Hypnotherapy for children can be a useful and effective tool if they’re experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. These issues can arise from physical and hormonal changes; growing up; getting (or wanting) more autonomy and freedom; expectations of parents and teachers; pressure from exams or peers; new relationships; and maybe working as well as studying.

Some young people lack confidence or experience feelings of self-doubt or anxiety from time to time. For most, this is temporary and passes quickly but, for others, it becomes more of an issue. In fact, research[1] shows that one in six children aged 5-16 is likely to experience a mental health problem.

Hypnotherapy for children, sometimes called paediatric hypnotherapy, has a long history. These are just a few of the areas where it can be helpful.

Anxiety and phobias in children

Children can develop phobias of all kinds. Sometimes this is because they see the important adults in their lives have these fears, and sometimes it’s based on personal experience.

High levels of other types of anxiety seem to be quite common as well. At times, it is a general sensation of being overwhelmed. Or it may be a reaction to specific events such as changing routines, interviews or exams. Either way, it’s going to have an impact on their ability to perform well at school, get along with people at home, and enjoy life. Hypnosis can be used to help them remain calmer. It can also help them develop better coping strategies and deal more effectively with the situations they face.

Depression in children

A doctor should see your child if you think they are experiencing depression. This will rule out any medical conditions (such as hormone imbalances) that can cause mood issues. After that, hypnotherapy can be a good option. It can help to help lift their mood and challenge their negative thinking.

Confidence and Self-esteem in Children

Not all of us are the life and soul of every party, or always the centre of an admiring crowd. Some people, including teenagers, are naturally quiet and self-contained, and that’s fine. Confidence and self-esteem are not about how outgoing or popular your child is. They are more a case of how they think about themselves. And whether they recognise and value their own abilities and good qualities.

We all do our best as parents, but sometimes our kids do lack confidence in themselves. This can lead to them feeling unhappy, worthless or isolated. Sometimes, they need help to change their assessment of themselves to a more positive one. Again, hypnotherapy could be this help and I’d be happy to discuss it with you.

Hypnotherapy for children

I really enjoy working with young people, though I don’t generally work with anyone under ten. I can refer you to people who do, though. 

Young people tend to respond very well to hypnotherapy because they are imaginative and more open to suggestion than many adults. Having said that, hypnotherapy (as mentioned elsewhere on this site) is not a form of mind control.

Your child is not going to change because you think they should, or because you can see there’s a problem. They have to see it too and actively want to do something about it. And even then, their preferred solution may not be the same as yours.

A person in therapy, whatever their age, must play an active part in making changes. This takes time, effort, courage, determination, and cooperation, and (perhaps most importantly) the recognition that there’s a problem. If your son or daughter isn’t ready to do that yet, it’s possible that therapy isn’t the way to go, at least for the moment. However, I am happy to discuss the situation with you. You can book a free discovery session, and if we all think I can help, I am happy to do so. Please contact me for further information.

[1] Reference: Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: NHS digital, 22 October 2020

Author: Debbie Waller is a professional therapist, specialising in stress, anxiety and related issues, including gut-directed hypnotherapy to help with the symptoms of IBS. She also offers EMDR/Blast which is used for trauma, PTSD, phobias and OCD. For more information on any of these services, phone 01977 678593. 

Researcher: Rae Waller is an experienced researcher and writer with a special interest in mental health issues. Rae offers drafting, fact-checking, proofreading, and editing for anything from a leaflet to a website, a blog or a book, and can also provide diversity reading, especially for LGBTQ+ and autism-related issues. Please contact rae@debbiewaller.com for further information.