In Generative Trance, we are primarily interested in helping others develop self-empowerment. This involves teaching self awareness skills and methods to hold inner discussions on creative solutions within trance states.
In contrast, traditional Hypnosis is more one directional. In this way, the old-school hypnotist directs the client in what to think and do. While this at first seems to be a convenient solution, the challenge is that the client becomes reliant on the hypnotist and worse yet, may even embark on paths that are not aligned with their real needs. A traditional hypnotist is easily caught up in the need to empress the client. Entertaining at best, this can only result in wasted time and money.
The real work is done during gentle, conversations where the client’s wisdom is incorporated into the solution. Generative Trance, as Dr. Stephen Gilligan calls it, utilizes the very behaviours that seem to be defined within the problem. Ironically, the presenting problem is often revealed as a key feature that enables healing, progress and deeper self-realization.
This style of counseling could be knicknamed “mothering hypnotherapy”. When done from a gentle encouraging perspective it allows for exploratory choice which encourages confident experimentation. Much as we can absorb from our mothers when they have developed a strong habit of gentle nurturing, so we can gather information, in this methodology, at a pace which does not feel contrived and forced.
On the average the response will be universal but there will be other situations which necessitate a blending of both traditional as well as Ericksonian methods. The interesting part of this latter postulate is wherein the traditional blended with Ericksonian becomes almost redundant because when gentle encouragement is used as an aside its like a mother directing the child’s curiosity away from the tendency to stray in attention. It reminds me of the old saying concerning teaching a man to fish rather than giving him one.
I have worked with a 16 year old boy with a similar condition. Some improvements in coping and a reduction of bed wetting occurred. However, the child eventually just grew out of this behaviour (about six months). Hard to say how much hypnotherapy contributed to his transformation. My believe is that he would have out grown the condition with or without the hypnotherapy. I do believe he benefited from a reduction in stress and an increase in confidence during this transformation.
This style of counseling could be kceaknnmid mothering hypnotherapy . When done from a gentle encouraging perspective it allows for exploratory choice which encourages confident experimentation. Much as we can absorb from our mothers when they have developed a strong habit of gentle nurturing, so we can gather information, in this methodology, at a pace which does not feel contrived and forced.On the average the response will be universal but there will be other situations which necessitate a blending of both traditional as well as Ericksonian methods. The interesting part of this latter postulate is wherein the traditional blended with Ericksonian becomes almost redundant because when gentle encouragement is used as an aside its like a mother directing the child’s curiosity away from the tendency to stray in attention. It reminds me of the old saying concerning teaching a man to fish rather than giving him one.