This is work that describes some psychotherapeutic techniques. These include a combination of hypnotic and and other methods for changing behaviors or mentalities of individuals. The author Jay Haley provides a rather thorough examination of the methodologies used by Milton Erickson in his practice. This covers beliefs, knowledge of who the patients are, and extensive discussion of therapy. The book begins with a preface in which the author explains a little bit about the subject. The type of therapy involved is mainly family therapy. The methods use include hypnosis. The first chapters cover the most essential stages of personal development. Haley shows how Erickson operates as a therapist and how he uses the problems that a patient has as the very means through which to find the solution. Adolescence and the courtship stage of life are covered extensively. Through the use of examples Haley shows how Erickson is able to use hypnosis as but one method among several to heal his patients. Erickson does not concern either himself or his patients with the causes of his client's problems. Other forms of therapy do strive to help clients to understand why they are how they are, with the belief that this will help the individual move towards healing. Erickson will make use of his awareness of what caused an individual to be in his or her current condition - but only to heal even more effectively than he would otherwise.

Halfway into the book, symptoms found in individuals are revealed to actually pertain to a dynamic that includes the extended family and their attitudes. There are even times when a therapist who is forced to treat only one member of a family ends up contributing to what amounts to "trouble." The example used is that of a young woman who had an abnormal hand tremor. This had been diagnosed as hysteria on her part and had worsened through a previous effort at treatment. It turned out that the situation was complex and that it was mainly resolved only when the young woman became pregnant. When she did, her husband switched from being supported by her after a loss of social status related to his employment, and her parents stopped tormenting her for including her husband. Her mother had been openly undermining their entire relationship, urging her daughter to ditch him and come home to mother. Knowledge of Milton Erickson's techniques are shared through exposition by the author Jay Haley and extensive notes from Milton Erickson himself. It is highly readable and ends with a quintessential note of finality. Erickson declines to take on a patient who he helped in the past, who Erickson does not believe he can help when asked to do so a second time.