Therapy for Children

HOW TO TELL IF MY CHILD NEEDS THERAPY

There are many behaviours our children can display that can be worrying to us as parents, and although putting them in therapy can feel like a big step, it’s best to address these issues while the child is younger to avoid them taking unhealthy behaviours or coping mechanisms into adulthood.

If your child is displaying any of the behaviours listed below, therapy can help:

• Anxiety issues

• Behaviour problems

• Bedwetting or toilet issues

• Issues with eating

• Lack of social skills

• Low self-esteem

• Depression

• Self-harm or potentially life-threatening behaviours

It can also be good to preempt these issues by offering therapy to a child who has been a victim of abuse and/or has suffered a family breakdown or bereavement.

IS IT COMMON FOR CHILDREN TO NEED THERAPY?

It’s more common for a child to suffer from a phobia or an anxiety disorder than for an adult. This can be because as a child we aren’t as capable of rationalising our fears and putting them into perspective. Some children will naturally outgrow their fears, phobias and anxieties but some children will carry these into their adult lives. There doesn’t have to be a traumatic incident for a child to develop a fear of something. The earlier the issue is addressed and resolved, the more positive the outcome for you and your child.

COUNSELLING FOR CHILDREN

The pressures on young people today have increased drastically, it can be helpful to talk about their issues but they can find it difficult to talk to people they know. Counselling will give your child a safe and unbiased space to talk about their feelings, problems and thoughts without the fear of judgement or indiscretion. 

When a child is suffering from mental, social or emotional, or psychological distress and/or trauma, it can be hard for the whole family to cope with. It can feel like nothing is working or you don’t know what to do for the best. This is when working with a counsellor can be extremely beneficial. Sometimes it’s helpful for entire families to get the support they need to create healthy boundaries and communication techniques.

HYPNOTHERAPY FOR CHILDREN

Hypnotherapy is a great method to address issues such as:

• Bedwetting (enuresis or encopresis)

• Thumb-sucking

• Weight or food-related issues

• Sibling rivalry

• Confidence and self-esteem issues

• ADD/ADHD

• Temper tantrums and aggression

• Trauma

• Stuttering

• School phobia/School Anxiety/School Refusal

• Transitions such as the death of a pet or loved one, moving, divorce

• Learning or test/S.A.T.S anxiety

• Sports performance anxiety

• Public speaking

• Shyness

One of the reasons that hypnotherapy for children can be so effective is that children are naturally more imaginative. Our therapist’s treatment might include the use of stories and adventures, such as meeting a superhero or even a character from a favourite TV programme. Even an older child can often be open to using their imagination, but as they are already more sophisticated in their thinking, we would format their treatment accordingly. 

THE ‘BLOWAWAY’ TECHNIQUE

The Blowaway technique created by Neil French in 1978 is a mix of hypnosis and suggestion therapy. When using hypnotherapy for children it is often not necessary to explain hypnosis in detail to the child. We may simply explain that they will be having a relaxed and quiet time where they can use their imagination to go on a fun journey.

It is important that the child is willing to address the problem or behaviour themselves and want to be part of the therapeutic process. Our younger clients often enjoy the sessions so much, they ask their parent to continue the sessions long after the issue is resolved. We offer recordings of the sessions so that your child can listen to them at home.

CAN I BE THERE WITH MY CHILD FOR THE SESSION?

We often find that the participation of the parent in hypnotherapy sessions can be helpful. A parent’s anxiety about a behaviour or an issue can often make change more difficult for the child. Parents have frequently reported experiencing great personal benefit from the sessions themselves.