Hypnosis with Children

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on November 3, 2009 at 7:40pm

Hi Alicia,

This is such a broad topic, even though it's limited to "children". I would just have to refer you to this article by Del Hunter Morrill which I found immensely helpful...

Hypnosis with Children (Morrill)
Del Hunter Morrill, M.S., C.C.H.
August 2002
"What brings about or exacerbates children's problems? Much that goes on in our world can cause problems to children, just as well as to adults. Rapid physical growth over short periods of time, and concerns about changes in their bodies can cause stress and loss of self-esteem. Various problems in school, with studies, teachers or peers, may be troubling a child. There are many fears that can plague children: fear of the potential of danger in our schools today, fear of the dark, fear of going to sleep, fear of doctors, dentists and needles, etc. Many children experience the embarrassment of habits they find hard to break, like bed-wetting or thumb sucking. A new baby or other addition to the family can cause undue stress. Loss of their own bedroom space due to a new addition to the family, or having to move to a smaller place can make children unhappy. An underlying fear of kidnapping and other abuses may affect our children far more than we realize. It's difficult to keep such news away from a child's hearing, these days. With children, the world revolves around them, until experience helps expand that world. As they are the "center," then everything is where they are. If there are problems in the family, they take on those as their own. If parents are having trouble in relating well, their children can become fearful and guilty, as if they were the cause or should have prevented it in some way. This is what creates "ADULT CHILDREN." For instance, I've had clients much like a recent man who was the oldest son of his family. He saw his mother beaten, nightly, and both he and his brother received the rage of a drunken father. Yet, he couldn't help his mother or protect his younger brother. This left him scarred with tremendous guilt and fear, which he carried into his marriage and relationships with his own sons.
School and Learning Influences The loss of a friend who moves away, being shamed or frightened by a teacher or principal, the death or serious illness of a school peer or teacher, boredom with school, having to make new friends, unfamiliarity with schoolwork, as well as falling behind in a subject or being "behind" the other kids, and other comparisons are common problems for many children, and can cause excessive stress. The insistence upon "correct" performance in front of others in a classroom can be extremely hard on a shy child. Someone in school or the neighborhood who threatens or bullies other children, and the general fear and pressure of drugs and guns are serious concerns and create high stress for children, in many schools.

Societal Influences The Media - Our modern century provides an enormous spread of negative influences on our children. Television and movies regularly present violence, sex and innuendo as the norm. Shallowness and self-centeredness are projected by sit-coms on TV by unmarried 30 year olds who are totally wrapped up in themselves. Advertising and acquisition are other primary images, as parents go crazy trying to get the child whatever the child wants.

News events on TV - War and resulting migration of homeless families, famine and other tragedies within countries, kidnappings, abuse and other mayhem against children, and the latest disease or other terrors are projected on the screen, nightly, inundating our children, just as they do adults. And children are just as impacted as their parents by this constant onslaught of negative messaging.

What adults consider important in life - Millionaires seem barely out of diapers. A car at age 16 is a must. Slimness for women and powerful "pecs" for men are major images projected by television, movies and magazines. Fear of retirement, ill health and the desire for youthfulness remind us, "For god's sake, don't get old or your life will be over." Millions are spent every year in keeping us beautiful forever, and in staving off eventual death. Children receive this information by words or inferences from the time they are born, unless they have parents who find ways to help them keep a balanced approach to life and living.

Family Influences When children are brought to a counselor's office, they come with their parents. And those parents may reflect the other factors that contribute to a child's problem. Parents often lose sight of the impact of major events or stress in the family upon the children. Often, adults make the mistake of believing that children are resilient. They don't speak to them about difficult situations, yet will speak "around," or in front of them, as if they weren't there or didn't understand, anyway. Many times they don't bother to ask the question of "why," when a child is troubled. Often, parents perceive their children's problems as rather unimportant, in the light of their own difficulties. Problems children face are dissatisfied parents who can never be pleased, a parent who expects too much, individual family members who are chronic worriers, and negative parents for whom the glass is always half empty. Death in the family, divorce or other important separation, loss of a parent or favorite grandparent, an abusive sibling who teases or shames, arguments between parents, even violence, an addictive parent or step-parent, an older sibling leaving for school without them, violence or sexual abuse toward the children, a depressed, anxious or highly strung parent, a parent or sibling who is physically ill much of the time, and moving away from other members of the family, or friends are other problems many children face. They must be considered when dealing with the child's presenting symptoms.

