Hypnosis for Anxiety in Children
Hello,
Anxiety affects many children.
From a very young age, they may experience fears, a sense of insecurity, and anxiety that can affect their emotional and social development.
Here’s how therapeutic hypnosis can gently help children find greater peace of mind…
Symptoms of Anxiety in Children
Anxiety in children manifests itself in different ways depending on their age and environment, including:
- Some irrational fears (fear of the dark, fear of school, fear of abandonment)
- Some sleep disorders and nightmares
- Some panic attacks or avoiding certain situations, with a strong need for reassurance—for example, by clinging to a parent—but also, at times, withdrawing into oneself
- Some quirks, repetitive behaviors such as biting one's nails or twirling one's hair
- Some stomachache or unexplained headaches
- Some difficulty concentrating and a decline in academic performance
Anxiety in children is linked to a feeling of losing one's bearings or losing control.
It will be exacerbated by events that create instability in the child’s environment: the start of the school year, a move, the loss of a loved one, the arrival of a little brother or sister…
If your child is overwhelmed by anxiety, or if the symptoms are debilitating—particularly if they’re affecting your child’s sleep, eating habits, or social relationships—consult your pediatrician or a child psychologist.
Different Forms of Anxiety in Children
For very young children, anxiety is often linked to separation from their parents.
It manifests as crying when the child is left with the nanny or at daycare, clinging to the parent who is present, and sometimes even just when new people are at home.
This is a normal part of a child’s transition to a new environment that they must learn to understand and navigate, but it can become problematic if it persists or turns into a panic attack.
Fear of the dark or monsters
As children grow and develop their language skills and access to their imagination through stories, fairy tales, or games, they may become afraid of the dark, unfamiliar noises, or imaginary creatures under their beds. These fears can disrupt their sleep and cause them to feel very insecure.
School Anxiety
As children start school, new sources of anxiety emerge: fear of failure, academic pressure, and difficulty making friends.
Some children develop excessive perfectionism or refuse to go to school out of fear of being judged.
Performance Anxiety and Social Anxiety
As children grow up—and especially as they approach adolescence—society’s expectations regarding academic, athletic, and artistic performance increase, and some young people may develop a performance anxiety, sometimes accompanied by anxiety attacks or stress-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
And from a social perspective, the child also becomes more aware of how others perceive him or her.
The’social anxiety The following may occur: fear of public speaking, fear of being rejected by a group, or difficulty handling criticism.
Hypnosis for Anxiety in Children
Therapeutic Hypnosis—often combined with breathing techniques and sophrology—will help the child achieve a state of relaxation and lightness in which their imagination can be set free to become a powerful tool for transformation.
Hypnosis for children is based on:
- A playful, gentle, and creative approach that adapts to the child’s emotions and needs in the moment
- Working with the unconscious mind—where fears and beliefs reside—to gently untangle these knots and build the child’s self-confidence.
- Language tailored to children that uses metaphors, stories, and imaginative play based on their own frame of reference.
Continue the work at home:
Some children—especially teenagers—may not want to talk to their parents about what happens during therapy sessions.
But if you're able to and your child is willing, you can continue the work at home.
For example, by using positive metaphors, breathing exercises to «blow their fears into a bubble that floats away,» or by helping them find, before going to sleep, a magical imaginary place that represents calm and safety...
The Benefits of Hypnosis for Anxiety in Children
Therapeutic hypnosis can therefore help an anxious child in various ways:
- Better manage their emotions and reduce their daily stress
- Overcoming Their Fears and phobias through visualization techniques
- Improving Their Sleep, by calming ruminative thoughts before bedtime
- Building Self-Confidence in the face of academic and social challenges
- Reducing Physical Symptoms Associated with Anxiety (stomachaches, muscle tension, nervous tics...)
In general, children are very receptive to hypnosis because they have such vivid imaginations, and the work gets done much faster than with adults!
Tiffany was afraid to sleep alone…
Tiffany, age 8, had been refusing to sleep alone for several months, for fear that something might happen to her parents during the night. This led to crying spells and restless sleep filled with nightmares.
During her hypnosis sessions, Tiffany created a story in which she became a guardian of the night with superpowers that protected her and her entire family.
So she learned to calm herself down before going to sleep and to fall asleep on her own without fear.
What Happens During a Hypnosis Session for Children?
Before the therapeutic hypnosis session:
We usually have an initial conversation with at least one of the parents over the phone to make sure we're the right resource for them.
It is important for the child to be willing to participate in the process.
Even if your child doesn't necessarily understand what hypnosis is, you can show them a photo or video introducing the hypnotherapist on our team to spark their interest in meeting this person who tells stories that are a little bit magical. 🙂
Often, just the word “hypnosis” piques their curiosity, and they can’t wait!
The Hypnosis Session for Children:
At the beginning of the meeting, the three of us—the parent who is present and the child—talk together.
After that, the session itself usually takes place with just the child.
At the end of the session, we have a quick debrief with the parent, but if everything goes well, we don’t go into detail—the child likes to keep that to themselves and will talk about it later when they feel like it.
Are you worried about what happens during your child's session?
Feel free to discuss this with your hypnotherapist.
For example, some members of Solutions Hypnose will offer you a video monitor (with the sound turned off) so you can watch the session from the waiting room.
Are you interested in hypnotherapy for anxiety in children?
Therapeutic hypnosis is therefore a valuable ally for anxious children, helping them regain a sense of calm, confidence, and serenity.
Through sessions tailored to their imagination, they learn to better manage their anxiety in a natural way.
The entire team of hypnotherapists at Solutions Hypnose who work with children—in Quebec, France, and via video—is here to support you.
Schedule an appointment now to create the life you want through hypnosis!
See you soon.
The Hypnosis Solutions Team
Meet the Solutions Hypnose team that works with children
Meet our team specializing in pediatric hypnosis—hypnosis for children and adolescents.
Note: Your child needs to be willing to go through with this. You can show them a photo and/or introductory video of the hypnotherapist you’ve chosen so they can decide if they’d like to meet this person who tells stories that are a little bit magical 🙂
Our team has offices in Quebec and France.
If you can't find a hypnotherapist near you, most of our team members offer video sessions 💻 and theVideo consultations often go very well, but it depends on the child's age.
We suggest that you contact the hypnotherapist you are interested in to make sure that all the necessary conditions are in place for an effective session with your child.
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