This article was downloaded by: [Carnegie Mellon University] On: 24 January 2015, At: 03:10 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujhy20
Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory Amos Selavan Ph.D.
a
a
Torrance State Hospital , Torrance, Pa., USA Published online: 20 Sep 2011.
To cite this article: Amos Selavan Ph.D. (1975) Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 17:4, 260-262, DOI: 10.1080/00029157.1975.10403753 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00029157.1975.10403753
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/ page/terms-and-conditions
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
Volume 17, Number 4, April 1975 Printed in U.S.A.
Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory
Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 03:10 24 January 2015
AMOS SELAVAN, Ph.D. Torrance State Hospital Torrance, Pa.
The intention of this paper is to point out that hypnosis and Transactional Analysis can be integrated into one overall therapeutic endeavor. Through hypnosis the patient can be in touch with his Child ego state as T.A. sees it. He may then re-experience critical moments in his life that affected his present behavior. Re-experiencing these events gives the patient power over his situation and opens the possibility for him to make a re-decision in his Adult, and by this to change an unsatisfactory course of behavior.
My intention in this paper is to show that hypnosis is a valuable mode of psychiatric treatment for the Transactional Analysis practitioner and theorist. Transactional Anal ysis (T. A.) theory divides the person into three ego states called Parent (P), Adult (A), and Child (C). The person may behave and feel in three different ways. The Parent, according to T.A., acts and feels in the way the person's mother and father or whoever raised him did. The Adult part of the person is the rational part that makes decisions based on facts, who tests reality and takes account of probabilities rather than feelings and prejudices. The Child in the person is that part of the person that acts and feels the way the person did as a child. In the Child ego state the person is imaginative, creative, hateful, loving, impulsive and spontaneous. At any given moment the person, in his interactions with others, functions from one of the ego states. In T.A. one unit of communication between two people is called a transaction (e.g., A to B, "Hello!"; B to A, "How are you?"). There are different kinds of transactions between people. For the purpose of this paper only one kind of transaction will be discussed - complementary. Two examples out of many
possibilities are given to illustrate complementary transactions. In transaction I, A, from the C ego state says to B's P ego state, "I'm frightened." B from the P ego state, protective and comforting, says to A's C ego state, "Everything will be all right. I'm here with you." In transaction II, A from the A ego state, seeking information, asks B, "What time is it?" B, similarly from the A ego state gives the information, "It's five o'clock." In complementary transactions the communication is between one ego state and another along parallel lines. How can hypnosis be viewed from this framework? Gill and Brenman (1959) see hypnosis as a process whereby the person regresses to more archaic behaviors and states of feelings in the service of the ego. Thus, hypnosis is a state of altered ego functioning. Erickson (1967) sees the therapist in a supportive permissive role, using permission and protection to encourage and persuade the patient to take a stand and change. Thus, in hypnosis, the patient functions from the Child ego state, while the therapist functions from the Parent ego state. The transactions are complementary. In T .A. treatment as in hypnotherapy, the
260
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HYPNOSIS AND TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
therapist and the client are both coming for the purpose of achieving behavior change on the part of the client. To achieve this T. A. utilizes the key concept of contract. The T. A. therapist establishes a contract with the client, by mutual consent, in which the latter agrees to change in specified observable ways. For example, the client agrees to rid himself of a fear, phobia, or overweight. From T.A. perspective, to use hypnosis to achieve the objectives the following conditions have to be met: (a) a clear contract between the two Adult ego states of therapist and client has to be drawn up; (b) the specific gains to be achieved through hypnosis have to be integrated into the overall treatment. Thus, the client will know exactly what
he agrees to achieve through hypnosis and will commit himself prior to hypnosis proper to change in specified ways. This procedure, or contract, will insure the probability for both parties that hypnosis will be used properly. It gives additional assurance to the client that not only. is he dealing with a competent, potent therapist, but he has a kind of legal protection so that as long as he cooperates the outcome is predictable. This contract may initially limit the range of possible changes that could be achieved by hypnosis. Namely, any new data discovered through hypnosis will have to wait to be discussed with the patient in a waking state before it is utilized for a source of 'further change. For the T.A. therapist, a new contract would have to be
n
I A
B
A
Fig. 1. Schematic Transactional Transactions.
