Happy relaxed kids? Yes please!
There is a lot going on right now anxiety is running high, I turned to a new source for our family and am absolutely loving it , today I’m letting Jessica Johnson of Hypnoheal take over and give you the deets on her program and how to get healing with hypnosis… also jess has offered a deal check it out after the read!
For centuries, children have had problems with behavioral issues. Unfortunately, due to today's climate and an ever-changing technology crisis, kids have more distractions and battles that they are coming up against. But I'm here to tell you; there is hope. From sharing with siblings to video game addiction, there is one underrated solution that not enough people seem to be talking about. Its been around for quite some time, and the outcomes found in studies are phenomenal. So you may be asking, then why isn't it in the mainstream? Personally, I think the public has a lot of misconceptions about what it is and what it isn't. But today, we will discuss the core facts about how it relates to children, so with that drum roll, please... Hypnosis (or hypnotherapy)! It's an incredible tool used to reframe limiting beliefs, reconcile bad habits, and heal trauma, among many other things.
In this post, I will be discussing a few big techniques that hit some of the biggest problems in our children today. No method is better than another; they are simply different ways to help your kids live happier, healthier lives as they mold from tiny humans to the adults of our future generation.
So, let's start with the fantastic technique, Sleep Talk. This method was created by Joan Goulding when she was desperate to find a way to help her special needs daughter. After seven years of dead ends and false starts, Joane discovered a process that would work to overcome her daughters' disabilities. She set out to share it with the collective and help other parents cultivate breakthroughs for thousands of children worldwide with mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. In fact, her work is so incredible that children's healthcare professionals have been using and recommending the Goulding SleepTalk process since 1974.
SleepTalk teaches parents to work with their children while they sleep, and when they awaken, children have a more positive mindset. It can be used with children aged 0-14 and only takes about 2 minutes per evening. And the method has received countless positive feedback for issues dealing with aggression, behavior management, stress, fear, anxiety, and trauma. The word is based on specific positive affirmations while the child is asleep. The keyword here is specific. For instance, you wouldn't want to repeat to your child how intelligent they are. Instead, you would pinpoint the areas in which you feel they are struggling, cultivate suggestions based on their dilemma, and tell stories about others who have overcome their problems.
Emotional intelligence and resilience are crucial for children. This intelligence starts in the womb as babies listen and feel everything that the mother feels, impacting healthy brain and body development. Her work has so many amazing stories about children who have been helped with: ADHD, adoption stress, anger, anxiety, autism, bullying, emotional outbursts, confidence, nightmares, OCD, panic attacks, lack of respect, nail-biting, PTSD, sleep issues, speech impediments, stress, hearing problems and tantrums, among many others.
Now, I have a couple of other hypnosis techniques that are great with children. And I know you may be thinking, "what else do we need? Joan’s technique checks all the boxes," but I'm here to tell you, hypnosis is not a one-size-fits-all. Other techniques may be better suited for your children. One of them is parts integration. For instance, your child may have said of the following before or something like it. "I wish I could pet dogs, but I'm so scared of them" or "I'd like to see my friends, but whenever I go to see them I get a headache" or "I know I am on my phone too much, but I don't know how to put it down". If you hear these statements from your child or similar ones, and you have tried other forms of hypnosis, parts therapy might make sense for them.
Parts therapy is based on the theory that every person consists of different parts. These parts manifest, consciously and unconsciously, in a person's everyday life through various behaviors, reactions, and traits. This applies to both adults and children. Each one of these parts has individual needs, wants, and beliefs. In hypnosis, children can get to know these inner parts of themselves, become conscious of them, and recognize the goals and intentions of their parts. It's important to note that no behavior is inherently "bad". Even if their behavior seems damaging, all these parts always have a positive intention to protect the individual child. The key to successful parts therapy often lies in showing and explaining to the child the long-term positive uses of the behavior of their parts and negotiating with them to learn new habits. Parts therapy aims to give each part a voice and recognize their needs, wants, or fears.
