Please enquire with The Emeline's reception team for up to date information about Dr Englin’s availability.

What is Clinical Hypnotherapy for children?

Clinical hypnotherapy is an effective and safe technique for improving the mind and the body.

A qualified therapist uses a combination of conversation and the state of hypnosis (see below) to help identify and change unhelpful feelings and thoughts, habits, body functions or enhance performance.

Our minds are incredibly powerful. Clinical hypnotherapy empowers children to access inner strengths and resources they may not know they have.

What can Clinical Hypnotherapy be used for?

Clinical hypnotherapy is effective in treating a wide range of issues. It is most commonly used for:

• Fears and anxieties, overcoming phobias
• Stress management
• Sport, music and academic performance enhancement
• Behaviour problems
• Habit problems, such as thumb sucking
• Pain control
• Medically unexplained symptoms eg. gastrointestinal problems or headaches

Children often report using the techniques they learnt in clinical hypnotherapy for many other challenges they experience in life.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of focus which we all experience every day, similar to daydreaming. The mind has a remarkable ability to become absorbed in a task or thought. This is called ‘entering hypnosis’. It often happens while people are watching a movie they enjoy, or reading an interesting book.

Children and young people have wonderful imaginations and often enjoy daydreams and creative games. They can easily go into and out of hypnosis.

Medical hypnosis is very different from the way hypnosis is depicted in the movies or on television. Most importantly, everything that the person experiencing hypnotherapy does or thinks is voluntary.

Hypnosis is not sleep. People in a hypnotic state are awake, fully aware of what is happening and are in control of their thoughts and actions.

What happens during Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Clinical hypnotherapy is carried out in sessions of about one hour.

The first session involves getting to know the child by taking their history and discussing the issue. A therapy plan will be created and explained to the child and parent/s. Sometimes we will do some imaginative exercises.

In subsequent sessions a combination of talking, play and hypnosis exercises will be used, depending on the child’s age and development. Older children are often taught self-hypnosis.

One or both parents will sometimes stay in the room with the child. Many young people prefer their parents to remain in the waiting room.

Is Clinical Hypnotherapy safe?

When conducted by a fully qualified medical hypnotherapist, clinical hypnotherapy is very safe.

Children and young people frequently say clinical hypnotherapy is a relaxing, fun or pleasant experience. It often involves play and drawing. It can also feel like a relaxation exercise or daydream.

Is Clinical Hypnotherapy a proven treatment?

Scientific evidence that clinical hypnotherapy is effective and safe is extensive and growing. Dr Englin will be happy to discuss and provide the available evidence at your consultation.

How do I arrange Clinical Hypnotherapy for my child?

Contact The Emeline on (03) 9088 4133. They will arrange for an initial consultation. During this appointment, Dr Englin will perform an assessment, formulate and explain a treatment plan.

Dr Englin will remain in contact with the referring practitioner, who will continue the regular medical management of the child.

What is the difference between Clinical Hypnotherapy for children and for adults?

Children have vivid imaginations and often enjoy creative play, so hypnotherapy for children involves more play, drawing, and pretending, with fewer formal exercises.

What is the youngest suitable age for Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Children as young as three or four can benefit from hypnotherapy techniques, with parental involvement increasing with younger children. An important factor is how much your child is interested in changing.

This varies by family. Typically, the beginning of the first session involves both parent and child in the consulting room. Sometimes, the parent may speak with the therapist alone for a brief time with the child waiting in the waiting room. The child may prefer to have the parent stay or wait outside during the session, depending on what makes them most comfortable. At the end, parents are often invited in for a quick recap.

Tell your child that the hypnotherapist is someone who can help them change things they want to change, like thoughts, feelings, or habits. Use age-appropriate language and encourage them to think about what they’d like to change before the session.

Ask them to fill out as much of the intake form as they can, this helps them to take ownership of both the issue and the solution.

Give them the information you are sent and encourage them to read it, if that’s appropriate for their age and development.

Practical considerations.

Clinical Hypnotherapy is most effective when both you and your child are well rested and as comfortable as possible.

