Hypnotherapy For Children by Niccolous L. Thompson

This book covers a wide range of topic that deal with the counselling and hypnotherapy of children including enuresis, stuttering, dealing with children with ADD/ADHD and smoking.

It also has a section dedicated to hypno-birthing, so starting the information process even before the child is born. The book take the reader through the growing years of the child and shows how hypnosis can master the problems that children can have. It deals with many aspects of child psychology, explaining how hypnotherapy can deal with many problems. It is very thorough in that is first deals with the subject itself in the earlier chapters before finishing with the last chapter dedicated to scripts covering children's inductions and deepeners, and more specific scripts for certain children's issues. The book is broken down into nine chapters for each of the issues dealt with finishing with the chapter on scripts.

"This is a book that should not only be in the library of every hypnotherapist, but, also, should be in the library of every parent. Niccolous Thompson tell what, when and how to use his methods." Ormand McGill, Ph.D., Dean Of American Hypnotists.

Chapter 1 deals with Hypno-Birthing
Explaining its modern development and promotion (in the USA) and the goals of hypno-birthing. The goal being the alleviation of pain in conjunction with helping the expectant mother relax during the delivery process, explaining in a number of ways that hypnotherapy can help and answering a number of questions that most mothers ask. The chapter finishes with a couple of examples of hypno-birthing at work.

Chapter 2 deals with Enuresis
Starting by stressing the importance of every client with enuresis must be seen by their doctor to ensure that they are medically sound, it is only after this has been done that you should treat someone. Next is an explanation of enuresis and the three types (a) Diurnal Enuresis (b) Primary Nocturnal Enuresis and (c) Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis, continuing with the causes and the commonality of it. The chapter finishes of with treating enuresis with hypnotherapy (with tips on writing scripts) and counselling.

Chapter 3 deals with Stuttering
Quoting a number of facts and figure on the subject.  It then goes into some long-winded explanations from the past and around the world, which I felt was a little bit unimportant with the actual dealing with the issue and left me wondering why I would want to know these facts.  Some do's and don'ts are explained with some helpful hints for teachers to do.

Chapter 4 deals with ADD/ADHD
This chapter goes into great detail about the medication that can be used to help treat ADD/ADHD, and specifically about the products of one particular pharmaceutical company, which tended to read like an advertisement.  Other than that it did give a lot of information about what is happening with people with ADD and how to help treat it (allowing for the possibilities of hypnotherapy, counselling and medical help).

Chapter 5 deals with Nightmares and Night Terror
Explaining the difference between the two and from which part of the sleep pattern they occur.  To help the explanation it describes our usual sleep patterns and how long we need to sleep, and some sleep related conditions (insomnia, snoring, sleep apnoea etc.  ) and techniques to help achieve a better quality of sleep.  Finishing with more specific issues involving children and what, as a therapist, you need to know in order to use hypnosis.

Chapter 6 deals with Eating Disorders
Going into great detail on the different types of disorder and the effects, both emotionally and physical that it has on a child, starting with how the disorder begins. After very in depth explanations there is some advice on the use of hypnotherapy and recommendations for parents in helping avoid or treat the illness.

Chapter 7 deals with Shyness
Stating that from time to time everyone has experience some incident of shyness (According to the New York Times (Dec 18, 1984), being in a room full of strangers is the number one social fear). It then goes on to give step in overcoming shyness followed by information on hypnotherapy and what questions to ask a client on their first visit.

Chapter 8 deals with Smoking
Beginning with a brief explanation of the effects of smoking on a person and then onto its extent of use with a more detailed account of the hazards and effects it has and what the benefits of stopping smoking are. The chapter ends with a short section on conquering smoking.

Chapter 9 deals with Coping With Divorce And Death
Firstly dealing with divorce and how it affects different age groups, moving onto how to help the child, with counselling as well as hypnosis.  The next part deals with the bereaved child and how you can help a child who has lost someone.  At the end of the chapter is a poem that touched the author of the book, and he felt it would touch other who read it too.

Chapter 10
The last chapter in the book, goes through a variety of scripts for children including general inductions, deepeners, and visualisations to more specific scripts dealing with particular matters.

The book itself is littered with typing errors and grammatical mistakes which can take away from the quality of the content, sometimes leaving me wondering why, if the credentials of the author are to be trusted, then why hasn't the book been finished to a higher standard. I sometimes found it difficult to work out if the book was aimed at a parent, teacher, counsellor or hypnotherapist as it constantly changed its attention from one to another. That aside, this book is very informative and gives very detailed explanations of the conditions it deals with. I feel as though I have learned a lot from it and would refer back to it in the future. The extensive section on scripts at the end should come in very useful in helping anyone work with different problems relating with children.

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