Written by Jay Haley, renowned therapist, teacher and author, this eclectic collection of articles will engage readers with its fascinating mosaic of fact, observation, anecdote, and commentary. The first chapter provides a succinct biography of this extraodinary man, describing how Erickson overcame numerous adversities in early life, and how these events shaped his development as a highly innovative thinker. Commentaries on Milton Erickson, M.D. examines the practical and theoretical aspects of Erickson's methods, including his therapeutic posture, expectation of change, emphasis on the positive, acknowledgement of more than one solution to a problem, blocking of symptomatic behavior, change in relation to the therapist, use of anectodes, and willingness to "let go" of patients. A Review of Ordeal Therapy focuses on a controversial therapeutic technique successfully used by Erickson. Haley cautions the reader, however, of the care with which this powerful technique should be exercised. A fascinating dialogue between Jay Haley and John Weakland, Remembering Erickson provides readers with irresistable anecdotes about Erickson the psychiatrist and Erickson the man. In Why Not Long?Term Therapy? the author examines this issue and its ramifications in relation to Erickson's beliefs, including the concept of charging by relief of the symptom. In a particularly fascinating article, Haley explores the many characteristics of Zen that are relevant to Ericksonian psychotherapy. The volume concludes with Typically Erickson, a paper celebrating and offering new insights into the artistry of this original thinker.
