Supporting children and young people to change unwanted habits and behaviours
Children and young people can develop habits and behaviours for many different reasons. Some begin as a source of comfort or reassurance, while others may become more noticeable during times of stress, anxiety, boredom or tiredness.
Over time, some behaviours can become automatic and difficult to change through willpower alone. Other concerns, such as bedwetting, difficulties around eating or anxiety about attending school, may have different underlying causes and benefit from an individual approach.
Hypnotherapy can provide a calm and supportive way to help children and young people build confidence and work towards positive changes.
You May Notice
A child or young person may:
- suck their thumb or fingers
- bite or pick their nails
- twist or pull at their hair
- pick or scratch at their skin
- chew clothing, pencils or other objects
- repeat a particular behaviour without consciously noticing it
- experience bedwetting
- have anxiety or difficulties around food and eating
- become anxious or reluctant about going to school
- find a habit or behaviour becomes more noticeable when stressed, anxious, bored or tired
- feel embarrassed or frustrated about being unable to change it
“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.”
Jess Lair
My Approach with Children & Young People
My work combines clinical hypnotherapy with a psychologically informed approach and gentle, age-appropriate techniques.
With a Master’s degree in Psychology and a degree in Social Work, along with extensive experience working with children and young people, I focus on helping them feel safe, understood and supported.
My approach is warm, non-judgemental and tailored to each child or young person’s individual needs.
“To rid yourself of old patterns, focus all your energy not on struggling with the old, but on building the new.”
Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior
When Habits & Behaviours Begin to Affect Daily Life
Habits and behaviours can sometimes begin to affect a child or young person’s confidence, wellbeing or everyday activities.
For example, bedwetting may make sleepovers or school camps difficult, while an unwanted repetitive habit may cause embarrassment or self-consciousness. Anxiety around eating or going to school can also begin to affect family life, friendships, learning and emotional wellbeing.
Understanding what may be contributing to a behaviour is an important part of deciding how best to support each child or young person.
Different Concerns May Need Different Approaches
Every child or young person is different, and the reasons behind a habit or behaviour can vary.
Bedwetting, for example, can affect confidence as a child gets older. Eating-related difficulties may be associated with anxiety or other concerns, while reluctance to attend school may be connected with separation anxiety, social worries, confidence, academic pressure or particular fears.
Where appropriate, hypnotherapy can support the emotional and behavioural aspects of these concerns.
Some concerns can have underlying medical, developmental or psychological causes. Where appropriate, assessment or support from a GP or another health professional may be recommended before or alongside hypnotherapy.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help
Hypnotherapy can provide a calm and supportive way to help children and young people make positive changes to unwanted habits and behaviours.
Using age-appropriate hypnosis, positive suggestion and guided imagery, sessions can help to:
- strengthen motivation for change
- encourage new and more helpful responses
- build confidence and a greater sense of control
- help make unwanted habits feel easier to change
- reinforce positive changes and new patterns of behaviour
Alongside hypnotherapy, we can also explore when a habit or behaviour tends to occur, what may be contributing to it, and practical ways to support change.
Sessions are gentle, age-appropriate and tailored to each child or young person.
When Anxiety and Confidence Are Also Involved
Habits and behaviours can sometimes become more noticeable during periods of anxiety, stress or emotional change, and may affect sleep. They can also begin to affect how a child or young person feels about themselves.
Where these concerns overlap, you may also find the following pages helpful:
Taking the First Step
All enquiries are treated with complete confidentiality.
If you would like to explore whether hypnotherapy may support your child or young person with a habit, behaviour or other concern, you are welcome to arrange a complimentary 20-minute introductory consultation.
You can call me directly or use the contact form to get in touch.
Referrals from health professionals are welcome
I work alongside a number of health professionals. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your client’s or patient’s suitability, and how I may support their care.