The February Man - Hardcover

Milton Erickson; Ernest Lawrence Rossi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0876305451 ISBN 13: 9780876305454

Publisher: Brunner/Mazel, 1989

Synopsis

From the front flap: "This volume is a rare record of Milton H. Erickson's pioneering genius in facilitating the evolution of new patterns of consciousness and identity in a young woman. It is the only completely documented report of an entire hypnotherapeutic case from the middle phase of Erickson's career, when his innovative approaches were being developed. [It] brilliantly illustrates the actual words and methods used by Erickson that are currently transforming the meaning and essence of the entire field of psychotherapy. Therapists of all persuasions will appreciate the detailed commentaries offered by Erickson himself on the whys, ways, and means of his naturalistic and permissive approaches to healing. 'The February Man' is a fascinating case study which illustrates the use of multiple levels of consciousness and meaning to access and therapeutically reframe traumatic memories that were the source of very severe phobias and depression. Erickson's masterful use of minimal cues and indirect suggestion enable him to assume the supportive role of the 'February Man' who 'visits' the patient many times during profound states of age regression. During these sessions Erickson evokes and utilizes many classical hypnotic phenomena (such as automatic writing, time distortion, and amnesia) to facilitate that 'reassociation and resynthesis' of the inner life which he regards as the essence of cure. As the February Man, he provides the patient with the seeds for new developments in her adult personality and with a more complete view of herself and the world in transition. 'The February Man' makes available for the first time the complete, verbatim transcripts and commentaries of a life in transformation that is a Rosetta stone for understanding 'the new hypnosis'. This intimate portrait will be treasured by all who seek to grow along with one of the most humane therapists of our time."

About this title

About the Author

Has done more than any other individual this century to change the way in which hypnotherapy is practiced. He was a fellow of many international professional bodies as was the founding president of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

Ernest L. Rossi, Ph.D., is Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychotherapy by the Milton H. Erickson Foundation. He is also the science editor of Psychological Perspectives and the author, coauthor, and editor of numerous professional books.

Review

"It was with considerable excitement that I realized that...this volume has been recently reissued. The value of The February Man is that it consists of the transcript of an entire course of hypnotherapy, conducted by Erickson in 1945, long before he became known to the therapeutic community at large. This is a decided advantage for the reader, permitting careful examination of what Erickson actually said and did with this particular client. In structuring the repeating episodes of hypnotic age regression in the transcript of [this book], Erickson tells the client, 'You are going to see me...again and again.' With any luck, the same will be true for current and future generations of therapists through continued access to his writings." -Steven N. Gold in PsycCRITIQUES December 2009, Vol.54

Edition details

• Publisher: Brunner/Mazel
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0876305451
• ISBN 13: 9780876305454
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 266