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"I had the privilege of reading David Gordon and Maribeih Meyers-Anderson's book, PHOENIX, in manuscript. I was well impressed with their understandings of Milton's ac- count of the processes of change in therapeutic intervention, and found it a unique and most interesting analysis of Milton's methods of psychotherapy." ELIZABETH ERICKSON MILTON H. ERICKSON, M.D. (1901-1980) was generally recognized as the world's foremost authori- ty on the induction and utilization of trance states, as well as being the master of brief therapy. He pioneered "naturalistic" induction techniques, hyp- notic utilization, metaphorical and sub-conscious communication, and the use of behavioral tasks in order to effect change. In his various capacities as a practicing psychologist and psychiatrist, professor and lecturer, founding president of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, founder and editor of the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, and author of over one hundred books, articles and papers, Milton Erickson demonstrated again and again an uncanny recognition of, and respect for, the patterns that make each person who they are. DAVID GORDON and MARIBETH MEYERS-ANDERSON are internationally known trainers in Neuro-Linguistic Pro- gramming, and as such have used their skills as modelers of human communica- tion to help develop effective and learn- able tools within the areas of individual and family psychotherapy, metaphor, sales, education, and child rearing. The present volume represents the culmina- tion of certain aspects of their ten years of studying and teaching the work of Milton Erickson, including personal study with Dr. Erickson in 1978 and '79. In addition to their work conducting Neuro- Linguistic Programming, hypnosis, and metaphor training seminars throughout the United States, David is the author of Therapeutic Metaphors: Helping Others Through the Looking-Glass (Meta Publications, 1978), and Maribeth Meyers-Anderson is in private practice in the San Francisco bay area. COVER: MILTON ERICKSON, 1979 photograph by David Gordon Cover Design by Helen Cole Milton H. Erickson, M.D., is considered to have been the world's foremost authority and practitioner of hypno- therapy and brief therapy. His clients and colleagues knew him for his utiliza- tion of inductions based on naturally occurring behaviors, and for his consis- tent ability to quickly achieve therapeutic outcomes. The depth of Milton Erickson's knowledge and the sweep of his skill, as revealed in well over one hundred papers he authored and in the numerous books published by him and about his work, has awed anyone fortunate enough to discover them. And beyond considera- tions of his therapeutic acumen (perhaps the cause of it) lay Milton Erickson's infectious wit and personal commitment to the flourishing of the individual. As illustrated in this book, these personal orientations of Erickson's were as integral a part of his astounding effec- tiveness as were, for example, the induc- tion patterns he used. Although a great many descriptive and evaluative books and articles have been written about Milton Ericksons' hypnotic work, relatively little attention has been accorded that tremendous portion of his therapeutic work that made little or no use of formal trance states. In this volume the authors address themselves to those examples and aspects of Erickson's therapeutic work that did not rely on the utilization of formal trance states. Using Erickson's own verbatim descriptions of his work, those patterns which are characteristic of his approach are not only identified for the reader, but are described as sequences of internal and external behaviors that can be duplicated by anyone. To that end, the authors have created algorithms that, if followed and practiced, will make it possible for you to replicate these im- pactful patterns. This book will not make you Milton H. Erickson, but it will make it possible for you to reproduce in your own work many of the therapeutic skills that made Erickson perhaps the most consistently successful psychotherapist we have known. PHOENIX PHOENIX Therapeutic Patterns of Milton H. Erickson by David Gordon and Maribeth Meyers-Anderson International Standard Book Number: 0-916990-10-9 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 81-85263 Meta Publications, P.O. Box 565, Cupertino, Ca 95014 © 1981 by D. Gordon and M. Anderson. All rights reserved. Published 1981 This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher Printed in the United States of America. To Milton H. Erickson— Three years and three children later, thank you. DG and MB TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I—PHOENIX 1 About The Book 7 The Phoenix 9 CHAPTER II—PYGMALION 11 Paladins of Change 14 Orpheus 25 Generative Generalizations 27 Flexibility 28 Humor 29 The Future 31 CHAPTER III—AVATAR