B
Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 03:10 24 January 2015
262
drawn to utilize the new data, rather than taking advantage of the suggestible state of mind that the client is in to achieve new changes. From the T.A. point of view, the Adult ego state is crucial in sustaining behavioral changes. This consent from the Adult is necessary prior to changes achieved in the Child ego state during hypnosis. The T.A. therapist may utilize hypnosis as a direct and effective short cut to cathect the Child ego state of the client when he feels it will be appropriate, as in overcoming Parental influences that may give negative messages that are obstacles to change. For example,when a person carries with him messages from his parents that are a part of his. Parent ego state that he is "ugly" or "no good," he may become obese as one way of living up to these parental expectations. Through hypnosis the therapist relates to the client in a warm, permissive atmosphere, and thus the client is involved in a corrective experience (Alexander & French, 1946), where, with the permission and protection of the therapist, he is willing to change his self concept (including his body image) by agreeing to learn new eating habits that would facilitate weight reduction. First, the therapist.
SELAVAN
and the client will draw up an Adult to Adult contract and then, temporarily and voluntarily, the client and therapist will enter into the hypnotic relationship to effect the change. Thus, hypnotherapy can be integrated into overall. Transactional Analysis treatment as an effective method to cathect the Child ego state for the purpose of behavioral changes. It is essential from this perspective that prior to entering into the hypnotic relationship a clear contract be drawn up stating the objectives and the limited specified outcome to be expected from this procedure. Whether there is temporary or enduring change as a result of the hypnosis proper will depend a great deal on the client's Adult ego state social control to sustain the immediate gains and his continued treatment relationship with the therapist. REFERENCES ALEXANDER, F. & FRENCH, T.M. Psychoanalysis therapy, New York: Ronald Press, 1946. ERICKSON, M. H. Automatic drawing in the treatment of an obsessional depression. In J. Haley (Ed.) Advanced Techniques of Hypnosis and Therapy: Selected papers of Milton H. Erickson. New York: Grime & Stratton, 1967. p. 339. GILL, M. N. & BRE!'!MAN, M. Hypnosis and Related States, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1959.
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujhy20
Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory Amos Selavan Ph.D.
a
a
Torrance State Hospital , Torrance, Pa., USA Published online: 20 Sep 2011.
To cite this article: Amos Selavan Ph.D. (1975) Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 17:4, 260-262, DOI: 10.1080/00029157.1975.10403753 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00029157.1975.10403753
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/ page/terms-and-conditions
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
Volume 17, Number 4, April 1975 Printed in U.S.A.
Hypnosis and Transactional Analysis Theory
Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 03:10 24 January 2015
AMOS SELAVAN, Ph.D. Torrance State Hospital Torrance, Pa.
The intention of this paper is to point out that hypnosis and Transactional Analysis can be integrated into one overall therapeutic endeavor. Through hypnosis the patient can be in touch with his Child ego state as T.A. sees it. He may then re-experience critical moments in his life that affected his present behavior. Re-experiencing these events gives the patient power over his situation and opens the possibility for him to make a re-decision in his Adult, and by this to change an unsatisfactory course of behavior.