Please encourage your child to dress in comfortable clothing and use the toilet before the appointment. Offer your child a snack beforehand if they are likely to be hungry. Mobile phones must be out of view during the appointment and set to ‘do not disturb’ or ‘airplane’ mode.

What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Clinical hypnotherapy is an effective and safe technique for improving the mind and the body.

A qualified therapist uses a combination of conversation and the state of hypnosis (see below) to help identify and change unhelpful feelings and thoughts, habits, body functions or enhance performance.

Our minds are incredibly powerful. Clinical hypnotherapy helps us find inner strengths and resources we may not know we have.

What can clinical hypnotherapy be used for?

Clinical hypnotherapy is used to treat a wide range of issues. It is commonly used for:

• Fears, anxieties and phobias
• Stress management
• Sport or work performance enhancement
• Habit problems, such as smoking
• Pain control
• Control of body functions, such as motion sickness or irritable bowel syndrome
• Increasing comfort during pregnancy or childbirth

People often report that clinical hypnotherapy has given them a unique insight into how their mind works. The techniques they’ve learned are often useful for unrelated issues they later face in life.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of inward focus which we all experience every day, similar to daydreaming. The mind has a remarkable ability to become absorbed in a task or thought. This is called ‘entering hypnosis’. It often happens while people are watching a movie they enjoy, or reading an interesting book.

Hypnosis is not sleep. People in a hypnotic state are awake, fully aware of what is happening and are in control of their thoughts and actions.

What happens during clinical hypnotherapy?

Clinical hypnotherapy is carried out in sessions of about one hour.

The first session involves getting to know you by taking your history and discussing the issue. Sometimes we will do some exercises using the imagination. In subsequent sessions a combination of talking, explaining and hypnosis exercises will be used.

Medical hypnosis is very different from the way hypnosis is depicted in the movies or on television. Most importantly, everything that the person experiencing hypnotherapy does or thinks is voluntary and they are in control.

A therapy plan will be created. This often involves using a state of hypnosis to give suggestions and learning self-hypnosis.

Is clinical hypnotherapy safe?

When conducted by a fully qualified medical hypnotherapist, clinical hypnotherapy is very safe.

People often say it is a relaxing, fun or pleasant experience. It can sometimes feel like a relaxation exercise or daydream.

Is clinical hypnotherapy a proven treatment?

Scientific evidence that clinical hypnotherapy is effective and safe is extensive and growing. Dr Englin will be happy to discuss and provide the available evidence at your consultation.

How do I arrange clinical hypnotherapy?

Contact The Emeline on 03 9088 4133. They will arrange for an initial consultation. During this appointment, Dr Englin will perform an assessment, formulate and explain a treatment plan.

Dr Englin will remain in contact with your referring practitioner, who will continue your regular medical management.

Practical considerations.

Hypnotherapy is most effective when you are as comfortable as possible.

Please dress in comfortable clothing and use the toilet before the appointment. Have a snack beforehand if you are likely to be hungry. Mobile phones must be set to ‘do not disturb’ or ‘airplane’ mode during the appointment.

Be ready for some weird stuff.

Hypnotherapy uses the dream-like language of the subconscious mind. Embracing this creativity will help you get the most out of your sessions.

Schedule your session when you're most alert.

Pick a time when you or your child is likely to be at your best, which is often in the morning.

Fill out your intake form thoroughly.

This information helps plan your session and saves time.

Read the provided information.

It will help you understand what to expect and how to achieve change faster.

Enjoy it!

Hypnotherapy is a powerful opportunity to tap into inner strengths you may not know you have. Come with an open mind and be ready to change.

Will I cluck like a chicken like they do on YouTube?

No!

Hypnotherapy for medical purposes is nothing like what you see in movies or online videos. It’s about learning techniques to gain control over unwanted behaviours or feelings. Think of it as learning how your brain works and then doing a series of fun exercises where you actively engage in making positive changes for yourself. Hypnotherapy combines neuroscience and creativity, tailored to address your specific issues.

What is stage hypnosis then?

Stage hypnosis, often seen in performances, is very different from clinical hypnotherapy. Stage hypnotists are not medically trained and use techniques to identify audience members who are comfortable performing and have vivid imaginations. They do not have control over people. Participants remain aware and in control and can stop participating at any time if they feel uncomfortable. In clinical hypnotherapy, you are always fully aware and in control.

