Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and therapy: Where are we now?

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.