Influence of Peers Although possibly more strongly felt once children reach pre-teens, even smaller children are affected by their friend's choices and experiences. Moving to a new school, having to make new friends, handling bullies, unfamiliarity with schoolwork, as well as falling behind in a subject or being "behind" the other kids, and other comparisons, are common problems for many children. Being teased for being the "wrong" height or weight, or for not fitting the status quo embarrasses some children. The struggle to belong and rejection by groups become especially hard on pre-teens and teenagers.

How Stress Can Affect Children When children are experiencing unrelenting stress or are worried, whether or not they are conscious of it, there are warning signs for those who have the eyes to see. Schoolwork may begin to slide. They may begin to lose things on a consistent basis, steal, become accident-prone, have headaches or stomachaches, bite their nails or pull hair or lashes. They may return to wetting the bed, after having been dry for some time. Health problems may start cropping up. Other people may notice a dramatic change in disposition. The child may begin to stop wanting to go to school, or begin to cause problems in the classroom. They may lie and have other avoidance patterns. They may turn to drugs or alcohol. They may begin to have trouble sleeping, experience frequent nightmares or sleep walk.

Why children might come to a hypnotherapist Issues, for which hypnotic methods and tools are a helpful response, include doing homework, performing better in the classroom, getting to school and liking it, improving grades, friendlessness, thumb sucking, bedwetting, nightmares and fear of the dark, stealing, low self-esteem, dealing with divorce or death in a family, illness - their own or someone in the family, and a myriad of other problems.

One of the most frequent reasons children are brought to hypnotherapists is for learning improvement. When it comes to school life, there are many problems children can develop. This may be one of the largest areas of concerns for parents, and one for which good marketing can reap good results. Such arenas as reading, writing, memory, getting homework done, grades, peer pressure and friendships, classroom deportment, self-esteem, and even wanting to be in school are effectively and easily handled, for the most part, by one or two hypnosis sessions.

The Power of the Imagination The doorway between the conscious and the unconscious mind is the imagination. For children, it's relatively easy to reach at the deepest levels, in a much quicker time than required by a good many adults. The use of stories, adventures, visualization, imaginative games, role playing, magic, puppets, costumes and any other tools that one's imagination can bring forth are at the hypnotherapist's disposal, and work most effectively with children. The imagination of children is very keen until parents, teachers and others interfere. When adults consider daydreaming worthless, and associate imagination with lying, when they call attention to its ?cuteness? to others, or otherwise imply ridicule, the child gradually lets it weaken. Also, in many schools, the style of teaching in the classroom can tend to rule out the playful and imaginative, once children pass the second or third grade.

WHAT HYPNOSIS CAN DO FOR CHILDREN Hypnosis works well because there are less years of reinforcement of imprints on the mind. Children are more susceptible to hypnosis. They have the drive to discover and they hunger for new experiences. They?re open to new learnings, willing to receive and respond to new ideas, as long as they are presented in an understandable way. Children are usually easily relaxed and focused. They have an ability to change and to be versatile, and, before the age of twelve, to accept most ideas uncritically. They aren't as dominated by rational questioning and concerns that adults have formed through their life experiences. Also, they don't have the fears and misconceptions about hypnosis that so many adults have. This makes it relatively easy to work with them.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool in strengthening a child's confidence, helping them to feel empowered, where before they have been "victim." It releases their willingness to use their natural gifts. It elicits talent and creativity. It provides a wonderful foundation in their education. With a good hypnotherapist, children can experience true success in their lives in all areas, feel happier and have a sense of real freedom.

Assuring Successful Sessions It seems ridiculously basic, yet, it's important to remember that a child's problems are as important as an adult's. Children need to be treated with as much respect as we do any adult who comes to us. They don't need to be "talked down to." Children may not have as many years; but, just as with adults, imprints are planted in their minds, from the time they begin life, by whatever they've seen and learned from parents, relatives, teachers and peers. Whatever a child has experienced, it has been as strongly received as any complicated thing that's happened in an adult's life. The difference is that children are still bound to whatever their parents wish for them and for themselves. An effective session deals with the parent's concerns for the child, while honoring the child's desires and needs. Information is gathered, in order to determine how best to approach the child's problem. A sensitive hypnotherapist, or other guide of children, will have discerned possible questions before they are asked, in order to clarify how sessions will be conducted, and to clear up any misconceptions about hypnotic processes. Good rapport is developed with both parent and child. Convincers, or hypnotic tests, are used prior to and/or during a hypnotic session. The guide uses methods of induction and prescription appropriate to the child's age and problem. To keep rapport, the therapists meets back with the parent(s) with any recommendations, including possible "homework" or other support.

