CHILDREN: THE BEST SUBJECTS
Multiple uses of Hypnotherapy!

Children often are marvellous subjects for hypnosis. Once they have developed to the level where they can have an adequate attention span they tend to be easily hypnotizable. This may be due to the fact that much of early childhood is spent in hypnosis. Children play games that include deep involvement, which is a form of hypnosis. They indulge in fantasies and pretend experiences, which are forms of hypnosis.

Children are additionally benefited by the fact that many inhibitions which commonly affect adults have not yet developed. Children also have limited capacities for critical judgment. Trust and positive rapport are essential and bringing out these qualities can be difficult, especially in cases where a child is presented by a feared authority figure. Confidence must be earned. Apprehensions must be allayed. Communication must be established.

Applicable utilizations
Why would a child need or be benefited by hypnotherapy? Like the famous answer to the question, "How do I love thee?" let me count the ways! Certainly among important usages must be the early control or elimination of childish habits - bedwetting, nose-picking, mannerisms and often attitudes. As children grow older hypnosis can dramatically affect attention problems, learning enhancement, study procedures, anxieties (whether from home, school or other sources), self-esteem, motivation, athletic performance, creativity, non-understood grief (or loss or separation) - the list is virtually endless.

To a professional it is incredible the amount of psychological damage that can be and is done to children by parents, relatives, siblings, teachers or authority figures. Much of it is well-meaning efforts intended to provide direction and motivation, coming from a trusted source who intends no harm.
However, children differ (just as adults do). Some are introverts, some are extroverts; some come from homes that offer praise and encouragement, others come from environments where criticism and lack of recognition are considered appropriate; some come from environments of love, some come from environments of discord and abuse. One of the greatest gifts a child can receive is prolonged contact with an individual (whether teacher, parent, older sibling, coach or counsellor) who can and will offer sensitivity, understanding and appreciation of value.

Children respond to comments by authority figures in differing ways. A parent or teacher, on viewing a poor report card, might comment: "You are going to be the dumbest kid in the class all your life!" The intent might well be to motivate the child to change this detrimental distinction by trying harder. A self-assured child might respond in that manner. Yet an insecure child might well accept the statement literally as a true prognostication and experience a psychological inner flip which locks in place acceptance of the self as unworthy, incapable and doomed to fulfill the stated destiny.
The files of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists are filled with cases of adult clients who have sought therapy to get out from under the self depreciating childhood imprints imposed by well-meaning (and often not so well-meaning) guardians.