Children

Children are good hypnotic subjects as they have active imaginations (read about Pediatric Hypnosis   http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/hypnosis.htm).

At a young age a child will often live in the world of their imagination. We see them playing out the roles of teachers, doctors, firemen, train drivers, and the list could go on and on. This world of their imagination can be utilized by the hypnotherapist and can indeed work in their favour. It means they often need much less time in a session to work towards a solution to their issue. After talking in detail to the child, the hypnotherapist should be able to use the child’s own language and areas of interest to connect with their world.

It is vital that the child feels comfortable with their therapist and this ensures that they are willing to engage fully in the process. This engagement may not look as if they are in a hypnotic state – they may have their eyes open and even be acting out the suggestions being given to them. That is not to say that some children won’t sit sleepily in the chair, enjoying their period of relaxation!

Hypnosis has been used with a tremendous diversity of childhood problems such as:

• Problems with studying and concentration
• Fears
• Phobias
• Sleep disorders
• Bedwetting (enuresis)
• Stuttering
• Hair pulling
• Nailbiting
• Selective eating
• Anorexia and bulimia

For many medical and emotional problems, previous treatment might have included drugs (which may have produced unpleasant side effects). Parents and children are relieved to realise that this is not the case with hypnotherapy. Participation in the simple, rhythmic and soothing features of hypnotherapy is similar to natural parenting behaviour. The results of treatment usually appear quickly and are obvious, thus allowing even young children to see its value.

My recent professional training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy) has also facilitated extraordinary changes in children’s phobic reactions – from a longstanding phobia of buttons being eliminated in just two sessions to an overwhelming fear of dogs in just one.

If you wish to contact me about any problem your child might have, please call 01488-685151 or email info@lastingchanges.co.uk.

All correspondence is in complete confidentiality.

“S has stayed dry and is so proud.  He is much happier in school and we are so pleased for him.” M.C. Berkshire