5 Common Hypnotherapy questions answered

MG Hypnosis sleeping technique 3 by Marygrace Anderson

Another sleep tip technique to try, which is good for children, but adults
can try it out too – as there is a kid in all of us.  Give it a go and I am wishing you glorious sleep.  We move onto stress reduction tips next week!

Enjoy and sleep well!  Please follow MG HYPNOSIS on Facebook
for other tips on living well.

GCSE and exams

GCSE and exam stress

Please can I encourage all students and parents not to get caught up in the stress of taking the GCSEs or any big exams. At the end of the day, our world is changing.  The way companies hire is changing. One day, it truly won't be a grade that gets you hired (it is already happening), but the type of individual you become.

I personally have been a C/D student and a straight A student.  No matter what grade I got, it had nothing to do with my achievements in life. I would rather have a happy, confident, outgoing and loving child than a unhappy, hating school and stressed out A student.

What truly matters in life isn't a grade.  It is the person you become.  Which reminds me to post my favourite quote by Marianne Williamson

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Your brain can tell you to love or hate certain foods.

Isn’t it funny when you think as an adult, “I love broccoli now, but hated it as a child”.  Same for brussels sprouts, asparagus, and green beans.  Do you ever wonder why?

Well as it turns out, it is the same for any food or drink for that matter.  Think of the first time you ever tasted alcohol (whiskey, gin, vodka, jaggermister), what was the reaction?  Yuck!  Never going to drink that….

But if you try something at least 6 -7 times, you brain begins to switch your preference for it.  So, mothers should persevere with having their toddlers try vegetables over an over, even if it’s raw, blended, baked, boiled or mixed.  Just don’t mask the taste of the vegetables with sauces or other spices as you will just mask the true taste of the vegetable you are trying to encourage your child to love.   Bon appetite. 

Acceptance and support for transgender children

It is hard enough being a child and having to learn all of life’s lessons, but if you have a learning difficulty, or disability, or you do not feel your true self, it is 100% worse.

There has been a lot of attention in the media for transgender children.   They say the calls to charity counselling lines have tripled in the last 3 years (Daily Mail 13^th December).  It appears that the more support being shown to these children, it is giving other children the confidence to call in for help and support.

Can you even imagine the pressure of school, activities, puberty, “fitting in” and on top of that “feeling different” about your own sex” and “trapped in the wrong body”?  Then on top of that you feel you can’t talk to anybody about it. 

I always focus on keeping myself up to date on children’s issues, as I would hate not to be prepared on how to help them should a child confide in me  as a counselor or hypnotherapist.  One woman who started a site for her transgender son, said a very profound statement.  She wrote, “I would rather have a transgender daughter than a dead son”.  Wow – powerful.

So my advice to you is listen to them, take it seriously, ask them what you can do to support them and act on it.  There are great support lines for them to talk to counselors as well as getting a referral on the NHS.  They have a specialist team to help transgender children.   They need to hear they are still loved for who they are, not their sex orientation.  Feel free to call me if you would like more information.

Hypnosis and exam anxiety

Please help your children prepare for their exams by following the steps below:

1. Get them to do deep breathing 6 times before they start to study and, before they start their exam, do it again. It only takes a minute!
2. Visualize themselves taking the exams and feeling relaxed and passing.
3. Encourage them, but remind them that at the end of the day, no matter how they do, they are still loved for their hard work and life goes on. It is just a grade and we have millions of successful entrepreneurs and famous world figures who didn't do well on an exam but succeeded in life. The grade does not reflect how good they are as individuals.
4. Take regular breaks and do some exercise during their day.
5. Eat well and drink water.
6. Make sure they study in a pleasant, comfortable place, and sitting in posture friendly chair.
7. Remind them they have a choice to go into the exam stressed out or feeling positive and confident.
8. Let them know it is normal to be a little "nervous about their exam", but it is better to use the word "excited about their exam" – much more positive.

Happy revising!

Hypnotherapy can help your child with confidence and overcoming fears

Using hypnotherapy for children is an effective, efficient and a fun way to help your child with whatever it is they need to achieve.  The most common issues covered are confidence, worry, sleep issues, separation anxiety, phobias and helping them learn how to handle certain situations better (i.e. bullying or anger issues).

I have always been passionate about helping kids and it is one of the greatest joys to be able to teach a child skills and techniques that will help them as they progress through life.  Hypnotherapy is a results based therapy so I don't see them for months.  Most of my "kids" come to see me 3 or 4 times but it's not always to work on the same issue.  A common example would be a child suffering from a fear of the dark or spiders and then come to see me a few months later to help with shyness or exam anxiety.  

