Milton H. Erickson, MD was a remarkably creative individual and an important transition figure in the history of hypnosis. Traditional hypnosis is usually understood to mean that a hypnotherapist helps a person achieve a state of deep rapport within themselves as well as the doctor so that more effective communication can take place between them. The doctor then uses direct suggestions to heal the patient or facilitate problem solving. While Erickson certainly used this direct authoritative approach he was also a genius in what we called The Naturalistic or Utilization Approach wherein there is a greater focus on helping each individual patient find their own talents for problem solving and healing in their own unique manner.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy emphasizes and facilitates the patient s own creative processes.
While there is still controversy on this question, many years ago in 1932, Erickson published his first scientific paper on hypnosis dealing with this issue. He found that it is not really possible to consistently manipulate another person s behavior against their will. However, I believe there are evil geniuses who at some time and some place could probably manipulate some types of people against their will at least for a short while. Thus we must be ever vigilant against the use of hypnosis by the wrong people who are not trained ethically and professionally. Hypnotherapists like to believe they have special skills in observing people and helping them achieve their optimal states of consciousness for realizing their highest potentials.