I never thought my child would struggle with going to school. He used to be excited about learning and seeing his friends, but everything changed suddenly. It started with small complaints — feeling unwell, headaches, or saying he didn’t want to go to school. At first, I didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just normal childhood reluctance. But over time, it got worse. He became anxious, would cry in the mornings, and started missing more and more school. No matter how much I tried to reassure him or explain that he needed to attend school, nothing seemed to help. That’s when someone suggested trying hypnotherapy.

I was skeptical. Like many people, I didn’t know much about hypnotherapy beyond what I had seen in movies or on TV. I didn’t think it could be a real solution for such a serious problem. But after months of frustration and seeing my child suffer, I was willing to try anything that might help. So, I did some research and found a certified hypnotherapist who had experience working with children and anxiety. I made an appointment, unsure of what to expect.

During the first session, the hypnotherapist spent time getting to know both me and my child. She asked about his school experience, what exactly was making him feel so anxious, and what kind of support we had tried so far. It was clear that she understood this wasn’t just about him not wanting to go to school; there was something deeper going on. She explained that school avoidance is often tied to feelings of anxiety, fear, or a sense of being overwhelmed. Hypnotherapy, she said, could help address the anxiety at its root and give my child tools to manage those feelings better.

The idea behind hypnotherapy was to work with the subconscious mind, where many of these fears and anxieties are held. I was concerned that my child wouldn’t be open to it or that he wouldn’t be able to “get hypnotized,” but the hypnotherapist reassured me. She explained that hypnotherapy isn’t about making someone lose control or doing anything strange. It’s simply a way to help someone relax deeply and focus their mind in a way that allows them to address their issues more directly. She described it as being similar to guided meditation or visualization, but more focused.

My child seemed curious, so we decided to proceed. The session itself was calm and gentle. The hypnotherapist started by helping him relax, using breathing techniques and asking him to focus on imagining a peaceful, safe place. She spoke in a soothing voice, guiding him through different scenarios that helped him visualize feeling confident and calm in school. She also introduced suggestions about how he could handle situations that made him feel anxious, like interacting with teachers or classmates. The entire process was done in a way that felt supportive and comforting, not invasive or forceful.

After the first session, my child seemed more relaxed than he had been in a long time. He even said that it felt “nice” to imagine himself handling things more easily. I wasn’t expecting a complete turnaround overnight, but it was a positive step. Over the next few weeks, we continued with more sessions. Each time, the hypnotherapist focused on different aspects of his anxiety. She helped him think about what triggered his feelings of panic and what he could do when those feelings came up.

What impressed me most was how much more open my child became about his fears. He started talking about how crowded the classroom made him feel or how overwhelmed he got when he didn’t understand something right away. It was as if hypnotherapy helped him access those feelings in a way that he hadn’t been able to before. This insight was incredibly helpful because it allowed us to focus on specific strategies, both in and out of the hypnotherapy sessions.

As the sessions progressed, I noticed changes in my child’s behavior. He wasn’t as resistant to going to school as he had been before. We still had difficult mornings sometimes, but he seemed more willing to talk about his feelings rather than shutting down. The hypnotherapist had taught him some techniques to use when he started feeling anxious, such as breathing exercises and visualizations. He started using these tools on his own, especially before going to bed or in the mornings before school.

The most significant change came when he finally started attending school more consistently. It wasn’t perfect — there were still days when the anxiety would flare up, but it was manageable. He began to feel more in control, which gave him confidence. I could see that the hypnotherapy sessions had helped him reframe how he thought about school. Instead of seeing it as something overwhelming or scary, he was able to think of it as a place where he could handle whatever came his way.

One of the things I appreciated about hypnotherapy was that it didn’t just focus on short-term solutions. The hypnotherapist wasn’t just trying to get my child back to school for a few days; she was working to help him develop long-lasting strategies for managing his anxiety. It wasn’t a magic fix, but it gave him tools he could use in the future, whether at school or in other situations that made him feel anxious.

After several months, the change in my child was noticeable. He was more engaged in school, and the crippling anxiety that had once dominated our mornings had lessened significantly. I know we’re not entirely out of the woods, and I still keep an eye on how he’s feeling, but the improvement has been remarkable. I’m also more aware of the importance of supporting his mental health, and I make sure to check in with him regularly.

Looking back, I’m so glad I decided to try hypnotherapy. It was a gentle, non-invasive way to help my child work through his fears in a supportive environment. The process allowed him to build confidence and learn to manage his anxiety in a way that felt safe to him. I would recommend hypnotherapy to any parent dealing with school avoidance or anxiety in their child. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a valuable tool in helping kids overcome their fears and regain a sense of control over their lives.

What I’ve learned through this experience is that school avoidance isn’t just about not wanting to go to school. It’s often a sign of something deeper — anxiety, fear, or feeling overwhelmed. Hypnotherapy helped my child work through these feelings in a way that was manageable and effective for him. It gave him back the confidence he needed to face school and everyday life without the constant burden of anxiety. While we continue to work on these issues, I now have hope that we are on the right path.