6 Hypnotic Patterns of Ericksonian Indirect Suggestion

Milton Erickson is the ancestor of the permissive hypnosis method. His style of hypnosis creates a communication channel with the Subconscious Mind of the person he wants to hypnotize through indirect suggestion. The following is a list of 6 Ericksonian hypnotic patterns:

1) Non-directive suggestion – This is one of the key differences between Erickson’s style of hypnosis and traditional authoritative hypnosis. The direct type of suggestion appeals more to the Conscious Mind.

A person under direct hypnosis is more likely to analyze what is happening around them. This will actually slow down the level of induced trance.

An indirect suggestion resonates with the Unconscious Mind and is less likely to elicit evaluation from the person under hypnosis.

2) Integrated commands – Erickson often uses embedded or hidden commands in his hypnosis method. This process works very well because our Unconscious Mind would listen and respond to the embedded command.

3) Embedded Description – This pattern is very similar to the embedded command. The way to do this is by describing in detail what you want the other person to feel.

To emphasize the way he describes things, Erickson usually pauses and changes to a gravelly tone of voice. The tonality of his voice is a bit deeper, which can be very appealing to a person’s Unconscious Mind.

4) Affirmative sets – Erickson uses affirmative or “Yeah” sets to get the agreement of the person you want to hypnotize.

A Yes set is a series of statements or questions in which a person says or thinks “Yes, yes, yes.” When it’s time to add a crucial statement, you get a positive response.

5) Truths about feelings – The Ericksonian method of hypnosis uses the affirmative set of platitudes about sensations to drive a statement of what the other person feels. Because she is already in an agreeing frame of mind, she is more likely to feel exactly what has been suggested to her.

6) Truisms using time – In this pattern, Erickson would say that something is about to happen and leave the time to the other person. This is suggestive in itself and acts as a convincing when the thing happens.

For example, he would say “Sooner or later you are going to close your eyes.” As soon as the person under hypnosis closes her eyes, she would say “That’s right.” That will reinforce the suggestive messages.