Milton H. Erickson is generally considered the leading innovator in the field of therapy. A psychiatrist who graduated from the medial school of the University of Wisconsin, he was a life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and of the American Psychopathological Association as well as president of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the founding editor of the Association's journal. The three volumes in this series present the lively discussions that took place over a period of 17 years and were recorded as part of Gregory Bateson's project on communication and therapy. Included in these conversations were John Weakland and Jay Haley who were specializing in the study of Erickson's ways of changing individuals and occasionally Gregory Bateson. The conversations presented here which were edited by Jay Haley were not conducted or recorded with any idea of publication or with an audience in mind and therefore they contain much of Erickson's personality as well as his humor.

Dr. Erickson presents many of his lively ways of doing therapy with children and presents his basic ideas about working with children and families. Sections include: Family Interview Techniques; Dealing with the Difficult Family, Ordeals of Children and Families; and more.