The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and therapy: Where are we now?
Abstract
Ericksonian approaches to psychotherapy and hypnosis have had a significant impact on many clinical practitioners over the last two decades. This article reviews the current empirical research with regard to the efficacy of these treatment approaches as well as for the key Ericksonian assumptions of: (a) belief in an altered state of consciousness and the existence of specific markers indicating an altered state; (b) the superiority of indirect suggestion over direct suggestion; and (c) client hypnotizability is a function of the hypnotist's skill. The current literature provides empirical support neither for efficacy nor for these key assumptions. The article concludes with a discussion of the need for empirically based research to test the efficacy of Ericksonian therapy and its core components, lest this approach become isolated from the scientific hypnosis and therapy communities.
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“The therapeutic process used in the VR group, based on the assumptions of Erickson’s psychotherapy, relies mainly on metaphorical communication, and uses specific symbolism for this purpose hypnosis.30–32”
From Effects of Immersive Virtual Therapy as a Method Supporting Recovery of Depressive Symptoms in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: Randomized Controlled Trial (2022) · cites this paper as [30]
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“However, empirical support for the validity of these critical assumptions is limited [57].”
From Immersive technologies for depression care: scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [57]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Matthews, W. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
- Corresponding author
- Matthews, William J.
- Venue
- International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2000-10
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 418-426
- ISSN
- 0020-7144 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-5183
- OpenAlex
- W2019305317
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Keywords
- Ericksonian therapy, hypnosis, altered states of consciousness, indirect suggestion, hypnotic susceptibility, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Hypnosis, Psychological Theory
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