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The COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone 6 months and older. To schedule an appointment, call 211 or visit ourshot.in.gov. Several COVID-19 vaccine locations also offer walk-in appointments. View full details.

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COVID-19: Vacunas, políticas para visitantes y más

Vacunas contra la COVID-19

La vacuna COVID-19 está disponible para cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses. Para programar una cita, llame al 211 o visite la página ourshot.in.gov. Varios centros de vacunación contra la COVID-19 atienden sin cita previa. Vea todos los detalles.

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Estamos adoptando medidas reflexivas para garantizar que nuestros espacios sigan siendo seguros para los pacientes, los padres y los cuidadores. Vea las medidas de seguridad, la política de uso de mascarillas y las directrices de visitas.

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Hypnosis

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If you have ever walked in on your child concentrating deeply on a book or videogame, and they seem to neither see nor hear you approach, you have observed something similar to hypnosis. When the brain is focused deeply, your child’s unconscious mind is open to suggestion. Self-hypnosis is a tool your child can learn to gain control over how they think, feel and behave.

Overview

Overview

The unconscious part of your child’s brain works without thinking. This is the part we use for enjoying music, art, sports or reading. Children are often more familiar with their unconscious minds than adults because they use it naturally when playing pretend or daydreaming.

Your child learns self-hypnosis from a healthcare professional with special training in hypnosis. They help your child learn ways to be more open to suggestions in order to solve problems such as trouble sleeping or having pain. While it is often part of a larger pain management plan, hypnosis is a medication-free therapy used to treat:

  • Pain
  • Sleep problems such as insomnia and trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep
  • Anxiety

How Does Hypnosis Work

How Does Hypnosis Work

Despite what you may have seen in movies or magic shows, hypnosis does not involve magic or mind control. Hypnosis happens when your child’s unconscious mind is very active. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, meaning your child is directing their brain during this therapy. Our hypnosis-trained nurse practitioner serves as your child’s “coach” during hypnosis to help your child learn skills to alleviate pain, sleep problems or anxiety.

What Should I Expect During Hypnosis

At the initial hypnosis appointment, our clinician spends time:

  • Getting to know your child
  • Exploring fears, phobias and favorite relaxation techniques
  • Building trust and comfort
  • Explaining how self-hypnosis works and reviewing your child’s goals

Parents typically join children for the first hypnosis visit. During self-hypnosis, the clinician begins with relaxing breathing techniques to help your child calm their mind. As they begin to relax, children learn they can use their minds to control how their bodies feel.

Next, the clinician uses your child’s imagination and guided imagery to create a calm, peaceful space in your child’s mind. The clinician suggests to your child that he or she can use focused breathing to return to this peaceful place when pain, anxiety or insomnia occur. Self-hypnosis uses breathing and imagination to re-route pain pathways and give your child tools to relax or fall asleep when needed. Your child needs to practice these techniques at home to become an expert in using them.

What are the Different Techniques Used in Hypnosis

Whether your child is working to decrease pain or fall asleep more easily, hypnosis provides tools your child can use immediately. These tools may include techniques such as:

  • Pain control center, which creates a control room, dial or lever your child can use to mentally “turn down” or reduce pain intensity.
  • Glove anesthesia helps your child imagine that their hand is numb and cool. Your child learns to transfer that feeling of numbness to the area where he or she feels pain, such as the stomach.
  • Visualization helps your child see pain or anxiety as a color or liquid that can flow or change. Suggesting pain is red helps your child learn to change that color to blue. Pain imagined as water can be directed to flow out of your child’s arm through their fist.

Key Points to Remember

Key Points to Remember

  • All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
  • Hypnosis isn’t mind control or weakness. A child who can perform self-hypnosis is empowered to harness their mind to feel better.
  • Our nurse practitioner’s role is to be your child’s coach as your child learns self-hypnosis. The goal is for your child to be able to use these techniques on their own in the future.
  • Self-hypnosis requires motivation on your child’s part and a willingness to practice.

Support Services & Resources

Support Services & Resources

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

GoNoodle Movement and Mindfulness

This resource helps with mindfulness and getting your child moving.

Breathe Think Do with Sesame Street

This activity from Sesame Street helps children manage big feelings with calming strategies.

Related Conditions & Departments

Related Conditions & Departments

Conditions

  • Anxiety
  • Connective Tissue Disorders
  • Functional Abdominal Pain
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Sickle Cell Disease

Departments

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management Program
  • Psychiatry
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