NLP Metaphors: 3 Erickson Techniques
Milton Erickson was a master at hypnotherapy because he was not a typical hypnotist who has a watch swinging back and forth in front of your face. You would walk into his office and he would start telling what would seem to be a very innocent story and before you know you were in a hypnotic trance. Here are three of his favorite metaphor techniques.
Isomorphic Metaphors
The first technique is to use isomorphic metaphors. The uses story telling to tell a tale where someone in the story overcomes a problem, seemingly different than the subject’s problem, but in the story the patient finds a way to overcome the problem on their own.
Embedded Command
In this technique a story is also told, except the situation the person faces in the story is more similar to the patients’ problem and there are actually more direct commands to the patient.
Instruction Technique
In this technique the patient is directed through a recalling of a how he overcame problems in the past and how that could relate to solving this problem.
NLP metaphors are based on Erickson metaphors. While many people discount story telling, it can be used very powerfully. Just look at the use of story telling by the major religious figures in the world.