Building Rapport with the Parent What makes working with the child unique is not so much their problems, or even the techniques or tools you are able to use, but having the parents as a contributing factor. From the time you first meet a child, you are also dealing with that parent. Establishing rapport with them is as important as establishing rapport with the child. In one way or another, a parent can support or ruin the work you do. They can be supportive or detrimental to the child. The child's problem may well be brought about by a parent, or, at the very least, acerbated by them. Keeping the parent feeling that they are part of the process, without revealing the confidence the child has given you, is important. Explaining some of this to the parent, at the beginning, and speaking to the parent after a session, goes a long way in keeping the communication open, and in justifying the parent's confidence in you.

Building Rapport with the Child Although not required, other additions that help create a successful atmosphere and process may include such things as a game that can be played by two, talking to the child about their life and school, etc., or taking home some kind of little gift or reminder of the visit together. (I keep little boxes of various kinds filled with interesting items. The child, when introduced to the room, can go through them to decide on something to take home, while I have a brief conversation with the parent.) Some therapists find that letting a child touch things in the counseling room helps them to feel comfortable. A smaller child might like to choose a stuffed animal or a doll to hold while talking with you. Many therapists learn a simple magic trick, which serves the dual purpose of "breaking the ice" and showing the wonders awaiting them, in terms of their problem.

Use of Intakes with Parent and Child It's helpful to create some kind of intake to use for the initial visit with child and parent. Doing an intake can help a great deal in building rapport, as well as gather important information that will assure successful visits. An intake with the parent should include basic data on who is in the family, clarify the child's problem and some background as to what led to it, physical health history, etc. The intake with the child allows them to express what's happening to them, related to the problem, as well as revealing some of their favorite things that might help you build a story, should you decide to create one during the hypnotic process. (The appendix of the workbook includes samples of intake questions).

Use of Imaginative Scripts Besides the traditional positive suggestion approach, there is a wide variety of possibilities for effectively inducting a child and providing a proper "prescription" for healing or changing habits. The Star/Tree/Garden script in GREAT ESCAPES, Volume I, is a good example of placing the child in a very visual and safe setting. Blowing up balloons, receiving gifts from the sea, burning a ship of problems, changing labels and others provide settings that allow the child to be active in their changing. Another value of such methods is that they can be used for just about any age group. Being animals, meeting a magician who helps you change, greeting people on the other side of the rainbow, or going into a tough area with your favorite hero are fun for a child, and make use of their wonderful imagination. A child doesn't always have to have traditional inductions used in order to be hypnotized. Most children are in a sort of trance-like state already, or, at the very least, fuzzy about the line between the real and unreal. This makes it possible to create a trancelike state in some very simple ways. Some of these can include telling stories or creating a metaphors, using the child's favorite television program to spin a tale, creating an adventure a child can go on that leads to a solution to their problem, looking at a gyroscope or into a kaleidoscope, focusing on a dot on the guide's finger, coloring an optical illusion while the therapist talks to them, making use of a pendulum, hypnotizing a puppet in order to show a child how very simple it is, going on an amazing trip such as a rocket to Mars, or locating a magical kingdom where wonderful things can happen that change your life.

Locating the Source When a child is brought in for any serious issue, it should be assumed that there may be some deeper problem, for which this is just a symptom. In such cases, the problem-solution finding process script in GREAT ESCAPES, Volume I, can be very helpful, especially for younger ages, or less articulate children. Regression is possible in a later session, if such a script or process hasn't been fully affective.

Value of Homework Homework can be a helpful addition in supporting the work done in the office. It can serve as reinforcement for the child, and gives the parent some way to participate. Homework for the child also can serve as a sort of post-hypnotic suggestion, thus strengthening the session. Homework for a parent could range from creating a log or chart for a child's improvement, to using particular affirmations with the child, before bedtime.

What's Required? A child, just like an adult, has to want to change and be willing to work with the therapist. A hypnotherapist who works with children must, obviously, like them. They need to be able to establish trust with both parents and child. They must treat a child's case with as much confidentiality as an adult's. Some therapists, confident with adults, feel far more nervous working with children. They are afraid that they won't be able to transfer what they know to various age groups. They may not feel that they have enough training for it. Perhaps they make it more complicated than it need be. With adequate education and other training in dealing with children, they will find they are most capable with all ages. Just remember that children will come to you because you can help them. They are open to your help, and, therefore, they'll be receptive to your suggestions for them, whether couched in traditional suggestions, in stories or play. The best way to conquer the fear, at least enough to know whether this is a field that would appeal to you, is to DO IT! Practice on children as much as is possible. Encourage your friends to let you work with their children. A 15-minute session may be all that you need, at times, to do just the right thing for a child. It is their belief at work, just as it is with adults."