My intention in this paper is to show that hypnosis is a valuable mode of psychiatric treatment for the Transactional Analysis practitioner and theorist. Transactional Anal ysis (T. A.) theory divides the person into three ego states called Parent (P), Adult (A), and Child (C). The person may behave and feel in three different ways. The Parent, according to T.A., acts and feels in the way the person's mother and father or whoever raised him did. The Adult part of the person is the rational part that makes decisions based on facts, who tests reality and takes account of probabilities rather than feelings and prejudices. The Child in the person is that part of the person that acts and feels the way the person did as a child. In the Child ego state the person is imaginative, creative, hateful, loving, impulsive and spontaneous. At any given moment the person, in his interactions with others, functions from one of the ego states. In T.A. one unit of communication between two people is called a transaction (e.g., A to B, "Hello!"; B to A, "How are you?"). There are different kinds of transactions between people. For the purpose of this paper only one kind of transaction will be discussed - complementary. Two examples out of many
possibilities are given to illustrate complementary transactions. In transaction I, A, from the C ego state says to B's P ego state, "I'm frightened." B from the P ego state, protective and comforting, says to A's C ego state, "Everything will be all right. I'm here with you." In transaction II, A from the A ego state, seeking information, asks B, "What time is it?" B, similarly from the A ego state gives the information, "It's five o'clock." In complementary transactions the communication is between one ego state and another along parallel lines. How can hypnosis be viewed from this framework? Gill and Brenman (1959) see hypnosis as a process whereby the person regresses to more archaic behaviors and states of feelings in the service of the ego. Thus, hypnosis is a state of altered ego functioning. Erickson (1967) sees the therapist in a supportive permissive role, using permission and protection to encourage and persuade the patient to take a stand and change. Thus, in hypnosis, the patient functions from the Child ego state, while the therapist functions from the Parent ego state. The transactions are complementary. In T .A. treatment as in hypnotherapy, the
260
261
Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 03:10 24 January 2015
HYPNOSIS AND TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
therapist and the client are both coming for the purpose of achieving behavior change on the part of the client. To achieve this T. A. utilizes the key concept of contract. The T. A. therapist establishes a contract with the client, by mutual consent, in which the latter agrees to change in specified observable ways. For example, the client agrees to rid himself of a fear, phobia, or overweight. From T.A. perspective, to use hypnosis to achieve the objectives the following conditions have to be met: (a) a clear contract between the two Adult ego states of therapist and client has to be drawn up; (b) the specific gains to be achieved through hypnosis have to be integrated into the overall treatment. Thus, the client will know exactly what
he agrees to achieve through hypnosis and will commit himself prior to hypnosis proper to change in specified ways. This procedure, or contract, will insure the probability for both parties that hypnosis will be used properly. It gives additional assurance to the client that not only. is he dealing with a competent, potent therapist, but he has a kind of legal protection so that as long as he cooperates the outcome is predictable. This contract may initially limit the range of possible changes that could be achieved by hypnosis. Namely, any new data discovered through hypnosis will have to wait to be discussed with the patient in a waking state before it is utilized for a source of 'further change. For the T.A. therapist, a new contract would have to be
n
I A
B
A
Fig. 1. Schematic Transactional Transactions.
B
Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 03:10 24 January 2015
262
drawn to utilize the new data, rather than taking advantage of the suggestible state of mind that the client is in to achieve new changes. From the T.A. point of view, the Adult ego state is crucial in sustaining behavioral changes. This consent from the Adult is necessary prior to changes achieved in the Child ego state during hypnosis. The T.A. therapist may utilize hypnosis as a direct and effective short cut to cathect the Child ego state of the client when he feels it will be appropriate, as in overcoming Parental influences that may give negative messages that are obstacles to change. For example,when a person carries with him messages from his parents that are a part of his. Parent ego state that he is "ugly" or "no good," he may become obese as one way of living up to these parental expectations. Through hypnosis the therapist relates to the client in a warm, permissive atmosphere, and thus the client is involved in a corrective experience (Alexander & French, 1946), where, with the permission and protection of the therapist, he is willing to change his self concept (including his body image) by agreeing to learn new eating habits that would facilitate weight reduction. First, the therapist.
SELAVAN
and the client will draw up an Adult to Adult contract and then, temporarily and voluntarily, the client and therapist will enter into the hypnotic relationship to effect the change. Thus, hypnotherapy can be integrated into overall. Transactional Analysis treatment as an effective method to cathect the Child ego state for the purpose of behavioral changes. It is essential from this perspective that prior to entering into the hypnotic relationship a clear contract be drawn up stating the objectives and the limited specified outcome to be expected from this procedure. Whether there is temporary or enduring change as a result of the hypnosis proper will depend a great deal on the client's Adult ego state social control to sustain the immediate gains and his continued treatment relationship with the therapist. REFERENCES ALEXANDER, F. & FRENCH, T.M. Psychoanalysis therapy, New York: Ronald Press, 1946. ERICKSON, M. H. Automatic drawing in the treatment of an obsessional depression. In J. Haley (Ed.) Advanced Techniques of Hypnosis and Therapy: Selected papers of Milton H. Erickson. New York: Grime & Stratton, 1967. p. 339. GILL, M. N. & BRE!'!MAN, M. Hypnosis and Related States, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1959.
