Ericksonian Hypnotic Language Patterns

Douglas O'Brien

 

Patterns of Indirect Suggestion (not "Covert Hypnosis")

In a therapeutic setting we strive to achieve the client's goals with

elegance. Sometimes, however, change is difficult and resistance,

conscious or otherwise, is a natural response. By using the following

language patterns we are able to bypass the conscious resistance

and to communicate with the subconscious mind.

Milton Erickson was famous for his therapeutic metaphors. He would

elicit hypnotic responses in his clients or direct their thinking by telling

them a story. He wasn't alone. Like Aesop's fables, the parables of

Jesus, and Greek myths, stories can teach us and direct us with their

implicit, indirect suggestions.

Milton's stories, however, were told in a manner that utilized a

sophisticated understanding of how the listener's subconscious would

hear them. His use of these language patterns and vocal tonality to

slip suggestions past the listener's conscious critical mind is

sometimes referred to as "covert hypnosis." We take issue with this

representation. This artful use of language cannot rightly be called

covert when used in a clinical setting. The client has come to you for

treatment and is paying for all of your expertise. Using Hypnosis

covertly, like in a bar to seduce someone, is something Dr. Erickson

would neither do nor advocate.

Adirect suggestion is really a command. It tends to be evaluated by

the conscious mind and may be rejected at the outset. Indirect

suggestions are like a Trojan horse that slips past the gates and

guard towers of the conscious mind and carries good suggestions

embedded within. Hence the term, "embedded command." [ As an

example, "You will feel confident," is a direct suggestion. As opposed

to the Indirect Suggestion: "I'm wondering how it is when you feel

confident ."]

Note: Words in bold are to be said utilizing a shift in your tonality

and/or physiology. This is referred to as "Analogue Marking" because

the shift in tonality and body gestures are analogous to that of a

command. An Embedded Command can be marked out in a variety

of ways. A louder voice, a softer voice, a change of vocal timbre,

pausing just before the particular phrase, a hand gesture, a shift of

eye focus onto the subject, etc. But, whatever way the phrase is

marked out must be analogous to a command. You are telling them

to do something and it must be clear to their other-than-conscious

what they are to do.

I should like to point out that without these shifts in tonality, etc., there

is no command at all. You must shift your tonality in a way that is

noticeable. Regardless of whether or not the listener pays attention to

it consciously, it has to exist. Sometimes people think they are

shifting their tonality and are not really doing so. Generally speaking,

you can err on the side of exaggeration quite safely. Richard Bandler

is sometimes almost comical in his broad way of delivering the

commands, yet they unfailingly work.

Speaking of tonality that is analogous to a command, in natural

English language a change of inflection can change the meaning of a

sentence entirely. As in the sentence, "You are going to the proms." If

you were to use a lifting of your tonality at the end of the sentence it

becomes a question. “You are going to the proms?" (Say it aloud and

listen to it.)

With flat tonality it is a simple statement. “You are going to the

proms." (Say it and listen...)

When you shift your tonality downwards at the end of the sentence it

becomes a command. “You are going to the proms."

(Go ahead, say it. Say it with the downward inflected tonality and

listen to how it sounds.)

Thus: In communication in general and in Hypnosis in particular,

tonality is primary.

 

 

Excerpted by:

Awie Suwandi CHT

TranzWorks ~Institute & Clinic for  Hypnotherapy