ABSTRACT
Patterns of hypnosis and strategic psychotherapy may be effectively used in the treatment of depressed clients. Hypnosis may be used symptomatically or dynamically; hypnotic strategies involving pattern interruption, reframing, metaphors, symptom substitution, age regression, dissociation, and other hypnotic patterns are described. Strategic psychotherapy approaches involving behavioral directives, symptom prescriptions, and homework assignments are also offered as means of addressing the most common dynamics associated with depression. These dynamics include an ambiguous sense of responsibility and control, and faulty attributions of blame. Contraindications for these strategic patterns are also discussed.
