Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.
Milton H. EricksonRead
Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual's needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Psychotherapy should be personalized for each individual rather than forcing them into a rigid theoretical framework.
Milton H. Erickson emphasizes the importance of recognizing each person's individuality in the field of psychotherapy. He argues that treatment should be customized to address the specific needs and characteristics of each client, rather than adhering strictly to generalized theories of human behavior. This approach allows for a more effective and compassionate form of therapy that respects the complexity of individual experiences.
Themes
PsychotherapyIndividualityPersonalized TreatmentHuman Behavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a therapy session, a psychologist could reference this quote to explain their individualized approach to treatment.
More from Milton H. Erickson
All quotes →The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward and honest. It hasn't got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It's rather simple, rather childish It is direct and free.
Milton H. EricksonRead
You use hypnosis not as a cure but as a means of establishing a favorable climate in which to learn.
Milton H. EricksonRead
Change will lead to insight far more often than insight will lead to change.
Milton H. EricksonRead
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