Therapists > Dr. Eric Greenleaf

Dr. Eric Greenleaf

Dr. Greenleaf

Director and founder of the Milton H. Erickson Institute of the Bay Area, Eric Greenleaf, Ph.D., has treated with, trained, presented and written about hypnotherapy for forty years. His book, The Problem of Evil: Ancient Dilemmas and Modern Therapy, appeared in 2000. Dr. Greenleaf's unique style and extensive background in the use of hypnosis as an aid for enhancing lives and overcoming obstacles is truly something that must be experienced in order to be understood.

Dr. Greenleaf's subtle use of metaphors and everyday language in his practice and training has touched thousands of people throughout the years. One of Dr. Greenleaf's specialties is facilitating communication between the conscious and unconscious mind - enabling people to use more of themselves in their everyday lives.

Most licensed psychologists recognize Dr. Greenleaf as one of the premiere hypnosis trainers in the world. Dr. Erickson chose Eric to receive the first Milton H. Erickson Award of Scientific Excellence for Writing in Hypnosis. Eric practices in Albany, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Products by Dr. Greenleaf

Preparing for Uncertainty - step out into the unknown without fear
The Hypnosis Experience - access the resources of your unconscious mind

Education and Professional Details

EDUCATION

• New York University: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, 1968.
• University of Chicago: University Fellow, Committee on Human Development, 1962-64.
• Wesleyan University: B.A. with Honors, Distinction in Social Studies, Speaker For CSS, 1962.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

• 1970-present: Private practice of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy with individuals, couples and groups. Consultation to psychotherapists and institutions.
• 1970: Licensed in California as Clinical Psychologist, PSY3357.
• 1968-71: Psychologist, Permanente Medical Group, Vallejo, CA.
• 1965-68: Psychology Trainee, V.A. hospitals: Brooklyn, N.Y. and Martinez, CA.

SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• 2008 Master Class in Advanced Ericksonian Techniques, GEAMH Colloque International Paris, France.
• 1994-2007: Invited Faculty, 6th - 10th International Congresses on Ericksonian Approaches. Phoenix, AZ.
• 2005: Invited Faculty, IV European Congress of Ericksonian Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Krakow, Poland.
• 1992: Faculty, 5th Int'l. Congress on Ericksonian Approaches to Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Phoenix, AZ.
• 1988-2003: "Hypnosis for Psychotherapists." [BBSE-approved hypnosis education for MFCC counselors.1988-95]
• 1968: "Student-Faculty Seminars in Clinical Hypnosis," at University of California, Berkeley.

SELECTED CONSULTATION AND ADVISORY EXPERIENCE

• 2008-present: Case Reports Editor, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter.
• 2003-09: Vice Chairperson, Board of Directors, New Bridge Foundation, Berkeley, CA.
• 1994- present: Founding Board of Directors, Milton H. Erickson Institute of the Bay Area.
• 1996-98: Consultant to Chronic Pain Management Clinic, Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco, CA.
• 1992-93: Secretary, Northern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
• 1987-92: Consultant in Hypnotherapy, Psychiatry: Permanente Medical Group, various facilities, CA.
• 1979-81: Advisory Board, American Association for the Study of Mental Imagery.

AWARDS

• Milton H. Erickson Award of Scientific Excellence for Writing in Hypnosis: First Award, 1970.
• Creative Talent Award of the American Institutes for Research: Honorable Mention, 1967-68 Program.
• Founders' Day Award, New York University, 1968.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• The Problem of Evil: Ancient Dilemmas and Modern Therapy, Phoenix: Zeig, Tucker, Theisen, 2000.

ARTICLES

• "A Trail of Happiness," in Erickson, B.A. and Keeney, B., Milton H. Erickson, M.D., An American Healer, Ringing Rocks Press, 2006, pp. 334-7.
• "Transference/Countertransference," in Geary, B.B. and Zeig, J.K.(eds.) The Handbook of Ericksonian Psychotherapy, Phoenix: The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Press, 2001.
• Locus and Communication," Journal of Systemic Therapies, 16, #2, 145-158, 1997.
• "Solving the 'Unknown Problem'," in Hoyt, M.F. (ed.), Constructive Therapies, New York: Guilford, 1994.
• "On the Social Nature of the Unconscious Mind: Pearson's Brick, Wood's Break and Greenleaf's Blow," in (Lankton, S.R. and Zeig, J.K., eds.), Ericksonian Monographs Number 10: Difficult Contexts for Therapy, New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1994.
• "Case Report: Isabel," in The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter, 13, #3, 1993.
• "Suggestions to Facilitate Revivification," in Hammond, D.C., (ed.) Handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions and Metaphors, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1990."
• "What to Do When a Patient Falls Asleep in Hypnosis," in Zilbergeld, B., Edelstien, M.G. and Araoz, D.L.,(eds.) Hypnosis Questions and Answers. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1986.
• "Conjoint Hypnotherapy with an Imagined Co-therapist," in Zeig, J.K., Ericksonian Psychotherapy Volume II: Clinical Applications. New York:Brunner/Mazel, 1985.
• "Active Imagining," in Singer, J.L. and Pope, K. (eds.) The Power of Human Imagination: New Techniques of Psychotherapy. New York: Plenum, 1978.
• "The Unconscious-Mind Mirror in Active Imagination," Psychotherapy 12, #2, 202-206, 1975.
• "Defining Hypnosis During Hypnotherapy," Int'l. J. of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 22, #2, 120-130, 1974.
• "Senoi Dream Groups," Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, 10, #3, 218-222, 1973.
• "The Red House: Hypnotherapy of Hysterical Blindness," Amer. J. of Clinical Hypnosis, 13, #3, 155-161, 1971.
• "Developmental-Stage Regression Through Hypnosis," Amer. J. of Clinical Hypnosis, 12 #1, 20-36, 1969 .

