Uncommon Therapy: The Psychiatric Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Psychology
Review: Anyone who is seriously interested in NLP and/or hypnosis should read this book - over and over again!

There are plenty of books that have been described as 'classics' of their genre, though few of them actually deserve that description. Jay Haley's book is one of the few

If I have any complaint at all about this book, it concerns the first 50-odd pages (Chapters 1 and 2) which consist of Haley's efforts to codify the general principles behind the Ericksonian method - and is rather overlong (by any standards) as an introduction.
If anyone were to ask my opinion I'd say skip these two chapters when you first read the book. Then read them afterwards and see what *you* think.

In Chapter 3 there is a complete change of pace as Haley very quickly starts to bring in the wealth of Ericksonian material - case descriptions, actual dialogue, etc., which make up the body of book from then on.

Chapters 3 - 9 are interestingly set out so as to deal with seven major aspects of adult life - courtship, becoming an adult, marriage, childbirth and dealing with young children, family problems, letting go (when your kids are ready to leave home), and 'the pain of old age'.

I found this style of presentation is very effective, and Haley provides plenty of interesting and useful material, including many of the Ericksonian classics: The woman who was too fat to get married, the February Man, the Tomato Plant, the 'Incomplete Handshake' hypnotic induction, and so on and so on.

Incidentally, it is important to understand that Erickson ALWAYS worked on the basis of this simple belief: Every patient already has the resources to deal with their "presenting problem". On this basis Erickson did not TELL people what they should do, instead he aimed to help them to find their own solution.

In the case of the Prussian gentleman, for example, Erickson believed (correctly) that his apparently physiological problem had a psychological genesis. After interviewing the man he also came to the conclusion that the man had repressed himself to such an extent that only an emotional outburst would get him "unstuck". So Erickson did his best to get the man to lose his temper. Which he did - and immediately *started* to recover his health.

The "cure" may have been unorthodox by some standards, but it worked. And despite all his very traditional credentials, Erickson was far more interested in facilitating people's return to health than in limiting himself to traditional medicine's view of how a doctor should or should not behave.

So why not buy the book, and meet one of the 20th century's most outstanding healers. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book, but over Haley's head
Review: As an admirer of Milton H Erickson's work and techniques, I wish I could give this book (which i happen to own) a better score. Contained within is alot of great and useful information, unfortuneatly the novice will learn very little from the book on how the therapy is performed. The persons familiar with Ericksons work will find it a good source for condensed case histories, and fresh ideas, even when Haley does not fully understand the nature of what he is writing about, he does a good job of keeping things flowing and drawing simple conclusions.

Overall - 3 for most ppl, 4 for the erickson fan.

Rating:
Summary: In response to all the bad reviews.
Review: I haven't read this book; but I do understand Erikson's ideas about Hypnosis. Maybe Haley's book does do an injustice too Erikson's work, and if so then we shouldn't let this book effect our ideas about Erikson/Psycho-analysis/Hypnosis. In the end you should read this one for yourself in order to find it's value. Hypnosis can be a POWERFUL technique when used therapeutically, and should be discovered by all.

Rating:
Summary: Must Read!
Review: I read Uncommon Therapy for a class in college. I had not heard of Erickson until then, but learning about him is one of my most memorable college experiences. What a great introduction to both Erickson and Haley. Erickson's approaches captured in this piece are exciting and unbelievable at times. His sarcastic and mesmerizing ways are amazing attributes, he's personality, charming. This book describes so many of Erickson's techniques in a way that even a beginner can learn from it. In the helping field today, Erickson's technique may seem outlandish or unacceptabile to most, but knowing Erickson through this book has given me a better understanding of how we have built from his foundation.

Rating:
Summary: You have two choices - Either enjoy this book or enjoy it!
Review: Milton surely had a keen interest in people as well as a fantastic intuition. The stories are mind blazingly wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Erickson's methods
Review: Quite an interesting read, there are plenty of examples of Erickson's unique methods. However, there is little about hypnosis. That is by no means a shortcoming, but some would expect a book on Erickson to be heavy on hypnosis. Haley shows that Erickson was a man of varied approaches, always choosing methodology based upon the circumstances, not a preset frame of reference. Well worth the money and the read.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother - no, really.
Review: This book is cheap and facile.

The author's case studies cater only for "nuclear family" scenarios and the "brilliant therepeutic techniques" described within it include such gems as:
* Erikson curing someone of being fat by shouting at them at length about how repulsive they are;
* Erikson helping a paralysed Prussian/German to walk by telling him repeatedly that he was Nazi scum and wasn't as worthwhile as the "Jews in the gas chamber" (according to Erikson, that one worked because Prussians are ALL "self-satisfied" and would have no alternative but to get up and walk when faced with such insults).

This is lowest-common-denominator reading, writing and thinking which permits humanity no function or behaviour but the centuries-old roles of man, woman, child, or parent. The final chapter is easily the most depressing - apprarently the old (anyone over 60) simply aren't worth bothering with at all and should be left to die.

I only hope that Jay Haley has done Erikson a massive disservice with this book, because if it is even slightly accurate, the man was to be avoided at all costs.

Rating:
Summary: Introduction to a unique and healer
Review: Those who don't know of the work of Milton Erickson have missed out on one of the more interesting tributaries of the stream of modern psychotherpy. Erickson didn't do much about actually formalizing his approach to therapy in a systematic way and that has fallen to others, notably Jay Haley. What fascinates Haley, and will surely fascniate the reader, is Erickson's unique and unorthodox approach to dealing with psychological problems. He ignores the underlying casuse and goes straight for eliminating the disturbing symtoms. He believes that it is a lot easier to help people heal if they are not currently in pain (psychological or physical). He is a genius at devising ways to short circuit his patient's problem behavior. The case histories are stunning little vignettes that in many cases cause one to laugh out loud.

Erickson uses many cognitive techniques, including some versions of hypnosis and suggestion that are of his own devising. This is simply fascinating reading and one doesn't have to be a therapist or even particulary interested in psychotherapy to appreciate this book. It holds a lamp up to a lot that is human but disturbing in all of us. There is much we can learn here. It is also just plain fun.