Page "Milton H. Erickson" Paragraph 41

Among Erickson's best-known innovations is the hypnotic handshake induction, which is a type of confusion technique.

The induction is done by the hypnotist going to shake hands with the subject, then interrupting the flow of the handshake in some way, such as by grabbing the subject's wrist instead.

If the handshake continues to develop in a way which is out-of-keeping with expectations, a simple, non-verbal trance is created, which may then be reinforced or utilized by the hypnotist.

All these responses happen naturally and automatically without telling the subject to consciously focus on an idea.