Hypnotherapy for Children
Hypnotherapy for children is very effective, non-invasive and fun. At High Tech Hypnotherapy, we have had many years of experience in dealing with children of all ages with all sorts of issues (as shown below). Much of the success with children depends on the ability of the Hypnotherapist to relate with the child and their issue. Steve has 4 children of his own and hence lots of experience in dealing with children of all ages.
The Power of Rapport
During our sessions with kids we always speak to a child at their level. We never use language that is out of their grasp, nor do we speak down to the child. It is important that they are able to trust us — even the shyest child is able to find their tongue and speak about what happens in their reality, why the issue is stopping them and what they would prefer to be happening.
Imagination and Hypnosis
The doorway between the conscious and the unconscious mind is the imagination. For children, it’s relatively easy to reach their subconscious at the deepest levels faster than required by a good many adults. Stories, adventures, visualization, imaginative games, role-playing, magic, puppets, and costumes work most effectively with children. Any tools that stimulate the imagination can be used by the Hypnotherapist and works well with children of all ages.
What might be included in the session?
- Playing a game
- Using the child’s imagination
- Use of favourite TV program
- Storytelling
- Going on a magical trip in a rocket ship to mars or taking a trip to a magical forest
What will be included in a session?
- Spending the first part of the session with parent and child
- Allowing the child to get used to the environment whilst the Hypnotherapist talks to the child
- Any questions the parent may have can be addressed in the beginning of the session
- Allowing the child to explain why they are at the session
Some of the more common issues for children that we have successfully dealt with are:
- Bed wetting
- Anxiety
- Sleep issues
- Learning and study
- Weight management
- Thumb sucking
- Creating positive relationships to school, fitness, teachers, siblings, etc
- Self esteem and self confidence
Homework
Sometimes we find that it is useful to give the child homework. This is part of creating a new behaviour and with repetition; the new behaviour becomes the norm.
What Parents Need to Know to Make Hypnotherapy Work?
The only effective way we can work with children is for the parent to remain outside the room during the session — this is for two reasons. The first is that the quality of information is always better without the parent in the room (no matter how great a parent you are) and secondly the child won’t be inclined to ask the parent for answers or hide behind the parent.
It is also very important that the parent doesn’t ‘reinstall’ the old behaviour by reminding the child of their old issue, by being overly caring or thinking that mentioning the old issue might somehow help. It is more useful to focus and keep talking about the new behaviour.
For example, a parent might say “Now remember, you don’t wet your bed anymore.” This creates the mental image of bed wetting (the unconscious mind cannot delete a negative such as no, not, don’t, etc.), what might be useful is creating an image such as “how excited do you think you will be when you wake up in a dry bed tomorrow morning?” This creates two positive images, the dry bed and the excitement or discovering the dry bed.
It is advisable that you stay in contact with your hypnotherapist after the session to find out how best to language your communication around the issue.
How Many Hypnotherapy Sessions Are Required?
Typically two hypnotherapy sessions are needed. The first session will create the new direction and eliminate the old negative emotions and/or behaviours while the second session allows the hypnotherapist to check in and see how it is all going and to make sure the new changes continue.
