Hypnosis consultations for Children
The stomachache every Sunday evening, the monsters that come back every night, bedwetting that drags on despite your patience, bedtime that takes an hour and a half…
Children's difficulties are real, and their greatest resource for getting through them is their imagination.
Our pediatric hypnosis practitioners support children from age 4-5, in person in Paris, Brunoy, Strasbourg, Saverne, or by video anywhere in France : sessions that feel like story games where your child is the hero, with you, the parents, as partners from start to finish.
What does hypnosis look like for a child?
A hypnosis session for a child, concretely
Nothing like a stage show, or a consultation for an adult.
A child's hypnotic state is one they already know : the absorption of a story, a drawing, a film…
The practitioner builds a custom story with the child, into which suggestions for change are woven : fear of the dark becomes a dragon to be tamed, a worry gets tucked into an imaginary box, the body discovers its superpowers.
Eyes open or closed, the child moves, talks, draws — it's a playful moment they often come out of feeling proud.
To fully understand how it works (age, the parents' role, limits), read our complete guide.
Two conditions for success
- A willing child : show them the photo or introduction video of the practitioner and let them decide whether to meet "this person who tells slightly magical stories".
- Partner parents : parental consent is always required, the first meeting happens together, you have a role at home, and there's never a secret between the practitioner and the child that's kept from the parents.
From what age?
At Solutions Hypnose, we generally work with children from age 4-5 (to confirm with each practitioner).
That's the age when language is rich enough to follow a story and play along with it. Before that age, the work tends to go through the parents instead (rituals, stories to tell).
And there's no upper limit : the approach simply evolves along with the child, up through the dedicated support we offer teens.
How hypnosis can help your child
Video transcript
Bonjour je suis Charlotte de Joybert hypnothérapeute et sophrologue. J'ai toujours été au service des autres en plaçant l'humain au centre de mes préoccupations. J'accompagne les adultes et les enfants sur des sujets comme la gestion de l'anxiété ou de certaines peurs, des changements de comportement comme pour l'alimentation et le tabac, l'image de soi et la confiance en soi. J'aide également les femmes dans leur grossesse et leur post-partum mais également lors de leur parcours PMA.
La sophrologie et l'hypnose sont de magnifiques techniques qui font partie de la famille des thérapies brèves qui permettent de se sentir mieux rapidement. Ces techniques peuvent également accompagner le développement de l'enfant, de sa petite enfance à l'adolescence. Alors je rencontre des enfants de tous les âges. Ça peut aller de cinq à six ans, tout dépend de la maturité de l'enfant et de l'objectif thérapeutique, jusqu'à dix-sept / dix-huit ans pour les adolescents.
Souvent, les enfants viennent pour des problématiques différentes en fonction des âges : ça peut être l'énurésie, les troubles du sommeil, les problèmes de confiance en soi, aussi la gestion du trouble de l'anxiété qui est un thème qu'on retrouve à tous les âges. Je me souviens d'un petit garçon de huit ans qui avait des difficultés avec sa nouvelle maîtresse, qui lui ont provoqué des angoisses au point d'avoir envie de vomir, sachant qu'en plus il était émétophobe : la peur de vomir.
Il avait perdu confiance en lui et cela impactait autant à l'école que dans ses loisirs. Il ne voulait plus aller à l'école ni aller à ses entraînements. Au fil des séances, les choses sont rentrées dans l'ordre, nous avons trouvé des exercices de respiration qui étaient associés à des mouvements pour se sentir confiant et protégé. Et ensuite nous avons modifié sa perception de l'école afin que l'envie de vomir disparaisse totalement.
Tout à fait, l'approche et les techniques utilisées ne sont pas les mêmes si l'enfant a six, douze ou seize ans. Pour les jeunes, l'état d'hypnose est pour eux très facile, il peut même se pratiquer les yeux ouverts, tout en continuant de discuter avec eux : je rentre dans leur monde et les résultats sont rapides et les parents sont souvent bluffés des changements qui s'opèrent en une ou deux séances. Pour un enfant de primaire, je vais faire des séances plus courtes et j'utilise des images et des métaphores qui vont être adaptées à leur âge.
Souvent les enfants de cet âge peuvent avoir des problèmes de gestion de leurs émotions ou une problématique liée à un événement particulier qui va les faire comme régresser, ils vont par exemple ne plus vouloir dormir dans leur lit, avoir de l'énurésie, avoir des comportements différents que ce soit chez eux ou à l'école. Il s'agit alors de savoir comment ils vivent les choses, ce qui les rassure et comment faire en sorte qu'ils acceptent de changer.
Je privilégie vraiment un travail d'imagination guidée qui leur parle. Alors que pour un adolescent, je mets davantage en place un rapport de confiance et je les accompagne à mettre en place des outils pour améliorer leur estime d'eux mêmes, gagner en confiance, être maître de leurs émotions. Il s'agit alors d'utiliser la visualisation, la respiration et les affirmations positives par exemple. Et pour les adolescents ou les jeunes adultes, on peut travailler plus longuement sur des exercices de relaxation profonde, et un travail sur les croyances et les comportements.
