As a hypnotherapist, I’ve witnessed the mental-health challenges today’s children and teens are facing. Over the past decade, I’ve seen a huge increase in young people struggling with anxiety, confidence, low mood and thoughts and emotions that are hard to cope with.
The Alarming Rise of Childhood Anxiety (what the data shows)
In England, about 1 in 5 children and young people had a probable mental disorder in 2023 (20.3% among ages 8–16 and 23.3% among ages 17–19)—up from roughly 1 in 9 in 2017. Meanwhile, more than 500 children a day were referred to NHS services for anxiety in 2023–24, over double of pre-pandemic levels.
Sources: NHS England / NHS Digital / Royal College of Psychiatrists.
I frequently see children whose anxiety is compounded by undiagnosed or late-identified neurodiversity / autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Without an understanding of why they experience life the way they do, plus the absence of the right support, many feel misunderstood, isolated, overwhelmed and worried.
Important: Hypnotherapists do not diagnose conditions. I collaborate with parents, schools and clinicians, and I signpost for assessment or safeguarding when needed.
A story of “hidden” challenges and rapid change
One client (let’s call her Betty, age 15) was bright and doing well at school; however, her anxiety levels were so severe that she suffered with nausea at the thought of going to school. When Betty came to see me, she had been absent from school for several months. Betty had seen a psychiatrist who said she was too young to take anti-depressants. Unfortunately, the psychiatrist didn’t suggest any further action or treatment for Betty. Betty’s Mum then contracted me out of sheer desperation. I contacted Betty’s psychiatrist to ask for a diagnosis (with the Bettys Mum’s consent) and to ascertain what the psychiatrist planned for Betty’s treatment. After a few sessions of hypnotherapy, Betty’s anxiety reduced and she felt calmer and more optimistic. Betty and her mum saw another psychiatrist who diagnosed Betty with ADHD and autism. Betty was given homeschooling for a period of time and she had further therapy until she was able to return to school. With a deeper understanding of her own mind, appropriate therapeutic support, to build regulation skills and confidence, Betty returned to school and went on to study for her GCSEs. Betty is enjoying a much better quality of life now and she is able to manage her thoughts and feelings better.
Why a collaborative, informative approach matters
While a diagnosis is very helpful for people to understand themselves and why they feel the way they do; it is also important for people to receive the right support, which helps them to reframe their thoughts and learn strategies and tools which help them enjoy themselves and their life.
How hypnotherapy can help anxious kids (what to expect)
Hypnotherapy creates a relaxed, safe space in which children can talk, further understand themselves and learn important tools and coping skills. Children visualise the outcome they want, during hypnosis, rather than focus on a perceived threat, and this instructs the subconscious mind to work towards a better outcome. The language of the subconscious mind is visualisation; visualising a desired outcome is life-changing. Evidence shows that hypnosis can reduce anxiety, especially when paired with another psychological approach (e.g., Cognitive Behaviour Therapy).
- Meta-analysis on hypnosis for anxiety
- Meta-analysis showing hypnosis can enhance CBT outcomes
- Broad overview of hypnosis effects (recent umbrella/meta work)
I’m one of the few hypnotherapists who records each child’s hypnosis. Your child can replay the hypnosis between appointments to bring about calmness and reinforce the hypnosis. The recording can also be played long after therapy ends, when a person is facing difficult challenges.
Skills children typically learn with me
- Grounding & calm-body drills, breathing and imagery before/during anxious moments to relax the mind and body.
- Thought de-hooking hypnosis to change thought processes and reduce the time that rumination takes place.
- Confidence rehearsal guided imagery during hypnosis helps children gain more confidence for challenges such as school relationships, exams and performance anxiety.
- EFT – Emotional Freedom Techniques, which help calm the mind and body and release unprocessed blockages.
- CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with home-relaxed tasks to help children understand why they are feeling triggered and change their automatic negative thoughts and beliefs to more helpful ones, which enable them to feel better.
- Butterfly Hug of Self-love, which enables people to feel calmer and think more clearly.
Refer to the Child Hypnotherapy page to learn more.
When to seek additional help
If anxiety significantly affects daily life (school absences during to anxiety, persistent sleep problems, self-harm thoughts, or sudden behaviour change), please also speak to your GP or school mental-health team. If there’s immediate risk, contact NHS 111 (urgent advice) or 999 (emergency).
Next steps for parents & caregivers
If your child is struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I offer a free 15-minute parent consultation to understand your child’s needs, explain how sessions work, and outline a plan. You’ll also learn how to use the session recording at home to keep progress going. Book your free 15-minute call: Schedule your call in the calendar below.
