Ericksonian approaches to psychotherapy and hypnosis have had a significant
impact on many clinical practitioners over the last two decades. This arti
cle reviews the current empirical research with regard to the efficacy of t
hese treatment approaches as well as for the key Ericksonian assumptions of
: (a) belief in an altered state of consciousness and the existence of spec
ific markers indicating an altered state; (b) the superiority of indirect s
uggestion over direct suggestion; and (c) client hypnotizability is a funct
ion of the hypnotist's skill. The current literature provides empirical sup
port neither for efficacy nor for these key assumptions. The article conclu
des with a discussion of the need for empirically based research to test th
e efficacy of Ericksonian therapy and its core components, lest this approa
ch become isolated from the scientific hypnosis and therapy communities.