Wow..is there anything more to say?!! Other members will probably post it!

Best wishes,

Kelley

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Permalink Reply by Andreas Tenhagen on November 3, 2009 at 11:15pm

Wow, thats great Kelley. Thanks a lot.

Andreas

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Permalink Reply by GIL BOYNE on November 4, 2009 at 2:55am

Hello Aliicia, There is a new book titled, "Scripts and Strategies in Hypnotherapy with Children" by Lynda Hudson.
It covers numerous childhood problems with scripts for each one. It is a brilliant work and is NOT written in academic jargon.
I was so enthusiastic about this book, I called the author and had lunch with her. I rate this book as 5 star plus. Her email is
Lynda.Hudson@virgin.net Her website is www.firstwayforward.com.
The publisher is Anglo-American Books (Crown House Publishing Co.)

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 4, 2009 at 3:03am

Hi -

I have helped young women (usually betweem 12 and 15) who self-identify as:
Pickers, Cutters, Scracthers, Twisters&Pullers.

The first thing to understand is that each of these behaviors can vary between mild and extreme self-destructivie habits... I recommend that you immediately refer potential clients with a history or evidence of self-multilation to a licensed mental professional and offer you services as an adjunct--

All of the young women I assisted reported feeling anxious, lonely, misunderstood and/or "dead." Most
were isolated teens who "enjoyed" a great deal of negative attention around their behavior and I used different strategies for different teens ranging from sheer boredom: "I get no kick from picking, cutting, scracthing, twisting or pulling" to elevated self-esteem: "I feel too good to pick, cut, scracth, twist or pull."

I truly believe that each of my clients was ready to move on and that their being ready was/is a key ingredient to a successful outcome. I sold them on the belief that hypnosis could help them break the pattern and make the cutting, picking, scracthing, twisting or pulling unnecessary. I gave them post hypnotic "mood changers" to get them out of self-destructive states and suggested they would quickly develop new healthy behaviors to meet their needs and put the cutting/picking behind them.... And they did!

I believe that all of these potential clients are having difficulties with coping and adapting to family, school or other social dynamics and possibly all of these dynamics and their behaviors are coping mechanisms. The are reacting to unconscious impulses to regulate their stress and anxieties. The great news is we can help them develop healthier ways to cope with their challenges.

I tend to sell my clients on the belief that hypnosis can and will help them develop better coping skills and abilities and restore a deep felt sense balance in their lives. "In my experience your unwanted habit is an unconscious learned behavior that began as a simple attempt to relieve stress and anxiety." This type of "Suggestion" is reasonable, easy to digest and offers a simple solution:

"The good news is that hypnosis is a fast and powerful way to help your mind and brain learn healthier ways for dealing with stress and anxiety and I am confident that by the time you leave my office, today .... You will know that you now have a healthy and effective tool for managing the stress and anxiety in
your life, Blah, blah, blah.

My advice is to invent your "living script" based on the young adult in front of you and keep it simple and fun... One basic theme to consider is that: Hypnosis can help clients neutralize unhealthy triggers so that they react to stress and anxiety in new and improved ways.

I recommend giving the client a post hypnotic suggestion along the lines of:
When you leave my office today -- your mind and brain will have been conditioned to automatically shift you into a calm, centered state of mind as soon as you gently rub your thumb and index fingers for a few seconds... Soooooo picking (cutting, scracthing, twisting or pulling) becomes totally unnecessary and quickly becomes utterly boring....

Always remember that helping people with hypnosis can be as easy as you believe it can be....
Trust the Power of Suggestion. Hone your rapport and reframe skills and always
remember that your clients are bio-engineered to change, learn and grow...The
mastery is in learning how to use the Power of Suggestion to help your clients
tap into and utilize their innate resources in healthier and more effective ways...

FYI - I also have helped younger male and female clients (6 to 10 YOs) who presented with issues like bed-wetting, headaches and tummy-aches, nail biting and/or thumb sucking and I happy to share my experiences helping youngsters with these issues as well.

Consider me a resource.

