Erickson:

Look at the far upper corner of that picture.

When you first went to kindergarten, grade school,

This matter of learning letters and numerals seemed to be a big,

Insurmountable task.

To recognize the letter A,

To tell a Q from an O was very, very difficult.

And then too,

Script and print were so different.

But you learned to form a mental image of some kind.

You didn't know it at the time,

But it was a permanent mental image.

Critic:

You are using a series of very obvious truths,

Truisms,

As suggestions here.

As you speak of these early experiences,

Your words tend to evoke early memories

And may facilitate an actual age regression

In some subjects.

Erickson:

Yes.

Suggestions are always given in a form

That the patient can accept easily.

Suggestions are statements

That the patient

Cannot possibly argue with.