CHILDRENS HYPNOTHERAPY

Children tend to experience immediate success with hypnosis and make ideal hypnotic subjects. Imagination is one of the key components to success with hypnotherapy and is the primary reason why children respond so well. Children have highly active imaginations compared with adults and therefore often respond far quicker to hypnotherapy than adults do. Children tend to be more open minded and therefore suggestible because they have had fewer life experiences. Children have not yet had the time or the life experiences to develop their core beliefs and so when suggestions are made they are unlikely to encounter any resistance to new ideas.

Children are often entranced in a world of their own much of the time and regularly use their imagination and fantasy to help them adapt and relate to the world around them. Therefore fantasy characters are often used in story telling along with metaphors to help them understand and resolve those issues in a way that they can understand and relate to. The language and the words used in childrens hypnosis are modified to the developmental stage of the child, their interests and their individual needs. Story telling, is a predominant technique that is used within children’s hypnotherapy. The hypnotherapist begins by formulating a hypothesis about the child’s primary stresses and conflicts following discussions with the parents and if the child is old enough, with the child themselves. The childs favourite fantasy figures, and objects such as colours, foods, toys, pets, as well as their favourite activities are then woven into a fairy tale story and delivered to the child while they are in hypnosis. The fantasy figures interact with the child in the story and demonstrate appropriate ways of dealing with the stresses that were targeted as central concerns for the child.

A child may see a hypnotherapist for a wide variety of issues including behavioural problems, strong negative feelings that get in the way of living their life or some trauma they experienced in the past that may need to be overcome. Any child that is able to communicate their feelings is of an appropriate age to benefit from hypnotherapy. Sometimes children are encouraged to draw pictures to express themselves too. Hypnotherapy sessions with children are often far less formal. Usually the child is asked to take a few deep breaths to relax, with or without closing their eyes and then their imagination is engaged by encouraging the child to use their naturally wonderful creative abilities. Children are able to access and engage their imagination far more quickly and effortlessly compared with adults. Children are naturally suggestible and can therefore quickly imagine they are somewhere they like or doing something they enjoy, like doing a sport or playing with their favourite toy. Children are likely to move about more, fidget and are generally more responsive than adults. Many children tend to think of hypnotherapy as being fun because they get to use their imagination and so therefore see it as a game. It is easy for children to engage their imaginations and participate in metaphors and storytelling because they use their imaginations all the time. An imaginary scenario prompted by the child’s own fantasies and games can be set up by the therapist to engage and stimulate the child’s imagination. The therapist often engages the child in conversation about the child’s favourite games, fantasy characters, activities or pets by asking questions about it.Once the child’s imagination and interest has been engaged, the child will very often naturally drift off into a workable hypnotic state, so that the therapist can bring about positive, lasting change.

When preparing your child before they visit a hypnotherapist, it is a good idea to explain that the hypnotherapist will use their first name and will chat to them and ask them questions. If the parents have discussed specific details regarding the child’s interests like names of favourite fantasy characters or names of pets, it’s a good idea to tell the child you have done so the child is aware of this. The idea is that the child is made to feel that it is a safe, relaxing and fun experience and that they are in control. The idea is that the child understands that we are all working together for the benefit and well-being of the child. Just like the dentist is there to care for their teeth, the doctor takes care of their physical body, and their teacher cares for their learning, the hypnotherapist is there to care for their feelings.

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