How can Hypnotherapy help your child?

How can Hypnotherapy help your child?

A child’s life is full of discovery and curiosity. Alongside that adventure there are many events and pressures which can cause our children and young people to develop anxieties and behaviours that prevent them fully enjoying life.

Paediatric hypnotherapy is very effective, transforming children’s lives through visualisation, hypnosis, play, art and a whole range of creative activities, personalised to their needs and interests.

Here are some of the issues hypnotherapy can help:

  • Bedwetting (Enuresis)
  • Nail biting
  • Insomnia
  • Phobias
  • Anxiety
  • Anger management
  • Getting on with siblings
  • Exam nerves
  • Confidence
  • Fear of medical people
  • Social skills
  • Low self-esteem
  • Memory problems
  • Nervousness and nervous habits
  • Nightmares and sleepwalking
  • Performance anxiety
  • School related anxiety

One of the reasons that hypnotherapy for younger children can be such a good choice is that it enables children to use their powerful imaginations to deal with the issue that is troubling them. The treatment might include using stories, adventures, meeting a hero or even character from a favourite TV programme/computer game who advises them what to do. Roleplay and games are activities through which positive suggestions are easily accepted by young children.

Hypnotherapy with older children or teenagers can be equally effective as we create a personal treatment plan around their specific interests and needs. Whilst treating a particular issue, we can introduce positive affirmations to the young person. For example, being more relaxed, having more energy, feeling confident, feeling happy, liking themselves better, remembering more easily. Young people are very suggestible and respond well to these suggestions.

Our children and young people have to deal with so many pressures and changes, which might include loss, bullying, criticism, low self-esteem, struggling to make new friends, exam pressure and trying to belong. Comparison to others, especially through social media, can intensify feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Children and young people show their stress in many different ways. They may become forgetful, distracted, angry or irritable. They might become accident-prone or have headaches or tummy symptoms. They might start to bite nails or pull hair. Bed-wetting may intensify. Stammering may become more noticeable.A young person may start to dislike school, perhaps having trouble with other students or teachers. They might become overly shy or worried about talking in front of the class or feel overwhelmed by a particular subject.

Other issues that develop are a fear of the dark, the fear of going to sleep, fear of animals or insects, fear of travelling, a phobia of needles, doctors or dentists, fear of people.

Many of these issues are completely natural and can improve with time, but sometimes children need support if they are longer lasting. Our children and young people respond incredibly well to suggestions during hypnosis. They are happy to take on ideas that will help them make positive changes more easily.

Initial Assessment

In the initial assessment, I talk with you and your child together, having spoken with you first on the phone. Spending time building trust and rapport is essential for your child to feel at ease and comfortable. We talk together about the issue and how we are going to approach it. It is very important that your child wants to make the change and feels safe with me.

The first session

During the hypnotherapy session, I use gentle activities that might include stories, visualisation, pretending, hero and media characters, and other imagination tools, based on your child’s interests.
After the session, I will spend a few minutes with you to give you a brief overview of the session. I usually give you some exercises or tasks which will support the work your child is doing before the next session.

The number of sessions needed varies between clients. Sometimes one session is highly effective, sometimes a block of 3 or 6 sessions is beneficial. I discuss options with you at the Initial Assessment session, after which I draw up a treatment plan to share with you.

Rates:

You can book a one-off session, then come back when you feel your child needs another. You can book a group of sessions which works out a bit cheaper and we would have a contract:

Initial Session

reduced cost of

£35

Single Session

booked individually after initial session

£40

3 Sessions

block booking at reduced rate

£105

6 Sessions

block booking at reduced rate

£204

If you cancel a session 24 hours before there is no charge. If it is on the day unfortunately you will be charged half the fee.

Concessions are available. Please don’t hesitate to ask. Therapy should not be dependent on our ability to pay.

Appointments are available during weekdays (apart from Mondays/Thursdays), with limited appointments available on Saturday mornings/afternoons. There are evening appointments available.