TeensTeens are affected by many of the same issues as adults. Hypnotherapy is very useful for weight loss, stop smoking, stress reduction, to improve athletic performance, overcome insomnia, improve self-esteem, academic improvement and so on. Unlike adults, teenagers are often more confidant about the process with few, if any, fears. Learning the skill of self hypnosis can be especially beneficial at this time of their life. These youth are worth our time, effort, and whatever learning we can share or give to them, and then some. One of the most fragile segments of society, they will become the stronghold. This is the time they are building the foundations of the future. Not just their future, but the future. They need as many opportunities and options as possible. The teen years can be troubling and confusing for youth - it is the time of the big Identity Crisis - and we all remember that. For many these years are spent in preparation for college or the workplace. Today stresses of academic achievement, peer pressure, smoking and body image issues affect youth as seriously as their self-esteem and self-confidence. They, too, have fears and worries about what their future will hold - even how they'll get through the week. And they can be just as overworked, just as stressed, as adults. Heavy school loads, chores, babysitting, tests, sports, part-time jobs, and extracurricular classes create a heavy workload. They can be pretty tired by the end of the week, when it's time to relax...or go to their job, or study, or help at home. Ten or 15 minutes of self hypnosis, the equivalent of a one-hour nap, can be an invaluable tool for teens. It's a good skill to learn well before they move on to post-secondary education. It gives a welcome respite from the cares of their daily lives. Many are dissatisfied with being overweight or want to quit smoking as the influence of peer pressure starts to wane. People in this age group often fixate on body image. Peer pressure is enormous, as is pressure from the "adult" world. (It isn't teens who write the ads that depict evermore slender models) Appearance and behavior do affect how others think of us. But health should be the number one issue. Fixated on trying to look like a model or a sports hero who is pumped up on steroids is unhealthy - mentally, emotionally, and physically. If this has gone too far, please see your medical doctor. Fixation on weight loss and dieting can lead to a perpetual cycle of unhealthy dieting. If weight loss is a health issue, a long-term health boosting plan is needed. A plan that needs to combine exercise with healthy eating, while maintaining a healthy self-esteem. Have you been looking for a diet or weight loss plan? Using hypnosis means no more calorie counting, no yo-yo cycles of dieting and no more poor self-esteem. The needed changes can happen easily and gently. The Healthy & Fit Teen programs are designed to address emotional issues, encourage eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water, while boosting the motivation to exercise any way you choose. No more dieting! No calorie counting! Motivation will increase! Self image will improve! Weight loss can be fun. And it's important for health now and in the future. In a recent press release, Dr. Beth Abramson, a cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (www.heartandstroke.ca) said, "Canada's teens are heavier than ever, and this is leading them straight down the road to heart disease." She offers further tips for teens at their site. More and more, this age group is emerging as a group recognizing a need for spiritual growth or experiences as they begin a deeper self-examination. Learning the skill of self hypnosis can teach them how to access inner stillness and inner wisdom. It is as beneficial to them as it is to adults. Enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence in teenagers, gives them more choice, more self-worth. Self hypnosis classes offer an opportunity to gain a lifelong skill that will aid them in business, family, and personal life. Though fewer and fewer adult people are smoking it is still an issue for teens. Past Puffing is a Stop Smoking program designed for teens who really do want to quit. It can be part of the Healthy & Fit program. Teens often make changes more quickly than adults. Moods can improve rapidly. Skills can be rapidly learned to alleviate stress and anxiety. Test anxiety, academic improvement, sports improvement, self-esteem, healing the inner child, sanctuary, self-confidence, fears, forgiveness, inner wisdom, relaxation for stress problems, and more, are all areas that teens are open and receptive to. They really are open to new ideas. Many are looking for healthy ways to alleviate their problems. New groups and classes will starting in Kelowna, Spring 2007. These small groups are flexible and designed to meet the needs of each individual teenager while offering ongoing support. Individual sessions are also available.
