Children and teenagers

What sorts of problems are typical for children?

These problems are very common and, depending on the cause, usually respond very well to hypnotherapy:
Bedwetting, General anxiety, Separation anxiety, Various fears and phobias with fear of dogs being the most common, Study and exam related stress, School bullying, Thumb sucking, Nail biting and various compulsive habits, Childhood Tics, Selective eating, Anger problems, Lack of confidence and Poor Self-esteem.

These are less common but, sadly, increasingly seen in my consulting room:
Body image anxiety, School refusal, Selective mutism, Depression, Self-harm, Various OCD behaviours, Severe constipation and withholding, Defecating in underwear

Thank you so much for stopping my panic attacks Lynda!
You’re amazing!

I think Lynda’s the best!
She helps me get to sleep every night listening to her!’

How does hypnotherapy work with children?

With teenagers, the process is fairly similar to that used with adults. With children and very young ones the process is much more about active engagement of the mind. You could describe it as a highly focused, daydream-like state which is sometimes relaxing but it is also very common that eyes are open with plenty of wriggling around!

I use lots of imaginative activities, metaphors and stories. All of these need to be age-appropriate of course and also matched to a particular child’s interests, attention span and personality. And, naturally, difficulties such as ADHD and high functioning autism also need to be taken very much into account when choosing the type of activity.

Is there any on-going support between sessions?

I am passionate about recording tailor-made audios (CDs or MP3s) for on-going support at home for no extra fee. I record the positive suggestions and guided visualisation element of the session to reinforce the effect. The more they listen, usually at bedtime, the more effective the result. Regular listening helps them drift off to sleep calmly and peacefully and can also reduce the number of face-to-face visits required. It is also possible to purchase my published MP3s and CDs from our online shop

How do I choose the right hypnotherapist for my child?

You should always choose a hypnotherapist who has training and experience in working with children and belongs to a well-respected professional association.

For more information read our FAQs.