Hypnotic Techniques: For Standard Psychotherapy and Formal Hypnosis

Abstract

Reviews the book "Hypnotic Techniques: For Standard Psychotherapy and Formal Hypnosis" by George Gafner and Sonja Benson (see record 2003-02385-000). This book makes a good case for the use of stories/metaphors as a psychotherapeutic technique for reaching and utilizing the unconscious processing of the mind. Part I of the book essentially describes the use of metaphor and story-telling in psychotherapy. In this part of the book, formal hypnosis is not discussed, but rather the oblique techniques of using suggestion while the client is invited to use the metaphorical mode of being. The authors begin with the particular use of language, such as power words, truisms, apposition of opposites, bind of comparable alternatives, suggestion or directive, as a means of facilitating psychotherapy. Part II, "Hypnosis," delves into the authors' techniques of using hypnosis. As the authors frankly acknowledge, they use the term "hypnosis" in a purely clinical sense that seems to encompass metaphors, suggestions, distractions, as well as formal hypnosis. A major tenet of this book is that the therapist can communicate directly with the unconscious, problem-solving resources of the client through metaphors, stories, and hypnotic techniques. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)