Essentials of Hypnosis by Yapko, Michael D. (2014) Paperback

by Michael D. Yapko

Exceedingly clear, concise, and comprehensive, this volume sets forth the essential fundamentals of both the practice and theoretical underpinnings of clinical hypnosis. It will acquaint readers with a field that is dynamic, diverse, and constantly evolving, and one that offers superb therapeutic tools widely applicable in many clinical contexts. The book is designed as a basic text for graduate and undergraduate courses in clinical hypnosis as well as an information?packed refresher for practicing mental health professionals who wish to explore this provocative discipline. A valuable feature of the book is the comprehensive reference section at the end of each chapter for readers whose interest has been piqued for further exploration. Among the topics Essentials of Hypnosis addresses Myths and misconceptions, Prominent paradigms of hypnosis, Varied applications, Human suggestibility, and how to perform tests, How the mind processes hypnotic communication, Susceptibility, Psychological and physical characteristics of the hypnotic state, Environmental and physical variables, Patterns of hypnotic communication, Techniques for traditional and naturalistic inductions, Classical hypnotic phenomena and their inductions Self?hypnosis, Therapeutic utilization of the hypnotic trance?script, Clinical implications of memory, Suggestibility and repressed memory controversy, Overcoming resistance, Pitfalls to avoid, Ethical guidelines. Throughout Essentials of Hypnosis emphasizes the use of hypnotic processes as agents of effective communication and change. Lucid and thought provoking, it offers an integral prelude to the fascinating principles and practice of clinical hypnosis.

Paperback

About the author

Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist residing in Southern California.

Reviews

[Leonidas · Rating 5 out of 5]

'It's all in your head' is a really powerful expression. Pain, emotions, ambitions, stress, excitement - it's all a manifestation within your mind.

The author is a Hypnotherapist; someone who uses hypnosis in a clinical setting to help people overcome certain issues in life. Such as overcoming an addiction, overcoming an emotion, or allowing themselves a greater outlook on life.

Yapko covers the fundamentals of hypnosis within a clinical setting. What is hypnosis, how to assess your clients, what communication techniques to use, legalities with helping people with pain, and so on.

Some of the more interesting essentials involve your method of speaking, or otherwise known as 'neuro-linguistic programming'. You can suggest ideas in 3 different ways:
Commanding: You will now close your eyes, and go into a deep state of relaxation
Suggesting: If you feel like it, you may close your eyes, and you can allow yourself to fall deeper into a relaxation.
Metaphorical: When we imagine a baby closing it's eyes, we feel calm and comfortable knowing that every breath allows the baby to go deeper and deeper into relaxation

A summary of all of the content includes:

Misconceptions of hypnosis - people assume that being hypnotized means being 'weak-minded', or hypnosis means going to sleep.

Contexts of hypnosis - when is hypnosis generally used, whether on stage, in a clinic, at the hospital, in the battlefield, etc

Human suggestibility - there is no correlation between suggestibility and any other quality within people.

Conscious and unconscious processing - the conscious mind filters suggestions, while the unconscious mind accepts and acts on the information as is.

Susceptibility to hypnosis - your brain will filter out suggestions that do not correlate with your fundamentals or principles

Physiological and psychological characteristics of hypnotic state - there isn't much clear scientific evidence on what is going on within the brain during a hypnotic induction

Physical and environmental variables for doing hypnosis - having a comfortable environment is essential for clinical hypnosis

Structuring suggestions & patterns of hypnotic communication- How you relate the information is relative to the personality of the individual

Suggestibility tests, formal hypnotic inductions - you provide suggestions to the individual and see how responsive they are to these suggestions before initiating putting them into a 'trance state'

Naturalistic hypnotic inductions - inducing hypnosis through common speech and story telling

Hypnotic phenomena - the ability to stop pain, overcome mental blocks, and even stop bloodflow. Basically control the body that is usually controlled through your subconscious.

Self-hypnosis - initiating hypnosis through focused breathing. Almost like meditation, but with a desired goal

Therapeutic utilization of hypnosis - what are the conditions that can be treated with hypnosis

Sample trance scripts - some very interesting scripts, with different styles of communication

Ethical guidelines - what to do, and what not to do, especially from a legal stand point (you cannot treat someone if you don't have a license)

and much more.

This is an interesting primer into the world of clinical hypnosis. It's very very interesting, but I would suggest combining this with videos, and practice as well.