Since Mesmer in the 1700s hypnosis had been used in Medicine but by the 20th century it had fallen into disrepute in the medical profession and was regarded more as an entertainment.
Milton Erickson was responsible for changing this attitude and moving hypnosis back into ‘respectability’.
One of his early papers published in 1941, described the successful treatment of a woman who after a marriage proposal feel into a deep depression. Of course he used the expression ‘hysterical depression’, whereas today we would instead describe it as reactive depression,
Her depression had proved to be unresponsive to all types of psychotherapy. He took the desision to use hypnosis to treat her.
While hypnotised he took her back to her childhood to explore the possible emotion background to her reaction. He discovered that between the ages of 10 and 13 her mother had instilled in her a range of serious misconceptions about sex.
Erickson realised he had to help his patient overcome these problems. He used a complex approach combining regressive trances, routine trances, waking states and repetition.
As a result of his hypnotherapy the patient was able to overcome her childhood misunderstandings, inhibitions and repressions to make a full recovery.
Thanks to this and many other papers, presentations and books, Milton Erickson drove the development of modern hypnotherapy. He was a true pioneer.
from UK Hypnotherapy Directory
http://www.ukhypnotherapydirectory.com/an-early-research-paper-by-milton-erickson/
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