Stephen Gilligan
Encyclopedia
Stephen G. Gilligan, Ph.D., (born December 26, 1954) is an American
author
, registered psychologist and psychotherapist. Gilligan was selected as one of the first students and developers of the work of Milton H. Erickson
, considered the founder of modern hypnotherapy. Gilligan is most well known for his work in the area of hypnosis and psychotherapy. He is also known as one of the contributors in the early development of Neuro-linguistic programming
(NLP). Gilligan has had a private practice in psychotherapy and has taught his approach to hypnosis and psychotherapy for the past 20 years.
Where Erickson emphasised hypnosis as a communication, Gilligan took this as a starting point to pioneer a field he called self-relations, which takes Erickson's viewpoint that all symptoms are communication, and considers the common "human condition" as attempting to awake, without skill or guidance. His work therefore focuses on the awakening of soul, using the concept of 'sponsorship' (the supporting of change), drawing parallels from other traditions where this is seen as essential to the awakening of the human spirit.
Stephen Gilligan lives in Encinitas California
, is married, and is a devoted student of Aikido
. He is the author of several books in this field, as well as many papers on hypnosis, hypnotherapy and the works of Erickson.
, Gilligan has become a leading teacher and practitioner in the field of Ericksonian hypnotherapy. Motivated by his experiences as a therapist, a teacher, and by his own quest, he developed a new practice of radical awakening incorporating Ericksonian psychotherapy, Aikido
, Buddhism
, meditation
, and the performance arts.
His work, known as Self-relations Psychotherapy, reconnects mind-body processes and encourages and supports radical change. The cornerstone of Self-Relations Psychotherapy is the understandings and processes of Sponsorship.
The enthusiastic acceptance of Sponsorship and Self-Sponsorship as approaches to therapy and personal change, along with his profoundly soul-touching presentation style, has led to speaking tours, workshops, and numerous Sponsorship groups throughout North America and Europe.
An abuse survivor himself, Gilligan has consistently emphasized and demonstrated the generative nature of mental process in each person's life. His most recent book, "The Courage to Love: A Self-Relations Approach to Psychotherapy" (1997), examines the relation of Erickson's legacy to aikido, Buddhism and nonviolence. It emphasizes love as a skill and a courage that may be cultivated and used to transform the many faces of violence and negative thinking that surround unhappiness and suffering. His book "Therapeutic Trances: The Cooperation Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy", is considered one of the classics in the field.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, registered psychologist and psychotherapist. Gilligan was selected as one of the first students and developers of the work of Milton H. Erickson
Milton H. Erickson
Milton Hyland Erickson, was an American psychiatrist specializing in medical hypnosis and family therapy...
, considered the founder of modern hypnotherapy. Gilligan is most well known for his work in the area of hypnosis and psychotherapy. He is also known as one of the contributors in the early development of Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
(NLP). Gilligan has had a private practice in psychotherapy and has taught his approach to hypnosis and psychotherapy for the past 20 years.
Where Erickson emphasised hypnosis as a communication, Gilligan took this as a starting point to pioneer a field he called self-relations, which takes Erickson's viewpoint that all symptoms are communication, and considers the common "human condition" as attempting to awake, without skill or guidance. His work therefore focuses on the awakening of soul, using the concept of 'sponsorship' (the supporting of change), drawing parallels from other traditions where this is seen as essential to the awakening of the human spirit.
Stephen Gilligan lives in Encinitas California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, is married, and is a devoted student of Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
. He is the author of several books in this field, as well as many papers on hypnosis, hypnotherapy and the works of Erickson.
Detail
After receiving his doctorate in Psychology from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Gilligan has become a leading teacher and practitioner in the field of Ericksonian hypnotherapy. Motivated by his experiences as a therapist, a teacher, and by his own quest, he developed a new practice of radical awakening incorporating Ericksonian psychotherapy, Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, and the performance arts.
His work, known as Self-relations Psychotherapy, reconnects mind-body processes and encourages and supports radical change. The cornerstone of Self-Relations Psychotherapy is the understandings and processes of Sponsorship.
The enthusiastic acceptance of Sponsorship and Self-Sponsorship as approaches to therapy and personal change, along with his profoundly soul-touching presentation style, has led to speaking tours, workshops, and numerous Sponsorship groups throughout North America and Europe.
An abuse survivor himself, Gilligan has consistently emphasized and demonstrated the generative nature of mental process in each person's life. His most recent book, "The Courage to Love: A Self-Relations Approach to Psychotherapy" (1997), examines the relation of Erickson's legacy to aikido, Buddhism and nonviolence. It emphasizes love as a skill and a courage that may be cultivated and used to transform the many faces of violence and negative thinking that surround unhappiness and suffering. His book "Therapeutic Trances: The Cooperation Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy", is considered one of the classics in the field.
Publications
- Therapeutic Trances: The Cooperation Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy -- (Stephen G. Gilligan, 1987)
- Brief Therapy: Myths, Methods, And Metaphors (Ed. with Jeffrey K. ZeigJeffrey K. ZeigJeffrey K. Zeig , is a writer on psychotherapy and show man. He has edited, co-edited, authored or coauthored more than 20 books on psychotherapy that appear in eleven foreign languages. He organises several conferences on psychotherapy, and is the founder and director of the Milton H...
) - Therapeutic Conversations (Ed. with R. Price, 1993)
- The Courage to Love: Principles and Practices of Self-Relations Psychotherapy (Stephen G. Gilligan, 1997)
- The Legacy of Milton H. Erickson: Selected Papers of Stephen Gilligan (Stephen G. Gilligan, 2002)
- Walking in Two Worlds: The Relational Self in Theory, Practice, and Community (Stephen Gilligan and Dvorah Simon, 2004)
- The Hero's Journey: A Voyage of Self Discovery (Stephen Gilligan and Robert Dilts, 2009)