Other Side of the Coin: Disadvantages of Hypnosis for children

Hypnosis for children to resolve or address some issues or problems regarding behaviour or health is called hypnotherapy.  In hypnotherapy, children use their daydreams to change their behaviours, sensations and other symptoms.  Not everybody can be a hypnotherapist.  A trained health and psychiatric profession is needed to put children, also adults, into hypnosis. 

Hypnotherapy or using hypnosis for treatments used to be unthinkable.  Most people and patients alike, tend to think that hypnotherapists would require their patient to walk, cluck like chickens when hypnotized.  One major disadvantage of this treatment, is the lack of support it has endured as an alternative treatment. 

But currently, things are starting to shape up for hypnotic treatment.  There are medical groups who are starting to recognize the potential of hypnotherapy in treating illnesses and dealing with disorders. 

In 1958, the American Medical Association, already recognized hypnosis as a form of treatment.  The American Psychological Association has acknowledged hypnosis as treatment years ago.  The National Institute of Health expressed it support for hypnotherapy as a method of relieving pain for cancer patients in 1995. 

But still regardless of the medical endorsements, there is still a prevailing outlook that hypnosis as a treatment is negative and images of funny people on hypnotic state conjures up to our mind. 

Another disadvantage of hypnotherapy is that there are children or people who cannot be hypnotized at all.  Children who show psychotic symptoms are not compatible with hypnotic treatment.  While children or teen-agers using drugs or alcohol also prove to be poor hypnotic patients. 

Hypnotherapy is best recommended for children ages 5 and above.  Children, unlike adults, are more in touch with their imaginative side.  This could be either beneficial or detrimental in the hypnosis process.  That is why different approaches should be used based on different age and characteristics. 

Hypnotherapy can also be done by parents to their children.  Experts say that children with ages seven to eight are in the hypnotic state most of the time even when there is no hypnotist around.  On these ages, children take in suggestion very seriously.  Parents who tend not to be too sensitive with what they say to their children  may say some remarks which can be both hurtful and have some effect on their self-esteem. 

This is why  children who are undergoing hypnotherapy tends to be sensitive to what is around them remember that hypnotherapy and its positive effects can be turned into rubble when negative energy surrounds the child.  Parents should be sensitive with what they say and suggest to their children. 

Sometimes a hypnotherapist may forget to remove the suggestions of the hypnotic sessions.  If a child is undergoing therapy for pain management, this could pose a problem.  When under these kind of treatment, children may run into accidents or serious problem which may cause serious injury and not get any proper treatment.  It is important for parents to take note of these when sessions for hypnosis of children is done. 

It is important to remember that these disadvantages of using hypnosis for children is more of a social prejudice.  There are some people who regard hypnosis as control or manipulation of one’s mind and body which is completely untrue.  Hypnotherapy when properly done could render positive and massive results.  Most of our fear about hypnotherapy is rooted on how it was viewed in the past, which is mostly myths.