5 Minute Therapy Tips - Episode 22: Erickson Techniques - Confusion

I want to talk about one of the techniques Milton Erickson was famous for. When asked what the two most important contributions he made to the literature he said - the confusion technique - a destabilization technique, and the interspersal technique - an associative technique. Let’s talk first about the confusion technique.

We are excited to share with you our new Youtube series which will explore topics such as Client Problems, Professional Issues, Clinical Concerns, and Methodology with new episodes every Friday!

with Jeff Zeig, PhD

Presented by:
The Milton H. Erickson Foundation

Sponsored by:
Evolution of Psychotherapy 2017
December 13-17, 2017

Images:
Andreas Steiner

[og-onecanobi]

Wow, I've read quite a few about Erickson, yet this took me to another level.

[PhlebotissTV]

I think this is important to know from a layperson's view as well... as an example, I've seen leaders of groups who use confusion like so, "So to answer your question, and it's a good question, people today are growing in their abilities to ask me great questions, but your question really hinges upon the momentum of objects in tangent order. We know that there isn't just one lane to a finish line, there are so many choices. Choices after choice after choice... and we see that each choice, like a lane is moving in a direction of momentum based upon the power of the puller, or perhaps one could say the power of the driver, and when we get to the end of the path we realize that we never moved. Movement and momentum appear but ...."

I've heard such a person talk like this and each time I would find myself kinda zoning out and I think, 'wait what? what was the answer to the question?" many times the people who ask questions to people like that forget the question they asked.

I dont know if people like that, leading groups, are doing that on purpose or if it's an accident, but it somewhat controls the response of the audience. I began to spot it, only after reading about the confusion technique.

[jakobs]

This video is fascinating. Thank you for replenishing my motivation to continue an education in psychology

[carolynbrett]

Thank you for sharing your brilliance, and passing on the genius so well.

[iamnotthemessiahnowfocuson]

Thank you Jeffery..yes we were taught soft loops and hard loops…

[SaraiRivka]

This makes me feel better about making mistakes as I induce someone.

[MichaelHplus]

Want to watch this, but every time he says an "S" sound, the microphone picks up an ear piercing sound.

[shehansha]

Can we increase height through hynotizing

[deborahdean]

If anyone wants as m actually good explanation of Erickson, try David Snyder.

[mikehess]

Those are some hard S's...had to mute and caption.