The Role of Scripts in Instruction--Is Yapko Exaggerating?

Friends,

I'm re-reading Michael Yapko's Trancework in preparation for an upcoming course of study, and there's a paragraph that I really have to question.

On page 53 of the Third Edition, Yapko writes, "Many books and clinical trainings on hypnosis advocate the verbatim use of prepared scripts. ... In such approaches, if you encounter a smoker wanting to stop smoking, for example, you are encouraged to turn to a particular section of the hypnosis book and then read the anti-smoking set of suggestions to the client (after you have read the hypnosis induction script on a previous page!)"

I don't know of any training programs that actually advocate "the verbatim use of prepared scripts." I can think of only one book in my recollection that might do so.

Plenty of fine practitioners do use scripts, as springboards, inspiration, memory aids, and so on, modifying and tailoring them as needed. But I don't know of any experts (another term Yapko uses) who practice verbatim "scriptnosis."

Yet Yapko says that "many" books and trainings use that approach. I can only find three explanations for this discrepancy between his language and my experience:

(1) I just haven't encountered those many books and trainings Yapko is describing.

(2) The quality of books and trainings has improved considerably since Yapko first penned those words in the early 80s.

(3) Yapko is exaggerating to make his case stronger.

So here's my question: Has anyone here studied with a teacher who advocated the verbatim use of scripts on a regular basis--not just as training wheels, but as a daily practice with clients?

James

Favorite

0 members favorited this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 29, 2011 at 9:50am

I did email Dr. Yapko after researching whether or not my perception was accurate. I am not in the habit of simply writing to authors to express my disagreement unless I have double-checked my position; that's part of courtesy in my opinion.

My first email to him bounced, as you surely know from having read all of this thread before commenting.

I double-checked the email address with Dr. Yapko's wife, and I have re-sent the polite message. If Dr. Yapko is as generous and friendly as his reputation portrays him to be, I'm certain that his reply is forthcoming.

James

AJ said:

Now that's good reason where you might just go ahead and send a courtesy email as a reminder for him to do just that. ;-)

James Hazlerig said:

The most recent edition of his book was published in 2003. Perhaps the fourth edition will reflect this change.

AJ said:

Perhaps Yapko will reply that his book's from a different era and time when scripts were considered mainstream.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William Mitchell on December 29, 2011 at 10:37am

Dear Lonnie,

I am glad you share the methods we used with you in training!

I believe one should start with a well crafted script by an experienced and successful practitioner,then

as your competence, skill, and experience increase you learn to adapt the suggestions to each individual client.

However, good scripts are worth their weight in gold,because in areas like habit control the same issues keep popping up. As one Priest said to the other Priest after confession,"Isn't it amazing how Unoriginal, Original Sin can be!"

However,certain presenting problems may not fit with any script,such as psychotherapy for any number of problems.

However,consulting scripts on similar issues can provide good ideas for your sessions!

Best Wishes and Happy New Year,

Rev.William Mitchell

Lonnie Scott said:

We did use scripts in my training. The dependency on them was weakened a little at a time. The final day when we had a performance review, we were expected to use an induction and elicit hypnotic phenomena along the NGH depth scale all without a script anywhere in sight.

I bought my instructor's script book once we were done. A thin binder of material. A few of my books already had some examples in them. These are things I use for reminders and reference for idea generation. I've also written my own scripts and placed them in a three ring binder.

I'm sure someone can go through entire sessions without scripts, but I'm not one one of them. I don't read verbatim, but I do use sessions notes, and once in a while that includes using a personalized script for a portion. The only reason is simply so I don't forget to cover something important.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William Mitchell on December 29, 2011 at 10:39am

I have studied with Dr.Yapko and I believe he is very unhappy with many that teach hypnotism in a more non-Ericksonian manner. As you know ,just scan the Internet and scripts are everywhere.

Best Wishes Hope to see you again in Dallas!

Rev.William Mitchell

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on December 29, 2011 at 12:59pm

Certainly scripts are common. That's not the statement Dr. Yapko makes. He states that many schools and books teach the verbatim use of scripts.

I am reluctant to paraphrase his response to my email, and I do not currently have permission to post his private response to a public forum. Suffice it to say that Dr. Yapko is not planning to change any of the statements I pointed out for the fourth edition of Trancework.

William--I hope to make it to Dallas for Thursday. Unfortunately, other obligations will prevent me from attending the conference in its entirety.

James

William Mitchell said:

I have studied with Dr.Yapko and I believe he is very unhappy with many that teach hypnotism in a more non-Ericksonian manner. As you know ,just scan the Internet and scripts are everywhere.

Best Wishes Hope to see you again in Dallas!

Rev.William Mitchell