As the parent of grown-up children and as an experienced high school teacher and therapist, I have first-hand knowledge of the physical, mental and emotional difficulties that our children suffer. I know you will want to be sure that your child is helped and supported by someone you can trust absolutely. You need reassurance that therapy will help and not add to your child's problems. You may also wonder, is my child old enough for hypnotherapy?

In addition, you need to know your hard-earned money is being well spent.

Children

Firstly, I would say that any child old enough to sit reasonably still in my very comfortable chair, and understand what I am saying, is old enough to benefit from therapy. (I have a teddy bear and a cuddly puppy as companions to reassure the nervous.)

Realistically, I would say 5 years old would be the minimum age for therapy.

It is most helpful for me to discuss the problem with Mum first, so that I can decide on the best approach and course of therapy.

I will relax your child with a wonderful story that they will really enjoy and, once they are very relaxed, I will be able to give the sub-conscious mind very positive, helpful and healing suggestions that will alleviate the problem.

Hypnotherapy is a very powerful way of addressing a range of problems suffered by children, such as:

• Night terrors

• Bed-wetting

• Nail-biting and other bad habits

• Phobias

• Bereavement

• Traumatic experience

• Lack of confidence

• Low self-esteem

• Obsessive behaviours

• Anger management

• Fear - such as fear of school, dogs, or being separated from parents

• Coping with family break-up
  

Often it is helpful to record sessions, so that you will be able to reinforce the positive, sub-conscious learning at home. For the older child it is usually helpful if they leave Mum in the sitting room, but for the very young, of course, Mum can be a reassuring presence in the room.

Teenagers

Teenagers often have very strong opinions and minds of their own! They should, of course, be part of the decision to come and see me. Also, some problems are very emotional or embarrassing, so seeking help is a tough decision to make. (Reading my leaflet or website may help.) It is best for me to treat a teenager alone, although a private chat with Mum or Dad on the telephone first is helpful and of course a parent is welcome to accompany their son or daughter to my home. I will explain my therapy plan to my 'client' so he or she understands and will co-operate with the process.

As every parent knows, teenagers feel things acutely and their fears, lack of confidence or self-esteem, and physical and emotional concerns are made worse by the effects of a developing, fluctuating hormone system. Hypnotherapy is a powerful and very natural way of alleviating the suffering of the young. Again, deep relaxation to trance level using tried and proven hypnotic methods will enable me to address deep-seated fears and anxieties, and exchange them for positive, motivational suggestions that work on the subconscious mind at a very deep level.

Usually, I will record the session so that your son or daughter can listen to it again and again on CD, iPod or other recording device.

Hypnotherapy is a very powerful way of alleviating a range of problems suffered by teenagers, such as:

• Depression

• Stress, including exam stress and anxiety

• Panic attacks / nervousness / general anxiety

• Obsessive - compulsive behaviours

• Phobias of all kinds

• Guilt or grief

• Lack of confidence / low self-esteem

• Relationship anxieties / coping with family break-up

• Leaving home for the first time, including trips, going to university etc

• Eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia (supporting your medical expert)

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Enuresis (leakage of urine during sleep)

• Anger management

• Healthy weight loss / feeling in control of eating habits

• Confidence for public performance or sports events

• Motivation to succeed / harnessing the power of positive thinking at a subconscious level

• The impact of emotional trauma - past or present

• Insomnia (problems sleeping)

• Physical confidence, including dysmorphophobia - a deep-seated belief that the body, or a part of the body, is repulsive.

• Concentration, focus, calmness

As with all my clients, I will respect client confidentiality so teenagers will know that they can talk to me honestly about their concerns, and will not need to feel embarrassed. Part of my practice is 'listening therapy' - listening carefully, so that my client can express their worries completely openly, without the fear of being judged, and I can consider the most successful way to help using safe, powerful hypnotherapy.