Originally published May 20 2009
The Benefits of Using Hypnosis in a Pediatric Setting
by Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
(NaturalNews) Hypnotherapy is a natural and safe form of relaxation. The person receiving hypnosis is always in control whether the hypnosis is being administered by a licensed hypnotherapist or through self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is particularly effective in children, because it often requires creative visualization. This imagery easily allows children to be in a relaxed state. Being in a state of hypnosis allows children to work on a various number of things such as pain and anxiety, in a productive and natural way.
O'Grady and Hoffmann (1986) evaluated the use of hypnosis in a pediatric setting. Hypnosis was found to be highly successful when children have high expectations from hypnotherapy, a good relationship with their hypnotherapist, and the ability to be hypnotized. They also found that success was more prominent when the children and parents had a positive relationship with the pediatrician.
These researchers looked at cases in which children used hypnosis. Looking at one particular pediatric hospital, they found that 5% of the children were using hypnosis to improve their symptoms. The study found three particular areas that have shown to improve symptoms in children when using hypnosis. One symptom includes pain. Hypnosis enables children to control pain, reducing the severity and reducing the frequency of painful episodes. Another symptom that hypnosis can improve is anxiety in children. Hypnosis allows children to relax and cognitively reduce anxiety and stress. The third area that hypnosis can help children with is undesirable habits. Hypnotherapy allows children to replace negative behaviors and habits with positive ones through the power of suggestibility.
Goldberg (1987) studied the benefits of psychoanalysis in changing behavior. He found that psychoanalysis was more effective when combined with hypnosis in changing behaviors. Hypnosis works by reprogramming negative behaviors using positive suggestions. These negative behaviors, in time become positive behaviors. This has many potential benefits in helping children change their negative behavior patterns into positive behavior patterns.
Another method of hypnosis that has been found to have many potential benefits in children is the use of self-hypnosis (Gardner, 1981). Self-hypnosis allows children to perform hypnosis on themselves at any time they choose. It allows them to be in control of their symptoms when and where they want. Self-hypnosis works best when both children and parents are open to the idea of learning and practicing hypnosis.
Hypnosis has many potential benefits when used with children. Whether a child is suffering from pain from cancer or they are showing hyperactivity behavior with ADHD, hypnosis can help improve their symptoms in a natural and safe way. Hypnotherapy uses the power of positive suggestions to help children reprogram their subconscious minds so that they are in control of their symptoms.
Sources
Gardner, G.G. (1981). Teaching self-hypnosis to children. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 29(3), 300-312.
Goldberg, B. (1987). Hypnotherapy: A combined approach using psychotherapy and behavior modification. Psychology: A Quarterly Journal of Human Behavior, 24(3), 37-40.
O'Grady, D.J. & Hoffmann, C. (1986). Use of hypnosis by psychologists in a pediatric setting: Establishing and maintaining credibility. Retrieved from ERIC database. ERIC ID: ED272813.
About the author
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/
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