Hypnotherapy for Children

As everyone knows, daydreams and make-up games are part of children’s’ life.  Sometimes I wish I had the degree of imagination and ingenuity that they possess, and I try to recapture it where I can.  Humour, storytelling, and metaphors are so natural to children and young adults and that is what is employed in hypnotherapy with young people in my clinic, along with mindfulness techniques and tools to use in daily life.

The natural state of make-believe makes children very open and receptive to suggestions in hypnotherapy, and they take to it easily.  That may lead us to be cautious about who we entrust to provide hypnotherapy.  Hypnosis is perfectly safe for children – there are no side effects.  I like there to be a parent or guardian in the room with us – unless the child feels comfortable and safe for another adult to not be present.  I am obligated to comply the Code of Ethics of the Australian Hypnotherapy Association.   I therefore cannot make any client do anything against their own will.  I talk together with the child - it is a person-centred therapy.

I have feedback from one of the treatments at Shine Therapies Hypnotherapy in Scarborough that this child found hypnotherapy “fun, crazy, and relaxing all at the same time”. 

A client intake form is completed that allows the child’s input if they are old enough to contribute.  Sometimes a treatment should be avoided, such as in the case of serious mental health issues that may need referral to a relevant professional, epilepsy and not able to concentrate long enough to for example to watch a short movie.