Utilization Shelly Johnson Gottsegen, LICSW Hypnovations April, 2010

Utilization “ Exploring a patient’s individuality to ascertain what life learning’s, experiences, and mental skills are available to deal with the problem…(and) then utilizing these uniquely personal internal responses to achieve therapeutic goals.”

Utilization Utilization theory emphasizes the importance of using what the clinician has ascertained about the client. “These methods are based on the utilization of the subject’s own attitudes, thinking, feeling and behavior, and aspects of the reality situation, variously employed, as the essential components of the trance procedure.”(Erickson, 1980)

Utilization Utilization is based on the premise that the individual’s own unconscious is the healing and regenerative force in the treatment process.

Clinicians should focus on: The patient’s view of the problem Their goals in treatment Their ideas for change

Ascertain Dominant Sensory Modality Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Olfactory

Utilization “ Within the client is a uniquely personal theory of change waiting for discovery, a framework for intervention to be unfolded and utilized for a successful outcome.”

Application for Hypnosis Trance Observe and utilize the subject’s external body process: Breathing – rising and falling of lungs and belly Eye blinking and fluttering Swallowing –movement in throat area Facial tone – pale, red, hives etc

Observe Subject’s unique qualities

Application for Hypnosis Trance Posture, Muscle tension in various parts of the body Facial Expressions Anything observable about the body

Application for Hypnosis Trance Observe and utilize the subject’s internal body process: Breathing – slow, fast Heart rate – slow, fast Relaxing of muscle tension

Application for Hypnosis Trance Observe and utilize the mental activity: Description of experience while in trance Attention to external environment: sounds, phone ringing etc, Associations Memories Responses to suggestions and questions The use and response to Ideomotor signaling and /or touch signaling

Utilization Affirm patient’s experience, whatever it is, and weave it into the hypnosis journey. Trust in the unconscious mind’s healing and revealing potential for change.