Why and how does it work?  First, it always works but the “why” is the important factor.  Your child has got to want help with solving their problem. You cannot send them to me without their approval.  I can give you guidance on how to approach them on the topic.  Once they agree to wanting help, I guide them on how they can do it using the power of their own minds.  The results are always astonishing to the parents but it's really just their kids taking action and applying what they have learned.  Kids are brilliant and so creative.  They just need someone to show them and then they create their own success.

Free Hypnotherapy 30 min consultations 16th March 2013

FREE 30-MINUTE HYPNOTHERAPY CONSULTATIONS ARE BEING OFFERED BY MGHYPNOSIS ON 16TH MARCH BETWEEN 12:30 AND 4:00PM AT THE PUTNEY CLINIC OF PHYSICAL THERAPY!

The whole clinic is offering free taster sessions, so see their website for more details at:  www.putneyclinic.co.uk

Book your time slot by calling 0208 789 3881.

If you want to learn how you can receive help with any of the following:

• Sports enhancement: (learn techniques to improve your game)and motivation (setting and reaching goals and finding inspiration). We can also help with pain management and confidence.
• Weight reduction: Learn the reasons behind your eating behaviour and learn how to change it. We help you understand that it isn't hard and you won’t loose any enjoyment from your life. You only will gain more energy, better health, a longer life, and a sense of achievement. This is not about a diet, it’s about better living.
• Smoke cessation: You know you want to stop and now is the time. Don’t let a poisonous little stick harm you any longer.
• Alcohol reduction and control: Having a bottle a night to help cope with everyday pressures is growing among professionals and parents coping with children. Find out how to take back control of your drinking habit and find more constructive and healthy ways to deal with stress.
• Confidence and self-esteem boosting: Who couldn't do with more of both? We teach you proven techniques to immediately start feeling and thinking better. You will find it will affect all aspects of your life in a positive helpful way.

Along with the above, we also can help with sleep issues, phobias, panic attacks, hypnobirthing and stopping unwanted habits. We also see children and help them with bullying, separation anxiety, fears, exam anxiety, public speaking, and many others.

Please see www.myghypnosis.co.uk or call Marygrace Anderson on 07931 547414.

How we treat enuresis for children with hypnotherapy

Urology week is 17-21 September but I was asked to write about it for Families SW magazine so thought I'd post it as well.

To start, it is imperative to build a sensitive and positive rapport with the child.  After a detailed medical background, we then use a variety of tools to help your child find the right solution for them.  Kids often can fix their own “problems” using their brilliant imaginations.  We use techniques like pretending, relaxation and imagery, metaphors, time distortion, and always confidence boosting to help them over come bed-wetting. 

The keys factors in helping your child is for the parents to be relaxed about it, and continue to encourage your child (even when it feels frustrating).  This is common and keeping it in perspective helps.  It is a phase and helping your child to overcome it quickly, confidently and calmly is the key.  Call to discuss your personal situation.

How is the recession affecting our children?

by Marygrace Anderson DCH, DHP, AICH, NCH, GHR Reg

My phone is ringing off the hook, but lately, something has changed. My clients no longer just refer friends to me; they refer their friend’s kids! As parents we protect our children as much as possible, but sometimes, we unintentionally, transfer our fears to our kids.

I am sure you or a partner has discussed the economy and the worry of “being made redundant” or “hating your job” or “wanting to find a new job”, forgetting that your words are being overheard by your children. Our kids then use their creative little minds and begin to share in your worry. This unknown worry can create stress, sleepless nights and lack of concentration on schoolwork, low self-confidence and mild depression. They see you upset and the common response is to share that feeling. They don’t have to see something, to still fear it.

So what can you do?

• Talk to them directly and reassure them that all is fine.
• Let them know the positive side the change could bring.
• Reassure them that you are ok and they don’t have to worry about you.
• Ask them if there is anything you can do to help them if they are not sleeping, feeling stressed, or feeling less confident.
• Get a friend or person at school to talk to your child. Sometimes it is easier to tell things to another adult they feel comfortable talking to when they don’t want to share will mum or dad.
• The points are for adults as much as kids. If you are going through a hard time or might be facing a change of circumstances, embrace it and find the positive side. Life is too short to spend it in constant stress or fear of the unknown. Take action and you will feel more in control.

Whatever is your situation, Marygrace Anderson, can help you constructively and positively manage it and change it from a negative back to a positive! There is no magic “right time to make a change”. The important thing is to know what you want to do and how to take steps to get there.

Right now, think back to all the “hard times” you have had in your life and how funny it is, looking back, you don’t think it was that bad now. Letting fear or other people’s negative beliefs stop you is what is what I would consider truly scary. We truly can do whatever we want, make any change, or make a new start, just by taking one step in that direction! Do it now!

For more information, you can contact Marygrace Anderson on 07931 547 414 or visit the MG Hypnosis website.