ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies Milton Erickson’s values which were an essential part of his therapeutic approach. Erickson’s values came from his observations of the uniqueness of each individual. His experience taught him to resist generalizations, stereotypes and labels, and to refuse to put individuals into categories or boxes. For him the differences among people were as important as the similarities. In addition to his refusal to categorized individuals, this chapter discusses Erickson’s sense of optimism, his view of the wisdom of the unconscious, his high valuation of imagination, protecting the patient, religion, understanding individual limitations, and a host of other essential topics.