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Alicia Fairclough on November 4, 2009 at 7:07am

Thank you for those wonderful insights everyone. They are greatly appreciated. Kelley, that article has given me some wonderful ideas and I will certainly be looking into the book suggested by Gil.

Michael: Thank you for sharing your experiences. I definitely consider you a valuable resource :-) I appreciate the reminder that our clients are bio - engineered to change, learn and grow.

I'll be seeing these clients again at the end of the week so I will keep you posted.

Thank you
Alicia

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Permalink Reply by GIL BOYNE on November 7, 2009 at 11:10am

Children 'should be taught hypnosis to feel less pain after an operation'
Children as young as five should be taught how to hypnotise themselves to feel less pain after an operation, a leading expert has said. Up to 80 per cent of youngsters feel less pain if they are treated using the technique according to Dr Christina Liossi, a psychologist from the University of Southampton.

Hypnosis has been used for centuries as a natural form of pain relief.
Advocates insist that the technique can allow patients to recover more quickly from operations and even in some cases stay awake during surgery, removing the need for anaesthetics.
Last year a pensioner, Bernadine Coady, hypnotised herself before a knee operation and remained awake for entire the hour-long procedure.

Children were even more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion than adults, Dr Liossi, told a conference on pain management at the Royal Society of Medicine.
Evidence has shown that up to eight in 10 children can feel significantly less pain if hypnosis techniques have been used.
Even those youngsters for whom the treatment did not have a dramatic effect on their pain levels still benefited and felt more relaxed as a result of the hypnosis, she said.
She called for hypnosis to be used more widely in the NHS to help with pain relief.
She said: “Children are more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion, because they do not have the issues of control of misconceptions around hypnosis that adults do.

There is clear evidence of the benefits of hypnosis in relieving different kinds of pain, but this is one of those examples where there is a gap between the evidence and the clinical practise.”
She added that there was also good evidence that hypnosis could reduce both acute and chronic pain in the majority of adults.
Alicia Fairclough said:

Thank you for those wonderful insights everyone. They are greatly appreciated. Kelley, that article has given me some wonderful ideas and I will certainly be looking into the book suggested by Gil.

Michael: Thank you for sharing your experiences. I definitely consider you a valuable resource :-) I appreciate the reminder that our clients are bio - engineered to change, learn and grow.

I'll be seeing these clients again at the end of the week so I will keep you posted.

Thank you
Alicia

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Morrison on November 7, 2009 at 6:04pm

Definitely check Don Mottin's material. He has a book titled "Raising your children with hypnosis", and also has a video tape on hypnosis with children which is very good. I used the NLP technique shown to remove my daughter's fear of dogs in 15 minutes.
http://www.donmottin.com/Pages/webpages/Singledvds.html
V-105 Hypnosis with Children: Three sessions on this single dvd. First session with a young child with
a fear of dogs. Second session with a child to improve musical abilities. The last is with a teenager failing
in school. Three different age categories and techniques.$50.00

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Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on November 7, 2009 at 8:03pm

With very young children I use puppets. With older children we play games or cards and its amazing the dialogue, suggestions and stories (metaphors) that can be used then. I also frequently use Journey to Wild Divine with kids. As they are on the journey, I give them suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Cooper on November 8, 2009 at 7:52am

Hi Alicia,
Wow,, there are some great reply's to your email...

I had a young girl client, cutting herself,, I had to refer her, had her go through medical professionals as it was the best way to help her. I didn't hear from her or her mother for appprox four months,, yet, was flatterd when they called back.

I did a session with her,, I love to work with kids,, and I two use puppets,, have a bunch of hats that we try on,,, I sit on the floor with her, to create rapport,, play with her so she feels's I'm OK to be with,, she feels safe,, she tried some hats on and as the character of the hat,, she started to respond to her own issues..

Hats,, puppets third person the conversation,, kids feel safer talking through another person,, talking as the "Fireman" as the what ever hat they have on,, knowing it's really not them talking,, yet we gain info,, perspective on where they are coming from without pushing them into a safe schell....

What a great site this is to be able to help each other,,

Try hats,, play toys,, shoes,, imaginary stuff with kids,, they are in theta,, are already in hypnosis as we talk to them,, put on a pair of jeans and hang out on the floor with your client, tell her metaphorical stories of a third party that has a solution to what you feel is the missing information to correct her behahior...

Hoping this all works out for you and your client,,

Enjoy Whistler for me,,

Scott
Clarkston, Michigan

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