Growing up is meant to be one of the very best times of our lives but it can also be tough. There are many pressures, and some young people are exposed to situations and experiences that make them vulnerable.
Children’s emotional, mental health is a global concern. When I researched the statistics of children and adolescents with mental health problems I was amazed to discover 20% of children world wide have mental disorders or problems according to the World Health Organization. They predicted by 2050 emotional and mental health issues will be the biggest world killer. This is not a surprise, being that many diseases are related to our emotions. I also discovered that 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of fourteen, and 75% by the age of twenty four.
There are many causes that lead to mental health problems in children, such as Cyber bullying, physical bullying, abuse, child sexual exploitation, attachment disorders, death of a parent, separation of parents, peer pressure/body image, trauma in early life, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and LGBT bullying, just to name a few. Imagine the emotional scars of the children in the Ukraine who have had to flee their country as refugees of war. These countries are recognizing and responding to the emotional and mental health needs of children and young people in the form of early intervention and prevention initiatives.
Sheila Granger and Clarissa Woodcock are hypnotherapists that developed a program called Calm Kids Coaching. It began with Sheila’s EPP (Educational Performance Practitioner) program in schools. The EPP program targeted exam stress, and helping students perform at their best when it matters most. Once beginning to work with schools, the schools were always keen to find out what else may be done to help them further. Calm Kids has created these goals:
- Help students handle there feelings in a positive way
- Develop emotional resilience
- Solve problems
- Be more successful and happier in their lives and school
- Minimize the barriers that can make it difficult for students to learn
Calm Kids also teaches students transferable life skills
Hypnosis is as beneficial with children as with adults. It is important to have a level of trust when working with children. Often when a parent is seeing a hypnotherapist they ask if they work with children as well. The hypnotherapist has already obtained rapport and a level of trust with the parent so they feel comfortable with them. Myself and my colleagues usually insist on meeting with the child to explain how we will work and ask permission from them for us to work together. Every human being wants the respect of choice on their behalf regardless of their age. Because all hypnosis is self hypnosis it’s even more important to have agreement in the direction we are headed.
Calm Kids says, “Schools and homes are places where calm is a needed personal ingredient if our children and young people are to flourish and become the best they can be as world citizens of the future.”
Until next time, Have a beautiful day. You deserve it!