Paediatric Hypnotherapy
Paediatric hypnotherapy most often involves helping a child change unwanted habits, eradicate discomfort or fears and/or physical symptoms.
The child learns to use totally safe relaxation techniques and is gently drawn into using mental images, similar to a daydream or fantasy, to enter an altered and totally relaxed mental state (hypnosis).
Does my child need hypnotherapy?
Most children are happy and confident, but in an increasingly hectic world, more and more youngsters are feeling stress, or showing some symptoms of anxiety.
Many children also have phobias or fears, sometimes inherited from parents, sometimes created by themselves, but often bringing with them strong emotions.
And while children can have all the same phobias as adults, they have added ones too…imaginary creatures, monsters, ghosts, darkness, separation etc.
Then, as teenagers, other social phobias may develop, blushing, public speaking, disapproval as well as a lack of self-esteem or confidence. Additional anxiety can be triggered by exams.
Is it effective?
Children and young adults (up to the age of 16) respond well to hypnotherapy. They are both imaginative and open minded. They seek guidance and are eager to learn new skills for self-improvement.
When we are young we tend not to rationally examine and do not have the fears and misconceptions about hypnosis that so many adults have so children usually enter into the process with enthusiasm and a willingness to make changes.
Parents can be confused by the options of therapies available for their children, and may struggle to diagnose problems, sometimes not realising they are merely behavioural issues and not serious mental health problems.
Ridiculously long waiting times for treatment often makes NHS help impractical. As parents we want effective solutions for our children and we want them now.
Hypnotherapy has been used to treat many disorders and problems such as:
- Habits including thumb-sucking
- Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)
- Nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting)
- Encopresis (soiling)
- Sleep terrors
- Nightmares, and other sleep disturbances
- Swallowing problems
- Fears and phobias
- Eating issues, food aversions, and choking
- Anxiety and stress
- Confidence building
- Dyslexia related issues
- Illness
- Self-harm
- Compliance with medication
- Problems associated with learning difficulties
- Stuttering/stammering
- Weight issues
- Exam nerves
- Nail biting
- Bullying
- Anger
- Eczema
- And more…