Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy: Special Issue.

Abstract

There are few, if any, individuals who have impacted the practice of clinical hypnosis as much as Milton H. Erickson, M.D. In fact, a recent international survey found that Ericksonian hypnotherapy is the most widely endorsed approach in clinical hypnosis. At the same time, the development of treatment/training manuals and rigorous research has lagged far behind the practice of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. This special issue of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (IJCEH) partially fills this gap by addressing a number of important questions, such as these: What is the essence of Ericksonian psychotherapy? What are key contributions of Erickson to the contemporary practice of hypnosis and psychotherapy? What does research tell us about Ericksonian hypnotherapy in the treatment of pain, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or prolonged grief? How might Ericksonian hypnotherapy influence hypnotically informed psychotherapy in the future? Addressing these important questions can provide essential information for cultivating research and enhancing evidence-based practice of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.