Preteen Group

The approaches used within these programs draw from established clinical hypnosis and mind–body techniques widely used in therapeutic work with children and adolescents. In particular, elements are inspired by integrative hypnosis approaches developed by clinicians such as Melissa Tiers and Kelley T. Woods, authors of Integrative Hypnosis for Kids and Teens: Playing for Change, which integrates clinical hypnosis, neuroscience-informed strategies, and therapeutic metaphor to help young people shift emotional patterns and build resilience.

Children and adolescents often respond especially well to hypnotic and imaginative techniques because their minds naturally engage in creative thinking, visualization, and storytelling. In a therapeutic setting, these abilities become powerful tools for emotional regulation, confidence building, and developing new ways of responding to stress and anxiety.

For younger participants especially, many of these methods feel less like traditional therapy and more like guided imaginative experiences. This playful engagement allows children to access their inner resources in a way that feels safe, natural, and even fun (“Playing for Change”) — while still supporting meaningful emotional and behavioral change.

Clinical hypnosis used with children and teens is gentle, collaborative, and developmentally appropriate. Participants remain fully aware and in control throughout the process. Hypnosis simply helps the mind enter a relaxed and focused state where imagination, creativity, and emotional insight become more accessible. For many young people, this makes learning new coping strategies feel natural, engaging, and empowering.

These programs are guided by Meera Duncan, a Registered Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist and Counselling Therapist who has worked with children and teens for many years. In her clinical experience, young people often respond remarkably well to hypnosis-based approaches, as their natural creativity and imagination make it easier for them to access inner resources and create meaningful emotional change, often creating emotional shifts more quickly when therapeutic approaches engage both the conscious and subconscious mind.