Children are more receptive to hypnotherapy and witness higher success rates when compared with adults. This is because they’re highly imaginative which is crucial for effective treatment of illnesses and disorders. Also, since children have fewer life experiences, they’re open to suggestions that are unlikely to go against any core beliefs.
In this blog, we take a look at how effective and safe hypnosis is for children.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is when hypnosis is used to treat a symptom, addiction or problem. It brings the individual into an altered state of awareness and deep relaxation. It also refers to a natural state of mind in which the patient is highly responsive to positive ideas and imagery due to bypassing the critical mind.
The critical mind refers to the part of the brain responsible for reason, evaluation, and judgment. It’s an experience that’s similar to driving to work but when asked to recall the journey, the person doesn’t remember anything.
Hypnotherapy and Children
The influence of the parents and/or guardians has an impact on the therapy. It is common to find children suffering from problems related to relationships between family members. A child’s problem should not be viewed as an isolated incident but rather as a consequence resulting from the workings of the family and social structure. Even when dealing with problems related to physical pains, the psychological components must not be forgotten.
Hypnotherapy for children takes a less formal route. Instead of using formal hypnotic inductions, hypnotherapists make use of the child’s imagination since they possess a creative mind at their age. This makes it easier for children to imagine and conjure up a scene. They treat it like a game and can easily visualize metaphors and storytelling which enables them to go into a hypnotic state allowing the therapist to bring about positive changes.
There is no fixed or recommended age for when a child can undergo hypnotherapy. It depends on their ability to communicate their feelings and understand other’s instructions. The parents or guardians are present in the room to put the child at ease. But they should not act as the mouthpiece for the child’s feelings. Children should be allowed to express their own feelings through words or through drawing and coloring. This allows for effective diagnosis and treatment.
Hypnotherapy is free from any side-effects and has been known to effectively treat trauma-related conditions and anxiety disorders.
Our certified hypnotist and rehabilitation counselor, Rekha Shrivastava, M.S., CH, CRC, CASAC, has extensive experience working with both children and adults utilizing effective self-esteem strategies to remove fear from the subconscious mind and treat multiple disorders. Contact us today! She also conducts online sessions via Skype and FaceTime to distant clients!
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4928724/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23248820_Hypnotherapy_in_Child_Psychiatry_The_State_of_the_Art
- https://sg.theasianparent.com/hypnotherapy-for-children/
- https://britishhypnosisresearch.com/hypnotherapy-with-children/
- https://nationalpsychologist.com/2015/05/using-hypnosis-with-children/102896.html
Would like to know of ( any ) certified hypnotherapy persons in the Columbia Tennessee area ( just below Nashville ) that is good with children and Adults as well.