hypnosis is a discipline that allows access to the reservoir of unconscious resources of each individual. Thus, thanks to the many tools available to the practitioner, the latter becomes an accompanist in the process of change and the learning desired by the person who consults him. You will discover in this sheet what Ericksonian hypnosis is, when this practice was created, in which cases it is indicated, what are its benefits, how a typical session takes place and who practices it.

Ericksonian hypnosis is one of the most influential and widespread branches of therapeutic hypnosis.

It is particularly respectful of the person because the language used by the practitioner is permissive. The practitioner is attentive, he adapts his style of speech and approach to the person he receives. It relies on metaphors, anecdotes and indirect suggestions in order to raise resistance to change and let the person access their own resources to implement the desired changes.

Dr Milton Hyland Erickson (1901-1980) is considered the father of modern hypnotherapy.

His influence in the world of hypnosis is significant; today the vast majority of hypnosis practitioners use the Ericksonian approach in one form or another.

Born in Nevada (USA) at the beginning of the 20th century, his childhood is punctuated by dysfunctions such as color blindness dyslexia and the lack of perception of rhythms. Affected by polymetrics at the age of 17, he plunges into a coma and becomes paralyzed. At first glance, Erickson seems like an unlikely candidate for someone whose destiny will be to revolutionize the practice of hypnosis.

In a wheelchair and convinced that he can overcome his paralysis, he devotes all his time to mentally stimulating his limbs (by doing self-hypnosis) and goes for months to train to regain his motor skills, with success.

He became a psychiatrist and turned the practice of psychotherapy upside down by his approach that he first tested on himself, particularly in terms of pain management.

Very quickly, he became the man of lost causes to whom all “difficult” patients in the United States were directed.

The fields of application of therapeutic hypnosis are very vast and often surprising.

We see that hypnosis has effects on three levels:

• At the physical level: on psychosomatic manifestations, pain management, dermatological disorders, preparation for childbirth, etc.
• In terms of behavior: addictions (tobacco, alcohol, etc.), management of excess weight and weight loss, preparation and improvement of the quality of sleep, physical recovery for athletes, shyness, phobias, etc.
• In terms of personal and emotional development: stress and emotional management, preparation for competitions, exams, job interview, support during a career change, self-confidence and self-esteem, development of creativity, etc.

It should be kept in mind that, even if we observe that hypnosis can have a strong impact on the return to health of patients, this practice does not cure. Hypnosis allows the patient to connect to his natural resources and improve his own capacities for recovery. It is not a substitute for appropriate medical monitoring.

A session lasts about an hour depending on the practitioner. It is by first discussing with the practitioner that the person decides the objective of their session. This usually starts with a phase of relaxation, called “induction”, which leads to a state of hyper-concentration, called “altered state of consciousness”. Warning ! It is not about sleep or loss of consciousness. On the contrary, the person hears, in a state of hyper-consciousness, as if captivated by a film. Then, the practitioner uses suggested images and stories to guide the individual towards their goal. During the session, the person under hypnosis hears everything the practitioner says to him and can even interact with him. The time to resolve a problem depends on each person, which is why you should not hesitate to discuss with your practitioner in order to determine the number of sessions necessary to achieve the set objective. This approach is intended for all types of subjects, except those suffering from psychosis.

An Ericksonian hypnosis practitioner is a qualified individual who has received theoretical and practical training and then certification.

There is no need to be a doctor to practice Ericksonian hypnosis, because it calls for concepts far removed from medicine. It should also be remembered that hypnosis does not aim to heal but rather to support the person.

Like Milton Erickson, we often see that hypnotherapists are people who have had another life experience, often dense, before doing this job. Practitioners use it most of the time in their practice, which makes each therapist unique.

Thus the hypnotherapist is often a specialist in a field that he himself has successfully fought.

Finally, we should mention that the field of hypnosis is not yet regulated in France. Thus, to find a therapist, it is useful today to go through groups of therapists (such as the Medoucine.com site) who have set up a quality charter and who have the means to evaluate the therapists they integrate.

To date, the National Syndicate of Hypnotherapists has for mission to supervise the abuses in the field of hypnotherapy, in particular thanks to a directory of selected hypnotherapists.

Alina Pekic, Hypnothérapeute

Ericksonian hypnosis is very respectful of the values ​​of the person and his environment. It is a fast, flexible, indirect (through the visualization of images) and non-invasive approach. It is at the origin of modern brief psychotherapies such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and systemic therapies.

However, hypnosis is in no way a substitute for medicine. It is a complementary approach. It should be remembered that only doctors can make a diagnosis, make recommendations or prescriptions, and that should always be continued.

Ericksonian hypnosis excels in its approach to personal development. It can provide interesting solutions for stress management in business, academic success, preparation for competitions, support during a career change, achievement of sports goals, physical recovery and development of self-confidence and many more.

This rapidly expanding brief therapy allows for the mobilization of all the resources necessary to effect the desired long-term changes.

Lionel Vernois, Hypnothérapeute

Ericksonian hypnosis is a wonderful, enjoyable and quick way to transform what you no longer want and finally change.

Usually, three sessions are enough to achieve the set goals.

The results are very often surprising, which makes it a discipline that is sometimes poorly understood. Let us say that hypnosis sometimes allows simply to remove the small grain of sand which blocks so that the machine which one believed broken starts again as by magic even if it is not magic but rather scholarly communication.

Finally, a hypnosis session is most of the time a wonderful moment of relaxation and escape with often a lot of emotion that we remember for a long time because it is very pleasant to be able to reconnect with things that we believed lost or forgotten.

Finally, note that there is a personal attitude to have when consulting. You have to be humble and open, as humble as possible with yourself and what you expect to be able to be guided by the therapist, as in a dance. This is the way to get a lot more than what you came for!