Hypnotic pain management for childrenPart I This link demonstrates a clever use of distraction/attention focus to reduce anxiety and pain in child immunizations. The child is not tricked, and instead responds to a playful re-direction of attention which makes the game the foreground, rather than fearing pain.
Part II This is an excellent demonstration of a classic hypnotic technique to help kids feel comfortable with otherwise painful medical procedures. Manner and style would vary, depending on the clinician, particular child and situation. If you’ve not worked much with kids, the very personal, dramatic presentation here might seem excessive or “hokey”, but it’s not. Speaking and acting “as if” is natural in child fantasy play, and whatever a clinician feels comfortable with will likely be effective, if that is well matched to the client’s age, style and situation.
