Children and teenagers face a variety of challenges, including but not limited to, bed wetting, phobias, thumb sucking, test taking anxiety, sleep issues, and shyness. While cognitive behavioral therapy may be able to help, some children may not benefit from therapy or may require months of sessions to experience limited relief. Hypnotherapy can be a fast acting and natural alternative to C.B.T. But how effective is hypnosis for children?
Clinical data
Numerous studies have shown that hypnotherapy is an effective option for children and teenagers. These studies demonstrated that hypnosis was effective in helping children overcome temper tantrums and bed wetting. A case study found that hypnotherapy was able to help teenagers regulate their emotional behavior and improve sports performance. A different case study showed that children and teenagers could overcome a fear of needles with the help of hypnosis.
How effective is hypnosis for children and teenagers?
Children and teenagers tend to spend more time daydreaming, imagining, and fantasizing. Daydreaming and fantasizing are examples of light hypnotic trance. Children as well as adults are guided into hypnotic trance using a variety of techniques, that include guided imagery which is a form of imagining different, but often peaceful settings. A skilled hypnotherapist can utilize a child’s imagination, not only to induce trance, but to help the child experience profound change.
Parental involvement
If the child is very young it may be helpful for a parent to be present during the first session so that the certified hypnotist can build rapport with the child. Once the child feels comfortable with the hypnotherapist, working one on one without the parents is far more effective. Children and teenagers maybe self-conscious sharing the necessary details with the hypnotist while the parents are present. They may also experience performance anxiety if they know their parents are watching.
Trance Induction
Common induction techniques include, overload, deep breathing, relaxation of the body, confusion, focused attention, guided imagery, and storytelling. While there are many ways to guide patients into hypnotic trance, there are two techniques that typically work better than others. Having the young adult imagine a peaceful setting while telling a story or having the child stare at a spot on the wall and guiding their eyes to feel heavy and eventually close, tend to be the two most effective ways to induce hypnotic trance.
How does hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy is a tool to access the subconscious mind. This is the part of the mind that is responsible for our automatic, but in some cases limiting responses. Once a teenager or child is guided into hypnotic trance, directions can be given to the unconscious mind to bring about the change desired. The subconscious mind is essentially programmed to eliminate bad habits, boost self-esteem and confidence, overcome anxiety, and excel in school or sports.
Teenagers and children can benefit from a fast acting, and medication free, alternative to cognitive behavioral therapy. Because children are more open to hypnotic techniques, they can experience profound change in as little as 4-8 sessions. By answering the question of “how effective is hypnosis for children”, parents now have an option to consider.