THE PURPOSE of any therapy is always to increase the child’s control of desired good and happy feelings or behaviour, and any suggestion that emphasizes loss of control can only inhibit the recovery progress. The techniques and the specific therapeutic suggestions used in hypnotherapy emphasize children’s involvement and control, and encourage their active participation in the process of experiencing and utilizing hypnosis or in a lot of cases simple visualisation.

At no time is the patient (whether a young child or not,) treated without the parent or guardian being in full knowledge of the process. Often within hearing range and sometimes out of the line of sight to facilitate concentration, it depends a lot of the wishes and needs of that child. I find if the parent is there in the room and seemingly concentrating on some reading matter, the child will keep looking in that direction for reassurance, but not be distracted from the learning process that hypnotherapy and the accompanying methods indeed are.

PHYSICAL PAIN: Hypnosis has established a successful record in the paediatric setting mainly in the management of procedure-related pain with hospitalisation being short or long term, they might undergo numerous painful procedures and a number of controlled studies have shown that hypnosis is effective in treating procedure-related pain.

Children have long been regarded as good respondents to hypnosis, because hypnotic-like states are common to their experience, and these conditions are found in childhood play, fantasy, and imaginary playmates, the ‘out of it’ kind of expectation of the parent is often not at all needed. We all know that at times we can seem to be ‘here’ and yet are ‘gone’ off into another place, a state of day-dreaming that can be very refreshing.

Hypnosis therapy has been found to be of significant help in reducing pain and anxiety in all of the studies conducted so far. Results indicate that both hypnosis and other coping skills are effective in preparing patients for medical procedures, with hypnosis being superior in minimizing anxiety and behavioural distress. There is consistency of the findings among the studies contacted so far, and any recovery healing process is greatly enhanced with or without previous accompanying hypnosis sessions, so advice to the parent is always soonest is best, but don’t delay later.

Compared with adults, children are more likely to wriggle and move about, open their eyes or refuse to close them and make spontaneous comments during hypnotic inductions and treatment. Although these behaviours may indicate resistance, this is not necessarily the case. Most often the child is simply adapting hypnosis to their behavioural style.

Additionally, there is possibility for hypnosis to be utilized for the management of other conditions, chronic pain, phantom limb pain, needle phobia, generalized anxiety, dysphagia for pills, insomnia etc. or behavioural situations accompanying grief for example, for the child experiences the loss of freedom and mobility too. Grief of the many other kinds are delt with in similar and special ways.

Preparation usually includes discussion of the reasons for utilizing hypnosis, clarification of misconceptions, and full reply to questions. Details of the child’s likes and dislikes, significant experiences, fears, hopes, and comfort areas are discussed. Children respond to a large number of hypnotic inductions each with countless variations. The choice of an appropriate induction for any given child depends on the needs and preferences of that child.

The therapist can also teach the patient self-hypnosis as a way for them to participate actively (in a motivated and purposeful way) in the treatment process, and to reinforce self-mastery. Moreover, hypnosis is an opportunity for the clinician to be inventive, spontaneous and playful, and to build a stronger therapeutic relationship with a child while providing symptom relief, (that’s the best part for me!)

HYPNOSIS ADVANTAGES: Hypnosis has several attractive features. It is safe and does not produce adverse effects or drug interactions. Children enjoy the hypnotic experience. They obtain relief without destructive or unpleasant effects. There is no reduction of normal function or mental capacity and no development of tolerance to the hypnotic effect.

It is a skill, which children can easily learn, that provides a personal sense of mastery and control over their problems and counters feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. A beneficial change in attitude towards treatment and hypnosis also fosters a sense of control.

An additional benefit is that hypnosis can be generalized to many distressing circumstances. The child who learns hypnosis for management for one treatment may apply their skills to lessen the distress of others, insomnia, anxiety etc.

CONCLUSION: It is clear that children would benefit tremendously from the wider application of hypnosis in paediatric centres. In terms of clinical practice, the optimal control of children’s symptoms requires an integrated approach because many factors are responsible - however seemingly clear-cut the cause.

Children might well receive hypnotic intervention in conjunction with pharmacological treatments. Hypnosis is a reasonably cost-efficient technique that may well enhance patient compliance, reduce time allocations of expensive medical personnel and equipment, and minimize the distress of children who must undergo medical procedures.

Only properly trained and certificated health care professionals who have been trained in the clinical use of hypnosis and are working within the areas of their professional expertise should be employed. It is therefore imperative that paediatric practitioners are well trained, properly supervised and that the provision of services is carefully planned, resourced and managed.

The therapist may not use hypnosis, and certainly a trance-like appearance does not always mean we are in a hypnotic state! For example just staring into the middle distance when in deep thought does not mean you are hypnotised, does it? And it is by no means necessary for anyone, including children, to be in any deep state to benefit from a gentle suggestion.

The cost of treatment is dependant on the monetary resources of the client. I have helped many people of all ages through the holistic healing approach, from the grief stricken child, or the busy man working all day in his office, to the retired farmer who’s back pain has troubled him all his working life.

LOCATION: Reepham in Norfolk, East Anglia, is about 20 minutes from the outskirts of Norwich. Appointments are made by telephone: 01603 879126

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