Treating children and teenagers’ problems
with hypnotherapy

Children have problems too and from the age of about 8 they can benefit from hypnotherapy sessions. Children are my favourite to treat because they are masters at drifting in and out of hypnosis already, plus they have vivid imaginations (think how real those monsters under the bed feel to them). They are used to using their imagination on a daily basis (in things such as role play) and they have no preconceptions of what it is that I do. For a lot of children as far as they’re concerned, I’m just there to make them feel better.

Remember when you were younger and used to gaze out of the classroom window daydreaming, this is a light state of hypnosis. Or you’re driving a familiar route (to work perhaps) and zone out of certain parts of the journey, instead thinking about your next holiday. Your mind can effectively split in two, your conscious mind can be listening to the radio but your subconscious (where the habit of driving has been learned) performs the action of driving.

A gentle and effective technique (called Blowaway) has been designed especially for younger clients, although I do occasionally use it with adults too as part of their treatment. It helps them to literally blow away negative thoughts and feelings, like having a bit of a spring clean of the brain. Positive suggestions will also be incorporated to help with general feelings of wellbeing plus for the specific issue consulted for.

Unlike adults, children can be quite fidgety during a session, even opening their eyes occasionally and this is perfectly normal. It can be their way of reassuring themselves and doesn’t mean the therapeutic benefit of the session is lost. A parent is generally present throughout the session (certainly for the younger ones) and I start off by getting to know their child by asking about school life, their hobbies etc. Some children can be shy usually but I’ve had parents of even the shyest child say they were surprised how open their child was with me. I have my own young children so hopefully kids feel they can talk to me quite easily. Click here for more information on suggestion therapy.

• Increased confidence
• Higher self esteem
• Reduces anxiety/stress
• Help dissolve negative emotions
• Releases bottled up emotions