Ericksonian hypnosis by Anne-Sophie
« It is only when we can tolerate not having control over everything that we make room for the miraculous to happen. »
Erica Jong
In my practice of systemic therapy, I occasionally use the wonderful tool of Ericksonian hypnosis.
Ericksonian hypnosis, also known as conversational hypnosis, was developed by Milton Erickson (1901-1980), an American psychiatrist.
"This sleep that awakens," a beautiful oxymoron coined by Milton Erickson, allows each person to access their own personal therapist, the expert within them. In this way, a triple therapeutic alliance is formed: the therapist provides the keys, the patient unlocks the doors, and the unconscious comes to life.
In France, it was only in 2013 that hypnosis was medically recognized, thanks to the influence of Dr. J.M. Benhaiem, a physician and hypnotherapist, who is the president of the French Association for the Study of Medical Hypnosis (AFEHM). This association provides training in hypnosis at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Medical School.
Ericksonian hypnosis is a technique, an instrument that liberates, and an incredible accelerator of effectiveness. The therapist holds no power in hypnosis; they simply have the ability to help the patient return to a natural state—a so-called altered state of consciousness that they already experience, often without realizing it, approximately every 90 minutes in their daily lives. On average, we receive about a billion pieces of information in a day, so our brains need breaks. We are already familiar with these fleeting hypnotic states: when we gaze out the window and drift into our thoughts, when we contemplate an image and let our minds wander, or when we read or watch a movie and simultaneously escape into another world. We are present yet elsewhere at the same time. It’s a state of consciousness that allows us to forget the surrounding reality and experience a mental disconnection.
It’s not about putting you to sleep—it’s about achieving deep relaxation that fosters new connections and brings you back in touch with your body and its sensations. Hypnosis is more about feeling than understanding. It helps you connect with your inner resources.
In our conscious mind, there’s a little voice—what’s known as the critical factor—that says, “I can do this” or “This is impossible, I’ll never manage it.” This voice is shaped by our experiences and what we’ve learned over time. Whether the voice is encouraging or limiting, the essence of hypnosis is to bypass it and temporarily disconnect from everyday reality.
Hypnosis is also a journey, one that alters the perception of reality through indirect suggestions and imagery, engaging solely with the imagination. These hypnotic suggestions help recreate neural connections similar to those formed through real-life experiences. After all, we are constantly shaping our reality based on our imagination.
In hypnosis, we often draw on our relationship with nature. In Japan, nature is well-preserved and plays a significant role in daily life. It serves as a great source of inspiration for my hypnosis protocols.
Hypnosis allows us to reprogram our perception of a situation or sensation. Under hypnosis, our sensory perception is altered, and our brain activity is amplified. Hypnosis reveals the incredible power of our mind.
The induction of hypnosis involves 5Cs (4 in English):
- Calm
- Trust
- Concentration
- Control
- Consistency
To learn more about hypnosis, you can find an excellent program from France Inter, aired on September 10, 2018, in my recommendations. Click here to listen to it directly..