Brief Therapy with Hypnosis

This article by Rubin Battino explores the use of "exorcism" as a therapeutic metaphor in brief therapy sessions that involve hypnosis. The concept of exorcism, typically associated with religious rituals to expel evil spirits, is adapted here as a symbolic tool to help clients externalize and eliminate negative behaviors, habits, or psychological entities controlling their lives. Battino describes the process, which involves guiding clients to identify a controlling entity and a safe haven within their mind. The therapist facilitates the process by allowing the client to name the entity and the force that will exorcise it, utilizing a hypnosis session to lead the client through the symbolic removal of this entity. The article includes a case study transcript, demonstrating how the method works in practice, and emphasizes the importance of using personalized symbols and safe spaces during the session. Battino asserts that this unconventional yet effective approach can help clients view their issues from a different perspective and achieve lasting change.

  • Understand the concept of using exorcism as a metaphor in therapeutic hypnosis.

  • Recognize the role of externalizing problems in psychotherapy, as emphasized in Narrative Therapy.

  • Learn how to guide a client in identifying a controlling entity and a safe haven during a therapy session.

  • Explore the use of personalized symbols and metaphors in facilitating psychological change.

  • Analyze the therapeutic process of "exorcism" through a case study example provided in the article.

  • Evaluate the potential effectiveness of unconventional therapeutic approaches in brief therapy contexts.

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