How does clinical hypnotherapy work?

A medical hypnotherapist helps you identify your specific issues and teaches you neuroscience-based techniques to address them. It’s an active learning process about how your brain works and how to control it. Techniques are customised for each individual. Often, learning to enter a state of self-hypnosis is one of these techniques. Clinical hypnotherapy works best when you are committed to change and practice the techniques as instructed.

What is self-hypnosis?

Self-hypnosis is when you learn to enter and exit a state of hypnosis (a state of comfort control) on your own, whenever you need it. It’s a valuable lifelong skill that enhances self-esteem and resilience. Sometimes, part of a session might be recorded for you to use at home as a guide.

What’s the difference between ‘trance’ and ‘hypnosis’?

The terms 'trance' and 'hypnosis' refer to the same state. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused inward attention, which we experience daily, like when we daydream. This state allows us to tap into our inner strengths and resources, making our subconscious mind more receptive to change.

What is the difference between the conscious and the subconscious mind?

This is a very useful concept to understand.

The conscious mind is logical and rational—it's the 'thinking mind' that plans and makes decisions. The subconscious mind, also called the 'automatic' mind, handles thoughts, feelings, and behaviours we don’t consciously control, like breathing or heartbeat. It’s driven by feelings and memories. Hypnotherapy helps the conscious mind achieve its goals by working with the subconscious mind.

What is the best time of day for Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Schedule your session when you or your child is most alert, typically in the morning for children. The sessions are active and require focus from both the patient and therapist, so they are not offered later in the day.

How many sessions will be needed?

The number of sessions varies depending on the individual and the issue, but four to eight sessions is an approximate average.

I did a hypnosis exercise with the hypnotherapist and I kept getting distracted and thinking about other things, does this matter?

Not at all. Hypnosis is a natural state that we enter and exit quickly. Distractions can actually help the brain learn the techniques faster.

I did a hypnosis exercise with the hypnotherapist and I remember everything that happened, does that mean it didn’t work?

People mostly feel completely awake while they are in the state of hypnosis, even if they also feel quite relaxed. Occasionally, people forget some parts of what was said. None of this is related to how well the hypnotherapy exercise is working.

When I do my self-hypnosis at home, it doesn’t feel the same as it did with the hypnotherapist. Does that mean it’s not helping me?

Yes, that’s completely normal. Hypnosis can feel different when it’s self-guided compared to when it’s guided by a therapist. The effectiveness isn’t dependent on how deep the hypnosis feels.

I didn’t feel very relaxed when I was doing the hypnosis exercise. Does that mean it won’t help me?

Relaxation isn’t necessary for hypnosis to be effective. Whether you feel deeply relaxed or not doesn’t impact how well it works.

There were noises and distractions outside the room, does this matter?

No, distractions don’t matter. In fact, they can help your brain learn the techniques more effectively. You can allow distractions to help you relax even more during the exercise.

I’m not good at visualising or being imaginative. Will hypnotherapy still work for me?

Yes! Visualisation doesn’t have to be about imagining detailed scenes. It’s more about recognising familiar things, like a loved one’s face. Even if you think you’re not good at visualising, you’re likely doing it without realising it. Hypnotherapy can still be effective.

I think I fell asleep during the hypnosis exercise. Does it matter?

Sometimes people think they fell asleep during hypnosis because they don’t remember everything. An experienced therapist can easily distinguish between sleep and hypnosis, so there’s no need to worry.

I don’t think I can be hypnotised, I’m not a gullible or suggestible person.

Being hypnotised has nothing to do with being gullible. The exercises are more effective if you just go with them, even if some parts seem strange. Hypnosis uses the language of the subconscious mind, which is like the language of dreams—things might not make sense afterward, but they did during the experience.

Is it like meditating? I’m not good at meditating.

Hypnosis is not meditation, although it might feel similar. There’s no such thing as being ‘bad at meditating’. If you’ve ever daydreamed or focused deeply on something, you can achieve a state of hypnosis.