Supporting children
I provide child-centred, relationship-led therapeutic support in a calm, welcoming environment where children and young people can build trust, express themselves openly and feel understood.
I support children and young people to strengthen their emotional wellbeing, build resilience and develop healthy coping strategies that will help them navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence, both now and in the future.
- Anxiety and worries
- Low mood
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Emotional regulation
- Behavioural challenges
- Significant life changes and transitions
- Friendship and relationship difficulties
- General emotional wellbeing
Every child is unique, so every therapeutic journey is different.
We take time to get to know one another and create a space where your child feels comfortable talking about their thoughts, emotions and experiences in whatever way feels right for them.
Together, we develop a personalised therapy plan built around your child’s interests, experiences, strengths and understanding. Most importantly, the support is shaped by their own goals—what they want to achieve from our time together.
Sessions are tailored to each individual and may draw upon a range of evidence-informed approaches, including talking therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mentoring, creative activities, play-based techniques and, where appropriate, hypnotherapy.
If I believe another professional or service would be better placed to support your child, I will always discuss this with you and help you access the most appropriate support. My priority is ensuring every child receives the help that is right for them.
Children and hypnotherapy
The process of hypnosis is like daydreaming. It is safe and there are no side effects.
Young children are like sponges, always absorbing and learning. Anything they hear, see and feel is taken as true for them and their foundation of belief patterns begins to get laid down.
Some of our belief patterns will be beneficial to our safety and wellbeing, such as “if I put my hand on a burning flame it will hurt”. Some however may be less helpful and may even be based on a misinterpretation of information given to us, such as “I’m rubbish at English because my teacher from primary school told me so”. This misinterpretation can lead a person to have limiting thoughts and behaviours as they journey through their teenage years and into adulthood.
Children’s minds will accept suggestions openly and easily whether they are positive or negative.
How it works
The therapist then creates a multi-sensory experience, such as a story, to deepen their focus further.
Being under hypnosis (a completely relaxed state) enables the conscious part of the brain to be quietened.
When the conscious mind is quiet, the therapist can talk directly to the subconscious brain (the storage centre for all learned behaviours, habits, automatic thoughts and feelings).
When talking to the subconscious, the therapist offers suggestions or alternative thoughts.
These suggestions or alternatives are focussed on the specific needs and goals of the child, for example visualising a future where they can fall asleep without a parent next to them.
This process of suggestions supports in training the child’s brain to create new pathways, to re-wire and ready itself for learning new skills to achieve their desired goal.
It is the child’s choice to adopt the suggested approach or not. The child always has control and must want to make the changes.
Children aged from 5 to 9
This is where hypnotherapy can be really beneficial, utilising the child’s imagination and using the power of positive suggestion, we can work together to overcome emotional difficulties in a relaxed and fun way.
Hypnotherapy is often very different for children with them having their eyes open and us working through the use of metaphors, stories and wellbeing techniques and strategies for beneficial changes.
Common issues supported by hypnotherapy for children aged from 5 to 9 are:
• Bedwetting
• Anxiety
• Confidence
• School
• Eating
• Sleeping
• Friendships
Children aged 10 and over
Hypnotherapy for teenagers can either look similar to adults with eyes closed or an eyes open approach, using techniques such as metaphor and ego strengthening.
Common difficulties supported by hypnotherapy for children aged from 10 to 13 are:
• Exams
• School work pressure
• Anxiety
• Low mood
• Confidence
• Friendships
• School difficulties
• Sleeping
In addition to these, common difficulties for young people include:
• External and internal pressure to succeed
• Relationships
The parents’ role
As well as supporting their child between sessions, it is important that they feedback to the therapist in between sessions and keep them updated with any changes, challenges and general observations.
I want to make wellbeing and mental health support accessible to all and will be keeping the costs as low as possible, passing on savings and price reductions where I can.
I offer discounts for multi session packages as well as a 20% discount for those in receipt of the following benefits:
• DLA or PIP
• carers allowance
• universal credit
• working or child tax credits
To qualify for this discount, supporting documentation will need to be provided.