Related Experiment Videos
Turning symptoms into allies: utilization approaches with posttraumatic symptoms
The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|January 1, 1993
Summary
This study shows how to use symptoms from childhood sexual abuse as resources for therapy. Patients learned self-utilization techniques to sustain progress in overcoming trauma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Adult patients with childhood sexual abuse trauma often present complex, treatment-resistant symptoms.
- These symptoms can manifest as multiple life difficulties, challenging experienced clinicians.
Observation:
- The author describes working with three patients whose symptoms were resistant to traditional therapies.
- In each case, symptoms were reframed and utilized as positive resources for therapeutic change.
Findings:
- Utilizing symptoms as positive resources led to successful and rapid therapeutic change.
- Patients were taught self-utilization methods to maintain and build upon initial improvements.
Implications:
- The indirect utilization principle, inspired by Milton Erickson, offers an effective approach for persistent posttraumatic symptoms.
- This method provides a novel strategy for treating complex trauma related to childhood sexual abuse.