Rapport and the Pacing of Experience 34 Content Rapport 42 Behavioral Rapport 47 Cultural Rapport 51 CHAPTER IV—THE TOUCHSTONE Reference Frame Interventions 58 Criteria 59 Identifying Criteria 62 Sorting and Re-Sorting 64 Sorting for Assets 66 Sorting for BIG Liabilities 81 Sorting for Relevance 93 TABLE OF CONTENTS viii CHAPTER V—THE SNOWBALL Behavioral Interventions 105 The Patterns of Behavior 105 Content and the Patterns of Behavior 109 Identifying Patterns of Behavior 113 What Changes to Make? 121 Engaging Behavior 123 Silk Purses 129 Sow's Ears 142 CHAPTER VI—SNAKE DANCE Annotated Transcript 151 CHAPTER VII—ORIGIN OF THE SPECIE 164 AFTERWARDS 191 BIBLIOGRAPHY 193 CHAPTER 1 Phoenix hoenix was ablaze with summer sun in June of 1978. We had just Parrived at that Arizona oasis after a hot and dusty trip across the vast and shimmering deserts, and now it was utter luxury to stretch out before a clattering air-conditioner in the motel room. Only a short time before, while roasting in the car, there had been ample time to reminisce about favorite failures and successes, hopes and plans. Long distance driving somehow lends itself to such rehashing and reverie. In fact, the thorny cacti, towering mesas, and endless horizons gliding just beyond our car windows seemed to compel our internal meander- ings as naturally as a needle draws its thread. The driving now done, and our view confined to the drab motel walls, each of us began to speculate privately about the great event that was now incredibly imminent. For the previous four years we had heard, read and studied about Dr. Milton H. Erickson of Phoenix, Arizona, the world's foremost hypnotherapist. These studies had commenced with our apprentice- ship to Richard Bandler and John Grinder (who have been so instru- mental in making Milton Erickson's profoundly effective hypnotic patterns readily available to others), and like starvelings at a feast, we greedily consumed every written work of Erickson's on which we could THERAPEUTIC PATTERNS 2 lay our hands. We worked hard and made those patterns a natural part of our ongoing communications with others. And we not only used them in our own practices, but boldly traveled around the country training others in the art of Dr. Erickson's communicational alchemy. We unabashedly extolled his techniques and wisdom to all who would listen, and no doubt in our honest fervor our eyes glistened and our bodies trembled as we lectured. We talked, ate, drank, and dreamed Milton H. Erickson for years. He was family. And in making such a full confession it must be admitted that we even copied his voice . and we had never even MET the man! Well tomorrow we would meet Milton Erickson and, so, finally provide our past mimicries and expostulations with the self-flattering credence of personal contact. "Dr. Erickson? Oh yes, we know Milton . ." But is that what this meeting was to mean? Until tomorrow we could speculate freely, while cooling our heels, courtesy of the Fedders Air-Conditioning corpora- tion . But even through that filtered air we could sense in the desert wind something . something for which we were hardly prepared. This would be more than a culminating and confirming visit to one of those national monuments about which one has previously only read. We thought that we were coming to Phoenix to confirm what we already knew . and didn't know then that instead we would discover how much there was to learn. This was not to be denouement, but the introduction. The next day we got our bearings in the cool, but already changing morning air of Phoenix. Some places go through seasonal changes two, three, or four times a year. The desert goes through five or six seasonal changes in the course of a single day. You must either adjust to those fluctuations, or hide from them. We had learned to adjust and, so, were delighted to discover the subtle changes in the appearances of colors and distance, in the feel of the air, in the timbre of sounds, and in the changing fragrances that accompanied those daily seasons. We made our way down open, clean streets lined with orange- spotted citrus trees until we arrived at a well-planted corner house. It was neither manicured nor unkempt, but comfortable, with just the right amount of weeds and unexpected plantings so that you didn't notice that things had been landscaped. The yard said, "Go ahead and step on the grass, that's what it's for. " Each of us pushing the other to the fore, we timidly approached the front door where we were met by gracious Mrs. Erickson, who then steered us to Dr. Erickson's office. The office was small, lined with books, photographs, innumera- 3 Phoenix ble curious objects, and splashed with purple colors throughout. There were other pilgrims already seated in the room. We exchanged nods with them, and that seemed plenty of recognition—almost too much.

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