Serenity
by Susan
Is hypnosis helpful for children with ADD and ADHD? What about adult ADD/ADHD?
Answer:
Yes, hypnosis has proven to be very helpful with children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with no side effects. And the same methods that help children to focus and retain information can be used effectively with adults.
With ADD/ADHD, basically the main issue is being able to focus and remember what has been read and learned. Hypnosis uses the power of the deeper mind to “turn the eyes and ears into a video camera, taking in everything you read, hear, and learn, and cataloging it in your brilliant computer mind.”
Children are only kept in the relaxed hypnotic state for about five minutes. Whether a child had attention deficit issues or not, their attention span tends to be very short. As a Specialist in Child Hypnosis, I have the skills to help children focus and remember what they learn, as well as improving the “bouncing off the wall” behavior often associated with the hyperactivity part of the equation.
After conferring with the parent(s), and hypnotizing the child, a cassette tape is made to reinforce the positive suggestions. This tape is to be listened to as the child falls asleep at night, and offers ways for children to put themselves in a relaxed state of focus and enhanced memory in less than one minute.
Another important point of ADD/ADHD “labeling” is that many children (and adults) are under the impression they are less intelligent or “learning disabled.” In fact, studies show that children with ADD or ADHD tendencies are often more intelligent than the average child. And after hypnosis, children are able to concentrate, focus, and remember much better. This is great for the self-esteem of children, as well as adults, and can usually be accomplished with only two to three sessions.
Every child I have hypnotized has remarked about how fun the process was, with comments such as, “that was cool!” Children as young as six years old respond to hypnosis very well, with pre-teens telling me, “I can’t not concentrate in school now, and I get my homework done before Mom gets home from work! Chores are easy to keep track of, and nobody has to keep reminding me.”
Adults have gotten good results, also, for ADD/ADHD issues, as well as improving the tracking of job assignments and other work-related problems. The same basic techniques are used for adults, although their time in the hypnotic state may be longer. Remember, your mind is very powerful, and you can use it to help you to be able to focus, remember better, and stay calm in all situations.
Susan Gilmore, CHT, ASC has a Specialty Certification in Child Hypnosis. Call for more information at 548-7045, or email to: hypnos27@aol.com