Modern psychotherapy is constantly evolving. It began and grew popular with Freud in Europe circa 1885. Psychotherapists were interested in a medical view of things. Trying to understand why things take place in the human mind. And from that find a solution from the root (like an Antibiotic). Figures like Adler, Freud, and Jung all focused on understanding cause and effect. Questioning the root cause of a particular behavior.
Since then there have been many approaches to psychiatry. There is no 'correct' way to approach the problem or to define the problem. What should the focus be? Is it the history of the patient? Is it the symptom? Should they focus on solutions and growth?
Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, and some therapists focused on helping people find meaning in their lives.
Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls developed humanistic approaches, viewing therapy as a growth-oriented experience rather than problem-solving.
Some started looking into family systems and patterns of relationships. Some spoke about Positivity and Negativity. Trying to change people's perceptions towards Positive thoughts. More recently we created a neurobiological approach that focuses on chemical changes in our brain. How can we alter those to change our moods and behavior?
While the European psychiatrists worked on answering these questions, Americans had a focus on practicality. They were asking what should we do. What should we change? How can we recondition people?
Milton H. Erickson had an understanding that went much beyond the conventional approach of his time. The conventional wisdom was focused on understanding the why and then prescribing a fix for it. What Milton observed was that understanding 'Why' was not important.
Rather than debating with the others of his time, he branched off on his own. With a deep understanding of things through personal experience. This is what he called Experiential Psychotherapy — he understood that humans could grasp concepts through lived experiences. He realized that change can only take place through direct experience.
Based on this he created strategic approaches to his therapy. Since then many have gone on to integrate his approaches with many other techniques. To create a therapeutic experience rather than just talk about the problem. Practitioners like Ernest Rossi and Dan Siegel, have connected therapeutic approaches with neurobiology as well.
Understanding this historical context helps us understand where psychotherapy has been and, where it might go next.
We continue to develop new approaches and understanding, Erickson's legacy reminds us to question our approach to things. To ask questions that we might be afraid of asking. To trust our subconscious.