Book Review: Using Hypnosis with Children

“This book is, first and foremost, a book of action,” writes psychotherapist Lynn Lyons. “This might surprise most people, based on the common vision of hypnosis as still, quiet, or passive.” But, she continues, “Hypnosis is a bridge from stuck to solutions.” When it comes to using hypnosis with children, “there may be moments of stillness, but in the larger frame of helping families, it’s all about inducing movement — sometimes literally.” In Using Hypnosis with Children: Creating and Delivering Effective Interventions, Lyons changed some of my assumptions about hypnosis. Like many people, I imagined it to more closely resemble guided meditation. I got an immediate vision of a relaxed person sitting with their eyes closed, sifting through their subconscious with the help a verbal advisor — their hypnotist. In reading Lyons’s book, I learned that hypnotherapy is often more about visualization and re-direction, especially with children. While I cannot speak on behalf of professional therapists, I can say I understand the idea of re-direction well. For much of my twenties I worked as an early childhood education teacher, primarily with preschoolers. I often worked independently with the younger half of the pre-k room: those transitioning from the toddler room. The challenges with this age group are vast, but the most difficult transition came when free play ended and bathroom stops before nap time began. Any teacher knows this combination of events is ...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Book Reviews Children and Teens Disorders General Professional Psychology Psychotherapy Students Treatment books on hypnosis childhood Coping skill Early Childhood Education hypnosis for children Hypnotherapy hypnotherapy wit Source Type: news