An Uncommon Casebook - The Complete Clinical Work of Milton H. Erickson, M. D.

For Erickson aficionados, this book is a real treat - hundreds of Erickson's published and unpublished cases compiled, organized, and summarized. Erickson was avowedly a theoretical and seldom set down precise treatment guidelines; rather, he told the stories of the many patients he had seen in therapy. Consequently, these cases are his clinical oeuvre. Now, rather than searching through dozens of books to see how Erickson treated pain or sexual problems or phobias - or any of a myriad of problems - readers can turn to the summaries of cases on the relevant topic in this Uncommon Casebook.

After each summary, they will find a brief review of presenting problem, age group, modality, problem duration, treatment length, result, follow-up, techniques, and sources. This systematic presentation will not only enable readers to track Erickson's use of particular techniques, but also encourage them to look for previously undiscovered patterns running through his work. Readers might ask if one can summarize Erickson's cases without divesting them of their magic or diluting their impact. They can be assured that, in the hands of O'Hanlon and Hexum, the cases retain their vitality and immediacy, so that each summary is a gem of clinical work. The range of clinical problems is broad, reflecting the incredible scope of Erickson's work. O'Hanlon and Hexum have grouped the cases into nine categories: habits and compulsions; physical problems and pain; sexual problems; sleeping problems; phobias and emotional problems; cognitive and communication problems; marital, family, and relationship problems; severe disturbances of behavior or cognitions; and miscellaneous problems.

This book provides a unique and rich resource for individuals interested in discovering the magic of Erickson's work and in formulating creative ways to work with particular problems in the Ericksonian style.