The inner dialogue, which is ordinarily subconscious, now receives a place to be seen and heard. The goal is to transform the unintentionally dominant parts so that all aspects work together for the child's greater good. It does not involve eliminating any part of the child; instead, it continuously transforms and integrates parts. However, it is essential to state that the decision to change parts always lies entirely with the child. Suppose a hypnotherapist works too suggestively to steer the child firmly in a particular direction. In that case, the transformation of the parts could become superficially accepted. Ideally, hypnotists interfere as little as possible in the dialogue between the parts of the child. They guide them through the process of helping themselves, asking questions that guide rather than lead so that the resolution comes from the child's inner mind rather than the hypnotherapist's.
Let's look at a practical example: A 7-year-old child refuses to go to school because of being bullied. The parents require them to go to school despite the problem. Now, the child newly suffers from severe headaches that prevent them from attending school. In this situation, we are dealing with two parts. The dominant part (primarily subconscious) whispers to the child, "Don't go to school, it's scary there, and you will be made fun of again. Act like you have a headache; then, you can stay home in safety!"(short-term thinking). Now, it might seem like a negative intention from this part, but what's really happening, is that the part is protecting the child from danger. The less dominant part (also primarily on the subconscious level), whispers to the child: "wait... you love to learn, and your best friend is waiting to see you, you can't pretend to have a headache forever." This is the "inner core part" (long-term thinking). This child has an overall healthy environment and wants to do the things they love, but this short-term fear gets in the way of their long-term success. Positive core beliefs in this example are anchored within the child's core, which makes this process successful. However, suppose this is not innately within the child. In that case, it is recommended to boost their self-love and self-confidence beforehand with other hypnosis techniques.
Now, I have one more method that is tied explicitly to children who are diagnosed with ADHD. This technique works with their diagnosis as a strength rather than a weakness. It reframes their understanding of ADHD to help them open up new possibilities in their lives. This helps create more flexibility in their minds. We all know that flexible people tend to have healthier mindsets and naturally become more adaptable to what life throws at them. So let's see how this process works.
We start by reframing the belief structure, something our minds are used to doing already, especially children. Someone offers another option outside of the child's, and whichever seems most compelling seems to win. The goal is to move the child from a definite thought or behavior to a choice, generating three or more possibilities they hadn't considered yet, or at least have not considered in much depth. Remember, there is always a middle ground or "third way". This begins the thought process of choice, which helps them to be empowered.
One of the most potent ways to implant suggestions is to do so indirectly. Instead of suggesting that the child become more confident, we tell a story about someone else who used to lack confidence and then found it. This can be done by reframing their ADHD too. Our minds love stories and metaphors. So often, we don't know how to come up with a solution, but when we connect the issue to a story/metaphor, it teaches them how to problem-solve. This is especially true with children. For instance, telling a child, they have a mind like a fast computer that can bring in information and store it directly in seconds will help them integrate information more quickly. Get the picture? By reframing how they think about their brain, they enforce these suggestions as strengths and start to use their superpowers. Okay, so now that you understand what we're aiming to do, let's get practical and look at how we might help children reframe their ADHD in session.
A hypnotherapist will start by finding out the child's current perception of ADHD. Asking them to finish sentences like "ADHD is..." and "ADHD is like...." When the child ends these sentences, the hypnotist knows their core beliefs, giving them a foundation to work on. "Is it helpful or limiting?", "Is it debilitating or generative?", "Can they prove it?", "Is this a fact or bias?". All of these things need to be considered so that reframing becomes a simple task from one thought pattern to another.
I hope this has helped you find new resources in parenthood. Because the world of hypnosis is ever-expanding, and practitioners are always coming up with new techniques, there is sure to be something to help your child achieve their goals. Needless to say, this stuff works. If you are looking to help your child with a problem, do some research and make a list of questions. It never hurts to interview multiple people to find the right fit for your kid.
Blessings,
Certified Hypnotherapist & Nurse
Mention #haveananny fora special offer of 3 sessions for the of two ! happy healing ! reach out to Jess and read some of her reviews here
XOXO.
Liza
