Trancework: An Introduction to the Practice of Clinical Hypnosis

539 Pages·2003·2.36 MB·English

by  Michael D Yapko

TRANCEWORK
“Of the many excellent books Dr. Yapko has authored, both for health professionals and
the general public, Trancework is the most detailed and comprehensive. This book is a
must for every health professional who uses or wants to learn to use the powerful tool of
hypnosis to help patients and clients. I highly recommend Trancework and will
personally refer to it often in my own work.”
Jordan I.Zarren, M.S.W., DAHB, DCSW
Past President: American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
Diplomate: American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work & National Association
of Social Workers
Co-Author: Brief Cognitive Hypnosis: Facilitating the Change of Dysfunctional Behavior
“Michael Yapko delivers a state of the art sourcebook that spans the depth and breadth
of the hypnotic tradition. Up to date chapters on neuroscience and social psychology, as
well as on the practical application of hypnosis, provide beginning and seasoned
practitioners alike with creative ways to design and implement effective interventions. If
you want to add a book to your library that is destined to be a classic, Trancework is a
safe bet!”
Maggie Phillips, Ph.D.
Co-Author: Healing the Divided Self: Clinical and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy for
Posttraumatic and Dissociative Conditions
Author: Finding the Energy to Heal: How EMDR, Hypnosis, TFT, Imagery and Body
Focused Therapy Help to Restore Mindbody Health (2000)
Current Book Editor: The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
“Yapko has made the best text on hypnosis even better. His commitment to sound
science, clarity of reason and pragmatic applications is communicated with a passion in
this new edition of Trancework. The freshness of information and skills, built on the
wisdom of former editions, make this a state-of-the-art book for every therapist who
wants to be (and shouldn’t we all be?) a state-of-the-art practitioner.”
George W.Burns, B.A. (Hons.), clinical pscyhologist.
Author: 101 Healing Stories and Standing Without Shoes
Director: The Milton H.Erickson Institue of Western Australia
TRANCEWORK
An Introduction to the Practice of Clinical Hypnosis
(3rd Edition)
by
MICHAEL D.YAPKO , Ph.D.

BRUNNER-ROUTLEDGE
New York and Hove
Published in 2003 by
Brunner-Routledge
29 West 35th Street
New York, NY 10001
www.brunner-routledge.com
Published in Great Britain by
Brunner-Routledge
27 Church Road
Hove, East Sussex
BN3 2FA
www.brunner-routledge.co.uk
Copyright © 2003 by Michael D.Yapko
Brunner-Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or
Routledge's collection of thousand of eBook please go
to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
Cover design by Pearl Chang
Author photo by Bradford Photography, LaCosta, California
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permis
sion in writing from the publishers.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Yapko, Michael D.
Trancework: an introduction to the practice of clinical hypnosis/by Michael
D.Yapko.- 3rd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-415-93589-X (hc)
1. Hypnotism-Therapeutic use. I. Title.
RC495.Y373 2003
615.8’512-dc21
2003009290
ISBN 0-203-42707-6 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-44124-9 (Adobe e-Reader Format)
ISBN 0-415-93589-X (Print Edition)
This book is dedicated with love to my wife, Diane, who has kept me deeply absorbed in
the happiest of hypnotic states
Contents

List of Tables ix
Acknowledgments xi
Foreword to the 3rd edition xiii

by Steven Jay Lynn, Ph.D., ABPP
Introduction to the 3rd edition xvii
Foreword to the 2nd edition xx

by André M.Weitzenhoffer, Ph.D.
Introduction to the 2nd edition xxii
Foreword to the 1st edition xxvi

by Jeffrey K.Zeig, Ph.D.
Introduction to the 1 st edition xxviii

SECTION ONE: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

1. What Is Hypnosis and Can It Help? 3
2. The Myths about Hypnosis and a Dose of Reality 22
3. Conceptualizing Hypnosis 53
4. The Brain in Hypnosis 72
5. Contexts of Hypnosis 90
6. The Social Psychology of Human Suggestibility 109
7. Matters of the Mind 132
8. Responsiveness to Hypnosis 146
9. The Phenomenology of Hypnosis 164
10. Conditions for Conducting Hypnosis Sessions 180
11. Structured Approaches to Assessing Hypnotic Responsiveness 188

SECTION TWO: PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK

12. Structuring Suggestions 207
13. Helpful Hints for Performing Hypnosis 230
14. Formal Strategies of Hypnotic Induction 250
15. Informal, Conversational Strategies of Hypnotic Induction 267
16. Hypnotic Phenomena: Eliciting and Utilizing Hypnotic 289

Resources
17. Designing and Delivering Hypnotic Interventions in Treatment 345
18. Hypnotic Patterns Commonly Employed in Psychotherapy 366
19. Treatment Dynamics and Sample Hypnosis Session Transcripts 391

for Common Problems
20. The Case of Vicki: Hypnosis for Coping with Terminal Cancer 411
21. When People Respond in Non-Ideal Ways 450
22. Hypnotic Hazards and Ethical Guidelines 461

Postscript 478
Appendix A Hypnosis Organizations for Professionals and Journal Information 480
Appendix B Supplemental Materials from Michael D.Yapko, Ph.D. 484
Author Index 487
Subject Index 498
Frames of Reference
Interesting and insightful comments from leading figures in the fields of hypnosis and
psychotherapy

André M.Weitzenhoffer, Ph.D., M.A., SC.M., SC.B. 35
Helen J.Crawford, Ph.D. 79
William Kroger, M.D. 96
Theodore X.Barber, Ph.D. 120
Milton H.Erickson, M.D. 137
Kay Thompson, D.D.S. 149
Martin T.Orne, M.D., Ph.D. 167
Ernest R.Hilgard, Ph.D. 193
Jeffrey K.Zeig, Ph.D. 233
David Spiegel, M.D. 349
Jay Haley, Ph.D. (Hon.), M.A. 454
Karen Olness, M.D. 470

List of Tables

Table 1. The Experience of Hypnosis 176
Table 2. Suggestion Structures and Styles: Generic Forms 209
Table 3. Some Helpful Hypnotic Communication Patterns 231
Table 4. Stages of Hypnotic Interaction 250
Table 5. Conversational Induction Principles 270
Table 6. Assumptions Regarding Confusion Techniques 283
Table 7. Pattern Interruption Strategies 283
Table 8. Categories of Confusion Methodologies 286
Table 9. Classical Hypnotic Phenomena 290
Table 10. Age Regression Strategies 301
Table 11. A General Age Progression Strategy 305
Table 12. Techniques of Hypnotic Amnesia 311
Table 13. Approaches to Pain Management with Hypnosis 316
Table 14. A Generic Structure for a Hypnosis Session 357
Table 15. Assumptions Inherent in Hypnotic Psychotherapy 367
Table 16 Symptom Phenomena as Hypnotic Phenomena 368
Table 17. General Structure of a Critical Incident Process 372
Table 18. Functions of Metaphors in Psychotherapy 392
Table 19. Principles of Metaphorical Communication 393
Table 20. Structuring Therapeutic Metaphors 394
Table 21. Potential Responses to Resistance 457