Descriptions and definitions of stress and anxiety in children will be presented, with particular emphasis on their increasing prevalence. These two problem areas greatly impact children’s biopsychosocial health. Common stress-related and anxiety-based problems will be discussed. Unfortunately, the availability of clinical treatments is limited for this population and many families encounter long wait lists. Therapeutic pediatric hypnosis is an evidence-based and clinically effective therapeutic tool for stress management and coping with anxiety. A brief review of its efficacy for select conditions will be provided.
This webinar will focus on self-hypnosis training for children, a component of therapeutic pediatric hypnosis. It supports desired behavioral changes and encourages ongoing wellness. Self-hypnosis training can be a useful stand-alone intervention, too, as a component of psychological first aid and a lifelong preventative skill. This is evidenced by the efforts of Health Frontiers and Comfort Kits for Children. Some of the phenomenological elements of self-hypnosis will be identified and practical tips to introduce and encourage self-hypnosis to children will be described. An excerpt of a self-hypnosis training audio recording for a child will be played. Free resources that have been created and assembled by faculty affiliated with the National Pediatric Hypnosis Training Institute will be referenced.