Some of the topics are:
Healthy & Fit Teen, For further information and to register, go to our Contact page
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Hypnosis as a Therapy with Children and Adolescents Marlene Ritchie, B.S., M.N., Emma Plank's First Assistant Japanese Review of a Workshop conducted by Dr. Leora Kuttner, Pediatric Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Professor of Pediatrics BC Children's Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, At the Child Life Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.., June 2005. "Hypnosis is an ideal therapy for children and teens, "says Dr. Kuttner. She defines it as "An alternative state of awareness, often but not always involving relaxation, in which an individual develops heightened concentration through which suggestions are accepted that allow use of natural mental and physical skills to optimal levels. "All humans and particularly children have the capacity to use the imaginative process to bring changes in behaviour, belief and feelings and free themselves from dysfunctional responses and to relieve pain. This process bypasses critical reasoning by utilizing creativity, imagination and playfulness. The child's perceptions and sensations are enhanced and changed. Muscles relax, there is a change in the respiratory pattern, a change in the pulse, decreased tone, eye closure in older children and adults and sometimes drooling. As early as the 18th century Hypnosis was the subject of research: The Austrian Franz Anton Mesmer, 1766. Self-hypnosis proved effective with injured soldiers during the two world wars. Due to the work of Drs Ernest & Josephine Hilgard of Stanford University, Hypnosis was recognized by the American Medical Association in 1955. It is immensely helpful with pediatric patients affected by anxiety, sleep difficulties, acute, recurring and chronic pain, however it is contra-indicated for children with surgery pending, with a low-IQ, brain-damage or with the fragile, psychotic child. Children facing distressing experiences turn to adults they can trust. Prediatric hypnosis started when mother said she would kiss the skinned knee and make it better. When the parent or clinician uses hypnotic language-words that invite the child to enter the experience such as ":How would you like to ---" rather than "I want you to ---" the child feels he has some control and his self-control and coping skills increase. The adult should speak at the child's level and interests and get involved in the imagery. One example used a transitional object, a Teddy Bear, to help a sleep disorder. What does Teddy do when he goes to sleep? You hold him the way he likes to be held, don't you? Like this. He feels so cozy. Pat him-He's getting sleepy now. Let his head get comfortable. His arms want to go to sleep too. His eyes are closing. He feels sleepy all over-over-so cozy, so comfortable, so safe, ready to sleep, he's falling into a soft sleep. Use a child's favorite story to weave a new story. Once there were three little mice. The baby mouse got sick and the Doctor said, "We'll make him better. Bring him to my hospital and ---. For children aged 3-10, Hypno-analgesia using The Magic Glove dramatically reduces the child's pain and anxiety when a procedure, such as starting an IV, is necessary. Procedure: Explain that you are going to apply the Magic Glove to protect his arm. "You will know what is going on but you won't be bothered. You'll feel some pressure, but it won't bother you. "Use firm strokes over the child's hand, over each finger, up over the wrist, up to the elbow and the upper arm. Stroke firmly but gently, repeating that the glove is going to protect them. Test that the other hand has full sensation with a pencil tip and test the arm with the magic glove. Confirm the difference with the child. Now the IV can be started. When the procedure is finished, remove the glove and test that there is no longer a sensation difference. Studies cited included research involving self-hypnosis vs. Propranolol in the treatment of Juvenile Classic Migraine using single blind placebo, cross-over design. Thirty-three children aged 6-12 yrs. with more than four headaches per month were studied. In three months children on the placebo had 13.3 headaches, on Propranolol had 14.9 headaches and using self-hypnosis had 5.8 headaches. Children were able to self-regulate body processes previously believed not subject to voluntary control such as enuresis. Kohen et al (1984) -reviewed data for 257 children with enuresis treated at Behavioral Pediatrics Program at Minneapolis Children's Medical Centre, Minnesota, U.S.A. - 44% achieved complete dryness, 31% significantly improved. Banerjee, Srivstav & Palan (1993) comparison of treatment with hypnotherapy to treatment with imipramine in 2 groups of children with enuresis (25 in each group, 5-16 yrs.) After 3 months treatment 76% on imipramine and 72% on hypnosis achieved positive results. Hypnotic language that conveys support, hope, love, courage, energy, affection and promises some release from suffering helps children let go of their fear and pain. It involves attentive listening. When children discover that a worrisome or painful experience is made less troubling, the child's feeling of mastery is enhanced. There is less dependence upon drugs and restraints. Dr. Kuttner said in closing, "No other psychological tool is so efficacious in creating comfort out of discomfort with none of the adverse side effects."
REFERENCES Olness K. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy with children. New York: Guilford Press, 1996 Kuttner, L. Pain Management in Children. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America 1997; 6(4): 783-796 Sugarmann. L.I. Hypnosis in a primary care practice: developing skills for the "new morbidities" J Dev & Behav Pediatrics 1996; 17(5):300-5 Kuttner L. Helpful strategies in working with pre-school children in pediatric practice. Pediatr Annals 1991; Vol 20; 3; March 120-127 Kuttner L. A Child in Pain (A guide for parents) Hartley & Marks Publishers, Inc. 1996. Second Printing by Dr. L. Kuttner, 2004 Kuttner L. "No Fears, No Tears: Children with cancer coping with pain" 17 min. Fanlight Productions. 800-937-4113. Fax: 617-469-3379. 4196 Washington Street, Suite 2, Boston MA 02131 Kuttner L. "No Frears, No Tears - 13 Years Later (1998). 46 minute videotape Fanlight Productions. 800-937-4113. Fax: 617-469-3379
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