What happens during the first session? 

My way of working is very focused on the child, in helping them to find a better way to deal with what is worrying them or their parents. During the first session I learn more about your child and the difficulties they are experiencing but I am very keen to learn what they hope to get out of coming to see me, and I spend time in discovering what they enjoy, what their strengths and internal resources are. All this will help them move towards finding the solution. All of this is done in a gentle way … usually in a fun way … to help them feel at ease.  At the same time I am listening closely to how they talk about things, which language they use etc to help me work with them in the best possible way. 

We then move on to the ‘hypnosis’ part of the session where they can make use of that pleasantly relaxed and creative state where the mind becomes very receptive to the positive suggestions that we will have discussed. Hypnosis for children is simply a state of absolute engagement of ones mind in the story or relaxation or visualisation that I am encouraging them to imagine. Some children imagine best when their eyes are closed and some prefer to keep them open. Some are very relaxed and some are quite wriggly. Either way is fine! The whole process is imaginative and perhaps a little bit ‘day dreamy’.