The author emphasizes that reality and identity are constructed by ourselves, and explains how generative trance is crucial in creating new realities and possibilities for clients. It is a view that differs markedly from the traditional hypnosis ideas of a client losing control, as well as from Ericksonian approaches that feature a benevolent hypnotist who bypasses the conscious mind to work with a client's unconscious mind. Instead, generative trance stresses a "disciplined flow" process in which a person's conscious and unconscious minds cooperate to weave a higher consciousness capable of transformational change.

The book offers a framework for developing this creative consciousness, including a step by step processes for creating it. Stephen Gilligan has been developing this work over the past thirty five years, first as a protege of the great hypnotherapist Milton Erickson, and then as the originator of the post-Ericksonian approaches of Self-Relations and Generative Self.

William James used to say that 'the unconscious mind is the horse and conscious mind is the rider: it's the relationship between the two that is most important.' This book shows you how to harness the relationship for a much more powerful and effective therapeutic intervention.