DE 
EN Volume 2, double-issue 1+2, October 2007, 192 Pages
of the journal Hypnose - Zeitschrift für Hypnose und Hypnotherapie (Hypnose-ZHH)
Table of Contents
- Claire Frederick, Tufts University of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Selected topics in Ego State Therapy - Luise Reddemann, Universität Klagenfurt
Ego states and trauma therapy - Burkhard Peter, München
On the history of the dissociative identity disorder in Germany: Justinus Kerner and the girl from Orlach - Peter Lembrecht, Husum
An example of a 4 Phases Model for hypnotherapy with complex disorders - Sabine Sühnel, Berlin
Erickson: From theoretical void to theoretical framwork
Abstracts & Download (German Originals)
Claire Frederick, Tufts University of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Selected topics in Ego State Therapy
Hypnose-ZHH, 2007, 2(1+2), 5-100
Theme: The selected topics presented here constitute an introduction of Ego State Therapy to the readership of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (Vol. 53, 2005). In many ways they have as much to say about personality theory and the techniques of psychodynamic psychotherapy as they do of Ego State Therapy.
Development: Chapters One through Four offer an overview of Ego State Therapy, its similarities and differences from Internal Family Systems Therapy (Schwartz, 1995), and other forms of polypsychism, the nature and formation of ego states, the character of Center Core phenomena, the diagnosis of ego state pathology, and the necessary elements of treatment utilizing this modality. Chapters Five and Six present basic material about the therapeutic alliance and the transference/countertransference field as background for some information about how they can be used in Ego State Therapy. Chapter Seven is devoted to a consideration of the creation and modification of ego states, as well as the significance of positive ego states in psychotherapy and pedagogy.
Conclusion: It is the hope of the author that some of the material presented may stimulate further interest in the field.
Keywords: Ego State Therapy, ego states, Center Core phenomena, polypsychism
Luise Reddemann, Universität Klagenfurt
Ego states and trauma therapy
Hypnose-ZHH, 2007, 2(1+2), 101-115
Thesis: Ego state therapy is very useful in trauma therapy.
Development of the theme: It is shown how ego state approaches can be integrated into treatment of post traumatic stress disorder patients, and how well these approaches match the coping strategies of such patients in order that their self regulative skills can be improved.
Conclusion: The ego state model seems to be useful especially for dealing with child parts as well as with disturbing and destructive parts. It is emphasized that this kind of therapy is especially useful for affect regulation of traumatized patients.
Keywords: Ego state therapy, trauma therapy, inner child, dissociation, affect regulation
Burkhard Peter, München
On the history of the dissociative identity disorder in Germany: Justinus Kerner and the girl from Orlach
Hypnose-ZHH, 2007, 1(1+2), 117-132
Theme: Around 1830 the physician Justinus Kerner documented in great detail some cases of “magic-magnetic” illnesses and posessions which were not known neither in the German nor in the international literature.
Author´s point of view: They can be regarded as dissociative disorders, some of them even as dissociative identity disorders (formerly multiple personality disorders).
Conclusions: By the story of the “girl from Orlach” this historical omission shall be corrected. In doing so Justinus Kerner´s role as an influential physician of the German romantic somnambulism and as an early (hypno-) therapist for dissociative identity disorders shall be emphasized.
Keywords: Justinus Kerner, dissociative identity disorders, multiple personality disorders, romantic medicine
Peter Lembrecht, Husum
An example of a 4 Phases Model for hypnotherapy with complex disorders
Hypnose-ZHH, 2007, 1(1+2), 133-155
Thesis: The article describes the circumstances and considerations resulting in a hypnotherapeutic approach with several phases. The working title for this concept is the "4 Phases Model".
Development of the theme: It starts with a brief description of each phase. The first phase involves the establishment of a therapeutic relationship with the patient, the diagnosis (including the identification of resources) and the psychophysiological stabilization of the patient. The second phase serves to further reinforce the patient's stability. This includes improving the patient's perception of his own self-efficacy, enhancing his powers of self-healing and generally boosting his ego. These processes are based on the discovery, use and support of the patient's general resources in a state of trance. This is followed by the direct hypnotherapeutic scrutiny of the patient's individual symptoms during phase three, also taking in the functional aspects of those symptoms. Phase four then encompasses further psychodynamic aspects, including the hypnotherapeutic treatment of the causes leading to the disorder, and unconscious infantile strategies developed to deal with the problem. These aspects affect the patient's entire personality and are geared towards developing a congruent, stable personality. The article also touches briefly on the problems associated with multiple disorders. The 4 Phases Model offers a solid basis for planning and carrying out therapeutic interventions, particularly in cases of multiple disorders with stress-related somatic symptoms. The article is concluded by a complex case report demonstrating the practical application of the model.
Author's position: The ideas presented in this article were developed and implemented during the past years of my therapeutic practice. One of the essential objectives of this concept is the integration of hypnosis into predictable, well-structured psychotherapeutic measures.
Conclusion: The therapeutic method according to the 4 Phases Model has proved successful in the treatment of multiple disorders with somatic symptoms, e.g. anxiety syndromes, panic disorders, psychosomatic illnesses, chronic pain and numerous symptoms related to intense stress.
Keywords: hypnosis, hypnotherapy, stress, resource activation, symptomatic approach, psychodynamic approach
Sabine Sühnel, Berlin
Erickson: From theoretical void to theoretical framwork
Hypnose-ZHH, 2007, 2(1+2), 157-175
Major theme: Milton H. Erickson (1901-1980) is venerated as the most influential practitioner of clinical hypnosis in the 20th century. However, an emphasis on clinical application in the literature on Erickson has obscured the importance of his lifelong research on hypnotic phenomena. One result of this focus has been a limited understanding of his (implicit) theoretical framework.
Development of the theme: An analysis of Erickson's work reveals that he went beyond the hypotheses and practices of his contemporaries, transcending the then-customary clinical methods and the underlying concepts of the self and the unconscious. In spite of his therapeutic successes, however, Erickson himself did not provide an explicit theoretical framework. This lack of theory accentuated a focus on methods among his followers which stands in contrast to Erickson, who tended to deemphasize the importance of techniques relative to gaining a deeper understanding of his clients' particular frame of mind.
Author’s point of view: Two main factors have motivated me to research on Erickson’s collected works and to expound on his key assumptions about human nature, psychopathology and the healing process. First, the striking discrepancy between Erickson's approach as reflected in his writings and the interpretation given to his work by most of his followers. Second, the observation that other psychotherapists who claim to apply his techniques rarely achieve the same successful outcomes reported by Erickson.
Conclusions: An evaluation of Erickson’s contributions to the field must take into account the complete range of his clinical and experimental studies. Such an approach would reveal Erickson's significance not only within the history of hypnotherapy, but also more broadly within the history of psychology. Additionally, his collected papers provide a key to the missing link in (hypno-) therapeutic trainings; the development of an inner depth which allows the therapist to show complete presence and unconditional acceptance of clients' concerns so that they can grasp their inner realities and open up to new possibilities.
Keywords: Milton H. Erickson, hypnosis, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, trance