Chapter 6, Part 2 Summary and Analysis

The next case was about how the therapist helped a mother to re-establish her authority with her son. The psychiatrist was involved only after an 8-year-old boy's behavioral problems seemed to be insurmountable. Erickson met both the mother and the son and then met with each one individually until a plan was devised. The boy has become a terror. The therapist prescribes a specific course of action. With his direction and his assurance that her son is not being put in danger from doing so, the mother spends an entire day sitting on her son.

So far, it has been shown that Erickson makes unique arrangements with each of his clients. A great part of the therapist's role is to supply needed control over one or more people in a temporary manner to facilitate a cure or other effective...