Psychoanalysts that continued using hypnosis

 Some psychoanalysts who retained hypnosis did indeed use suggestion as part of their therapeutic approach. While Freud and others distanced themselves from hypnosis, figures like Sándor Ferenczi and Otto Rank continued to use it, particularly when working with trauma and difficult cases. 

1. Sándor Ferenczi (1873–1933) – Hypnosis and “Active Therapy”

Ferenczi was one of Freud’s closest collaborators, but he developed his own therapeutic techniques, including the continued use of hypnosis and suggestion:

Use of Hypnosis:

Ferenczi believed hypnosis was valuable, especially for patients with early childhood trauma or those resistant to free association. He used it to access deeply repressed memories that were difficult to reach through traditional psychoanalytic methods.

Use of Suggestion:

He practiced “active therapy,” which included direct suggestion to help patients confront difficult emotional truths. For example, he might suggest that a patient revisit traumatic experiences or encourage them to let go of certain defensive behaviors.

Example Technique:

In cases of childhood abuse, Ferenczi might use hypnotic suggestion to create a safe emotional environment, allowing patients to access and process painful memories while feeling protected.

Ferenczi believed that combining hypnosis and suggestion could speed up the therapeutic process and offer relief where traditional psychoanalysis fell short.

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2. Otto Rank (1884–1939) – Hypnosis and Birth Trauma Theory

Rank was another early psychoanalyst who never fully abandoned hypnosis. He integrated it into his theories on birth trauma and separation anxiety.

Use of Hypnosis:

Rank viewed hypnosis as a tool for revisiting early life experiences, particularly the trauma associated with birth. He believed hypnosis allowed patients to relive and resolve unconscious conflicts stemming from the early mother-child relationship.

Use of Suggestion:

Rank used positive suggestions during hypnosis to help patients process anxiety and separation fears. For example, he might suggest feelings of safety and autonomy while guiding the patient through imagined scenarios linked to early distress.

Example Technique:

If a patient struggled with feelings of abandonment, Rank might use suggestive hypnosis to help them reframe these experiences—offering reassurance and helping them develop a new emotional narrative.

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3. Emile Coué (1857–1926) – The Power of Autosuggestion

Though not a strict psychoanalyst, Coué’s work on autosuggestion greatly influenced those who continued using suggestive techniques:

His Method:

Coué developed a system where patients repeated positive suggestions to themselves (e.g., “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better”). His ideas aligned with psychoanalysts like Ferenczi, who believed in actively shaping the unconscious through repetition and reinforcement.

Influence on Psychoanalysts:

Ferenczi and others adapted Coué’s autosuggestion techniques to reinforce positive changes during and after hypnotic sessions. This method became especially useful for treating anxiety, phobias, and trauma.

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4. Georg Groddeck (1866–1934) – The “It” and Suggestion

Groddeck was a psychoanalyst who believed the unconscious (which he called the “It”) governed much of human behavior. He combined psychoanalysis with hypnosis and suggestion in a unique way.

Use of Hypnosis:

Groddeck used hypnotic regression to help patients access early life experiences. He felt that hypnosis could bypass the patient’s defenses and bring unconscious material to the surface.

Use of Suggestion:

He was a firm believer in healing through suggestion, often using it to reframe patients’ perceptions of illness. He suggested that physical symptoms often had a psychological cause and could be alleviated through mental suggestion.

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Why Did They Keep Using Hypnosis and Suggestion?

1. Access to Deep Unconscious Material – They believed hypnosis could reach memories and conflicts that free association alone could not.

2. Therapeutic Speed – Hypnosis combined with suggestion often accelerated the therapeutic process, especially in trauma cases.

3. Emotional Reassurance – Suggestion provided emotional support and helped reshape negative beliefs.

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Conclusion:

Psychoanalysts like Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Rank, Georg Groddeck, and others retained hypnosis and suggestion as part of their therapeutic toolkit. They believed these techniques could access deep-seated trauma, foster emotional healing, and offer relief where traditional psychoanalysis fell short. Their work laid the foundation for modern hypnotherapy and suggestive psychotherapy.