Often students use hypnosis as a context for creating a safe or comfortable state of mind, suggesting away symptoms, or uncomplicated ego-strengthening by bolstering encouragement. This is little more than psycho-education done in trance. But hypnosis offers opportunities for far more therapeutic intervention. This open discussion format will help participants dig into this area and develop some expanded possibilities for therapy during hypnosis.
Many clinicians focus on breathing, calming, or other distraction techniques when dealing with anxious children. However, focusing on "getting rid of the worry" often backfires, and leaves children and teens feeling more hopeless than engaged. But, when we use short "relaxation" practices with children to shift their patterns and beliefs--when we use this time of focus to deliver and seed valuable information--we create great opportunities for change, engagement, and skill-building. In this hour, I'll describe the tricks to getting the most out these exercises, without stepping into the trap of elimination.