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS

• "Trance Possession and Ritual," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, LMFT & Luh Ketut Suryani, MD, PhD. Bali, Indonesia: March 16-April 1, 2009.
• "Ericksonian Approaches to Cancer and Surgery," GEAMH Colloque International Francophone, Paris, France, November 29, 2008.
• "Understanding and Utilizing Ericksonian Hypnosis," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, MFT. Institut Milton H. Erickson de Rennes-Bretagne,Rennes, France, February 9-10, 2007.
• "Natural Trances, Difficult Cases," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, MFT. Instituto Erickson Madrid, Madrid,Spain, November 26-27, 2005.
• "Natural Images As Hypnotherapeutic Scripts,": IV European Congress of Ericksonian Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Krakow, Poland, June 22-26, 2005.
• "Serial Trance With Difficult Cases," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, MFT, 2005:IV European Congress of Ericksonian Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Krakow, Poland, June 22-26, 2005.
• "Emotional-Physical Pain Management," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, LMFT, Wigry, Poland, June 25, 1998.
• "Too Much Pleasure / Too Much Pain," Edinburgh, Scotland, June 21, 1997; London, England, June 28, 1997.
• "'Something Is Seen': A Hypnotherapy of Alien Abduction Survivors," Kaunas, Lithuania, June 6, 1997.
• "Solving the Unknown Problem: Dreams and Symbols in Psychotherapy," Lodz, Poland, May 24-25, 1996.
• "The Unconscious Mind in Ericksonian Psychotherapy," London, England, May 4, 1996.
• "The Oneiric Therapies." The Skyros Institute, Skyros, Greece. July 14-27, 1990.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

• "Stress and Self-Care" at Early Childhood Mental Health Program, Richmond, CA. October, 2009.
• "Balinese Healing of the Visible and Invisible Worlds," at The Poetry Center, SF State Univ. March, 2008.
• "Ericksonian Responses to Cancer," at Grand Rounds, Kaiser, S. San Francisco, CA. September, 2007.
• "Milton Erickson,Hypnotic Psychotherapy and Healing," with Betty Alice Erickson, LPC, MFT, at Paris Society for Psychology and Medicine, Paris, France. February, 2007.
• "Now What? Envisioning the Unconscious," at Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, April 2006.
• "The Unconscious After Freud," at American University of Paris, Paris, France, December, 2005.
• "Advanced Supervision of Difficult Cases," at The Polish Erickson Institute, Krakow, Poland. June, 2003.
• "Interior and Social Iconography," at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Rafael, CA. January, 2002.
• "The Unconscious in Brief Therapy " at APA Convention, San Francisco, CA, August, 2001. [with Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD & Ernest L. Rossi, PhD.]
• "A Hypnotherapy of Alien Abduction Survivors," at 7th Erickson Congress. Phoenix, AZ, December, 1999.
• "Imagery, Trance and Immunity: What May Help," at Environmental Health Network, San Rafael, CA, May, 1998.
• "A Simple-Hearted Way With Dreams," at Nova SE University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, May, 1997.
• "Balinese Trance Healing and Ceremonies as Family Interventions," at 6th.International Congress on Ericksonian Approaches, Los Angeles, CA, December, 1994. [with Harriet Hollander, PhD.]
• "Dreams: Strolling the Royal Road," at 6thErickson Congress, L.A., CA, December, 1994. [videotape]
• "Solving the Unknown Problem" Keynote Address at the SF Academy of Hypnosis, SF, CA, March, 1991.
• "Hypnotherapy of Multiple Personality," at Permanente Medical Group, Vallejo, CA. February , 1987.
• "What is Therapeutic About Hypnotherapy?" at Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, SF, CA Dec.,1970.

Professional Experience

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, private practice of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. Albany, CA.
• Hypnotherapy training for licensed professionals.
• Invited Faculty, 5th-9th International Congresses on Ericksonian Approaches to Hypnosis and Psychotherapy.

PREVIOUS CONSULTATION

• Chronic Pain Management Clinic, Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco, CA.
• Secretary, Northern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
• Consultant in Hypnotherapy, Psychiatry: Permanente Medical Group: Hayward, Martinez and S. San Francisco, CA.
• The Divorce Clinic, Oakland, CA.
• Advisory Board, American Association for the Study of Mental Imagery.

Products by Dr. Greenleaf

Preparing for Uncertainty - step out into the unknown without fear
The Hypnosis Experience - access the resources of your unconscious mind