Voilà, vous avez à présent quelques outils pour appréhender l'hypnose au prisme des besoins du développement de votre enfant. Pour plus d'informations sur l'hypnose et comment elle peut vous aider, prenez contact avec moi. Et toute l'équipe de Solutions Hypnose est là pour vous accompagner en cabinet ou par visio, cela fonctionne aussi très bien. N'hésitez pas à poser vos questions et à partager votre expérience nous aurons un plaisir à vous lire.
Et si vous avez aimé cette vidéo, n'oubliez pas de “Liker” de vous abonner pour plus de conseils. A bientôt pour une nouvelle vidéo.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary form of support and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult a physician first.
The difficulties we support most often
- Fears and nightmares. Fear of the dark, monsters, dogs, thunderstorms : when a fear settles in, the imagination that created it is also the one that can undo it (see our Fears & Phobias page).
- Bedwetting.
Common past age 5-6, and far heavier for a child to carry than one might think : shame, declined sleepovers… First step, always : a doctor's check-up, to rule out any physical cause (see one without delay if the urine has a strong odour or the child feels pain urinating). After that, hypnosis gets good results through age-appropriate control metaphors : through stories, the child learns to team up with their body, without ever feeling guilty. Our detailed article explains it all. - Sleep.
Endless time falling asleep, night wakings, bedtime rituals that never end : hypnosis installs falling-asleep rituals the child takes on almost like a game (see our Sleep page). - Fear of school.
From the knotted stomach every Sunday evening to refusing to go : tools their own size give mornings back their lightness. If the refusal is severe or the distress significant, the school staff and your doctor need to be involved. Hypnosis comes in as support, not as the sole solution. - Bullying at school, in support of the child.
Let's be straightforward about it : protecting a bullied child is the responsibility of adults : reporting to the school, official protocols… What hypnosis brings, while the adults act : repairing damaged confidence, easing fears, restoring sleep, and helping the child not conclude from this ordeal that they're "worth less". - Self-confidence and shyness.
The child who doesn't dare raise their hand, who compares themselves to others, who says "I'm no good" : confidence can be repaired, and the earlier it's addressed, the better (see our Self-Confidence page). - Anger, jealousy, major upheavals.
Emotional storms, a new sibling, a move, parents separating : these are earthquakes at a child's scale that stories help them get through and put into words.
What hypnosis doesn't replace
Pediatric hypnosis does not replace a pediatrician, a speech-language therapist, or a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
See a professional as a priority if you notice a sudden, lasting change in behaviour, withdrawal, marked regression, persistent learning difficulties (a specialized assessment is needed), an unexplained physical symptom, or significant distress.
If a diagnosis is being considered or has been made (ADHD, learning disorders…), it falls to qualified professionals.
Hypnosis can then help, as a complement and with their agreement, with stress, self-esteem, or sleep.
What our clients say
« A great approach with my son, who quickly felt at ease! Excellent results for treating his phobia! Thank you :) »
Annie
« Caring and professional with my 10-year-old daughter. A huge difference in our lives thanks to these 2 follow-ups! »
Josianne, client of Nassim Zafar
« I loved the family, reassuring atmosphere. Everything is perfect. My daughter hasn't managed to sleep alone yet, but I found her much more at peace. »
Emmanuelle, client of Sabine Chapuis
Consult a pediatric hypnosis practitioner near you
In Office or Online Across France
Offices in Paris, Lille…
And if you live far away or elsewhere in the world, online sessions work very well. Evening slots available.
Frequently asked questions about hypnosis for children
In practice, from age 4-5, the age when language allows a child to follow and inhabit a story.
Before that, the work tends to go through the parents instead, with tales and rituals to share.
Children make excellent subjects : their imagination is their native language, and the process is often shorter than for adults.
First, with a doctor, to rule out any physical cause — that's the rule, and it protects your child.
After that, yes : at 8, bedwetting weighs heavily (shame, avoided sleepovers, dented confidence), and hypnosis gets good results through stories and control metaphors, without making the child feel guilty. A few sessions is often enough.
No, and it needs to be said clearly : protecting a bullied child is the responsibility of adults, first and foremost the school and the parents. Report it, involve school staff, get support for yourself too. Hypnosis comes in to support the child : repairing damaged confidence, easing fears, restoring sleep… while the adults handle the situation.
No, they just need to be willing and feel like playing.
For a child, the session is a moment of stories and imagination where they're the hero; there's no need to "believe" in it, just to dive in, which children do naturally.
The only real condition is rather that they're willing : show them the photo or video of the practitioner and let them decide.
The first meeting always starts together, to set the goal and build trust. After that, it depends on the child's age and the topic : younger children are often accompanied, older ones sometimes appreciate a space of their own.
Parents are then in the next room and informed of everything that matters. There's never a secret kept from parents.
Some of our practitioners offer parents a silent video monitor to watch the session from the waiting room.
Not by Assurance Maladie. However, many top-up health insurance plans' "complementary therapies" allowance also applies to children on the policy : check yours before the first session; we provide an invoice.
- Fears & Phobias — when a fear settles in.
- Sleep and Insomnia — for difficult nights.
- Self-Confidence — shyness, comparison, "I'm no good".
- Family & Life Transitions — our Family section's hub.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary form of support: it does not replace medical advice, a specialized assessment, or psychological care. Any physical difficulty or marked distress in a child should be evaluated by a doctor first.
Page written by Charlotte de Joybert
hypnotherapist and sophrologist
partner at Solutions Hypnose.
Updated .