Hypnotherapy for teens/adolescents

[fifietta]

Has anyone had experience of using hypnotherapy with their teenager. My DD is stressed, depressed, missing school a lot and about to do GCSEs. It would be particularly hepful if anyone has a recommendation...we're in South London.

[fifietta]

Anyone...?

[lateSeptember1964]

Hi. I am having trouble getting my son into school after ill health. He hasn't been in school at all this term. His Head of Year phoned on Wednesday with the suggestion an alternative approach and suggested this guy - Kevin Laye. She said a couple of the parents had used him with good results. We have a CAMHS appt late April but if I don't think I'm getting anywhere I think I will give it a go. Hope this helps. Forgot to say he's in Harley Street and about £300. Not sure if that is per session or a course of treatment.

[lateSeptember1964]

Your probably at the stage now where you want life back to normal just like me. I just want my son to get the minimum GCSEs so that life can move on for him and us. I think my son will always be a worrier and I think this guy may set him up for a better future.

[Lettucesnow]

fifieta Make sure it's a recommended/registered hypnotherapist.

You may wait ages for CAMHS and then your DD may not engage so anything you can do meanwhile is good.

I think it's a great idea as any form of relaxation is a life skill that all teenagers would benefit from learning.

I was hypnotised for weight loss...it didn't work.

I use a type of deep relaxation myself and now use it in my job with others. It may not cure everything but it sometimes helps an awful lot.

Good luck.

[fifietta]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I should've perhaps given a bit more history...

My daughter has already been through CAMHS where as is often the case, she barely engaged. She is currently having a specialised therapy (DIalectical Behaviour Therapy) but attends sporadically and there is always so much else to deal with that the school attendance/lack of motivation is barely addressed . TBH her non-attendance started in year 10 as a result of friendship difficulties and eventually she moved schools. She has no such difficulties at her current school but, as I said, is depressed, although I have to say that doesn't stop her enjoying a lively social life...

So, quietly suggests, she is interested in hocus-pocus (inc. hypnotherapy) and I'm thinking that if she believes it may help, it may help, placebo all the way. The vitamins haven't had the desired effect - she's taking vitamin D and fish oils.

She's a bright girl with a block about attempting anything challenging so I thought a bit of 'suggestion' and relaxation could possibly begin to move her in abetter direction. I'm prepared to invest some money short-term as she'll be a long-term drain on the finances if she doesn't get enough GCSEs to do what she's thinking of for 6th form.

lettucesnow will definitely check credentials of potential hypnotherapists.

lateSeptember I hope there'll be some changes for you and your son. Its tough isn't it? And that's without all the teen behaviour stuff....

[Lettucesnow]

I think you are being harsh quietlysuggests.

Hypnotherapy didn't work for dieting for ME but it could work for others.

My simple relaxation technique I learned helps myself and others to enjoy a little calm in a busy world. It won't make me slim but that is not what I'm doing it for.

fifietta follow your own instincts.

[anthropology]

Hi, Fifietta. I found that cranial oesteopathy and acupuncture seemed helpful for relaxation for my DD as she didnt want to do anything else where she had to talk. I know its really difficult when you just want things to seem brighter. we tried a motivational weekend course for teens at one point. Ultimately, the shift happened, when my dd started to believe in her strengths more than her vulnerabilities, and was back in education with new friends, and could start to see a future she wanted(university and travelling) - she is now going to uni this summer . An educational assessment with a really good ed psych team, helped a lot to understand what stressed her and revealed ASD traits we all now understand better.

I would personally seek out someone with a psychotherapy background and experience with developing teen brains if you choose hypnotherapy. It would be interesting to know if people have success with NLP practitioners, who say one session is enough....... I understand what its like to want things better quickly, but usually depressed teens need some time to challenge the coping strategies they have spent time developing(in our case two very difficult years). good luck, it does sound as though she is moving forward.