Using hypnotherapy with children.
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Hypnotherapy can be a successful method for helping overcome many childhood issues such as:
- bed-wetting (enuresis) - eczema - fears and anxiety - phobias - sleeping difficulties - nail biting - lack of confidence - exam nerves |
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Children naturally fall into states of ‘hypnosis’ many times, every day – when they are watching a favourite programme on the television; when they are engrossed in listening to a good story; when they engage in role-play, taking on the role of their favourite character.
Hypnotherapy is a very simple process often based on imagination and suggestion. For this reason, it is often used very successfully with children.
Older children may perhaps feel quite comfortable to close their eyes and be guided through a visualisation –
a visualisation that may include positive suggestions, metaphors and reinforcement of self-confidence and self-esteem. This is very similar to a therapy session that an adult may undergo although, in all likelihood much shorter in duration.
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Younger children are often not so comfortable to sit still, let alone sit still with their eyes closed. Therefore, a therapy session with a younger child would probably look very different – it may look more like a straight-forward play activity where questions are asked about their issue and suggestions are made for them to change things in their imagination. |
It is often beneficial if a conversation can be had between me and the primary adult voicing the concern beforehand, instead of letting the child hear the anxieties the adult may have.
In the therapy session itself, most questions will be addressed directly to the child first. Then if further information is required, the parents or carers are asked. Everyone’s opinions and concerns are important but the most important person in the whole process is the child themselves.
Any hypnotherapy session will be tailor-made to suit the child’s age, maturity, ability and presenting issues.
Working with a child’s own imagination is a very natural process. And hypnotherapy is a very gentle process. The two coupled together can make for a very powerful and quick resolution to a child’s particular issue.
Considerations when choosing a hypnotherapist to work with your child:
- they should be suitably qualified and experienced
- they should be a member of a regulating body such as the CNHC or NCH
- they should possess an up-to-date DBS/CRB certificate
Any hypnotherapist, including myself, should always expect a parent or carer to be present at all times when seeing a child.
* I am a qualified clinical hypnotherapist
* I have 20 years experience as a primary school teacher
* I am a member of the APHP and CNHC, and licentiate member of the NCH
* I possess an enhanced DBS/CRB certificate
* I am fully professionally insured
It is important that you find the right hypnotherapist for your child. Everyone involved should feel comfortable and at ease, both with the therapist and with the process as a whole.
Please do get in touch with any questions you may have.
IMPORTANT: IF IN ANY DOUBT PLEASE SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE FIRST
No hypno-therapeutic techniques should ever be regarded as a substitute for
professional medical care. They should always be seen as complementary.
No hypno-therapeutic techniques should ever be regarded as a substitute for
professional medical care. They should always be seen as complementary.